The most instantly-infamous moment of the first day of the Samuel Alito hearings was, of course, Ted Kennedy's malapropism in which he referred to the nominee as "Judge Alioto." Not quite up there with Kennedy referring to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as "Mike McGwire and Sammy Sooser," but pretty humorous nonetheless.
I'm yet to hear anyone make this point, but Ted was probably confusing the judge with the Alioto political dynasty in San Francisco, whose patriarch, Joseph Alioto, was mayor of San Fran from 1968 through 1976. Buildings bearing the Alioto name are all over San Francisco to this day, and my father once argued a case in which Alioto, who died in 1998, was the opposing council.
Ted Kennedy, most likely, remembers Alioto as the guy who gave the nominating speech for his brother Bobby's rival, Hubert H. Humphrey, at the 1968 Democratic convention.
Posted by Stephen Silver at January 9, 2006 10:51 PMI think its time for Uncle Teddy to retire and become an ambassador or something where he can just drink and attend parties.
Posted by: A at January 9, 2006 11:22 PMI think its time for Uncle Teddy to retire and become an ambassador or something where he can just drink and attend parties.
A - I think he showed that he at least has gotten a head start at the drinking part.
Posted by: J. Lichty at January 11, 2006 09:51 PM"...something where he can just drink and attend parties."
So, uh, not really much of a change then, actually, right?
Posted by: Dave J at January 12, 2006 11:25 PMThere is no way Teddy remembers anything from 1998, let alone 1968, Steve.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at January 13, 2006 10:08 AMAlioto was a close friend of the Kennedy's and some stories even suggest that Teddy was on the phone with Joe Alioto immediately preceding his midnight ride with Mary Jo. If this is true, it would explain why this name is so sticky in his addled brain.
Posted by: Libertas at January 15, 2006 01:41 PM