Does Anybody Think The Dems Are Saying No Filibuster But....

[global1]

planning one - maybe to throw the Repugs off? Just a thought.

[Burning Water]

1. Let's certainly hope so.

I don't see this stopping Alito, but at least we can try, and at least we can make absolutely sure the American people were aware of the dangers. Maybe they'll remember the next time they pull a lever in a voting booth.

[ClassWarrior]

2. I don't think the Dems are saying anything. I think the Corporate Media...

...are trying to manipulate the American people once again.

NGU.

[ananda]

10. I agree.

For some reason, the press has anointed Alito and is trying to tell people that there's no turning back.

Dems are softpedaling the issue because they are intimidated by the press. Yuck.

The only right thing to do is filibuster the creep. He is so fucking creepy. I can't stand him.

He's a corporate shill and a bigot.

Sue

[ClassWarrior]

25. Because it benefits the Corporate Media's agenda - that's...

...the reason.

NGU.

[stepnw1f]

3. Call Yor Senators and Find Out

;)

[ClassWarrior]

5. Excellent point. "Hello, I'm a constituent of Sen. X's, and I'd like..."

"...to know what the good senator plans to do about the Alito nomination."

It's that easy.

NGU.

[JDPriestly]

4. No, The Dems are picking their battles.

The Dems want to focus on winning as many seats as possible in the 2006 congressional election. They want to focus on ousting the corrupt Repubs in November. A filibuster about Alito would distract from that task. Unless Dems get a majority in the Congress -- at least one house of the Congress in 2006, you can forget everything else. If Alito is not confirmed, Bush will nominate someone just as bad. There is an unending supply of lawyers like Alito. We have to win control of at least one house of Congress or we will be history and so will our democracy.

[shraby]

11. It's just possible that if they DON'T filibuster,

they may end up losing a few seats because of it. There are a lot of women voters who are upset about Alito's views on Roe v. Wade, there are a lot of voters in general who are upset about his views on imperial presidency. I think if they don't filibuster, they are shooting themselves in the foot.

[Flabbergasted]

20. And that's best case I think

Confirming Alito will disrupt the dems slight momentum they have from december. In addition they will be blamed for all the other decisions by SCOTUS.

[ananda]

12. No it wouldn't.

An Alito filibuster would do exactly the right thing, for the country, for the people, and for Dems.

It's the only right thing to do.

If Alito is confirmed, there will be NO checks and balances left. The country and it's people
will be permanently fucked... completely.

Sue

[Donkeykick]

13. My Sentiments Exactly!

:headbang:

[bettyellen]

26. so they are choosing to look wimpy as an election strategy?

ah, that DLC, i have soo much to learn from them.

[rucky]

30. Whatever gets you to sleep at night. n/t

[sundancekid]

6. and if a frog had wings ... Feinstein (among others) said this morning

on Face the Nation that they see no reason for filibuster -- had not reached the "extraordinary" level -- well, if we do the math: Pryor and Nelson of Nebraska are already on record with a "no" to filibuster, so if we had Mrs. California DLC given her own words -- what are the real chances that we haven't already lost past the 41 votes needed for cloture??? I say more "none" than "slim" ...

the Dems are all shuck-and-jive - deep into the pockets of their patrons of election/re-election

[papau]

9. I had hoped only Pryor and Nelson would flip - Diane still leaves 41

but the ladies in Maine are less likely to stand with us than we are to find more Dems showing the white flag.

[sundancekid]

17. sadly, I agree ... besides Ms. Diane had an aura of righteousness

about the "not rising to the level of" that belied to me that they have already counted noses and the 41 are simply NOT THERE; therefore, the Dems will split (not exactly like for Roberts) to suit their own electoral needs -- and as for ANYBODY on the Dem Senate side showing leadership/clarity on the issue -- well, never mind ...

[global1]

19. Well I Just Hope Nobody Rapes Feinstein After Alito Gets To The SC....

she won't be able to get an abortion. (sarcasm)

[kaplan3602]

7. No

I think that there is no filibuster coming. And that's too sad.

[NMDemDist2]

16. Welcome to DU kaplan3602!

:hi:

[kaplan3602]

28. Thanks!

[still_one]

8. I think it is possible

why else would Leahey call for a delay

[Innocent Smith]

14. no

Look at the past successful filibusters. They were saying immediately after and during the hearings that the nominee was so bad that he/she needed to be filibustered. You have to set up in the public's mind that a filibuster is reasonable and you don't do that by being silent and then suddenly springing it. They should be saying "this guy is bad and needs to be filibustered" and they should be saying it now. They're not.

[Mind_your_head]

15. I'd like to leave 'hope alive'

and hope (and pray) and do my 'little bit' to push for a filibuster. I know I'll be contacting senators in the upcoming week (my own, as well as a few others).

I'm going to need some help from knowledgable DU'ers as to which moderate republican senators would be worth calling/writing.

[Cocoa]

18. maybe

but I'm assuming that they are truly undecided, and are going to continue to monitor public sentiment while they delay Alito, so I'm going to continue contacting senators, particularly Bill Nelson.

[Autumn Colors]

21. Is it possible....

that with a one-week delay, enough votes could be flipped to not need a filibuster?

[KoKo]

22. It's possible...and I hope so...but don't think it's probable because

this is their only chance to fillibuster. They might not want to lose it in case something more terrible comes along from Bush.

Or, as I said in another post...they are saving it in case Justice Stephens retires or dies and they will need to used it for his replacement.

:shrug:

[leftofthedial]

23. if not

then they had better prepare to be pissed on by both sides for the rest of their careers.

[zann725]

24. Sadly, I think they're wimping out at the last minute....as usual.

Sigh!

[Zodiak]

27. Just as a reminder of who is naughty and nice in our senate.

These are our best senators:
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR LIBERAL INDEX
-------------------------------------------
Harkin (Iowa) 89.2
Boxer (California) 85.7
Lautenberg (New Jersey) 85.7
Akaka (Hawaii) 78.6
Durbin (Illinois) 78.6
Kennedy (Massacheusetts) 78.6
Kerry (Massacheusetts) - DLC 78.6
Corzine (New Jersey) 71.4
Dayton (Minnesota) 71.4
Feingold (Wisconsin) 71.4
Levin (Michigan) 71.4
Mikulski (Maryland) 71.4
Reed (Rhode Island) 71.4
Sarbanes (Maryland) 71.4
Obama (Illinois) 67.9

These are our worst senators:
Cantwell (Washington) - DLC 42.9
Johnson (South Dakota) - DLC 42.9
Kohl (Wisconsin) - DLC 42.9
Baucus (Montana) - DLC 39.3
Conrad (North Dakota) - DLC 39.3
Feinstein (California) 39.3
Leiberman (Connecticut) - DLC 35.7
Carper (Deleware) - DLC 28.6
Lincoln (Arkansas) - DLC 21.4
Nelson (Florida) - DLC 21.4
Salazar (Colorado) - DLC 21.4
Pryor (Arkansas) - DLC 17.9
Landrieu (Louisianna) - DLC 14.3
Nelson (Nebraska) - DLC 0.0

Honestly, we should not tolerate these DINOs. Now they are selling out everything that is left of our liberties jockeying for position in a rigged election system. They are fucking insane tp try this again, and I am sick and tired of listening to their enablers and apologists cajole the left into not roasting them on a spit.

[rucky]

29. No, but I'm thinking Reid is still trying to wrangle up

a couple of holdouts (DiFi?)

[Tiggeroshii]

31. they don't have enough votes to sustain one

There are too many Dems already determined to vote for Alito. Unless those people are lying, it would be a waste of time for the Dems to try one.