Bob Fertik's update on the Alito 48

[MelissaB]

The Alito 48

Submitted by Bob Fertik on January 27, 2006 - 12:13am.Sam Alito
Sunday Updates: (Scroll to bottom for Saturday's news)

*12:20 p.m.: Mark Pryor said he won't filibuster Alito because there's no "smoking gun." But there is one, as Adele Stan points out: either Alito lied to the Senate when he said he wasn't a member of Concerned Alumni of Princeton, or he lied to the Justice Department in 1985 when he said he was a member! He lied on one federal job application or the other - that's a smoking gun!

*11:45 a.m: More good news: Sen. Biden told Wolf Blitzer he would vote for the filibuster (#15) - but just once, and then he'll vote against it. So I'll take him out of Filibuster Opponents - silent & scared, but I need to create a new caucus of one: the "Filibuster Flip-Flop Caucus," for Senators who will vote for the filibuster before they vote against it. I can't imagine Biden wants to spend much time in the "Filibuster Flip-Flop Caucus," so let's keep pounding him until he votes for it twice... thrice... as many times as it takes!

*10:10 a.m: Good news and bad news: Sen. Obama told George Staphylococcus he will (reluctantly) support the filibuster (#14), but also that it would fail - without identifying which Democrats would cause it to fail, which would help us turn them around. Obama said he opposed "procedural maneuvers" and wished Democrats had framed the substantive issues better. Hey Obama - when a wide receiver drops a pass, he doesn't walk over to the other team's coach and forfeit the game! No, he goes back to the huddle and tells his quarterback to throw him the ball on the very next play and then he makes damn well sure he catches it. Your next play is tomorrow so get over your past mistakes and catch the goddamn ball by preventing Bill Frist from getting 60 votes! Then you'll have plenty of time to frame the filibuster debate as it drags on for day after day...

*9:00 a.m.: Great news!! There is nothing new in today's NY Times or Pentagon Post or the AP about Alito. That means Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats have not unilaterally surrendered to Bush - yet. Stay tuned for the morning talk shows...

*There are many phone, fax, and email lists circulating, including the long list of local numbers below. I will try to figure out the best list for all of us to use today, since nearly every known voicemail box is full (hooray!!)

*Tomorrow (Monday) is the Big Day. Starting at 9:00 a.m., we must flood Congressional offices with calls - even shut down the Capitol switchboard.

*20-odd Senators can't figure out what to do. With a hat-tip to Josh Marshall, I'm calling them the "Clueless Caucus" and tracking their statements at AlitoWaffleWatch

*On Saturday, Ted Kennedy held a conference call (I wasn't invited - hint, hint) and urged activists to target Senators Pryor, Lincoln, Cantwell, Murray, Baucus, Harkin, Levin, Bayh, Lautenberg, Menendez, and Lieberman. In addition, he said to keep the pressure on Republican Senators Snowe, Collins, Chafee, and Stevens. These Senators are all on our list below, so us activists are holding up our end of this team effort!

*Thanks to RawStory.com for their kind words about our humble efforts. Read the excellent blogs by Digby, BuzzFlash (everyone should subscribe to Buzz's email alerts), jasonwhat (brilliant!)

*The NAACP supports a filibuster (news story) and so does the DLC - is this the dawning of the Age of Aquarius?

For more and clickable links: http://www.democrats.com/alito-48

[Wordie]

1. Great update. Thanks Bob Fertig and MelissaB. Recommended.

[Sydnie]

2. When did we get the DLC on board?

Last I heard they weren't with us on this.

edited to add - Thanks for the update and the good news!

[Wordie]

4. This is an independent site, not affiliated with the DLC. eom

[doublethink]

3. To Emphasize Monday.

*Tomorrow (Monday) is the Big Day. Starting at 9:00 a.m., we must flood Congressional offices with calls - even shut down the Capitol switchboard." -snip-

That of course would be Eastern Time, us on the West Coast need to have the coffee brewing, up and at it by 6 a.m. ...... arrgg I'm a night person usually, but it's the last round of this 15 round fight and I'm coming out swinging with everything I got early. Hope you all are too. Keep fighting till the final bell rings. :grr: Peace. :)

[MelissaB]

5. 2:00 update

The Alito 48
Submitted by Bob Fertik on January 27, 2006 - 12:13am.Sam Alito
Sunday Updates: (Scroll to bottom for Saturday's news)

2 pm: WTF??? One week ago, Dick Durbin told Daily Southtown (IL) reporter Kristen McQueary he had 37 votes for a filibuster - all but 8 Senate Democrats. Why hasn't Durbin shared that list with us so we could identify for certain the "Alito 8," rather than trying to guess? And Armando asks the right question: "Have Kennedy and Kerry held those votes? Added?"

[Hissyspit]

6. Contact Info for Monday! The senators named in the Saturday/Kennedy post:

Democrats:

AR - Pryor
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: pryor.senate.gov/contact/

AR - Lincoln
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

WA - Cantwell
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html

WA - Murray
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

MT - Baucus
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue

IA - Harkin
Fax: [phone]
Phone [phone]
Web Form: harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

MI - Levin
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

IN - Bayh
No Fax Listed
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/WebMail1.htm

NJ - Lautenberg
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html

NJ - Menendez
Phone: [phone]

CT - Lieberman
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: lieberman.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?regarding=issue


Republican:

ME - Snowe
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: snowe.senate.gov/contact.htm

ME - Collins
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=Contact...

RI - Chafee
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

AK - Stevens
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: stevens.senate.gov/contact.cfm

[Pab Sungenis]

7. Menendez is supporting the fillibuster.

If you want to call and thank him, that's fine, but first concentrate on flipping Lautenberg and the other holdouts.

[Hissyspit]

8. Thanks. Almost left him out, but left him in the list at the last moment

Can't hurt to reaffirm to or thank him, but you're right, the main consideration is flipping the others.

[Pab Sungenis]

12. Be sure to thank him when the dust settles, though.

He's the new boy in the Senate, and cloture is going to be his first vote, ever. Plus, he's in a tough election fight in November, so it's going to be important to let him, and all the fence-sitters, know that we will remember in the primary and November, helping those who stood up for what's right, and taking down those who sell out.

[autorank]

9. MelissaB, you're a busy DUer. You don't' like Alito? But those tears...

...his pleasant demeanor, the long career as a screw-up at every level, the mindless support of DINO's.

RECOMMENDED

[MelissaB]

10. Hey, auto! I think I like him about as much as you do.

:hi:

[MelissaB]

11. 5:00 update

Bob Fertik's blog
The Alito 48
Submitted by Bob Fertik on January 27, 2006 - 12:13am.Sam Alito
Sunday Updates: (Scroll to bottom for Saturday's news)

5 pm: Tanya explains the problem with - and importance of - NJ's progressive Senators, Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez: Alito is from NJ, and actually from Menendez's former Congressional District. While Lautenberg provided the Senatorial courtesy of introducing Alito at the Senate hearings, he was up front about his disagreements so I'm not worried about him. However Menendez is a brand new (and hence unknown) Senators, so I am worried. We have major leverage with Menendez because he must run in November, and several Democrats (Rob Andrews, Frank Pallone, Rush Holt) would primary him if he failed to filibuster. So let's inundate his campaign at 201-271-1661 (press 2 for the Finance Director who collects the checks) and [email protected]

[Pab Sungenis]

13. Please see above: Menendez is supporting the fillibuster.

He was actually one of the first "crossed off" on the Alito 48 site. Thank him, but don't waste energy trying to convince him to do what he has said he's going to do already. Work on the ones we need to flip!