Democrats Don't Plan Alito Filibuster

[Freddie Stubbs]

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 8 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democrats haven't completely given up the notion of filibustering Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court, though they're certainly not talking about it before his confirmation hearings.

A slip of the tongue, an intractable attitude or a dramatic revelation next week could still bring another Senate showdown.

"I don't think anybody today sees a reason for a filibuster, but they may after the hearing if the answers are troubling to them or they feel they haven't gotten the answers to important questions," said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor.

Alito, a longtime conservative lawyer and judge, will face the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday for his confirmation hearings to become the 110th Supreme Court justice, replacing retiring Sandra Day O'Connor.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060105/ap_on_go_su_co/alito_filibuster_1;_ylt=A9G_RwGlh71DHc0ASQduCM0A;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[mom cat]

1. If they cannot fillibuster this, what the hell ARE they doing?

[eyesroll]

5. They're saying they're giving the man a chance to speak.

What's wrong with that?

I think it's disingenuous when a Senator talks filibuster -- or even a no vote -- before the confirmation hearings start. It's a conviction without trial and not democratic. (Even when you know the person's guilty, you still have a trial and a good judge isn't going to say he's going to say 'guilty' regardless.)

[aquart]

2. misleading headline.

They are going to let Alito hang himself.

headline makes it sound like they've wussed out again.

[Teaser]

3. But the usual suspects here

will fail to actually read the article and come out whinging!

[Justitia]

9. bingo -eom

[rocktivity]

10. DING DING DING! Aquart, you're our grand prize winner!

I understand the importance of a snappy headline, but I don't think it's asking too much that it have something to do with the story. "Democrats Don't Plan Alito Filibuster" is a far cry from "Democrats haven't completely given up the notion of filibustering...though they're certainly not talking about it..." They're not talking (to the media) about it, therefore they're NOT planning to do it? It sounds like the media is trying to bait them into revealing their strategy!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Kingofalldems]

17. The OP is all over this Alito thing today

Did the same thing on the Roberts nomination. Nothing but positives. Gotta tell it like it is.

[William Bloode]

4. I think, or hope.....

They are just laying back and playing it smart.

Now is the time to filibuster. With the extreme possibility that repukes could lose a few seat in both house, i doubt they'll go "nuclear". And if they do, well thats a win for us to as i see it.

[wtbymark]

6. right wing spin n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. The article is on the frontpage of yahoo.com

[movonne]

7. They cannot saddle us with this SC justice(Alito) for 30+ years....We

must fight for them to fight....

[MindPilot]

8. here's hoping the Judiciary committee put the Alito nomination on hold

to investigate the NSA spying.

[Mistwell]

11. So, what happens if they do not Filibuster?

I honestly think there will be no Filibuster over this nomination.

To me, the question is, what happens then? What consequences for failing to fight the nomination?

[AngryAmish]

12. Cowards

[Walt Starr]

13. This is my personal line in the sand. If not Alito, who?

If not now, when?

This is my line in the sand with the Dems.

[Triana]

14. Then they may as well GO HOME - what GOOD are they?

If they cannot filibuster one of the most dangerous and extreme nutjobs ever to be nominated for USSC, then WHY DO THEY BOTHER coming to Washington?

They need to G E T O U T.

They're USELESS!!

[DELUSIONAL]

16. Reid is a sickening male chauvinist pig --- GOPig light.

[KittyWampus]

21. LOL! What a misguided post. It's so wrong it's unintentionally funny

[Flabbergasted]

18. I'll be very surprised it they don't do a fillibuster

I don't expect him to get confirmed 1 in 20 chance for alito is my odds.

[mvd]

19. I can see why they wouldn't say for sure..

that they are filibustering, as it's before the hearings. But I'd be hinting that a filibuster is likely. Alito might be mainstream if you are talking the early to mid 1800s, but not now.

[HuffleClaw]

20. i suspect they are counting on him to

sink himself during the hearings. he's already been exposed. its only a matter of getting him on the record about his lunacy. they won't NEED to fillibuster.

[KittyWampus]

22. it'd be great if they can figure a way to egg him on... ala, "You Can't Ha

handle the truth" scene in a Few Good Men.

[unkachuck]

23. darn....n/t

[michiganbuckeye1970]

24. It all depends on his performance at the confirmation hearings

If he comes off as smooth as Roberts, there is no way they can filibuster. If he comes off as arrogant or pushy or, gulp, the extremist that he probably is, then I think the filibuster is a go.

The public at large does not understand the issues and just what is at stake with regards to the supreme court. Rather the public basis judgements on whether or not the like the individual (which is why we are stuck with dumb dumb). While many people pay lip service to being somewhat pro-choice, a majority figure it doesn't matter either way (mainly because they don't understand what will happen) but mostly because they figure that it is not an issue that they will face in their lives.

Without public support for a filibuster, the Dems come off looking contentious and become very easy targets. Remember, politically, things have changed more than just a little bit. We have a real chance to shake up the status quo with next November's election.

On the other hand, the last thing the mainstream repubs want is for Roe to be overturned. If that happens, many southern states will quickly tip their hands at how extremist the party is, as a whole. I think this would cause a huge backlash to the so-called conservative movement.

I know some of you will think this approach is too careful, that we should throw caution to the wind to protect abortion rights. But I think we stand on the edge of some big changes that could last for quite a while...we just have to be aggressive enough without coming off as zealous. I think whatever damage is done in the short term can be corrected in the long run.

[Charlie Brown]

25. I'll be watching the way the "pro-choice" Republicans vote

Specter, Chaffee, Collins, Snowe.

If they vote for this autocratic clown, then they're no different than pro-lifers.

[mountainvue]

26. Schumer said on Meet The Press

this morning that the filibuster hadn't been ruled out.

[kath]

27. Looks like they are going to start (and pretty much plan to finish) the

confirmation hearing this week.
Damn - the Dems should insist that the spying-without-warrants investigation happen first.