Official Monday Senate Debate – Alito – Thread 3

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Thread 2 has Glitches going on... hence Thread 3 starts now... :)

Thread 1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x267811

Thread 2
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x268317

[The Witch]

1. I lost my posting privileges for a bit :-(

Bad error. Back now. Waiting for President Kerry :)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. Me too, we're waiting for Sydnie, then we are all back.

:grouphug:

[Sydnie]

12. Back

I was freaking out!

[hang a left]

19. What happened. I missed it. Was it one of these

[Sydnie]

21. A bug

no argument at all. Appears to have effect quite a few of us in the confirmation thread though.

[helderheid]

2. K & R - Thank you Viva!!!

[doublethink]

3. Yep President Kerrys up.

:patriot:

[ralps]

4. Thanks Viva, Sen. John Kerry up now Yay!!!!!!!!!!

[helderheid]

6. Yessss!! Making this the Republicans fault for it being partisan, as it

should be!

[suffragette]

8. "idealogical orthodoxy"

Great phrase.

[ralps]

9. Yay!!! He's bringing up the Harriet Myers Nomination vs The Alito

nomination.

[Coexist]

7. "none of us can forget he was not the President's first choice"

"opposition came not from Democrats, but from the Republicans".

"gleeful excitement!"

Ha ha ha ha!

[Coexist]

11. Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh were ecstatic!

This is good.

[helderheid]

10. he is a rockin'!!

[suffragette]

13. "extreme idealogy"

Yes, Senator Kerry. Keep pointing out how extreme he is and make the case for the 14 that these are extreme circumstances.

[helderheid]

14. exactly!!!

[suffragette]

30. We need to keep stressing this in our calls to them.

Extremist views=extreme circumstances

[Sydnie]

15. 25 hours on an appointment that will last a lifetime

Now is the time!!!

[Coexist]

16. "she never got an upordownvote... she never even got a hearing"

thank you.

[helderheid]

17. History will wonder why we didn't do more when we knew what was coming

WOW!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

18. You're back!

We waz lost in the Twilight Zone, and I was sceerd. :scared:

:hug:

[ralps]

24. I was freaked out too!!!

[Sydnie]

29. I saw your post jump to the top and get renumbered

that was feaky too.

[Sydnie]

25. Me too!

I kept watching as the avatars came back ... I emailed right away too. We should exchange email addresses for cases just like that though. We could have cried on each others shoulder while we waited for them to fix the bug.

:grouphug:

[suffragette]

20. "We are protecting basic rights, basic freedoms"

Yes.

[TexasLady]

22. he is SUCH a great speaker!

I love it!

[LeftNYC]

23. What are Bayh and Rockefeller doing? The "N" should be up there already..

what are they waiting for?

[ralps]

27. Maybe they'll be speaking later

[Kurovski]

26. Did I miss something? Did Kerry answer Obama's complaints

(in a round-about way) about Dems not doing enough ?

I was otherwise occupied and not giving 100% to Kerry's speech.

Thank you for leading the filibuster, dear Honorable Senator John Kerry!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

31. ...

:hi:

[Kurovski]

33. Did you get a chance to pet my puppy this morning?

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

I did!

You know how wrong that sounds, right? :rofl:

Such a Big puppy too! LOL!

[Kurovski]

37. I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about...

:silly:

I'm actually his "uncle".

[suffragette]

28. "This is a pivotal moment in the history of the court"

[ralps]

32. He's giving some really good examples of what Alito has done and/or

will do.

[Sydnie]

34. Holy Shit - gun point eviction

this is just a preview of what they will do to those of us that speak out if we don't stop them now!

[Kurovski]

35. Alito is a DANGEROUS guy.

That's NOT my own personal typical hyperbolic mode of expression.

That's a danged FACT.

[Old Vet]

36. Scary shit-

[Viva_La_Revolution]

38. McConnell just has jump in on time...

"our turn now! Waaahhhaaaa!"

[Horse with no Name]

41. slurp slurp kiss kiss

*giant sucking sound*

[Kurovski]

42. If I were still working in children's theater,

McConnel would be cast as the turtle in every production.

A natural.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

44. OMG! Tippy!

[Kurovski]

47. Draw tippy...

away from that podium.

[Sydnie]

48. ROFL!! n/t

[0007]

69. With Jeff Sessions doing the voice over

[Kurovski]

102. I'd cast Jeff as the "Deputy Dawg" type. (nt)

[0007]

104. I can buy that one, where would ya slot John Cornyn?

[Kurovski]

105. I think Sydnie has him down as "Cornholio"

Why not?:-)

[suffragette]

39. They cut Kerry off.

[1democracy]

46. Is it fair to call time

when the beginning of debate at noon was 7-10 min late because didn't have a quorum...then after 50 min of debate (Stabeneau got her half hour first but Kerry didn't get his half hour-- only 20 min)call time? It seems the entire proceeding should be bumped back 10 min, not just the Dem's time to speak! Maybe the Dems should call for a quorum vote a lot during REpub hour!

[Sydnie]

52. there is not a quorum there now either

they use the quorum call to stall things, not to actually call them to the floor (unless there is a vote happening at that time). Stabenow started 11 minutes late. If she had started on time, Kerry would have finished on time.

But, your hour is your hour. The pugs didn't whine because they left most of their time this morning on the table and didn't actually use it to speak. They are running out the clock. We are trying to manage it.

We need to get to the floor on time!

[suffragette]

61. There's nothing fair about their tactics.

They're afraid and will use any procedural option to achieve this.
I think all of this shows they are feeling the pressure.
We need to keep it up.

[ralps]

40. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky up now, Sen Kerry will continue

his comments at 2pm eastern time.

[ralps]

43. BWAAAA Crying about wanting an "up or down vote"

:cry: baby

[Sydnie]

45. He just shaved at least 100 questions off the total

either he is lieing or they were last week about the number of questions asked and answered.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

49. He just threatened us!!

"if this happens we would be hard pressed not to use it against a democratic nominee"

[LiberalAndProud]

50. And they should (and will) use the filibuster.

Like he'll promise never to filibuster a Dem nominee, sure, and I bought a bridge...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

53. Pugs did with Clinton... just not Supreme court. 3rd Circuit noms IIRC

[LiberalAndProud]

55. Clinton 1) asked for suggestions for the Repugs and 2) nominated 2 of em.

What's to filibuster?

[Sydnie]

60. Clinton nominated BOTH of the suggestions he got

didn't he? Ginsberg and Beyers (is that the name?)

[LiberalAndProud]

64. You are correct. (editing)

[Sydnie]

68. Hatch will never let us forget that point

I hope it comes back to bite Hatch squarely in the buttocks some day too!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

66. oops. Appeals court nominees...

This is what I was recalling...

First, Clinton did indeed nominate Paez for an appellate court seat; he was finally confirmed in March 2000 after four years of delay by the Republican-controlled Senate. Second, Republican senators blocked 16 of Clinton's appellate court nominees in his second term alone. Finally, only three of the 10 Bush nominees that Democrats have filibustered have received the ABA's highest rating.

Responding to co-host Alan Colmes's suggestion that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is being "disingenuous" by "acting as if the filibuster's a terrible thing" after Frist himself had voted to filibuster Paez's nomination, Dobson replied: "That was not an appeals court judge. And it was not a situation where the judge would have had a majority if given a simple up-or-down vote." But Paez was an appeals court nominee, and he was ultimately approved in an up-or-down vote. The Los Angeles Times reported on November 13, 2003: "As recently as March 2000, several Republicans voted to filibuster two Californians whom President Clinton had named to the 9th Circuit appellate court: Richard A. Paez and Marsha L. Berzon. ... Ultimately, the Republican stalling tactics failed, and both jurists now sit on the appellate court."

Dobson then purported to "quote the statistics" to Colmes on the ratio of appellate nominees approved during the Clinton and Bush administrations: "President Bush has only gotten 67 percent of his appeals court nominees through when they got to the floor of the Senate. Bill Clinton got 100 percent." But Dobson's statistic is highly misleading; in fact, the Republican-led Senate kept 16 of Clinton's second-term appellate court nominees "off the floor," in most cases denying them even committee hearings.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200504220006

[Sydnie]

56. so which is it?

We should not challenge him just because he is a repug nominee and they will return the favor OR if we challenge this repug nomination, because it is a repug nomination, then they will vote against a dem nomination just because it is a dem nomination?

Have they forgotten Roberts already? No body filibustered that nomination because Roberts wasn't the same type as Alito. We are challenging him, not because he is a repug nomination, but rather because he is not the right man for the job.

They are making it black and white, when it is not that at all.

[Straight Shooter]

63. There won't be enough Repubs to use it against a Democratic nominee.

We need this filibuster to prove that Dems are strong and have the courage of their convictions. Otherwise, Americans will say we're all talk talk talk and no action.

The Democratic party is in a position of strength, we are favored by Americans over Repubs by a large margin. Now is not the time to waver.

Alito is the crown on the head of bush the king. We can't let that happen.

[AZBlue]

57. I'm sooooooo sick of the whining, "we approved Clinton's choice"

Um, like I've said before, it's not a partisan thing, it's a qualification thing. Give us a good nominee and we'll approve them too

[Straight Shooter]

65. F-them. They got Roberts, didn't they?

And they're the ones who dissed Harriet. Frickin' babies, want to have their cake and eat it, too.

[fairandunbalanced]

51. broken records

all the republicans say the samething! over and over the same phrases and the same words, a damn broken record that i've already heard. I know what they are doing and I don't like it!

[rdmccur]

54. Do I interpret Chafee's

'N" as against cloture correctly (on C-span)?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

58. Cool huh?

:)

[ralps]

59. I think CSPAN said he would vote against Alito

[LiberalAndProud]

62. Votes on screen are Alito up-or-down.

[lala_rawraw]

67. Oh shite...

Just heard that gang of 14 to stand with alito... has anyone heard this??????????????????????????????????????????????

[Sydnie]

70. There were several threads about it before

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=268400&mesg_id=268400

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x268394

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=268395&mesg_id=268395

[Viva_La_Revolution]

71. rumours... nothing concrete yet.

LaLa - we're honored you joined us! Hope you're feeling well.

[ralps]

72. The young turks said that the gang of 14 will meet in less than an hour

[GOTV]

73. Yes I have...

... The filibuster compromise was a two fisted GOP victory

[ralps]

74. Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia up now

[ralps]

78. He's saying that Alito didn't have to answer all the questions that were

given to him but from the article on common dreams "Mr Smith comes to washington" it says
snip
"Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter has defended Judge Alito’s refusal to answer specific questions from Democratic senators aimed at showing the American people just how frightening a Justice Alito would be. The distinguished senator from Pennsylvania has declared that the nominee "has answered questions as far he could go." Judge Alito said it would not be "appropriate" for a judicial nominee to express his views on issues that might come before him if he were appointed to the Court. Well, it turns out that Judge Alito and Senator Specter are wrong. Who says? The Supreme Court. That’s who says.

In 2002, the Supreme Court, in Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, 536 U.S. 765, declared that it is not only proper for a judicial candidate to express his views on disputed legal issues -- the First Amendment guarantees him the right to do so. In an opinion written by Justice Antonin Scalia, and joined by then-Chief Justice Rehnquist, and Justices O’Connor, Kennedy, and Thomas, the Court concluded that a Minnesota canon of judicial conduct which prohibited a candidate for judicial office from announcing his position on abortion rights and other controversial issues violated his right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment.

The Minnesota decision yields three fundamental constitutional principles:

First, a judicial nominee has a First Amendment right to express his specific legal views on controversial issues even if they are likely to come before him should he be confirmed."
snip
The rest of the article is here- http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0128-21.htm

[Wordie]

75. MONDAY FILIBUSTER GAMEPLAN: URGE ABSTINENCE! FAST FAX/email w/ one click!

A really FAST way to contact critical Senators can be found here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=268311&mesg_id=268311

You can write just ONE message, and send it to 13 crucial Senators! EASY! And it's all done online - no logging off to send FAXes!

DU it! And please K&R the thread!

[helderheid]

76. I suck at writing - could you provide what you sent so I can modify and

send too?

[Kurovski]

83. Wordie has a sample on the

thread :

KEEP YOUR MESSAGE GENERIC! For instance, you can say something like this (copy this if you like): "I urge you to VOTE "NO" on confirmation to the Supreme Court of Judge Alito! I also urge you to SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER of his nomination, OR ELSE, PLEASE ABSTAIN FROM THE CLOTURE VOTE!" (feel free to copy)

Now, go to it, woman!:-)

[helderheid]

95. copied and done! Thanks!!

[Wordie]

84. I just used the short blurb I wrote in the thread...

Here it is:
I urge you to VOTE "NO" on confirmation to the Supreme Court of Judge Alito! I also urge you to SUPPORT THE FILIBUSTER of his nomination, OR ELSE, PLEASE ABSTAIN FROM THE CLOTURE VOTE!

My thinking is that at this point, most of these messages are unlikely to be read - there just isn't going to be enough time. Quantity not quality is today's best approach, imho. So short and sweet, making it obvious what your position is, is probably the best approach. Make sure to put something very clear in the Subject line, so just a glance can tell the reader what you are asking the Senator to do.

[Skidmore]

77. I have to chuckle. The Rs may very well wish they had never

endorsed abstinence only as a policy. LOL!

[Sydnie]

91. Did it again! Thanks for the link! n/t

[ralps]

79. Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico up now. Discussing morning business.

[sweetbriarose]

80. Apache Term For Byrd Is

WASICHU

[Viva_La_Revolution]

88. Interesting... same as Lakota?

http://www.dickshovel.com/wasichu.html

The Lakota also used the metaphor to describe the newcomers. It was Wasi'chu, which means "takes the fat," or "greedy person." Within the modern Indian movement, Wasi'chu has come to mean those corporations and individuals, with their governmental accomplices, which continue to covet Indian lives, land, and resources for private profit.

Generally means "White Man" to most tribes now, doesn't it?

[sweetbriarose]

100. Ohan! yes it does

Also thinking of words like pecokan sunpi (scalp lock) and zuya (warpath)right now.
Great photo by the way!

[Sydnie]

81. Di-minish- me speaking now , like he is reading a food package label

and can't figure out how the words relate to each other. Massage- massage capital - massage capital ...

Geesh.

[LiberalAndProud]

82. promote science, good idea. But weren't they supposed to talk about Alito?

[ralps]

86. I think they'll get back ot Alito shortly, although Domenici is talking

about Alito now.

[al bupp]

85. Just judging by the look on Domenici's face...

I'd say that the filibuster has a shot at happening...

[Skidmore]

87. Why is he always wiping his nose?

Does he snort with *?

[ralps]

89. He's crying about the filibuster happening too. It seems as if that's all

that the Republicans have.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

90. Reid up now

[The Witch]

93. What was that dig about the Sen. from Utah?

"Whatever may happen in his career in the future, this is a bright moment."

Who/why?

[ralps]

92. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada is up now!!! He's talking about how in the past

the Presidents have consulted the congress. Now he's talking about tomorrow's state of the union address & the Culture of Corruption in Washington.

[Sydnie]

94. A good woman LOL

you tell 'em Harry. They were despicable!

[ralps]

97. Yay!! "Empty promises will no longer work"

[Wheezy]

96. Who just became Yes vote number 57? Anyone know? n/t

[gkhouston]

98. Conrad??? n/t

[Wheezy]

103. that rat bastard. Thank you, gkhouston. n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

99. Thread 4 is up!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x269641

[ekelly]

101. Did I miss Kerry returning to the floor?

I had to leave the house for a while.

If not, any word on when he will resume the ass kicking?