Chris Matthews today at 4 PM Princeton NJ Filibuster protest

[FogerRox]

To all members of DFA meetups in NJ,

Something extraordinary has been going on for a week now on the
campus of Princeton University - an act of sheer endurance and
creativity. It?s attracted national attention and now, because
Hardball with Chris Matthews is coming today at 4 PM to put it
on TV, Republicans want to shut it down. Turnout support from
DFA/NJ for Democracy would be huge help to these protesting
students. And it?s a DFA statement of support: One of the
organizers is our Juan Melli-Huber, DFA meetup leader/grad
student.

Can you show up? They?ve been running this filibuster ? with
scores of students, and help from Rep. Rush Holt, Rep. Frank
Pallone, DFA?s Nathan Rudy (N. Plainfield councilman), Nobel
Prize winner Frank Wliczek, and others? for 7 days straight.
And get where: outside Frist Student Center endowed by the
family/friends of Princeton?s most visible alumnus, Majority
Leader Bill Frist ? chief proponent of the nuclear option to
eliminate the filibuster. How embarrassing for Senator Frist!

The Republicans are organizing a big demonstration with signs,
soundbites and significant turnout protesting the supposed ?
defamation of state and person? they accuse the student Frist
Filibusterers of. It is VERY IMPORTANT that we turn out in full
force for this event.

No matter what tactics the other side uses, it?s crucial that
the supporters of this filibuster remain positive. If tempers
flare, we should maintain our composure and behave calmly,
rationally and respectful at all times and to everyone. If
there?s crude behavior or unpleasant speech, we will take the
high road. Negativity only damages the Filibuster students?
efforts, and limits our opportunity to conduct an intelligent
conversation about the this issue. If you bring signs, great!
But keep them positive: Keep Filibustering... Or...We Support
the Filibuster. Keep messages simple and positive. If you can
come early and bring a lightweight lawn chair, we will try to
create a zone of safety/support around the filibuster, which
will continue during the interview.

What these students have done is inspiring, decent and
creative. As I write this, it?s Hour 168 and Day Seven. They?ve
been there in the rain, the cold, the middle of the night.
Webcam/website is www.FilibusterFrist.com. Coverage so far:
Washington Post (below), CNN, AP newswire, DailyKos, Talking
Points Memo.

What: Support the students of the Frist Filibuster at Princeton
When : Hardball with Chris Matthews shows up at 4 PM today. We
mobilize at 3 PM (or earlier). If you can?t come till after
work, come then. Where: Frist Student Center, north side of
bldg (outside). Frist is on campus, intersection of Washington
and Prospect. Why: The student organizers have shown us
stamina, commitment, dedication. Let?s go get their backs!


From The Washington Post
Frist Protest at Princeton Is Lesson in Art of the Filibuster
By Charles Babington and Mike Allen
Monday, May 2, 2005; Page A04

If only Senate filibusters were this enlightening.

Princeton University students and faculty have been talking
round-the-clock to protest the legislative strategy of a famous
alumnus and benefactor, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-
Tenn.). In what some might consider an act of ingratitude --
even by college students' standards -- protesters have
lectured, read and generally droned on outside the Frist Campus
Center, built with $25 million from the senator's family.

The speakers are protesting Frist's threat to change Senate
rules to ban filibusters of judicial nominees. Democrats have
used the parliamentary delaying tactic to block confirmation
votes for 10 of President Bush's appellate court nominees.

The campus talk-a-thon started Tuesday and continued into the
weekend. Some protesters honored Senate history by reading from
phone books, but many were more high-minded. They read from
biographies of federal judicial nominees, poetry, the
Constitution and Shakespeare's plays.

Physics professor Chiara Nappi lectured on the origin and
behavior of elementary particles. "I support the efforts of
these students in defending the rights of the minority party
and attacking conservative attempts to reduce civil liberties,"
she told the campus newspaper, the Princetonian. "I disagree
with what Frist is trying to do, and because he has strong ties
to Princeton, we have the duty to take a stand."

[jojo54]

1. If Tweety shows up with his camera crew

I'm sure he'll give it only a glancing blow during his hour long show. The turncoat will only use it for sensationalism.

[Last Lemming]

2. "Still . ."

[LimpingLib]

3. Man people really want a cnstitutional crisis lol.

I just love that part of this filibuster debate (or debacle).

(I almost want to consider putting aside my lifelong dream of ending the filibuster piece by piece or in one blow just to see all the chaos, but the filibuster has been so bad for the country I just cant..HOWEVER..lol.....)

.........Id love to see the GOP get all fustrated from the filibustering of judges and then TRY and ban it (just for judges) and then fail. It would mean no more judges would ever be approved.By the time we get down to just a few judges,the chaos alone would make people want to consider ending the filibuster for good on everything.

I almost think that 2 justice would need to retire at once to avoid deadlocked courts.4-4 would mean very little contriversal decisions could result in any decision.

I enjoy this debate EXCEPT for all the ignorance from Democrats and progressives.You know. About how great the filibuster is for the country.And I like Robert Byrd, but honestly he WOULD KNOW all about it.He and his ilk (he changed since then)squelched the majority from giving blacks any rights whatsoever for decades.

Anyway I suppose Democrats have to pretend the filibuster is something great for our nation if they plan to use it through a trainwreck battle in coming years. If it causes enough chaos (which I LOVE ..heck as long as nobody gets hurt , I support blowing up the planet)then all the B.S. is worth it.

I just cant wait for the battle. Make no mistake though. If we filibuster GOP judges and then they fail to ban the filibuster then we better plan on never getting a Supreme Court nominee through the right wing base of 41 Senators EVER AGAIN.Or any lower court nominees.