Senate Democrat backs Alito

[Judi Lynn]

Senate Democrat backs Alito
Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:22 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ben Nelson of Nebraska on Tuesday became the first Senate Democrat to announce his support of conservative Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, who is expected to be confirmed later this month by the full Republican-led Senate.

"I have decided to vote in favor of Judge Samuel Alito," Nelson, a moderate, said in a statement issued by his office.

"I came to this decision after careful consideration of his impeccable judicial credentials, the American Bar Association's strong recommendation and his pledge that he would not bring a political agenda to the court," Nelson said.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-01-17T232230Z_01_N17379603_RTRUKOC_0_US-COURT-ALITO.xml

[arbusto_baboso]

1. And if you looked really closely while Nelson spoke...

you could almost see Dick Cheney's lips move.

Fucking traitor. Nelson is a traitor to everything of value in America.

"Well qualified"??? Is he HIGH?!?!?!

[gumby]

2. Why does Ben Nelson hate America?

Why does Ben Nelson hate our Constitution?

[Toots]

3. He is even worse than Joe Leiberman

If Moveon can run ads against Holy Joe then the least they can do is fully fund a primary challenge against this Judas...

[superconnected]

4. bought and sold. How obvious can you get.

I feel sorry for the people who worked on his campaign, oh and the voters.

[benny05]

5. And this is the same guy that Elizabeth Dole thinks is a capital L

He's spineless...

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Yeah!

Sayeth the DLC. Woo-hoo!

[Frances]

7. I am disappointed

But Nelson is from a very, very red state. Alito is going to be confirmed anyway. After all, all 55 Republicans will vote for him. Why throw stones at Nelson?

[Straight Shooter]

9. Why throw stones?

Because if he's going to act like a damned Repub, then he should change parties. If the state is so red, and they like him, they'll vote for him if he's a Repub.

With friends like Nelson, who needs enemies?

[VegasWolf]

13. Exactly! Personally, the difference between a DINO and a moderate

Republican escapes me. Why even vote if that is the only choice available? Wouldn't go outside to vote for that one!

[One_Life_To_Give]

62. Whats a Nebraska Repug like?

If you had the choice between a DINO and Phelps for your rep. You would stay home?

[VegasWolf]

71. If the DINO supports the war or Alito I would. nt

[oneoftheboys]

63. I don't consider Repubs who vote for Dem nominees to be...

Dems. So why would you consider a red state Dem who votes for a Repub nominee to be a Repub?

We must cut our our red state Dems some slack.

Unless of course, you would prefer to have another Repub in the Senate.

[Conker]

15. Yeah, I am sure Nelson has to be careful what he says in Nebraska.

What is his senate voting history?If he consistently has voted against the Democrat platform then he should leave our party or be thrown out.

[xxqqqzme]

36. he might be elected in Nebraska

but he is making a decision that affects ALL Americans. I think it is chicken shit 2 hide behind that constituent BS when the action impacts the entire country.

[Zodiak]

73. It is

I scored the Democrats according to "liberalness" for the last Congressional session, and Nelson scored a 0. That's right....a zero.

[IndyOp]

16. We only need 41 votes to filibuster!

Thanks for the motivation to write one more post tonight.

[Moochy]

19. Because maybe a stone might knock some sense into him? nt/

[Straight Shooter]

21. Ah hahahahaha!

Score!

[Rose Siding]

20. Reid asked everyone not to announce until after tomorrow's caucus

Doesn't seem like Nelson even wants to LOOK like a Democrat. What would 24 hours have mattered to his political ambitions?

[worldgonekrazy]

35. Amen!

Nelson is trying to pre-emptively defeat even the POSSIBILITY of a Democratic filibuster with this announcement. I can understand him not backing a filibuster because of his red-state status (I wouldn't like it, but I could understand it), but its obvious this goes beyond just pragmatic considerations.

[AndyTiedye]

30. That Is What the FILIBUSTER Is For!

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

55. Not really...

Only need two more dems to either go for Alito or vote for cloture on a filibuster and it's doomed. Ain't gonna happen.

[leesa]

39. Because it is CRITICAL that Democrats stand for what is right.

Don't you understand that??

[alarimer]

60. Because the Democrats should be united

They should ALL vote against him. Not that it matters but it would be a show of unity to the very principles that this country stands for. Alito stands for the imperial Presidency and big business. He cares not a whit for civil liberties. Obviously Ben Nelson does NOT GE IT.

[oneoftheboys]

65. Because he is just not "pure" enough.

The problem with purity is that it would only allow for three or four Dems to be in the Senate.

[WyLoochka]

66. Every elected person needs to

have "purity" on standing up and defending the Constitution when it is under assault by a pack of power mad authoritarians - Dems and Repubs alike.

Nelson Has NO business voting for Alito based on his allegiance to the abomination known as the "Unitary Executive Theory" that he will implement, if on the Court, in order to destroy the balanced and checked government that has served us so well for over two centuries.

The other NE Senator - Hagel should be voting against Alito too.

The Constituition - you are either for it or against.

A vote for Alito is a vote against the Constitution. Damn staight, I'm demanding purity on this from every single elected person. All took an oath to defend the Constitution and they damn well better do it.

[oneoftheboys]

68. Unfortunately, no one is pure on the Constitution.

The conservatives will take away your personal rights and the liberals will take away your property rights.

Reality dictates that we can only expect purity from ourselves. So, the best we can do is make the best of a bad situation. That means cutting red state Dems some slack.

[patcox2]

72. Its aggravatin, ain't it?

This belief that its not a matter of mathematics (majority vs minority = minority loses) but rather, if they would just be brave and bold and play with heart, like the Bad News Bears, they could pull off an upset and win even though they have less votes.

[oneoftheboys]

74. Yes, it is.

You would think that after banging one's head against the wall long enough, it would begin to hurt.

And pain is nature’s way of telling us that we are doing something wrong.

[pinerow]

8. And a partridge in a pear tree...

sheesh...!

[global1]

10. Is There Anything We Can Do To Put Pressure On Him To Change....

his vote. What can "we the people" do to get him to change his mind. I'm not from Nebraska - but would it helped if I sent an e-mail to him saying I don't agree with his decision?

His bio from the Congressional Directory is as follows:

b. 5/17/41 McCook, NE; Methodist; JD Univ of NE, 1970; Attorney; married, wife Diane

website: bennelson.senate.gov

He's in his first term as Senator. Committee's he's on: Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry; Armed Services; Commerce, Science & Transportation; Rules & Administration

Chuck Hagel is the Repug Senator from Nebraska.

[AndyTiedye]

32. It Might Be Easier To Convince Hagel to Vote Against Alito

[roguevalley]

11. so when is this guy going to go?

[grahamhgreen]

12. Please write him, call him

And remind him that the NATIONAL Bar Association felt differently:

<http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:lwz5VhVcUHMJ:www.scotusblog.com/movabletype/archives/2006/01/liveblogging_of_1.html+alito+bar+association+comments&hl=en&client=firefox-a>
Now, Reginald Turner on behalf of the National Bar Association, founded as a bar association for African American lawyers which has taken positions on only three of Bush's nominees.

The Association focuses on nominees' commitment to extending the blessings of liberty to all Americans.

Alito's record shows a hostility toward doctrines and rights that promote this value. For example, opposition to one-person-one-vote precedents. In another, while working in the Reagan administration, Alito mischaracterized legitimate affirmative action programs as "quota" systems.

The views of "attorney Alito" carry over into the decisions of "judge Alito." Particularly in the area of remedies for civil rights violations and in protecting the health and welfare of Americans. He has been the most frequent dissenter in the Third Circuit, 90% because the majority was not conservative enought. He opposed civil rights plaintiffs 85% of the time where the panel was divided.

The National Bar Association cannot support this nomination.

[acmavm]

56. Let me tell you that you can write the guy, you can call they guy. He

ain't gonna vote any way other than what the bush** adminstration wants. Period.

I have a stack of letters from the doofus. I can send them to you if need be. He's a frigging REPUBLICAN who calls himself a dem just so that he can be elected.

Nebraska wouldn't tolerate a real dem. Fairness, equality, acceptance of others and other points of view. That ain't the Nebraska way. Look at the history. Was a dem state all the way up to the civil rights and equal rights pushes. Then it went republican because the common wisdom here is the way of the WASP is the only way. It's the way God planned it.

People, give up on Nelson. It's time to get that through your heads.

[donheld]

70. acmavm correct me if I'm wrong

but in Nebraska a DINO is about the best we can hope for. It would be just about impossible to get a real liberal elected in NE.

[aquart]

14. Who's his primary challenger?

[Freddie Stubbs]

57. No one and the filing deadline is March 1

[Dr Fate]

17. Coward, traitor or chump?

Oh, I forgot to put "all three" as an option.

[Jim Sagle]

18. DU to Ben Nelson: "Fuck off ya fuckin' RNC mole."

[hayu_lol]

31. Advisory to Ben...

Stay out of intersections.

[LiberalInGeorgia2005]

22. Ben Nelson: I'm voting for Alito

http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=nN17382485

What can one say?

[wakeme2008]

23. This guy will believe anything

"pledge that he would not bring a political agenda to the court," Nelson said."

:grr:

[Moochy]

29. Maybe his home district needs a bridge

We can sell him one I bet, like say the brooklyn bridge? :p
:nuke: MOOCHY CRUSH STUPID DINOS!!!

[benburch]

24. I say we mark him for primary defeat.

At the earliest moment.

[liberalnurse]

26. Do we have a Democrat to challenge

this DINO?

[SmokingJacket]

25. Buh-bye, Nelson. nt

[MadisonProgressive]

27. I hope he gets voted out of office - he's a DINO

[TheBaldyMan]

28. Nelson said ...

"I have decided to vote in favor of Judge Samuel Alito," Nelson said in a statement issued by his office.

"I came to this decision after careful consideration of his impeccable judicial credentials, the American Bar Association's strong recommendation and his pledge that he would not bring a political agenda to the court," Nelson said.

and if a don't vote for him I'll make baby Jesus cry. :cry:

what a maroon!

[leftchick]

33. what a DLC "new dem of the week" award winner voting with the GOP???

who could have predicted??

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=103&subid=111&contentid=253373

Congressional New Democrats
Senate NDC

DLC | New Dem Of The Week | June 1, 2005

New Dem of the Week: Ben Nelson

U.S. Senator, Nebraska



:puke:

[riverwalker]

34. contact page for the SOB

http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
and some zip codes for Las Vegas Nevada so it will go through: 89044, 89119,89112

[Doremus]

37. Thank you. I sent a message. n/t

[savemefromdumbya]

38. THAT"S IT - out he goes

he obviously backs the coming fascism. We don't need Nelson anyway.

[LiberalAndProud]

40. Ben Nelson is RESPONSIBLE for moving the political dialog in

this state further and further to the right.

There is nothing centrist about this man. The Republican contenders are having to push the limits of extreme to stay to the right of him.

If our candidates define the discourse, Nebraska will stay "very RED" as long as debate is confined to "what's the alternative?"

Ben needs to go. The cost of keeping him is simply too high.

I called him and told him so.

[leesa]

41. DLC trash...what would anyone expect?

[Matariki]

42. Senate Democrat backs Alito for US Supreme Court

<expert>
WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Ben Nelson of Nebraska, a moderate voice in the U.S. Congress, on Tuesday became the first Senate Democrat to announce his support for conservative Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, who is expected to be confirmed later this month by the full Republican-led Senate.

http://today.reuters.com/business/newsarticle.aspx?type=tnBusinessNews&storyID=nN17382485

_________________________

You can contact Senator Nelson and talk him out of his folly:

[phone]
Web Form: bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

720 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510

[Mind_your_head]

43. I'm calling FIRST THING in the morning!!!! d*mn traitor to the

constitution! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Charlie Brown]

44. Moderate?

In his mind, perhaps. Nelson is a conservative DINO who sides w/the Republicans on all significant issues.

[Matariki]

46. the LA times calls it better

"Nelson, one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, said in a statement that he had made up his mind to support Alito "because of his impeccable judicial credentials"

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-alito-nelson,1,7087632.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Erika]

45. So Nelson wishes to push the right wing agenda

Including being a mouthpiece for big business and doing away with women's rights. He is disgusting. Why dooesn't he just join the GOP. Good riddance.

[Cascadian]

51. Is Nelson up for reelection this year?

<eom>



John

[HillDem]

53. Yes, he is

Although he has no significant opposition yet.

[f-bush]

47. Ben Nelson is hardly what I would call a Democrat

[HillDem]

54. He's a Nebraska Democrat

which is the same as a republican from the northeast.

[Selatius]

48. Well, the Democratic Party is a "big tent" party

There's many Democrats who aren't really progressive as much as they are somewhere in the middle and drifting.

[leesa]

61. Voting for the destruction of checks ands balances within our government

is not "middle". He is a right winger and we need to identify these people for what they are. They are destroyinng our democracy and installing corporate fascism.

[Selatius]

67. All true, but that won't stop them from being called "Democrats"

This is one reason why voting straight ticket is foolish nowadays, and this is probably the reason why the party hasn't taken a stronger stance for working folks of this country. You've got people who don't represent working folks when it comes to economic issues, and we haven't even touched social issues such as gay marriage and abortion.

[Lexingtonian]

49. don't waste your time calling Ben's office

Call up Linc Chaffee's, Olympia Snowe's, Susan Collins's, Gord Smith, the New Hampshire duo.

Chaffee voting for Alito would be his death sentence in Rhode Island.

[ticapnews]

50. Suzie and Limpy are going to vote for Alito

Maine's "moderates" will tow the party line. I predict he'll get more than 70 votes...

As for Nelson, his voting record is worse than 14 Republicans - including Shelby, Thune, Craig and Graham - and is only slightly better than Frist, Coleman and Kyl.

http://patrickhenrythinktank.org/sen-score7.html

[Matariki]

52. thanks for posting that link - great site on voting records

i was looking for info on Cantwell recently, i knew she had often voted in ways that made me uncomfortable with her, I just couldn't remember the specifics.

[Tesha]

58. The New Hampshire duo (Sununu and Gregg) are *CERTAIN* "yes" votes.

They are 100% party animals. The only time they ever vote
against their party is when it is absolutely safe to do so
and they are attempting to play as "independents" to their
befuddled constituents.

Tesha

[Tesha]

59. And this, friends, is why the Democratic Party ain't worth spit.

Until they start to believe that lefties aren't a "lock-in",
they will not take *ANY* Republican affront seriously, no
matter how awful it is; there'll always be some damn Democrat
(or three) who supports the Republicans.

Tesha

[sofedup]

64. predictable much? n/t

[depakid]

69. Like that was a suprise

Nebraska might as well send a Republican. In gact, if I lived in Nebraska, I might just vote for a Republican over someone who continually undermined and backstabbed his own party.

Is anyone running a primary challenge against this creep? If the tables were turned- that's what the Republicans would do. That's why they're the majority party- and why yheir members toe the line.

[Toucano]

75. Yo, Benator!!

Big suprise, you ass-sniffing, rubber lipped wart!