Fienstein and Reid talking about NOT filibustering Roberts, heard on AAR

[Melodybe]

GOD DAMN IT, I'm calling them right now to complain!

you can to 202 224 3121, just ask for their offices.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I have sent already a scolding letter to

Diana, and will NOT vote for her in '06.... enough people do this, who knows maybe the green candidate will get elected... no way I will vote for the repuke... but diane is a repuke but in name only

[Lecky]

5. Yeah let's vote Green and let the Republicans keep winning

Soon the entire Supreme Court will be filled with RW blowhards.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. You are right I coudl vote for the Republican and just get over it

Diane Feinstein is NOT working for my interests, got it? She is a Republcian so your choice is vote for the wolf in sheeps clothing or the wolf..

On edit this is the problem with many Republcians, they will vote for the person with the R regardless, you are telling me that you will vote for the person with the D regardless... should I intro you to the ... progressives of the late 19th century? They actually managed to get seats in both houses when people got so fed up they voted for them

[Lecky]

12. Hate to break it to you but Feinstein is not a Republican

She may lean a lot more to the right then yourself but she is on our team.

I think it's hilarious that you said:
"this is the problem with many Republicans, they will vote for the person with the R regardless"



How is that a problem with Republicans when they are winning elections? I think it's more of a problem for Democrats.

I live in the reality-based community that knows voting for a Green is like voting for a Republican. While I have some problems with my party, I am willing to put those aside come time to vote. We should be working on ways to improve our party and making it stronger, not bashing the people who are on our side.

Why can't you people see the sun through the clouds with this? This could eventually work in our favor! My Republican pro-choice friends are now realizing that Roe vs. Wade could very well be overturned...this does not make them happy. This very issue could turn swing states blue, now people are realizing that the Republican party is doing their best to take away women's rights. It's getting personal!

Unless Roberts does something crazy like eat an unborn fetus during the senate hearings it's most likely he will be confirmed. Bush is a conservative, you have to be a fool if you think he was going to pick some moderate. Instead of bashing democrats (the minority party remember), why not think of a way that this can help us come 08'?

BTW, I'm a pro-choice woman and I realize what's in stake but I refuse to wail like a banshee and bash my party when it's the republicans who are at fault.

I'm sorry but if there's one thing I can't take it's the DU'ers who constantly attack democrats at every turn. What good does that do? It just pisses people off and strengthens our opposition. To me, you guys are no better than them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. I usually do not atatck fellow Democrats

but she has gotten to the point that in good consience I cannot vote for her.

If you cannot accept that, fine, I don't care. At this point I hope the Democratic Party runs somebody ELSE... got that clear?

Thank you.

[Lecky]

16. So if she is running against a Republican are you going to vote

Republican?

I don't think you people understand the Supreme Court nomination process. You don't just oppose a nominee because they are a conservative...and that's what most of you are searching to do. I don't care what anyone says GWB has every right to nominate whoever he feels will do the best job.

If you want to attack his choice for some reason other than because he is a conservative that is fine. Anything else is just not gonna fly in the Senate. I don't think a lot of you comprehend that fact.

I have this fear that those of you in your angry rage are going to blame democrats when Roberts is confirmed when it seems inevitable to those who can see this for what it is. I don't think I will be able to stomach the Democrat bashing come October...

Let me repeat: YOU CANNOT ATTACK A SC NOMINEE JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE A PRO-LIFE CONSERVATIVE

...just like the repukes could not attack a SC nominee just because they were a pro-choice liberal. Got it?

[stray cat]

2. I think nothing should be decided until the senate questions Roberts

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. We need to question.. and here is one theory on how to do it

From PeaceFrog:... this article by law professor Bruce Ackerman, on how the Dem senators should handle questioning Bush's SC nominees:


"The president has repeatedly promised us justices like Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia, and I propose to take him at his word. If we simply take the trouble to read their opinions, it becomes evident that a Court dominated by Thomases and Scalias would launch a constitutional revolution on a scale unknown since the New Deal.

The Senate should also take the president seriously. Bush has already told us the kind of justices he wants, and if he has had a last-minute change of heart, it should be up to individual nominees to convince us that they are not in the Thomas-Scalia mold.

Placing this burden on the nominee permits senators to define a more decorous and consequential role for themselves in giving 'advise and consent'. Rather than browbeating nominees, senators should take the president at his word, unless the candidate convinces them otherwise. They should repeatedly confront nominees with the opinions of Thomas and Scalia, and ask them to state, clearly and without equivocation, whether they agree or disagree. This approach would focus public attention on the main issue:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. This is especially true of privacy rights

Thomas and Scalia believe the individual has NO rights, and that the state should be able to control things like forced sterilization, forbidding contraception, etc.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Exactly. I think that article depicted the perfect way to handle this

situation with "civility". And ** handed us the litmus test.

[wli]

8. "forced sterilization" is a euphemism

It's all about castrating gays and other undesirables. It's eugenics a.k.a. ethnic cleansing and mutilation.

[benddem]

3. Feinstein said

"we have to wait" meaning what comes out in the senate confirmation. It didn't sound like a done deal to me.

[stray cat]

9. Democrats are promoting judicial civility

Professional objectivity and tough pointed questioning. Repubs are painting dems as partisan knee jerkers. I think the dems and hopefully a few moderate repubs will do their jobs during the confirmation process and find out how bad Roberts really is. If he is bad enough I think they will fillibuster but they will really need some evidence to pull that off. Evidence they will only confirm during the confirmation process.

[KharmaTrain]

11. It's Still Too Soon...Good Thing Take Time

24 hours ago, no one here not only figured out the pick would be Roberts, but didn't even know of him...me, included. Sorry, count me out on running for the pitchforks and torches so quickly.

Just as much as I detest the stereotyping and close-minded lock-step ways of the Repugnican party, I hate it among Democrats and Progressives more. We're supposed to be critical thinkers...able to make up our own minds and not have someone tell us what to think on face value.

If Roberts is a bad candidate, his record and past will show it. There will be things that will surface during this process that will make or break his case.

Until Democrats control the House and Senate, you're not going to see a "moderate" or "reasonable" choice. These people have no concept of either. Thus we're faced, again, with another burning the village to save it situation.

Our future begins the day we start winning elections and showing a majority of the electorate that Repugnican rule has been a disaster and they shouldn't be in any position of responsibility for a long time. Their abuses now could be our salvation later.

I'm not supporting this nomination...i'm no opposing either. I'll wait til we get to the confirmation hearings and see where the political landscape is then. Things are starting to move in our favor...I would hate to see us not only lose that momentum, but play into the games and issues of the Repugnicans and corporate media.

Let's get this guy's record out...if people are pissed, then we show them the best alternative is to vote all Repugnicans out and NOW!

[Cocoa]

14. what could I possibly say to them?

"I heard some vague version about something you said and I was told to call you and complain."

[sandnsea]

15. Calm down

Decorum. Procedure. Appearances. It matters. We don't even have answers to questions yet. 90% of America doesn't even know a Supreme Court Justice has been nonminated. You have to let the people catch up. It's WAY too soon for any responsible legislator to be talking about filibuster.

Newsflash, we were never going to get a pro-choice selection. Never.

[blondeatlast]

17. Can you be more specific?

I didn't hear it, so I need some direction...