Help me make sense of this - Just got off the phone will Bill Nelson's

[Coexist]

office.

She said, "well, as of Friday, he was against the filibuster, but at this point it looks like it might happen."

I am trying not to scream, here. Talk me down folks, or I will die of happiness right now.

[helderheid]

1. please don't die! Faint but don't die! :)

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. I thought he was on board with us since Friday?

He wasn't on the bad list as of this morning.

[Coexist]

7. He was voting No on Alito - but Yes to cloture

from that quote - and I am trying not to get too excited - it would seem that he has flipped.

ACK!

[Dr.Phool]

33. He's probably quaking in his boots right now

After I sent him my fax.:rofl:

[Sydnie]

3. don't die and miss it

that would be too sad.

:hug:

[mom cat]

30. Dying happy is not the worst thing that could happen!

:bounce:

[SharonRB]

4. OMG -- I hope she was right.

It's still going to be awfully close. Last count, there were 5 Dems who hadn't even declared how they were going to vote on confirmation, leave alone the filibuster. Those five and Olympia Snowe were the only ones on CSPAN who didn't have a vote next to their name.

[bmcatt]

5. As a speculation

sounds like there might be some triangulation going on there with a realization that the the target wasn't where they thought it was going to be?

To talk you down, though - until any Senator *officially* announces their position on cloture, we don't really know. For that matter, even then, we don't know - the truth will be in the votes at 4:30.

[More Than A Feeling]

6. when we call undecideds, we should ask if the filibuster is likely

people who are wavering this late are probably going to go with whatevers in the air. If they think its likely, we can, IMHO, be slightly more confident of their votes on cloture.

[suffragette]

8. Scream away

I'm about to shout here. This is great news.

Oh please, let it be so.

[TheBaldyMan]

9. according to C-Spans's graphic

Nelson has declared in Alito's favour, along with Byrd, Conrad and Johnson

on edit : sorry I got mixed up assuming Nelson D-NB was the guy you were talking about. Apologies all round :blush:

[Coexist]

10. Not BEN Nelson, Bill Nelson - who we have been courting

he is a VERY conservative Democrat - and we have been pushing for him to help us with the filibuster.

[tsuki]

12. That's NB Nelson. This is FL Nelson.

[drm604]

11. That sounds a little ambiguous.

It could mean that it might happen without him even though he is against it. :shrug:

[Coexist]

16. I know - but there was excitement in her voice

Ack.

[stop the bleeding]

22. i just got off the phone also from the Tampa office and the lady there

said the same that you did.

Basically as of Friday it was No on Alito but Nelson did not think there was enough for a F'buster on firday, and that he has not made an official statement since then. However it is interesting based on her wording it seems like to me that she thinks that he is taking a wait and see approach or better yet the Tide is turning for his office in support of the F'buster. It was a strange conversation indeed - she seemed pretty exicited.

Keep your fingers crossed and lets see what Nelson does.

[LiberalAndProud]

13. oops! wrong Nelson...

self-deleted

[Synnical]

14. Well, I just faxed him so hopefully

We can help him make up his mind to abstain from voting on cloture.

[SillyGoose]

15. I'm screaming with you!!

Oh, God, I hope he's on board with us.

[rumpel]

17. oh boy......

[fooj]

18. Great news.

Peace.

[quiet.american]

19. Don't spend it 'til you got it!

On the other hand....:bounce:

[bear425]

20. I could kick myself, but I deleted an email today that said

A representative from an NAACP group had inside info that he will support a filibuster. I will try to retrieve the email and let you know.

People: keep calling him, though!

[Dawgs]

21. Can't be...

All of the Republicans I've seen today have said that it is a futile effort.

[BigBearJohn]

23. I got a hold of his office and first thanked the call taker. She was kind.

I told her "I have never been a political man -- but for the first time
in 50 years I am taking a stand. I then told her I BEG Senator Nelson
to stand with Senator Kerry and filibuster -- our democracy depends on him."

She then said I was the first person to thank HER for her efforts in taking
the avalanche of calls.

[stop the bleeding]

24. I thanked her too - at the Tampa office - she seemed excited n/t

[Coexist]

25. you are awesome- and now I feel bad for not thanking the staffers

we should send them all flowers (to our local offices) when this is all said and done.

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. How many times are we allowed to call?

I called his local office on Friday.

[stop the bleeding]

27. I have called several times today, I figure it can't hurt n/t

[Coexist]

28. well, since the RW has groups of church ladies

do mass calling - I think you can call twice.

[Coexist]

29. I don't know how to post pictures - can I please get a

Bill the Cat graphic from someone - because that IS me today.

ACK!!!!

[mcscajun]

31. Here ya' go.

[Coexist]

32. YOU ROCK!!

thanks so much.

[mcscajun]

47. You're very welcome. We all have to help each other around here.

:)

[lady lib]

34. Thanks for the pic, mcscajun. You made me smile for the 1st time

today!

[mcscajun]

45. You're welcome. Glad to be of assistance.

I figure we all feel like that poor cat tonight.

:(

[Dr.Phool]

35. Bill the Cat!!! My hero!!!

[mcscajun]

46. Maybe so. But You're going to be our hero if you're running against

that turncoat Nelson. :)

I'm whizbang at finding stuff on the 'Net. One helluva researcher if you need one. :)

[1monster]

36. I called the Jacksonville office this afternoon and asked that the

message be passed on to Senator Nelson that if we can not count on our Democratic Senators to every method they have available to stop the corporatization of this country, if the end result of every issue is the same as if we had no Democratic representation at all, then what is the use of having Democratic Senaators.

I said that if Senator Nelson could not support filibuster now, then I didn't see how we could support him in November.

I asked her if there were a lot of phone calls regarding the Alito nomination. She said yes. I asked how it was running. She said about even.

At first, I found that discouraging, but then I remembered, northeast Florida, and Jacksonville especially, are very Republican.

I hope that means good news.

[Jeanette in FL]

37. Just called his Washington office

And they told me that he is not supporting the filibuster. They said he has spoken to 6 of his collegues that will be voting for cloture and there is no way in hell of beating it. I said well perhaps we can get them to change their minds.

[Pacifist Patriot]

40. It's thinking like this that burns me up.

I'm going to vote no because I want to be on the winning side? That's bullshit. You vote no because it is the right thing to do.

[soup]

38. Nelson and Martinez on the floor deep in discussion.

Wish I could hear what they're talking about.

[Pacifist Patriot]

39. Any changes? I could have sworn I heard Nelson vote Aye.

But I'm so disgusted right now I could have been mistaken. Honestly, given his voting behavior over the last several years I'd be rendered unconscious if he actually voted in favor of fillibuster.

[rateyes]

41. He voted "aye."

not going to die of happiness today FLDem.....Make him pay with another nominee for the Dems next time around.

[Pacifist Patriot]

43. I really wish someone were running against him.

I would bust my ass for a qualified Dem and accept the risk of taking on a challenger in the general election without an incumbent.

[Pacifist Patriot]

42. Well I just talked to a staffer and let him know how unhappy I was

with Nelson's vote. It certainly doesn't sound as if he has any intention of changing it. Coward!

[Deep N RedLand]

44. I'm shocked he will even vote against Alito.

But as our state DINO who sides with the Repuke stronghold in FL more times than not, a support for filibuster seems very unlikely.

To be honest, he lost my vote this Nov. ever since supporting the bankruptcy law. I wish there was a primary challenger, but he is a shoo-in anyway against controversial Katherine Harris and will be re-elected without my vote.