http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060128/ap_on_go_su_co/alito_democrats

Quote :

" Democrats Squabble Over Alito Filibuster By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent 15 minutes ago Long-smoldering Democratic dissension flared openly Friday as liberals sought support for a last-minute filibuster of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito against the advice of leaders worried about a backlash in the 2006 elections. "I reject those notions that there ought to somehow be some political calculus about the future. ... The choice is now," said Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the party's 2004 presidential candidate and a White House hopeful for 2008. He said it was imperative to fight for "those people who count on us to stand up and protect them." Two of the party's Senate leaders, Harry Reid of Nevada and Charles Schumer of New York, privately made clear their unhappiness with the strategy, even though they, too, oppose Alito's confirmation. And Rep. Harold Ford (news, bio, voting record), seeking a Senate seat in Republican-leaning Tennessee, dismissed the filibuster approach openly. "It does not appear that there is any reason to hold up a vote. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will move quickly to bring this process to a dignified end," he said. Despite a decision by Kerry, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) and others to try to block a final vote, leaders of both parties agreed that Alito's confirmation was assured for Tuesday. The 55-year-old appeals court judge would replace Sandra Day O'Connor, who has cast deciding votes in recent years in 5-4 rulings on controversial issues such as abortion rights, affirmative action and the death penalty. Democrats fear he would shift the court rightward on those and other issues. Because of moves by Kerry, Kennedy and others, supporters of Alito's nomination must produce 60 votes on Monday to advance his nomination — and an Associated Press tally shows at least 62. That would clear the way for a final vote on Tuesday. The AP tally shows at least 53 Republicans and three Democrats intend to vote to confirm Alito, well over the required majority. Reid announced he would side with Alito's critics on Monday, though on Thursday he had made clear his unhappiness with their strategy. "There has been adequate time for people to debate," he had said Thursday. "I hope this matter will be resolved without too much more talking." Those remarks drew a pointed rebuttal from the NAACP and People for The American Way, two organizations that often work closely with Democrats in Congress. "With just two days of debate having passed, this must rank among the shortest debates for a controversial Supreme Court nomination in modern times," they said in a written statement. Democrats have been arguing for several days whether to attempt a filibuster designed to keep Alito off the bench, according to officials familiar with the deliberations. These officials said both Reid and Schumer of New York, who heads the party's effort to gain Senate seats in 2006, have stressed the drawbacks. Among them were the certainty of defeat, the impression of political weakness that would convey and the potential impact on candidates on the ballot in 2006 in Republican-leaning states. Both men oppose Alito's confirmation. Israel Klein, Schumer's spokesman, said late in the day Friday that the New York senator "has privately expressed some concerns about how to move forward procedurally, but he strongly opposes Judge Alito's nomination and would support any attempts to keep him off the Supreme Court." Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, sided with Kennedy, Kerry and others, contending Alito's record was troubling enough to warrant a filibuster, and that in political terms, core Democratic voters would be energized by a last-ditch stand. Among the rank and file, there was opposition to a filibuster from several lawmakers, including liberal Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and North Dakota's Kent Conrad, a moderate who is on the ballot this fall in a Republican state. Democratic officials said Mikulski had said during this week's closed-door caucus that the 2006 and 2008 elections were more important than a symbolic last stand that would fail to prevent Alito's confirmation. Her spokesman declined comment. The officials who described the comments did so on condition of anonymity, citing the private nature of the discussions. In an interview, Conrad said that in remarks to fellow Democrats at the caucus, he outlined several factors. These included Alito's strong backing from the American Bar Association, his uncontested confirmation 15 years ago to the appeals court, public opinion polls and the fact that Republicans had voted overwhelmingly to confirm Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer when President Clinton nominated them. "So I put that all together and I find it makes it hard to justify a filibuster," Conrad said. For the most part, Republicans were content to stand aside while Democrats aired their internal differences. But White House spokesman Scott McClellan couldn't resist a jab at Kerry, Bush's vanquished campaign rival from 2004. "I think even for a senator, it takes some pretty serious yodeling to call for a filibuster from a five-star ski resort in the Swiss Alps," he said. Kerry announced his support for a last stand against Alito from Switzerland, where he was attending the World Economic Forum. He flew home overnight to speak on the Senate floor."

1/27/2006 8:07:44 PM

Quote :

"Hil's for filibuster Takes rebel stand to oppose Alito OK for Supremes By RICHARD SISK DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Clinton yesterday backed a rebel band of Senate Dems seeking to filibuster a vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Samuel Alito. Democratic leaders had warned that filibuster efforts were going nowhere and would let President Bush score easy political points, but Clinton said, "I oppose his nomination and support efforts to block his confirmation." "I do not think Judge Alito would advance the principles Americans hold most dear," she said, adding she would vote against a move to cut off a filibuster should one occur. Any senator can filibuster - or command the floor to block a vote. It takes 60 votes to invoke cloture to end a filibuster. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) made it clear earlier in the day that the party didn't have the votes to defeat a cloture vote, so a filibuster was doomed to failure. Nevertheless, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) have pushed for a filibuster, a move that delights Republicans. "If the Democratic left does a filibuster led by Kerry, that's found money for us," a top GOP official said. The filibuster tactic could have repercussions for Clinton. Her move is bound to be seen as an appeal to the liberal base that dominates the Democratic presidential primaries, following several Senate votes that could be seen as attempts to move to the center. In an interview on the "CBS Evening News," Bush said of Clinton's 2008 chances, "She's formidable." A spokesman for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he had made no decision on a filibuster and declined comment on Clinton's move. "

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/386437p-327892c.html

[Edited on January 28, 2006 at 5:17 PM. Reason : editing]

1/28/2006 5:16:46 PM

JOHN KERRY LOOKS FRENCH

1/28/2006 5:19:23 PM

I BET HE FIGHTS LIKE A FRENCHMAN TOO

1/28/2006 5:21:12 PM

who let you in?

1/28/2006 5:24:33 PM

who let you out?

1/28/2006 5:25:23 PM

Quote :

"Democrats fear he would shift the court rightward on those and other issues."

i know, how DARE those dirty republicans actually push their own agenda. BASTARDS!

btw, has anyone figured out why the dems don't like him, or is it because of the "R" beside his name?

1/29/2006 6:09:37 PM

god i cant wait til republicans are not in charge anymore

1/29/2006 6:40:27 PM

Quote :

" btw, has anyone figured out why the dems don't like him, or is it because of the "R" beside his name?"

I think some of the fuss is just because he’s right of center on most issues (which worries some dems especially with abortion), but its not unexpected to get someone like him while a conservative is in office. I think any Dem in power would want to nominate an equal but opposite if they had the chance.

The most legitimate criticism I’ve heard is over his views on executive power combined with a president in power who is pushing the limits already. I think republicans can get concerned over this too. But I don’t think its worth a filibuster attempt on behalf of the democrats which was obviously going to fail from the beginning, it only makes them look weak.

But at the very least I’m comforted with the fact that if the executive is allowed to expand, then the next Dem in power can go crazy with it.

1/29/2006 6:46:23 PM

Quote :

"The most legitimate criticism I’ve heard is over his views on executive power combined with a president in power who is pushing the limits already"

not to mention anti-environmentalist policies, anti-women's rights policies, etc

1/29/2006 7:07:37 PM

I heard he once ate a baby and raped an 80 year old woman at the same time.

1/29/2006 7:23:22 PM

i heard she was 82.

1/29/2006 7:35:44 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060129/ap_on_go_su_co/alito

Quote :

" Sen. Obama Criticizes Filibuster Tactic By HOPE YEN, Associated Press WriterSun Jan 29, 2:49 PM ET To more effectively oppose Supreme Court nominees in the future, Democrats need to convince the public "their values are at stake" rather than use stalling tactics to try to thwart the president, said a senator who opposes Samuel Alito's confirmation. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., predicted on Sunday that an effort to try to block a final vote on Alito would fail on Monday. That would clear the way for Senate approval Tuesday of the federal appeals court judge picked to succeed the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Democrats fear he would shift the court rightward on abortion rights, affirmative action, the death penalty and other issues. "We need to recognize, because Judge Alito will be confirmed, that, if we're going to oppose a nominee that we've got to persuade the American people that, in fact, their values are at stake," Obama said. "There is an over-reliance on the part of Democrats for procedural maneuvers," he told ABC's "This Week." Sens. John Kerry and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts are urging fellow Democrats to support a filibuster, citing in part Alito's conservative record on abortion and deference to executive power. Alito's supporters must produce 60 votes to cut off a filibuster; an Associated Press tally shows at least 62. The AP tally also shows that at least 53 Republicans and three Democrats intend to vote to confirm Alito; that is well over the required majority. President Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address that senators should have an up-or-down on a nominee "who understands that the role of a judge is to strictly interpret the law." Obama cast Alito as a judge "who is contrary to core American values, not just liberal values." But Obama joined some Democrats, including Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Charles Schumer of New York, in expressing his unhappiness with the filibuster bid. "There's one way to guarantee that the judges who are appointed to the Supreme Court are judges that reflect our values. And that's to win elections," Obama said. Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record), D-Del., said he, too, would support the filibuster attempt but agreed that it was not particularly wise. "I think a filibuster make sense when you have a prospect of actually succeeding," Biden said on CNN's "Late Edition." "I will vote one time to say to continue the debate. but the truth of the matter" is that Alito will be confirmed, he said."

1/30/2006 12:56:12 AM

Quote :

"Democrats imploding from within disagree over filibuster"

1/30/2006 4:11:17 AM

how do you implode from without?

1/30/2006 7:44:31 AM

I support this guy except when it comes to his views on exective power. He seems to be pro-business/capitalist and anti-socialist. This pleases me greatly.

1/30/2006 8:24:31 AM

Quote :

"god i cant wait til republicans are not in charge anymore"

Well you will be waiting a while then, because I expect the Republicans to pick up more seats in '06 and a Republican presidential victory in '08. However bad the Republicans are, the Democrats are ten times worse. They have no plan except to raise taxes.

1/30/2006 8:26:37 AM

oh, well... if you're expecting them to win, then sure.

1/30/2006 10:47:31 AM

There is the very very strong chance that Republicans will pick up at least 2 seats in the Senate.

1/30/2006 4:03:27 PM

Quote :

"how do you implode from without?"

are you serious?

take a ball of anything, then coat it in something. if you evaporate the coating, the interior of the ball will implode.

so, the ball in our case is the Democratic Party, the coating is the Alito nomination, and the filibuster is the means of evaporation

[Edited on January 30, 2006 at 5:01 PM. Reason : editing]

1/30/2006 4:58:54 PM

k, thanks, sorry i didn't pay any attention in physics 1 or 2 when they must have thoroughly gone over the mechanics of implosion

1/31/2006 7:34:52 AM

i mean, did you ever pay attention in any of your classes?

1/31/2006 7:41:59 AM

I say scrap the party and start over - the kids need something new and flashy to wow them into politics.

1/31/2006 9:34:31 AM

i'm assuming you are being sarcastic, tim, but that's fine. that principle is how the National Ignition Facility. laser ablation of gold-coated tritium-deuterium ice to create fusion

1/31/2006 4:53:12 PM