First Republican senator says he will oppose Alito

[rawstory]

RAW STORY

Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-RI) announced this morning in Providence that he will vote against the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court.

In a statement this morning, the Rhode Island senator said he was "greatly concerned" about some of Alito's philosophies, according to the Providence Journal. Chafee is the first Republican to announce a vote against Alito.

The Journal did not say whether the senator would back a filibuster. Liberal Democrats Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) are mounting an eleventh-hour bid to block the nominee.

Chafee's opposition comes amid low approval ratings at home; the moderate pro-choice Republican is struggling to maintain his position for reelection.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Chafee_will_oppose_Alito_0130.html

[hiley]

1. hopefully he will support

the filibuster too.

[Proud2BaLiberalMom]

2. KEEP CALLING EVERYONE!!!

A staff member just told me the Senator will vote no on Alito,
but won't support a filibuster! LET'S CHANGE HIS MIND!!!!!

CALL!!! CALL!!! CALL!!!

[Rose Siding]

3. Chafee contact info for thanks and requests to support filibuster

LINCOLN D. CHAFEE, Republican,

Office Listings

http://chafee.senate.gov

141A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC [phone]
20510.................................................
Chief of Staff.--David A. Griswold. FAX: [phone]
Appointments Secretary.--Betty Dudik.
Press Secretary.--Stephen Hourahan.
320 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840................... [phone]
170 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903........... [phone]

[VP505]

24. Done, and

thanks for the link

[TygrBright]

26. Remind him that...

...he doesn't have to "support the filibuster." He just has to ABSTAIN or not be there when they vote on cloture!

hopefully,
Bright

[progressoid]

4. wow!!

[rodeodance]

5. yes, keep calling

[gratuitous]

8. So, will we see reports of "bipartisan" opposition to Alito?

What am I saying?! Or course we won't!

[buddysmellgood]

9. Now THAT is what I call good news.

[choie]

10. Awesome!!! Write or call to thank him!!

I just wrote:

Dear Senator Chafee,

I know I'm not a constituent of yours, but I just had to write and thank you for your courage and conscientiousness in standing up for the Constitution, through your intention to vote NO on Judge Alito's confirmation. I can only imagine the extreme amount of pressure you must be receiving from your Republican colleagues and the President to push this confirmation through. It takes bravery and integrity to vote your convictions despite this enormous political pressure, and I admire you for proving that these values can be found on both sides of the aisle. And for doing your job according to your conscience, despite the attempts by this President to extend his authority and minimize Congress's vital role in our government.

I do hope you'll also either vote against cloture or abstain from voting altogether, to stand with the others who find Judge Alito's beliefs -- and his refusal to answer questions about important issues -- extremely worrying and a threat to our future.

Again, Senator Chafee, many, many thanks for showing fortitude in this battle to uphold our Constitutional rights.

[mcscajun]

11. Woohoo!

Next...filibuster support?

[trogdor]

21. Don't bet on it.

The NO votes from northeastern Republicans are fig leafs designed to keep the voters from getting riled up. Don't expect anything more, no matter how many phone calls they get.

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert does this all the time in New York's 24th district. The vast majority of votes he casts against the party - the ones that give the Conservative Party most of their campaign fodder - did not change the pass/fail outcome. His vast base of support continues to crow about how he sticks up for the little guy, and he continues to get reeelected, as he has since 1980.

[adigal]

12. What about Snowe???n/t

[MaineDem]

6. She'll vote no if there are enough votes to win without her

That way the voters at home can go back to calling her a moderate and re-elect her next year.

Sad.

[Marleyb]

14. yeah baby yeah!

:woohoo:

I knew there were still decent republicans out there...there must be more! Show yourself now, or be forever tied to this evil administration and go down on the ship with them. Which side do you want to be on in the history books??

Anyone know of any other leaning republicans?

:bounce:

[alcibiades_mystery]

15. They have enough outright votes

to allow the at-risk R's like Chaffee a NO-vote. Chaffee, of course, was endorsed by various pro-choice activists and cannot, for practical purposes, vote YES on Alito. But they're banking on the fact that the filibuster will fail, and that Chaffee can safely vote NO without scuttling the nomination. The same will probably go for Snowe and Collins. What's shocking is that Specter will vote YES, though he has been on the pro-choice team with Chaffee, Collins, and Snowe from the git-go.

Chaffee will vote for cloture, then vote NO in the roll-call. Needless to say, he should be shown the door on that basis alone, but there it is.

[freethought]

16. Good News! I am surprised at the state of his approval in RI

Anybody from Rhode Island shed some light on this? What exactly is Chafee's problem with the hometown crowd? I had thought he would have taken his father's knowledge to heart. John Chafee was a Repub but he maintained a very independent streak.

[DrGrishka]

7. John Chafee

voted to confirm Clarence Thomas

[TahitiNut]

13. So did eleven "Democrats".

Only one Republican voted 'Nay.'

[Psephos]

30. So did Lincoln Chafee lol

[0007]

17. Holy living jump fuck - Joe Confonte just called from Brazil and

said every in the house is free for Chafee.

:bounce:
:woohoo: :bounce:
:woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce:
:woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce:
:woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce:
:woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce:
:woohoo: :bounce::woohoo: :bounce:
:woohoo:
:bounce:

[0kamisama]

18. Good for him

Hopefully this will start tipping the scales on more senators' stance towards "Scalito".

[cboy4]

19. Lincoln Chafee!!!!! I wish he would come over

to our side permanently.

He is the only rational Republican in congress. :applause: :bounce:

[Helga Scow Stern]

20. All contact numbers for Chaffee:

Washington DC Address
141A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

District Address - Newport
320 Thames Street, Room 272
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

District Address - Providence
170 Westminster Street, Suite 1100
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Gregorian]

22. It's not the Extreme Court.

Yahoo! I've been waiting for this.

We can't let this man on the court. AND we can't give * one more single thing. He's a criminal, and this is something we know before any hearing or court trial. Sorry. I'm saying that.

[joefree1]

23. Bunker repunker repukes will be bery bery pissed

How dare someone not stay in goose step.

[Auntie Bush]

25. Finally Lincoln Chafee is living up to his name. (Lincoln)

[Judi Lynn]

27. UPI story: First Republican opposes Alito nomination

First Republican opposes Alito nomination
Jan 30, 2006, 17:13 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., Monday said he would vote against the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito, the first Republican to do so.

Chafee, in a statement on his Senate Web site, said he was 'concerned about (Alito`s) philosophy on some important constitutional issues. In particular I carefully examined his record on Executive Power, women`s reproductive freedoms and the commerce clause ...'

Chafee is the first Republican to come out against the Alito confirmation but three Senate Democrats -- Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- have said they would vote in favor of Alito`s joining the court.

A running tally by C-SPAN shows support for Alito by 55 senators while 35 have stated opposition. He needs 51 votes to win a seat on the court.
(snip/...)

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/article_1091334.php/First_Republican_opposes_Alito_nomination

[Vyan]

28. Raw Story : Chaffee Against Alito, Filibuster Count nears 30

Recent reports are that Sen Mark Dayton will support the filibuster, Sen Mark Pryor (R) will abstain, and the Sen Ensign (R) has been in a car accident and will be unable to vote. Raw Story now reports that Sen Lincoln Chaffee (R) now opposes Alito and the whip-count for a Filibuster is rapidly approaching the magic number - 41.

Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-RI) announced this morning in Providence that he will vote against the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court.

In a statement this morning, the Rhode Island senator said he was "greatly concerned" about some of Alito's philosophies, according to the Providence Journal. Chafee is the first Republican to announce a vote against Alito.

The Journal did not say whether the senator would back a filibuster. Liberal Democrats Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) are mounting an eleventh-hour bid to block the nominee.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Chafee_will_oppose_Alito_0130.html

The current unofficial count has reportedly "broken 30". Only a few more to go.

Vyan

[pro_blue_guy]

29. Alright! Chaffee has some balls!

Mr. Chaffee is not just another sheep following the herd! Good for him :)

[PBass]

31. Only off by a mere 16, with that whip-count

"Raw Story now reports that Sen Lincoln Chaffee (R) now opposes Alito and the whip-count for a Filibuster is rapidly approaching the magic number - 41."

:eyes: