Chat With House Judiciary Committee Member Trent Franks

We've just finished a conversation with Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ), who had some comments about the tenor and tone of the Senate confirmation hearings.

Franks is disappointed that the only discernible tactic being employed by committee Democrats is to personally attack Judge Alito by distorting the truth.  I asked him if he thought, things would get uglier, having witnessed Kennedy's silly tirade.  He said he thought it might, but that it wouldn't hurt the nominee.

The willingness to be "unconstrained by the truth" is something Franks sees as dragging us "down into a philosophical twilight zone".  He finds each of the now repeatedly refuted opposition arguments to be bogus and observes that one side "shouldn't win a debate simply because they're willing to say more vitriolic things".

Franks also spoke briefly about the majority leader race in the House.  He stated that, assuming Mike Pence does not seek the post, Franks would support fellow Arizona Congressman and longtime acquaintance John Shadegg (assuming Shadegg pursues it).