Source tells me Kerry is now openly in favor of a filibuster

[WilliamPitt]

The message:

"Kerry is now publicly in support of a filibuster and he is currently working with colleagues in the Senate to get the necessary support - 41 votes"

Looking for added info to support this.

[Dinger]

1. Boy, If He Can Pull This Off, I'd Give Him Another Look (nt)

[no_more_rhyming]

20. He has nothing to lose?

[BrendaStarr]

114. Democratic Senators represent more Americans Pass it on!

I have a chart that I made up so you could point to something if you have a blog are working mixed forums or whatever, but the idea did come from someone on NPR, maybe a senator so I want no credit.

This should put an end to Republican claims that Democrats are subverting democracy by fillibuster, but only if we inform enough people.

http://members.aol.com/bushliedpepldied/demsvreps.html

BTW, I just posted elsewhere that we should spend an hour each day in mixed venues if we want to win the elections this year, but if we want to win this one we should be spending every spare minute getting the word out.

Try friends, family, mixed forums.

Meet here for new ideas, facts.

We've all called our senators ourselves. We need to convince more people to do so.

That's not going to happen here probably.

We have won before over the repeal of the corporate AMT tax, and over campaign finance, but more people seemed to be active in mixed forums in those days.


http://brst.livejournal.com / <--Common Sensibility

[samhsarah]

136. Thanks for posting that chart!

Great work!

[madame defarge]

2. Confirmed!

I talked to his office about 30 minutes ago about the same thing. Their advice: call senators around the country and ask them to join in!

Get those phones working, folks.

Here's the cross-reference to my earlier post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Dinger]

7. O.K., How Long Do We Have To Call?? (nt)

[blm]

It's all about getting the 40 other senators. There is no filibuster to be

had without that magic number.

[Sapphire Blue]

49. Capitol toll-free number: 1-800-426-8073

Edited to add: Number courtesy of AFSC.

Please also consider calling your Rep to oppose the budget cuts bill; it will be coming up for final vote in the House on Feb. 1.

For more info:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[BuyingThyme]

3. So, this means that he's in favor of NOT ENDING a would-be filibuster?

If so, big deal. That's known as common courtesy, isn't it?

Who's gonna really do it?

[emulatorloo]

9. read it again -- he is working to get support from other senators EOM

[BuyingThyme]

13. Are you saying he's gonna be the Filibusterer?

I can't read that into the post; can you?

[LSK]

17. nobody is "the filibuster" - it just means they vote not to vote yet

Cloture vote means you are ending debate and moving on towards final debate and vote.

Filibuster means keeping the debate going and not going to cloture.

[rockymountaindem]

92. It's not the days of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" anymore

One Senator cannot sustain a fillabuster all alone anymore. This fallacy that a lot of people around here seem to believe in is really damaging our solidarity. What a shame.

[BuyingThyme]

97. Please provide a source or argument to back up your statement that,

"One Senator cannot sustain a fillabuster all alone anymore."

Thank you.

[rockymountaindem]

117. Check the Wikipedia article, for one thing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fillabuster#Current_practi...

[BuyingThyme]

119. Are you filibustering?

[TayTay]

18. That's not how it works.

At some point in time, Sen. Frist will file a cloture petition to cut off further debate. This is IF he has not reached an agreement with Sen. Reid about a date and time for a vote. (I had heard that Frist was pushing for Friday for the vote on Alito.) So, for a while there, there wasn't even a need to file for cloture.

This is indeed news. It means that one US Senator is pushing his Dem colleagues to try and extend the debate (or filibuster) on Alito. (I certainly hope that other Dems join this call. I am sure that Sens. Boxer, Kennedy and Feingold will, they are all very good Dems.) I hope he pulls it off. Now where's that number for Chafee, Collins and Snowe. I got some dialing to do. (I live in MA, so I will call surrounding states.)

[BuyingThyme]

34. That is how it works, sometimes.

I guess this is a Rule 22 thing?

http://rules.senate.gov/senaterules/rule22.php

[Viva_La_Revolution]

37. stop being a negative nelly damnit!

You're always trying to be contrary. darned unpleasant.

edit: missing word

[BuyingThyme]

41. I didn't post anything negative, but you did. Hypocrite.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

59. ok sorry

I must have mis-read these...

If so, big deal.
Who's gonna really do it?
In all offense to the DU world, this is exactly the vague kind
of statement that, in the end, may be more flip-flop-bashing bait.

sorry

[BuyingThyme]

68. Okay, it's make-believe time. What's negative?

Are you in favor of flip-flop bait? Is that why you see it as negative?

Are you unfamiliar with the fact that voting to uphold a filibuster of your own party is not a big deal? Is that why you see it as a negative?

Just let me know.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

75. SORRY

I MISREAD YOUR COMMENTS


can ya hear me now?

[debbierlus]

4. I believe it.

He is my senator and he is going to get a big thank you call.

He is a good man.

[WiseButAngrySara]

14. He is a VERY good man...and a VERY intelligent man...Antithesis of *.

n/t

[Reader Rabbit]

5. A Sliver of Hope, Pandora?

If this is true, outstanding! Make sure you find out what we can do to support the effort! I've got my 65-year-old retired mom (wo)manning her phone non-stop!

[doublethink]

12. Cheers!

to you and your mom! And welcome to DU! Never give up never surrender, it's not over folks! Peace.

[emulatorloo]

6. Go Kerry! and Good Luck to him. . .thanks for update, WilliamPitt n/t

[WildEyedLiberal]

8. Maybe this will shut up the idiotic bashers

Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part. After all, I'm pretty sure some of them are RW trolls.

Kerry sounded pissed off yesterday, and not just in a righteous "Alito is bad for the country" sort of way, either - he sounded pissed at something that had happened. My guess is that there is a faction in the Dem caucus who actively do not want a filibuster and are throwing every monkey wrench they can in the way of Kerry and others who do want a filibuster.

It is important for those of us who want to stop Alito to support Kerry and every other Senator who will stand up for us and filibuster by putting the pressure on those Dems who will not support us. Make the obstructionist Dems realize that they will lose enormous liberal support if they do not filibuster.

[stepnw1f]

19. I Wish it Would

but expect the trolls to bash him even more.

[donheld]

69. Some will bash him if he does - some will bash him if he doesn't

Sometimes you just can't win.

[whometense]

10. He did look incredibly

pissed off when he spoke yesterday, so I'm not surprised.

Good for him.

[ClayZ]

11. Take the lead, John Kerry!

[still_one]

15. if he does this he will have my support again

actions always speak louder than words

[TayTay]

24. If he does this, it will restore some of my respect for Dem Sens.

Kerry already said he was in favor of a filibuster last weekend. But no one else was saying anything with the new 'F' word in it.

If he is saying that today, then maybe some other Sens read that NYTimes editorial today, ate their Wheaties and decided to stand up for principle. That is wonderful and we should soon know how those folks are. (And they will all deserve credit.)

[still_one]

45. that is all I am asking

that we fight with everything we have, which includes filibuster. If we do everything possible, and still lose, at least we didn't lie down and take it like we have been doing for the last six years

[stepnw1f]

16. So Will... I Know You Want to Represent DU

and Liberals/Progressives on the White House Press Corp....

[Marnieworld]

28. He'd be sitting in the back

Right next to Helen Thomas and all of the other America-haters. Like anyone would let Will ask a question? Puh-leezee! Author of The War on Iraq- What Team Bush Doesn't Want you to know? I'm surprised Will still has to ability to fly. He better keep eating red meat just to be on the safe side.

More on topic: I pray that this is true. I pray that Kerry and enough sane Senators are working hard to convince the fence-sitters that the time is now to fight and this battle must be won. Why did they become public servants anyway if not to preserve democracy and the Constitution. Please keep America alive Senators!

[stepnw1f]

31. ughhhhhhhhhhhhh.... (nt)

[FreedomAngel82]

93. This was reported here a few days ago I believe

Someone posted they called Kerry's office and the staffer told the caller what Kerry was up to. I'm glad to hear he's still working on this and I hope and pray he's successful. I've signed every petition I could, Emailed etc.

[w13rd0]

21. I would greatly appreciate.....

...Kerry taking point on this, and will now spend the next couple hours calling Senators other than my own (because I know Bond and Talent are Bush yes-men that are completely worthless sacks of shit) to encourage them to join Kerry in fillibustering this abysmal nominee.

[BuyingThyme]

22. In all offense to the DU world, this is exactly the vague kind

of statement that, in the end, may be more flip-flop-bashing bait.

[TayTay]

26. Again, Kerry said he wanted to support a filibuster last weekend

Where is the change that you write of?

[BuyingThyme]

36. What change did I write of?

[TayTay]

42. The remark about

'flip-flop.' Kerry said he was in favor of this before. He is still in favor of it. Now, who else will join him in this effort to uphold Democratic principle?

[BuyingThyme]

44. What change did I write of?

[TayTay]

47. The one that you won't acknowledge saying. Ahm, that one.

[BuyingThyme]

54. Why don't you just admit that you made it up, so we can move along?

I don't get it.

[TayTay]

58. Because I didn't

You said 'flip-flop' as in change what he said and what he supports.

Why can't you just admit, and move on? Geez, confession is good for the soul.

[BuyingThyme]

62. No, I said the vagueness was flip-flop bait. Why the dishonesty?

[TayTay]

72. I do not know

But I do hope that there is help available for people suffering from this dishonesty syndrome. They should really seek treatment. It is unfortunate that this has to go on, particularly on a thread that so many at DU have been waiting, indeed aching, to see.

There is always hope that the dishonest will see the light and admit their mistakes and move on.

[BuyingThyme]

77. But you won't, will you?

[ProSense]

86. Please read this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...



Kick!

[BuyingThyme]

98. Kerry really lost supporters AFTER the election when he said that,

knowing what he knows, he would still vote to give the president authority to go to war.

[karynnj]

118. That is totally untrue

[BuyingThyme]

123. I'm living proof, and there's plenty more. Why are you making this up?

[karynnj]

137. He did not say that after the election

That's what I question.

[BuyingThyme]

138. You're right. It was before.

For some reason, I thought he did it again. (After the debate?)

[karynnj]

121. Then you need to explain what you meant by flip/flop

It ususally means CHANGING - so what's the pretend innocence?

[BuyingThyme]

125. The point is that it's easy to accuse one of flip-flopping when

the position taken is vague.

[WilliamPitt]

46. Eh?

[TayTay]

63. Hey, nice work Will!

This is wonderful to hear. I hope that other Sens sign on to this.

[Laurab]

131. I don't see it as being "vague" at all

He supports, and is trying to get more support for a filibuster. Nothing vague about that. He can't do it alone. To my knowledge, he is the only one who is mentioning the word "filibuster" as if there is ANY potential for one.

I am curious about two things - why you are trying to argue with everyone in this thread, and why you are repeating a RW talking point "flip flop" over and over?

[BuyingThyme]

133. I made the point, you're the one arguing. Why is that?

And why is it that you don't see that?

And why are you using the RW talking point?

Hilarious.

[Laurab]

134. oKAY then...

of course...my mistake.

[johnaries]

23. Woo Hoo! K & R!

[ProSense]

25. Go JK! Sign the

petition and send him a message:

http://www.johnkerry.com/action/alito/

[One_of_8]

67. Done

and I included language that said I would be watching to see which Democrats would stand with John Kerry and fight for our Constitution, and which ones would not.

[iconoclastNYC]

27. See he belongs in the Senate.

He's a good senator, bad presidential candidate.

[seabeyond]

38. he won. cant be a bad candidate if you win n/t

[iconoclastNYC]

65. You can talk about electoral fraud

But to say he won just makes you look like you're living in a different universe.

Als I'd say that winning yet conceding defeat probably is the worst quality in a candidate.

[seabeyond]

66. repug all the way. k..... cant prove stolen so cant say, and if so

then he failed on that part.

yup, i know this one well. wink

oh oh with a little jab along the way that i am stupid, from another universe, dont know what i am talking about

i think you picked that up ..... perfectly

[iconoclastNYC]

78. Are you accusing me of being a Republican?

Take a look at my blog or look over my posting history and say that again.

[seabeyond]

79. i wouldnt do such a thing. but i do see that we have picked up "tools"

from them. yes,

but who am i to know shit about you. and i have no desire to research you. i am quite comfortable in totally embracing all the dem that you are. (you will see in my past posts, i am not a dem. certainly wouldnt judge you)

i was merely commenting on your post. i see this style of answer..... often. from repugs. further we have had threads on just that. i thought it was funny, when i read your response.

[iconoclastNYC]

80. I thought it was funny that you say Kerry won

When he's not the president. Say : "Bush cheated to win" but if Kerry won he'd be in the White House.

Saying things that are false undermines your credibility, this is a fact of life, if that makes me sound like a Republican to you then I don't know what to say.

[seabeyond]

81. of course you knwo what to say

you said it.

so we both had a good little giggle

[grace0418]

127. Saying things that are false DOES undermine one's

credibility. But I happen to believe (backed by strong evidence) that Kerry DID win the election. No false statements there. BushCo stole the presidency. Kerry won the election.

Believe what you will though.

[FreedomAngel82]

95. Nope

He is my president since he did win and he'd be the perfect president. If you don't know about his senate history than you need to learn about him and BCCI and Iran/Contra to start off with. He's been fighting terrorism and corruption for a long time.

[mzmolly]

29. Wow, I hope we get 41!!!

Go JK!

[seabeyond]

30. not KERRY...... AGAIN, kerry takes the lead role? wow, another kick ass

dem. twinklin. just cause this is so much fun.

[jillan]

32. Maybe this is why there are so many dems that have not voted yet?!

Levin, Lincoln, Pryor, Rockefeller, Sarbanes,

(Snowe -R
chafee) , Akaka, Bayh, Bingaman, Byrd Cantwell, Carper, conrad, Dayton, Dorgan Jeffords Landrieu
Lauthenberg Lieberman.

That's alot of phone calls right there.

[sundancekid]

60. noone has VOTED yet ... we need the names of the lilly-livered ones

from the dem side who won't support a filibuster and plague them with calls ...

does ANYBODY have any intelligence on that info???

yo, Pitt, how about using your source to get us a scoop NOW!!!!!

[Coexist]

33. can't get through - which Senators do we need to contact

I have contacted mine several times - but it might be best to narrow our fight down to the ones that count (the "swing-voters" as it were. he he he)

[jillan]

35. EVERYONE - look at post #25 by ProSense

If you haven't done it - NOW is the time.
Or do it again.

Maybe Kerry will use this petition?!

[savemefromdumbya]

39. C'mon KERRY let's do it!

the filibuster that is

[porphyrian]

40. Yay, Kerry's waking up! Two years late, but OK! - n/t

[seabeyond]

43. blshit, he has been the strong dem voice for quite a while now

total and utter bullshit.

[porphyrian]

57. That means so much coming from you.

[seabeyond]

64. kuuuul

[pstokely]

48. scratch at least 2 off of the list

Nelson and Johnson, if Jeffords joins it could reach 41

[helderheid]

50. Thanks Will!

[donheld]

51. Please Mr Kerry Please

Make it happen.

[ClayZ]

52. Send this one too!

http://ga3.org/campaign/Alito


Senator Barack Obama
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Edward Kennedy
Senator Harry Reid
Senator Hillary Clinton
Senator Joe Lieberman


Act NOW to demand a filibuster of the Alito nomination to demonstrate the importance of the Supreme Court and the future of Americans for years to come.

50 years of civil, human and women's rights advances are at stake - from Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

If Judge Alito is confirmed to the Supreme Court, the civil rights gains made over the last five decades will indisputably be reversed, along with the expansion of job opportunities, woman's right to choose without prohibitions and insurmountable obstacles, campaign finance reform, the right to be free of state-sponsored discrimination, and the protection of Americans' civil liberties in times of national crisis.

Based on Judge Alito's record, rulings and recent testimony, we are more convinced than ever that his confirmation will solidify the concerted right-wing strategy developed during the Reagan administration to radically remake the federal judiciary. It has become clear that this systematic conservative take-over will come to fruition with Judge Alito's confirmation.

Judge Alito must be kept off of the Supreme Court. On critical issues such as privacy rights, civil rights, and the limits of executive power, Judge Alito does not have an "open mind."

ACT NOW. PETITION YOUR REPRESENTATIVES to take a leadership role to filibuster the Alito nomination. The stakes could not be higher.

This action alert is drawn from a statement from the Californians for Fair and Independent Judges - Rainbow/PUSH is a member of the Coalition.

[sleipnir]

53. I wish him luck, but it appears that is not going to happen.

The word out now, is that Alito is in.

[SeattleRob]

55. Go Kerry! Go!

I have been down on Kerry since the last election. I would also
give him another look if he stood up on this issue.

[Dawgs]

56. SHIT!!!!

[Skidmore]

61. Why does he need their support? Why doesn't he just do

it because HE believes it is the right thing to do? Get up there and talk himself into a coma.

[Dr Ron]

122. Because he needs the votes

Sixty Senators can shut down a filibuster under Senate rules. He can't just do it on his own.

[karynnj]

126. because it doesn't work that way - Senate rules changed years ago

[Javaman]

70. Sorry but flame all you want, this is typical Kerry...

Knowing that the filibuster is dead, it's now safe for him to come out and say he's for it.

this is just like him coming out a year later saying there was a problem with the voting in the 04 election.

What Kerry does good is investigate. Something that takes a methodical person willing to put in the overtime to get it done.

What Kerry doesn't do is act when something needs to be done right now and at that moment.

I voted for the guy, I thought he was the best person that was up for the job after Dean stepped down. but it doesn't mean I will blindly agree with everything he says or does.

As in 2000, Al Gore is my man and has always been.

Part of being a leader is taking risks, Kerry did that in Viet Nam and when he was younger testifying against the war. But Kerry as a senator, he doesn't take those risks anymore.

Agree with me, hate me, flame me, but it's how I have felt and it wasn't until this moment that I hit upon it.

If Kerry runs again, he won't get my vote. Hell, at least Al tried to get recounts and fight the best way he could back in 2000, what did Kerry do? After 3 days he rolled over. Actually I don't think it was that long.

So my advice to Kerry is this: If you sincerely wish to have another run for the prez, cut the crap, get pissed off, rally the other senators and filibuster, but if he's going to do the stand alone, I told you so bullshit, save it for another day.

John Kerry was the near miss Candidate, Al is the real deal.

[TayTay]

96. I see. So at a time when Dems are trying to rally Sens to

filibuster, you would rather promote a candidate for a race that won't happen for a year.

Hmm, interesting strategy you got there. Instead of giving 'atta boys' to Senators who are trying to do the right thing, you would rather pump for someone who isn't in this particular fight. And who has no say in the subject of this post: getting a filibuster.

Let me know how that strategy of dividing and dividing again works out for you.

[Javaman]

105. I just state my opinion...

and I stand behind it. Kerry is always a Johnny come latetly to the issues. That is a fact. He first wants to see how it will affect him politically then he gets behind it, never the one to be the first voice of the people.
If the guy is going to be a leader and wants to lead, then damn it, lead.
What does it take????
And yes, I am supporting Al. He is a leader, if you don't like that, that's your right.
I'm done with Kerry.

[Hamlette]

71. with my piss poor opinion of Kerry, its probably cause he knows he

can't get the 41.

[blm]

89. If he knew he couldn't get it, he wouldn't even mention it.

He's trying. He and others are TRYING.

Do you blame the Judiciary Dems who aren't exactly stepping up to the plate, since media defined them as weak for their presentations against Alito?

The media got away with muting their arguments and defining them as weak up against the stoic and steady Alito.

Untrue, but that's what happened. Judiciary committee was swiftboated with lies and bad reporting.

ATTACK THE MEDIA, not Dems working against the media tide.

[Wheezy]

73. Democratic Senator Johnson from SD

voting yes, won't support filibuster.

http://johnson.senate.gov/%7Ejohnson/releases/200601/20...

[bettyellen]

85. call him, that's a week old press release.

a lot has changed since then.

[elmerdem]

109. all the more reason to contact Johnson!

Here's my email. Let's quit the bickering in this thread & fight for what we believe in, not predict outcomes.

Senator Johnson,

Although I'm not from South Dakota, I believe it is important that I contact you. I've read your press release concerning your vote on the Alito nomination. You are "troubled" with some of Judge Alito's views? Well I would like to point out the meaning of this SCOTUS nomination. This is not about one judge as the Ginsberg nomination was. Look around you at the partisan inequity in all 3 branches of government. This nomination was made after the President had nominated Harriet Miers. The Miers withdrawl was forced by right-wing political groups who thought that President Bush owed them for his victory in 2004. He appeased them with the Alito nomination. You say the President's choice "deserves due deference". This President has proven again and again that his decisions are not worthy of "due deference". Or will you give the President "due deference" on a nomination that he was incapable of getting right the first time. What, in my opinion, you are doing is ignoring the much deeper issues that are going on below the surface of this argument. The President did not make this nomination with the United State's citizen's best interests in mind. He obviously made it to appease the political agenda of a faction of the Republican party which is outside of the mainstream. I encourage you to rely on your intellect to not take this nomination and the subsequent hearing at face value, but to study the undercurrent of strong political motivations and reconsider your vote of yes and hopefully also reach the conclusion that you would indeed support a filibuster.

Thank you for your time.




Do your part: Give them as much HELL as you can. We NEED a filibuster.

[ohtransplant]

74. K&R, Signed the petition, calling those in post 25.

NGU

It seems many in the MSM and even Dems have swallowed the talking points...It's
too late...It's all over but the shouting...Dems have too much to lose...Scalito sails through...

Personally I'm tired of the Dems taking beatings without a fight. This one is worth the fight - even in defeat. Too much rides on this not to fight! Principle demands it.

Kudos to Sen. Kerry! Back to the Dem caucus room to bust some heads Senator! Twist those arms and we'll keep callin'!

Don't forget. Sign the petition.

http://www.johnkerry.com/action/alito /

Edit: added link

[inchhigh]

76. Called Dayton from MN

heck he's quiting anyway. Might as well go out with a little fanfare.

[LiberalAndProud]

82. If he can't get 41 votes ...

Can he insist on READING my name into the Congressional Record?

[AbbyR]

83. I called Pryor and Lincoln

I got a busy signal once with Lincoln. I don't know if it will do any good, but I asked both to sign on to filibuster. I really hope they do. Not believing it until I see it, however.

[Midlodemocrat]

128. I got through to Chafee's office and they woman who answered

the phone finished my sentence for me! I think they are getting inundated.

[jillan]

84. Call Chafee - read this!!!!

http://chafee.senate.gov/releases/Alito_statement.pdf

[Sydnie]

88. That is an interesting resource!

thanks for sharing it.

[jillan]

99. I just called Chafee's office...and

His mailbox is full!



yeah!

[FreedomAngel82]

87. Don't forget about his petition!

[mod mom]

90. Yes, MA Activist sent me this:

Dear Enraged and Engaged Activists,

Thank you for all the tremendous work you've done at home, at school, and many of you in Washington, D.C., to defeat the Alito nomination. The judiciary committee vote, with all eight democrats voting NO, was an encouraging first step.

Despite rumors in the media, all hope is not lost. The Senate Democrats can FILIBUSTER. We're asking for one last push from our dedicated activists. Please call the Senators listed below to implore them to filibuster to save the Court from the radical right wing agenda. The support of these Senators is crucial in mounting a filibuster. And a no vote without a filibuster is a meaningless gesture. Our Senators' commitment to women's rights is a hollow shell if they will not fight to preserve them.

It only takes a few moments to call the offices of the Senators listed below, and your call could truly tip the balance and save the court.

Arkansas:
Sen. Blanche Lincoln 202-224-4843
Sen. Mark Pryor 202-224-2353

Connecticut:
Sen. Joseph Lieberman 202-224-4041

Louisiana:
Sen. Mary Landrieu 202-224-5824

North Dakota:
Sen. Byron Dorgan 202-224-2551
Sen. Kent Conrad 202-224-2043

South Dakota:
Sen. Tim Johnson 202-224-5842

West Virginia:
Se. Robert Byrd 202-224-3954

Support the Women's Campaign to Defeat Alito

[cal04]

91. Kerry(Democratic presidential candidate) and Lieberman in 2003:

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Friday that he is prepared to block any Supreme Court nominee who would not uphold the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

"I am prepared to filibuster, if necessary, any Supreme Court nominee who would turn back the clock on a woman's right to choose or the constitutional right to privacy, on civil rights and individual liberties and on the laws protecting workers and the environment," Kerry said in remarks via satellite at a meeting of Democratic party officials in St. Paul, Minn.

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, another candidate addressing the Democrats in Minnesota, said, "If I feel that President Bush nominated to the Supreme Court judges that aren't independent ... or have basically prejudged cases, I will join, or if necessary lead a filibuster against that nomination."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archi...

[MH1]

94. Thanks! - Dailykos diary posted

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/26/123745/548

Folks with dkos accounts, please go recommend it for more visibility.

[jillan]

103. done! nt

[jsamuel]

104. done

[mycher]

100. Kerry Publicly Supporting Filibuster!

I just hung up from talking with a staffer who said the same thing, that Kerry is publicly supporting a filibuster and is now working with other senators to get the necessary votes.
This is very different than the response I received when I called Sen. Kerry's office yesterday. Could something really be breaking free on this? Lord knows, I've made a bunch of phone calls, in the last two days especially; maybe our calls are finally having an impact. Well, back to work; time to call Joe Lieberman.

[Snivi Yllom]

101. Is this like sources say Kerry lawyers are going to challenge Ohio 2004?

We've been down this road before

[saracat]

102. Maybe Kerry should be Majority Leader?

This is the reason this man should be President!

[eek]

108. Majority Leader, huh? Good idea.

Methinks he'd be more useful there.

[Dr Ron]

124. MAJORITY leader

I don't think the Senate leadership is necessarily the role Kerry wants, but if he does become leader, much better that he could be MAJORITY leader as opposed to the minority leader.

We'll have to wait until after the elections for that, and need to have a lot of races go the right way.

[Vinca]

106. I hope your source is right, Mr. Pitt.

Senator Durbin was just on the tube saying he could count and there aren't enough votes to support a filibuster, but that it hasn't been decided for sure yet. In my mind, this is a day of reckoning - we should go for broke.

[thereismore]

107. Sweet. Can Kerry lead? Give us your best shot! That's all I ask. nt

[redacted]

110. Feinstein's office told me she hasn't yet decided to support Kerry BUT

she's now a definite NO on Alito in the vote. At least that's progress!

Got through on first try, talked directly to a staffer, and they're interested in passing along comments about the Kerry situation. Used 888-355-3588.

[kerrygoddess]

111. More on Kerry Backing Filibuster!!!

I have confirmed through my sources that both John Kerry and Ted Kennedy spoke up yesterday about the importance of stopping Alito. I suspected something was going down yesterday when Kerry’s floor speech got pushed back by an hour or so. There was deep frustration on the floor yesterday amongst Dems, that was clear to anyone watching the proceedings.

Word has it that the two Senators from Massachusetts, shocked those Senators who had declared that the Alito nomination was a done deal, by arguing the merits of a filibuster. They both know they face steep odds on this fight, but Kerry and Kennedy are known to work very closely together… and are not afraid to stand up.

This fight is one I feel, that we will see the sort of passion that a lot of us remember from 1971. It is clearly not over. My sources tell me that Kerry has been unequivocal and has passionately talked to colleagues — trying to get the ball rolling.

I urge everyone to stand up with Senators Kerry and Kennedy on this fight! Let them know we have their backs. Our focus is to lobby our Senators — last night I reported on the NY Times editorial calling for a filibuster… I said then “I personally can not sit back and watch this happening with out making a stand.”

There’s a Senate Phone List here, with numbers to all the Democratic Senators and the key moderate Republicans. There are also two toll free numbers - 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641.

LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1759

[Name removed]

112. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BootinUp]

113. It would take a miracle.

So let us pray.

[baby_mouse]

115. EXCELLENT!

Thanks for info.

[Generator]

116. Godamm it-he's just working on it now?

Always a day late and a dollar short. Kerry is unable to lead. He's unable to get people to follow him. I admire him emmensely for all he's done in his career-but we need someone that can lead others and they will follow. He's too much of a loner-which is why I actually liked him so much-because so am I. But we need someone else to lead. Someone that fires them up and they recognize the URGENCY-like not today but a few days before yesterday. And he never thinks out of the box-and does anything different. He never risks everything. And he will go down in history as just another politician which is so sad because he is so brilliant.

[Dr Ron]

120. Just got to the Senate floor

There's no reason Kerry should have been publically on the filibuster now--it just made it to the Senate floor.

That doesn't mean Kerry hasn't laid the ground work and could have been talking with other Senators privately about this. After all, Kerry was talking about a filibuster in a situation such as this back in 2003, if note earlier

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archi...

"I am prepared to filibuster, if necessary, any Supreme Court nominee who would turn back the clock on a woman's right to choose or the constitutional right to privacy, on civil rights and individual liberties and on the laws protecting workers and the environment," Kerry said in remarks via satellite at a meeting of Democratic party officials in St. Paul, Minn.

"The test is basic -- any person who thinks it's his or her job to push an extreme political agenda rather than to interpret the law should not be a Supreme Court justice."

[karynnj]

129. If Kerry, the forst to speak of filibuster, is late, what do you call

everyone else? I think he only got home a week ago from a 12 day ME trip. He posted at Kos, he had an excellent interview on ABC, he was the first to speak out on the Republican's new line saying the Democrats are like Bin laden, and yesterday he gave an excellent speech saying he was voting against Alito.

Yeah, he's really slow and never does anything urgently. (I'm begining to think that the Kerry family hid the fact that they had identical twins in Dec 1943.)

[Inuca]

132. He never risks everything?!?!?

What is this if not an EXTREMELY risky move?

[ClayZ]

130. CNN BREAKS Kerry to Fillibuster.....

[Hissyspit]

135. kick Nominated this morning and now I'm back again!

Would nominate the thread again if I could.