High Noon in Senate on Alito

January 26, 2006 4:53 PM

With Senator Kerry now showing his filibuster, and Republican Senator George Allen pulling out his “nuclear option,” could the Democrats, considering the Republican numbers are slipping, possibly be doing some future-thinking political maneuvering with the intent of turning the showdown's resultant elimination of the filibustering of judicial nominations to their advantage since they are “giddy” about possibly taking control of the Senate after the mid-term elections and then the presidency in 08?
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III (25 comments total)

I'll see giddy when it happens.
posted by Balisong at 4:59 PM on January 26, 2006

Never has a FPP been posted with a more appropriate username.

Giddy? How about fairly patiently abiding their time in a reasonable chance that a short future timeframe will give them an opportunity to fix the pork and corruption that's monumentally rampant? No one is standing on the roof screaming.
posted by Kickstart70 at 5:06 PM on January 26, 2006

OMG...worst run-on sentence by a non-sequitar post EVAR?
posted by gigbutt at 5:07 PM on January 26, 2006

The Democrats have repeatedly told the Republicans that one day the tables will turn and they will have to live by the rules they created. I can't wait until November.
posted by Mijo Bijo at 5:11 PM on January 26, 2006

Sweet Lord in Heaven, I hope Kerry isn't trying to run for President again in '08.
posted by eustacescrubb at 5:13 PM on January 26, 2006

Maybe.
posted by srboisvert at 5:15 PM on January 26, 2006

I already know how I'll respond to most of the republican candidates, but who really is worth running for the Democrats?
I'd still vote Liberman if offered.
posted by Balisong at 5:17 PM on January 26, 2006

Maybe Dean.
posted by Balisong at 5:17 PM on January 26, 2006

not Kerry.
posted by Balisong at 5:18 PM on January 26, 2006

call or email your senators

Finally my party's showing balls--way too late, but Alito will tip the court for the next 30 years, and cannot be allowed to take a seat.

And with all the Republican indictments and scandals, the GOP better tread carefully--they're in no position to break Senate rules with their "nuclear option".

Majority would oppose Alito if he would overturn Roe
posted by amberglow at 5:18 PM on January 26, 2006

Kerry is probably doing this with an eye toward '08. Nonetheless, it's a good thing, whatever his motives.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 5:20 PM on January 26, 2006

Yeah, sorry about the long horrible run-on, but after previewing it I kinda thought it was a fitting way to get ready for a similar long-winded filibuster event.
posted by Sir BoBoMonkey Pooflinger Esquire III at 5:21 PM on January 26, 2006

P.S.:

Senate toll-free hotline:

888-828-4177

This will connect you with any Senator's office.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 5:22 PM on January 26, 2006

I'd still vote Liberman if offered.

Shut your filthy wordhole.
posted by iron chef morimoto at 5:22 PM on January 26, 2006

Could you repeat the question?
posted by 2sheets at 5:22 PM on January 26, 2006

John Kerry pretty much blew any credibility he had with me after laying down and handing over the election without even the hint of a fight.

I'm glad they are going to filibuster because Alito is a seriously dangerous nominee.

I am calling Diane Feinstein tonight to register my desire that she represent my wishes as one of her constituents.

I'm sick and tired of the Democrats waiting for the Republicans to play nice. They aren't going to.
posted by fenriq at 5:23 PM on January 26, 2006

Kerry just posted this at DailyKos.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 5:23 PM on January 26, 2006

I'll be refreshingly off-topic for a change, merely because I am only human and cannot resist:

Best. Username. Ever.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:23 PM on January 26, 2006

Balisong, I'd vote Green Party before I gave Chinless Joe Lieberman my vote. Hell, I'd give Al Sharpton my vote before Lieberman.
posted by fenriq at 5:24 PM on January 26, 2006

...Well, if the Democratic leadership truly has the guts to take a run at being the majority party again in November, they’ll reject Alito faster than Shaquille O’Neal could smack down a junior-high point guard.
...Democrats chose to let John Roberts Jr. pass based primarily on his testimony before the Judiciary Committee, where he agreed that Roe v. Wade was “settled law” and thus bound by precedent.
Alito refused to make such a statement. Between that, and his record indicating that he would vote to overturn Roe in a heartbeat, the time has come for a blockade of Bush’s appointment.
What are we saving it for, the next Supreme Court pick Bush gets? The one after that?
While this country is as divided as it's been in my lifetime, one thing that’s common across all ideological lines is that Americans like people with backbone, who stand up for what they believe in. Now is the time for Senate Democrats to do exactly that.
Is Bush too popular to mess with? Hardly. ...
posted by amberglow at 5:25 PM on January 26, 2006

I'd vote Green Party before I gave Chinless Joe Lieberman my vote.

At first I misread that as "I'd vote Green Party or Chinese before I vote for Joe" (I'm skimming and I'm drunk.)

Then I thought about it for a sec, and I thought, "Yeah, I'd probably vote for a Red Chinese Communist before I voted for Joe Lieberman..."
posted by Cyrano at 5:33 PM on January 26, 2006

Kennedy's statement: “Other than voting to send our men and women to war, there is no more important vote in the Senate than our vote on a Supreme Court nominee. This is a vote of a generation and a test of conscience. Judge Alito does not share the values of equality and justice that make this country strong. He does not deserve a place on the highest court of the land.
We owe it to future generations of Americans to oppose this nomination. If Judge Alito is confirmed, he will serve on the court long after President Bush leaves office, and the progress of half a century on the basic rights of all Americans is likely to be rolled back. He’s the wrong justice for justice and the rule of law in America.”
posted by amberglow at 5:42 PM on January 26, 2006

I could give a fuck what his motives are - I'm incredibly glad that he's stepping up to do this. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
posted by youarenothere at 5:42 PM on January 26, 2006

Feingold/Obama?
posted by EarBucket at 5:43 PM on January 26, 2006

I'm a Democrat -- but can you see anyone beating McCain?
The point about the '08 election is moot.
posted by narebuc at 5:44 PM on January 26, 2006