[Julie Steiner]

I don't, as a Christian, hate her. I hate her politics which is a very different thing.

"Love the sinner, hate the sin," eh? Hmmm. I'm having some trouble delineating where the hate stops and the love begins. Something about the nasty nicknames makes it feel more personal than just political to me.

As far as checks and balances are concerned, I never saw a single Democrat march against Senator Robert Byrd (God rest his soul) for his long association with the KKK, did you?

I don't think "checks and balances" means what you think it does, Charlie. Most people use the term to refer to the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. As when, say, the Senate is supposed to vet and vote on the President's cabinet nominees.

Geez, Julie, as usual, you miss the point.

Finally, something we can agree on. You're right, Charlie--I'm missing the point.

Before, I didn't understand why you were replacing a relevant confirmation hearing question (namely, whether Jeff Sessions did or did not abuse his power in his home state to disenfranchise elderly black voters) with a seemingly irrelevant question (namely, whether or not Elizabeth Warren did or did not enjoy an unfair employment advantage due to her claims about the ethnicity of one of her great-great-grandfathers.)

Now, I don't understand why you are replacing a relevant confirmation hearing question (namely, whether Jeff Sessions did or did not abuse his power in his home state to disenfranchise elderly black voters) with a question that is even more irrelevant (namely, whether or not former Democratic Senators Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy had significant character failings).

Silly me. I thought the whole point of a Senate confirmation hearing was to determine things like whether the Attorney General nominee under consideration was likely to promote equal justice under the law.

You seem to be saying that Elizabeth Warren, as Democratic Senator, had no right to raise a question about that, because nobody's perfect, and Democratic Senators have character failings, too.

Have I got it now? Is that the point? "Let the Senator who is without fault cast the first stone"?

Wow, I hope not, or no Senator of any party will be able to question any of Trump's nominees.