Democrats urged to keep option of blocking Alito

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite early signals to the contrary, U.S. Senate Democrats must keep open the option of blocking a confirmation vote on
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, Democratic Party leader
Howard Dean said on Sunday.

"This could be a defining moment," Dean said. "Judge Alito is a hard-working man, a good family man, but his opinions are well outside the mainstream of American public opinion."

Dean charged it was hypocritical for conservatives to denounce the possibility of a procedural hurdle known as a filibuster against Alito, a federal appeals judge since 1990.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051113/pl_nm/court_alito_dc

[Skink]

1. How about this time we hold out for access to the FOIA stuff atleast.

Or just roll over who cares.:mad:

[Poet Lariat]

2. What would make any Senator feel like this matter is closed...

My limited understanding of the process involves hearings with Alito that have yet to occur. In due course, a judgment of his fitnes to serve will be made and not before that. Let's not put the "heart before the course gentlemen".....Doh!
Thx NVmojo

[still_one]

3. As Democrats we MUST insist on this

and if our filibuster is NOT sucessful, and they vote an up or down vote to end filibusters, remember they will NOT always be in control, and what goes around comes around.

We will NOT forget what the Democrats do, and we will remember what the repukes have done to us and our country when we have control again. It will happen

[unblock]

4. what the hell is the use of having shrub's ratings in the toilet?

if we can't filibuster an extreme rw zealot like alito, what the hell is the use of having shrub's ratings in the toilet?

c'mon, let's flex some muscles!!

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

5. If Alito doesn't justify...

...a filibuster, then who would warrant this tactic? How extreme would a nominee have to be? Can anyone name three judges from the federal bench who have more conservatively extreme judicial records than Alito? One needn't ponder these questions very long to reach the inescapable conclusion that a filibuster is definitely called for here. BushCo is weak, Republifascists are in disarray---FILIBUSTER ALITO!!!

[Spathi]

6. challenge

Well Alito has to be right up there Jefferson :/ . I can name three though- JRB, Preyer, and Jones

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

7. I won' t argue the...

...judges you named---they too are extreme.

[EFerrari]

8. Welcome to Du, Spathi

:hi:

[Spathi]

9. it seems more likely it's Scalito

Yes, I put those three a cut above Alito though because no one knows where Alito stands whereas those three are outspoken against A.A. and Roe. Etc etc. They are kind of the throw tables over kick-ass conservatives.

However, that article that came out in the Washington Times about 30 mins ago leads me to believe that Alito is almost as far to the right as those three. I do feel Alito is less temperamental and less of an agenda than those three though. Alito get a 9.5 out of 10 in the being a crazy right winger scale. I’m nostalgic for Miss Miers.

[Spathi]

10. Fillibusters

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20051114-015136-2101r.htm

This article is the one that just came out. Drudge announced it on his radio show, then the web alert came up on wwww.drudgereport.com that referenced the Wash Times, then 30 mins later the Wash Times finally put the article up.

Now the democrats MUST filibuster him!

[bearfan454]

11. Welcome to DU Spathi

Now you can get the real news.

[Czolgosz]

19. Jones is more moderate than Alito; JRB is an equally far right extremist

(but she is more outspoken and so gives the false impression of perhaps being to the right of Alito which she isn't); who's Preyer?

[newyawker99]

24. Hi Spathi!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bearfan454]

12. A filibuster now would be win win for Democrats.

This guy IS extreme so we will be using the pukes own rules.

[froshty1960]

13. I Don't Get It

Why aren't any of the Democrats pointing out the hypocrisy of Repugs in trying to stop filibustering since they effectively used the filibuster countless times during the Clinton administration? No one ever seems to say that, not even Dean. I don't get it.

[Miss Elizabeth]

15. Dean does talk about it

Dean talked about it yesterday on "Meet the Press". He was really awesome. He said Republicans blocked lots of Clinton's judges, and he said they didn't give an up or down vote to Miers, so they didn't have a leg to stand on (I'm paraphrasing, of course). It was really good. Not sure where you could get a transcript, I know Brad Blog has a little clip ( http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002012.htm ) but everyone should see it. I've never had strong feeling for Dean one way or another, but watching him yesterday I was so proud, This guy is great for the party.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Miss Elizabeth!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[cantstandbush]

14. Alito is NOT and honorable man. Period! That's what the evidence

shows. Abortion issue aside, he has already lied to the J Committee.

[Spathi]

16. hypocracy

"Why aren't any of the Democrats pointing out the hypocrisy of Repugs in trying to stop filibustering since they effectively used the filibuster countless times during the Clinton administration? No one ever seems to say that, not even Dean. I don't get it."

Well that's not exactly true. Only 50 votes are needed to take a nominee out of committee, but the votes weren’t there. This is true with the Abe Fortas nominee also. Clinton named two nominees and they were given a pretty fair hearing in my view. The filibuster is distinctly our weapon hehehe. Either way we must stop him now that his views are known

[eppur_se_muova]

20. Repugs have established a Hypocrisicracy!

i.e., a "rule by hypocrisy"

[Hillgiant]

17. The threat of a filibuster should not prevent the confermation

Because, frankly, any canidate that cannot obtain 60 votes does not belong on the supreme court.

[Spathi]

18. SC

hehe not sure if I agree with that. I know the republicans are too scared to dare use it on us. They let us have ginsburg and Breyer with a free pass. I'm always amazed at there weakness on judicial nominations they employ given how crazy they are. Thanks god we have the fillibuster so we can prevent Alito from gettin to the SC.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

22. Delay as long and possible and force them to use the nuclear option

They aren't popular and neither is ending the fillibuster.

If we can put it off long enough, say until March/April of next year, then it is on the table for the elections.

BTW, the pugs have used procedural methods to hold up all kinds of legislation and appointments. It was a favorite tactic of Jesse Helms.

[newyawker99]

27. Hi Hillgiant!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[depakid]

21. He's also corrupt and unethical. N/T

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

23. He's a Bush appointee - isn't this a job requirement?

nm

[lthuedk]

25. Its really quite simple:

Lose Alito or lose your base.

-sp