Reply #2: You must understand what I am saying. Any Democrat who votes "NO" + "YES"

[Leopolds Ghost]

is a SCAB and should be treated as such by the party leadership.

That is the point of my original message.

"No on Alito, Yes to Cloture" is NOT a vote of conscience, it is
a big "fuck you" to the Democratic leaders who have chosen to
throw in their lot with Kerry. And it is not justified by their
beliefs on the relative merits of the nominee. Remember, just
by voting NO to Alito they are invoking extraordinary circumstances.

They can't have it both ways. Anyone trying to have it both ways is a coward and a picket-line crosser and should be punished.

Anyone who has not pledged their vote for Alito should be prepared to filibuster, abstain, or else be denounced as a dishonest and selfish scab and be punished accordingly in 2006-2008 session.

Don't think the Repubs would do anything different if say Snowe or Chafee supported a Dem filibuster. That is how functioning, successful organizations maintain solidarity -- consequences for deceitful behavior.

Remember, Dems who oppose Alito are already WILLING to tell their constituents they voted against the man. They are not afraid of being labeled an opponent of Alito!

If they FAIL to abstain or vote "no" on cloture then they are a SCAB attempting to curry favor with the Republican leadership in an effort to consolidate power for the center-right wing of the Democratic party.

If they vote "yes" to cloture they MUST be prepared to vote "yes" to Alito AS WELL and face their constituents accordingly, or else face the wrath of the party leadership for crossing the picket line to defeat the filibuster.

THEY CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

I can't believe this isn't blindingly obvious.

It is not a question of how they choose to permit the filibuster (whether by abstention or voting "no" on cloture). As Robert Mitchum said, "Dead or alive don't matter tho' I reckon dead WOULD be easier."

It is a straight "YES OR NO" vote, just like the Republicans asked for.

Either you support the filibuster (by abstaining or voting no on both counts)

....or you support Alito (yes on both counts.)

Those are the only two options that should be available to Dems who want a future in the 2006 Senate.