Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson praises Alito

[sabra]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/politics/13061768.htm

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson praises Alito

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A centrist Democratic senator complimented Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Wednesday as a moderate jurist who won't "hammer away and chisel away" existing law.

While Sen. Ben Nelson did not endorse President Bush's latest nominee for the high court, he did say he was impressed by what he heard from Alito during his introductory visit.

The Nebraska Democrat, who was Alito's first senatorial host Wednesday, told reporters that he got assurances that Alito would not be "judicial activist" or "take an agenda to the bench" if confirmed to succeed Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who is retiring.

"He assured me that he wants to go to the bench without a political agenda," said Nelson, one of the founding members of the centrist "Gang of 14" senators who earlier this year worked out a compact aimed at avoiding judicial filibusters except in the direst of circumstances.

[ixion]

1. Nelson is DINO

not a 'centrist' :eyes:

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. Nelson represents a very red state

Bush beat Kerry there 66% to 33%. The state is either going to elect a Republican or a centrist Democrat to the Senate. If Democrats are ever going to win back the majority, they are going to need a few Red State centrist Democrats.

[leesa]

17. Nope. Don't need any DINOs anymore. Get rid of them. If they don't

heve the courage to run as the Republicans they are, then the hell with them.

[ticapnews]

19. Then encourage a progressive to run in Nebraska

They'll get trounced by 40 points, but at least it'll feel better losing with a progressive than winning with a centrist, right? And it'll be one more vote for a Republican Senate Majority Leader! Bonus!

:sarcasm:

[rayofreason]

47. Indeed...

...Perhaps with a few more such feel-good losses the Senate could have 60 Republicans!

Saturn, what's for dinner?

[lyonn]

50. Brad Carson D-OK would have been worlds better than Coburn

Dr. Coburn should be an embarrasment to even the repubs, so be careful what you wish for folks.

[hogwyld]

55. Sometimes

We have to take a stand for what we believe in, however unpopular at the time. I'd rather go down, with guns blazing for a true progressive, than submit to the milquetoast niceties of a Demican (democrat that want to be republican). I would rather be in the minority than to sell my soul.

[leesa]

61. Me too. Thanks. No more of these corporate whores.

They are perfectly free to become decent human beings, what's stopping them? People like the guy above who give them a pass for behaving like Neanderthals?

[leesa]

60. Yup. the DLC strategy. Hey if we become Republicans we'll win!!

SARCASM!

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. I suppose having the majority in the Senate isn't a priority for some

folks. Just like how some Nader voters saw no difference between Bush and Gore.

[converted_democrat]

23. I think having a majority is a great idea!!!!!!!

I also think it is important that all members in this "majority" are actually on the same team.

[Maven]

24. Exactly.

What the hell is the point of building a majority if the members of that majority can't be counted on to support Dem issues?

Plus, it's not merely an additive process. Think of a schmuck like this as a drop of red dye in a blue pool. He makes the ENTIRE party look sloppy, unfocused, and unprincipled. We're better off without someone like him, even if it means we have one less legislator with "D" next to his name.

[depakid]

27. Hogwash

That's a defeatest argument and ignore history.

Before Hagel (and ESS- which he owned)- Nebraska hadn't had a Republican Senator in 25 years.

[Tiggeroshii]

38. Check it yourself.

Progressivepunch.org rates him as the least progressive Democrat. Less preogressive than Republican turned independent Jim Jeffords. There aren't a lot of DINO Democrats, but he is VERY moderate!

[Freddie Stubbs]

46. Jeffords represents a much more liberal than the one Nelson does

People seem to forget that the Senator's primary responsibilty is to represent the voters of their rather party members from other states.

[Tiggeroshii]

58. True

Which may explain his switching over tot he Democratic caucus soon after his election as a Republican.

[lonestarnot]

56. Nebraska repuke in dems clothing! You suck ass Ben!

[last_texas_dem]

59. I agree with your point, but...

I agree with your point about the necessity of Dems having red state Democrats in order for us to build a Senate majority. I'd rather have a centrist Dem than a right-wing Repug, which is our other option.

However, Nelson disappoints me 'cause I think he goes much further to the right than he has to. (That is, unless he really is that conservative at heart, which I doubt.) For example, consider Tim Johnson in SD, and Dorgan and Conrad from ND. Both of those states vote heavily for Shrub, but have also supported these Democratic Senators who may be moderates but don't vote with the Republicans nearly as much as Nelson does. I know that Nelson had a very close election to the Senate (then again, Johnson's most recent re-election was even closer) but I still wonder if he is at times being overly cautious and appeasing the radical right more often than he truly has to.

[Tiggeroshii]

40. He's about fifty percent on issues

according to progressivepunch.org...

i'd say fifty fifty's pretty middle, wouldn't you? folks like Jeffords, Nelson, Chaffey, Collins, Snowe are all close to centrist and pretty commonly known as moderates... Of course they all get the DINO/RINO titles... Colllins, Jeffords and Snow will get that no matter WHAT party they're registered with, but I do think Chaffey is more of a Dem than a Repug

[hogwyld]

53. Worse than that

He's an elephant in donkey clothing.

[Stand and Fight]

2. Nelson... n/t

[maxsolomon]

3. regardless, if dem senators don't hold together, alito is in.

and it appears alito is in. must be planning to keep the powder dry yet again.

[kath]

70. oh, yes, it's SO important to keep on keepin' that powder dry.

:puke:
:puke:
:puke:

[liberalnurse]

4. We need to spam his email with

clarification as to what exactly a Democrat really is!!!!!!!

[wordpix]

5. Alito's assurances to a Dem host is worth the paper they're NOT written on

[Wetzelbill]

6. gee imagine that nt

[WI_DEM]

7. for all the anti-Lieberman talk, Nelson is much worse

[depakid]

8. Yep

and the party need to do something about it.

He does more harm to the Dems than any Republican would.

Asl yourselves, "what would the Republicans do with a member like that?"

[geek tragedy]

13. That's because he's from Nebraska. Lieberman has no such

excuse.

[WI_DEM]

15. Your either a democrat or your not

I don't care where your from. Lieberman's record overall on domestic issues is pretty liberal, on foreign issues we part company. I'm tired of the attitude that we have to give slack to people because they are from other parts of the country or more conservative states. On an issue like this--the Dems should be united.

[IA_Seth]

22. "Your either a democrat or your not"

What happened to the big tent philosophy?

Sure, Ben Nelson's version of Democratic principles may not be the same as mine in Iowa or yours in Wisconsin, which I bet are different than those of a New Yorker, which are different than a Georgian's, etc.

I agree that there are underlying ideas that unify us across the map, but are we really a "with us or against us" party?

I hope not.

[WI_DEM]

25. on an issue such as the US Supreme Court and replacing a moderate

like O'Connor with a hard conservative like Alito, it is a party vote, imo--and any Democrat who breaks ranks on such a vote is going to have a lot of explaining to do. Sorry, this isn't some minor issue where we can allow for excuses like, "Oh, he's from Nebraska, so that's ok."

[depakid]

26. What happened is that it made the Dems irrelevant

So, as a practical mater- it needs dumped unceremoniously.

Bottom line is that IT DOESN'T WORK- and it's caused irreperable harm to this country.

People like Nelson need to be denied to be disciplined somehow by the party- whether that means denial of leaderhip positions, funding or having a strong primary primary candidate recruited to run against him.

That's what the Republicans would do- and notice that they now control every branch of government plus just about every major media outlet.

And before you give me this "oh, it's Nebraska" business, note that before Hagel rigged elections in Nebraska through HIS company ESS's voting machines, Nebraska hadn't had a Republican Senator in over 25 years.

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. Fortunately the party is run by reasonable people

who realize that some Democrats have more Republicans than Democrats as constituents.

[jamesinca]

9. Hey, Sen. Nelson

It is easier to apologize then to ask for permission. He will apologize for lying to you, because that is easier then telling you what he really thinks before his conformation hearing.

[0007]

11. Ben Nelson is fucking disgusting! Where do we get these clowns? n/t

[Tesha]

16. At the "Used-Republicans" shop! (NT)

[0007]

30. The Used-Republican Shop doesn't even bother to disguise the

fact, 'eh?

[pdurod1]

12. Rice nomination

I wrote to Nelson concerning Rices nomination. Same tune, "she has excellent credentials"... and voted for her regardless of the ignored intelligence memos. We'll get the same with the Alito confirmation. Not sure why Nelson wears the Democratic badge.

[FlashHarry]

14. Chuck Hagel has far more conviction than Ben Nelson.

It's a sad day when I would rather shake hands with a Repuke than a Dem.

[Straight Shooter]

18. Ben Nelson underwhelms me. n/t

[Rainscents]

21. We need to fucking mass mail this baster!

[Catfight]

28. Nelson will be out this next election if he votes to confirm this bigot.

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. Which Republican will be replacing him?

:shrug:

[western mass]

31. a conservative dem is one thing.

A traitor who aids and abets the enemy is another.

Yes, a repuke in office is preferable to somebody who undermines the democrats on a national level on something this critical. If he can't keep his mouth shut and toe the line when the Party needs it, he does more harm than good.

[Robbins]

33. Nelson

If you are going to run as a Democrat then occasional you have to go against the Republicans. He never does that. And he allows Republicans to say Bi Partisan with him aboard. Lieberman at least will go against Bush on some Domestic Issues.

[Freddie Stubbs]

35. Good luck regaining the majority in the Senate with that type of strategy

There will never be a Democratic majority in the Senate with a significant number of Democrats from red states. Red states don't tend to elect liberals.

[depakid]

68. The only strategy that will work

is for the Dems to stand up for traditional Democratic values again.

So long as people like Nelson backstab the party at every turn- the Dems will remain irrelevant. I gurantee that if there was a Nelson in the Republican party, he'd be seriously ostracized and they'd run a primary challenge against him

You don't win on the national level by standing for nothing- which is the widespread perception people have of the Dems these days- and rightly so.

[Kingofalldems]

32. You maybe?

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. I am neither a Republican nor

a resident of Nebraska.

[Nebraska_Liberal]

37. I am a Nebraskan

Everyone here is waiting for Nelson to step down. No one in the party here likes this guy. Most of his support comes from Republicans, If I was old enough to run against this guy I would. I would show Nebraskans how much he is hurting them. He comes from the more liberal part of the state too, which is still not large enough to over take the loonie part.

[ticapnews]

42. Is there anyone who can challenge him in a primary?

Any Dems in the Legislature, any mayors, any prominent business people? Someone who can at least make him a little more beholden to his Democratic supporters? Is there ANYONE?

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. If he is as unpopular as some DUers describe him there must be a line

a mile long of Democrats wanting to challenge him. The reality is much different.

[Zhade]

51. Yeah, you live elsewhere.

NT!

[Freddie Stubbs]

54. I live in Florida to be exact.

The weather is nice except for the hurricanes.

[Zhade]

63. ...and the Republicans. Conservatives are fools.

Florida happens to be my home state.

[Catfight]

36. There's nothing that states we can't ask for another democrat to run

against him. Nelson isn't safe.

[Freddie Stubbs]

41. He is safe from a primary challenge

He is the most popular Democrat in his state.

[CityDem]

39. Nelson fell for it hook, line and sinker

If Nelson interivew Scalia or Clarence Thomas today I would expect him to say

"He assured me that he wants to go to the bench without a political agenda,"

Odd are that Nelson still believes in Santa and the Tooth Fairy. When are we going to start electing real democrats instead of repub lites?

[Norquist Nemesis]

44. ARRRGHH!!! He's on a job interview you Nitwit Nelson!!!

Does Nelson really think this guy is going to walk into his office and say, "Yes, Senator. My goal is to take this country back to 1877 as it was originally written in the Consitution. But an agenda? No. But I promise you that on day one I will get my calendar in order to reach my goal."

:banghead:

[zara]

45. Nelson is a "Rube" in the purest sense of the word.

The shnookered farm boy.

[otohara]

48. This "Gang of 14" Term

He said that many times in an interview I saw. Does he always speak for this gang?

[Nebraska_Liberal]

52. I just emailed the Nebraska Democratic Party...

I know the head, so hopefully I will get a straight answer. I asked him if they were planning on running anyone against him.

[Omaha Steve]

57. Nope

Nelson used to be a Republican. When that party said it had the candidate it wanted for Governor, he switched parties and won. Nobody is planning on running against him in the primary. There are at least 3 known Republicans running for the chance to beat him. Since Nelson is on the top target on the national Republican to beat list, you would think he could be a better democrat!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=54&u_sid=2057203

[sandnsea]

64. How can we help?

Raise money for newspaper ads? Pay for fliers? How can we get Alito info out to Nebraska so they will reject him? What issues would appeal?

[drfresh]

62. He assured you, huh?

Just like Bush assured the nation that he would go to war as a last resort... bring integrity back to the White House... govern as a moderate.

Just like Republicans assured they would continue with Clinton's fiscal responsibility.

He assured you. Right. That said, I'm willing to withhold judgement on Alito until I see the hearings... and a 3 ft stack of his court papers.

[bdot]

65. What's wrong with Alito anyways?

I've been reading on CNN about the guy and I don't really see anything that makes this guy an "evil person" like people on here seem to say he is. What's the big deal about this guy that has everyone underwear in a knot on here?

[depakid]

66. Aside from being a far right ideologue

The man's corrupt- and shouldn't be sitting on ANY bench:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=103

[Rainscents]

69. WTF... You believe shit CNN feeds you? You should know better then

to believing CNN or any other cable news. For the past 5 years, they been helping with Bush's lies!
You should ALWAYS do research... especially when you hear shit from MSM>

[kath]

72. hear, hear. Can't believe you actually think that CNN is "fair and

balanced".

Sheesh.

[kath]

71. He supports warrantless strip searches on 10 yr-old girls, and thinks

that a woman should have to notify her spouse before obtaining an abortion.
That's just for starters...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

67. Shock level= Zero.

Zip.
Zilch.
Nada.