If Roberts is confirmed

[enough already]

What do we do if Bush sends up a Roberts-clone for the O'Connor seat? How do we logically argue that the next "Roberts" isn't qualified if we let this guy in now? Even worse, how do we stop the next "Roberts" if the candidate is a minority or a female?

I guess what I'm getting at is that we need to stop this bastard at all costs, filibuster if necessary, yet I don't see much stomach for a fight from our Senate "leaders".

[category5]

1. My guess is the O'Connor replacement will be extreme right winger

I heard Sean Insanity rattle of a list of potential nominees today,
and they all have extreme right wing positions. We shall see.

[LSparkle]

2. I agree -- he's set a terrible precedent for non-responses

The next time, they'll feel like the nominee won't even have to be as "forthcoming" (NOT!) as Roberts was, since the confirmation is only for an Associate Justice. I don't see him being defeated, though so the best I can hope for is a vigorous Senate floor debate and plenty of righteous indignation from Byrd, Boxer and others not on Judiciary.

[enough already]

3. A vigorous floor debate gets us nothing

Letting this guy get on this Court is a monumental defeat and sets a horrific precedent. He needs to be filibustered. The gang of 14 Dems are killing us on this one.

[FormerDittoHead]

4. Dem's are keeping their powder dry...

Look, the Republicans threatened to eliminate judicial filibusters via the "nuclear option". We came to an agreement that they wouldn't eliminate judicial filibusters IF we didn't filibuster every single time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_option
"The nuclear option would allow a simple majority (50 out of 100 senators, plus the Vice President) to end a judicial filibuster."

Until we get the Senate and House back (PLEASE GOD!) we have to play POLITICS...

[enough already]

7. What good is a filibuster

If we are afraid to use it because the repukes threaten to take it away from us if we do? Why are we afraid of these toothless pricks?

[FormerDittoHead]

10. The "toothless pricks" squashed Hillary's NOLA investigation this week. nt

[mmonk]

5. There is NO CHOICE but to

filibuster the next one. If confirmed, the next one will radically alter America into something people today have not lived.

[enough already]

6. My point is that filibustering the next one is DRASTICALLY more difficult

If we let this guy slide in now. There is a public opinion component to a filibuster, and WE WILL LOSE that if we let Roberts get away with "looking reasonable" now but say the next Roberts-clone is not.

[mmonk]

8. True, but

maybe * will further lose popularity and/or indictments are brought. Then it will be politically easier. Anyway, there is no choice.

[ArkDem]

9. What you mean if, kemosabe?