Reid is not supporting the filibuster according to MSNBC!!

[wisteria]

It seems he is supporting the DLC on this one.



Democratic Leader Harry Reid signaled as much in remarks on the Senate floor. He offered no support for Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry and others whose push for a filibuster represents a last stand against Alito’s ascension.

“There’s been adequate time for people to debate,” Reid said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11043580/

[Mass]

1. Did somebody call his office and know where he stands.

I had felt since the beginning of the week that Reid was unwilling to push a filibuster, but did somebody confirm how he would vote.

[WI_DEM]

2. I read the article but nowhere does it say that Reid woudn't

support a filibuster if it came down to it. But if that is the case, I'm disappointed becuz I think Harry has been doing a great job up to now.

[1620rock]

3. What's wrong with this wimp??? n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

9. Nothing Is Wrong With This Strong Leader.

[Wordie]

39. Oh jeez...the media takes a comment out of context, so what's new?

DUers should know better than to jump at the bait.

[ananda]

4. I mean, what the fukk...

... is going on with Reid and other Dems who won't support
a filibuster?

If any nominee deserved a filibuster more, I can't think of one.

Alito is the worst nominee possible.

Again, what the fukk is going on there?

How did the Dems get intimidated or bought off?

I want to know... dammit.

Sue

[Straight Shooter]

7. Sometimes an animal which has been attacked will surrender to its predator

It goes limp and enters a state of shock, and that eases somewhat the suffering during its demise. Perhaps that is what is happening to the Democratic party. :(

I will now go to my profile and change my "Give Em Hell Harry" to something else.

-------------

edit: Avatar changed to reflect my perception of events. Unfortunately, I didn't find an icon which shows the Constitution in flames. That would have been my preference.

[bbinacan]

11. Principles damnit

Filibuster the asshole. Make a statement. Just damnit.:mad: :grr: :banghead:

[Occulus]

27. I would agree.

There WILL NOT be a more deserving appointee of a filibuster- UNLESS Bush gets to nominate a THIRD SCOTUS Justice.

That MAY be what they think they're waiting for. Janice was bad, Sam is worse... third time is the charm.

MAYBE.

(DEMS: In poker, or Magic, or whatever card game you name, the final is the worst. AN UNUSED GOOD CARD IS AS BAD AS A BAD CARD.The Pubs are treating this like a football game- in consistency with their membership- and WE HAVE TO THINK LIKE THAT to stop them.)

So, given that.... what's the next play?

[madame defarge]

5. And you believe MSNBC? n/t

[Charlie Brown]

6. A sensible decision by Reid

Sorry, folks, but with Johnson, Byrd, Nelson, Landrieu, and Lincoln opposing the option, there is no filibuster.

Reid is making the correct call.

[cascadiance]

15. What about all of the others that are supporting the fillibuster!

Why should he be f'in them? I think EVERY senator that doesn't support fillibuster owes us the truth on their position and an explanation WHY they don't support, and how they aren't dismissing their constituency in doing so as being "irrelevant".

I still wonder if Reid's "pro-life" colors are showing here. Perhaps this was just a covered strategy of his and the DLC's part (that helped put him in power) to help the DLC with their agenda to put a pro-corporate shill on the court (and help him with his pro-life constituency by not having him be "successful" at bringing down the pro-life's "savior" from the court).

[Charlie Brown]

17. It's called reality

filibustering Alito is a lost cause, and it does no good for Reid to back something that he and everyone else knows will fail. It will only serve as a "statement" that many Dems oppose Alito. Nothing more. The filibuster has become a non-issue.

Reid is wise to distance himself from it.

[jsamuel]

20. that is bull, the statement was made YESTERDAY the same time he said a FIL

IBUSTER was not off the table.

The MSM is trying to get us to be like you and GIVE UP. Because they know it all depends on us calling our senators to get support for a filibuster.

You want to do this? Go ahead, but leave the rest of DU out of it.

[cascadiance]

34. Damn right it is a statement... A statement that Dems NEED now!

if they want to keep a fraction of their base... That is that they have a SPINE!

If a football team decides not to play games against teams like USC, etc. because "it's called reality that they'll lose", do you think they'll get many people attending games that they can win? NO! They watch them because they play the game! I want a party that tries to play the game! Every once in a while you'll get some team like North Dakota State just out of division II that can actually beat a ranked Wisconsin basketball team on its home floor, which just happened last weekend. THAT is why you play the games!

Whether Alito is pushed out or not isn't the most important issue, though it is a close second. The first issue is whether the Democratic Party represents us enough to try and do what it can to win these battles. Do you really think that they will lose that many votes by trying a fillibuster they lose? If they give up without trying, then I'm sorry how do you expect us to vote for them, if it looks like they're a vacuous party that can't win anyway, and they will lose FAR MORE with the base that counts in defining what the party should be.

We already have dreadfully low voter participation in this country. Can you BLAME them, when they see attitudes like this in letting a dictatorship creep up on us? Why should they care if they think that Democracy doesn't exist for them any more.

[Charlie Brown]

42. Why do Democrats need a "statement?"

If anything, I think Dems need actual victories that we can boast of, rather than grandstanding on lost causes. Prolonging a defeat will not help the party in the long run.


"Do you really think that they will lose that many votes by trying a fillibuster they lose?"

I think it's a waste of time on an issue that will be long forgotten by this November (this is the American voter we're talking about), and I don't like seeing gov't officials on the public dime waste time. If we had the votes for a filibuster, maybe I'd support it. We don't.

"If they give up without trying, then I'm sorry how do you expect us to vote for them, if it looks like they're a vacuous party that can't win anyway, and they will lose FAR MORE with the base that counts in defining what the party should be."

You can vote for who you want to, or stay at home. "A vacuous party that can't win anything?" Alito's confirmation was a done deal the moment he was announced. Better to cut our losses and move on to an issue that we can win on.

"they will lose FAR MORE with the base that counts in defining what the party should be."

Are "the base" honestly happier with Republicans in office? Some supporters.

Go vote Green, or stay at home if you want, but don't complain when Republicans pick up more seats.

[cascadiance]

43. Bottom line, they had 44 votes to do a fillibuster. They needed 41...

If they don't use those 44 votes to force a fillibuster, then THEY are the ones responsible for this being a losing cause, NOT "something else". Why can't I expect our leadership to do a fillibuster. If the Republicans had 44 votes in the same position, you know DAMN WELL, there would have been a fillibuster in the same situation. The bottom line is that this party has a cancer in it, and it needs to be excised by us in the party to kick it out! That's what we're talking about.

There are many here, *not* corporations, that feel that this was THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTE for them to take this year, this decade, and perhaps this century, if our fears of what could happen in the judiciary happen later with Alito on the bench. They were basically telling us, that for them, doing a fillibuster wasn't as important to them as other things. Had they done the fillibuster and lost, they would have at least shown that they had the same priorities that we did, even if they lost. Without them doing this, they show that they are out of touch with those who they are *supposed* to represent. I'm sorry, but I don't buy that the average American won't forget this by November. Those that have traditionally called themselves Democrats, will have the memories of elephants on this one, even if they've voted traditionally as donkeys.

I don't like calling the Democratic Party dead any more than you do, but they are, when they don't represent us, but try just to reinforce the one party status quo and keep their jobs as those that would reinforce this instead of launching a true opposition to this one party rule play we have going now. We may have to start over, and it might take years, but it was these Democrats that are supposed to represent us that didn't do what they were supposed to do that generated this split. I'm sorry, but I'm not the only one that is feeling this way today. And this DLC-influenced remnant of a party should be more concerned about losing those in its base than those "moderates" they claim to represent (which is a myth).

[rzemanfl]

8. Well the Dems are looking no smarter than * if this is true. n/t

[Horse with no Name]

10. He never indicated such a thing--totally making it up as they go along

"Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he and other Democrats had refused to agree to a timetable for ending debate. “There’s some division in our caucus,” he conceded.
Democratic Leader Harry Reid signaled as much in remarks on the Senate floor. He offered no support for Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry and others whose push for a filibuster represents a last stand against Alito’s ascension.
“There’s been adequate time for people to debate,” Reid said.

Why would they divulge their game plan?
He didn't have to support their filibuster TODAY.
They are just making it up as they go along.

[WI_DEM]

12. I thought there was a post about Kerry's filibuster saying that Reid

supported it.

[Coexist]

13. Not according to this thead - from DUs hompage - Reid on board.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2394262

[bluethruandthru]

14. I'll definitely remember the Senators who supported the filibuster

when the time comes to support a presidential candidate. This party desperately needs leadership... not those that are cowed by the bully republicans!

[ProSense]

16. According to this article that quote is from yesterday

I say contact Reid, but what the hell is the media trying to pull?

Reid won't support filibuster on Alito

WASHINGTON Senator Harry Reid opposes Samuel Alito but the Democratic leader is signaling he will NOT back a filibuster to keep him off the Supreme Court.

Massachusetts Democrats John Kerry and Ted Kennedy are among members of the rank-and-file who are threatening a filibuster in an attempt to block Alito's confirmation vote.

But so far, Reid is offering them no support.

The Nevada Democrat told reporters yesterday, quoting now, "There's been adequate time for people to debate."

Alito has well over 50 votes for confirmation. He gained the support today of Democrats Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Robert Byrd of West Virginia.



http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=4417565

[warbly]

18. a ha!

good find. so i can stop working on my Harry Reid voo doo doll for now.

we'll see. i am really suprised Reid isn't leading it himself.

what is the AP doing printing that sneaky crap. a quote before there was a filibuster, offering no support for a filibuster.

that's more than misleading, that's a friggin lie.

[Cocoa]

22. how weird for a news article to capitalize "not"

"WASHINGTON Senator Harry Reid opposes Samuel Alito but the Democratic leader is signaling he will NOT back a filibuster to keep him off the Supreme Court."

that looks SO* unorthodox to me...


*capitalization like that is common in message board posts, but really weird in a news article...

[Blue Belle]

19. Did he actually say that he didn't support a filibuster??

Or is this just how msRnc wants to spin it? I'd say it's spin and nothing else.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. The "not as bad party". Sold out, again, as usual.

Or, should I say, the "moderate wing" of the Capitalist/Nationalist Party has behaved as it usually does.

[oasis]

23. Reid is likely looking ahead to a battle on Bush's Patriot Act. (eom)

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. Did he say that or is that how the corporate owned media just TWISTED

his words?

[jsamuel]

25. twisted, the quote is from YESTERDAY, how is it that the quote means he

isn't supporting Kerry and Kennedy when they only announced the filibuster today? MISINFO!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. Heard the same thing on NPR. And, it sounds in character.

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. You heard what on RW NPR? That REID SAID he wasn't supporting a filibuster

??? Or was it the RWers on NPR Twisting what he actally said?

Has Reid said, "I do not support a filibuster" those 6 words? Or are the pundits making up their usual crap?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

30. Well, we shall see where he comes down.

As for NPR, it was on the top of the ATC news. Have you heard him say "I support a filibuster."?

[Cocoa]

29. TWISTED

no contest!

[Wind Dancer]

31. Do not believe the corporate owned media.

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. ALSO, I need to ask this: Would John Kerry actually release this

filibuster move WITHOUT Harry Reid's blessing? I highly doubt it!

[seabeyond]

33. i think reid was the one that was suppose to get it going.

i think that is why kerry wasnt out in front sooner. he was trying to convince reid. a couple days ago i had gotten the impression reid was the one in line to call for it.

[Neil Lisst]

35. How did this turkey become Minority leader?

He can't speak without reading from his notes, he's ineffective, and he's weak.

And his timeline on Indian matters looks bad.

[Wordie]

40. Jeez! Don't you remember the Senate walkout???

Would it have been better if he had announced his plans to shut down the Senate ahead of time, in your opinion?

Reid has been GREAT for the Democratic party! I really thought the naysaying would stop for a while, now that we've got a filibuster effort going. Negative comments like these sap the energy of those who are working their a**es off, trying to make it happen!

And then think STRATEGY: would it make sense for Reid to lead the effort? No, at this point, when the numbers are so far against us, it's better Reid keep his opinions to himself, and wait to see if Kerry can muster the needed votes. Who knows what may be going on behind the scenes.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how people on a political board can be so naive about politics!

[DELUSIONAL]

36. He is bad news for the democratic party -- he is a DINO

he is a big phony -- unless he supports a filibuster -- then I will apologize -- otherwise I will keep calling him a DINO.

[helderheid]

37. NO ... WAY!

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

38. Need we point out that it was Couric on NBC who told us today

that Democrats took money from Abramoff too?

How much credence do we give to all these unconfirmed reports?

Step back and wait for the dust to settle. Things will be much clearer without the duststorm.

[Vidar]

41. Consider the source.

[NYCGirl]

44. Reid isn't even mentioned in the article you cite! What's the story?? NT