U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says no to Alito

[sabra]

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=3827088

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says no to Alito

January 19, 2006 - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate's second-highest ranking Democrat, said Thursday he will vote against confirmation of Samuel Alito as the nation's 110th Supreme Court Justice.

Durbin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he will oppose the nomination of the federal appeals court judge when it comes for a vote next week because Alito has failed to show he would protect privacy rights.
"Based on his record, I'm concerned that Judge Alito will not be willing to stand up to a president who is determined to seize too much power over our personal lives," Durbin said in a statement.

He also criticized Alito for being guarded at his confirmation hearings, noting that the New Jersey native would not even clearly say whether he is a Bruce Springsteen fan.

[barb162]

1. hurray!!

[bigscott]

3. these votes mean nothing

unless they filibuster - every dem can vote no and he will easily get confirmed - then all they have to show for it is an administration that got what it wanted again

[enid602]

2. good

well said.

[mom cat]

4. We are on a roll. Keep up the calls. Great resource list:

Filibuster Alito!!!
Actions & Crafts!
The Democrats need to pull together and filibuster Alito's confirmation. It only takes one senator to filibuster, but it takes 40 (out of 45 Democrats, plus the spare Republican here and there), to support his/her right to do so and keep the floor open.


**CodePINK Boston's urgent call for help!**

Here are the Senators to call, with the reason we think they should be talked with (for example, Dems who voted for Roberts, Bush's last nomination, are more likely to vote for Alito as well). They are roughly prioritized, but that of course depends on your personal priorities and approach. You might want to focus on CHOICE (expected to be the biggest issue in this confirmation). All you have to say is "I'm calling to register my firm opposition to Alito's confirmation and my support for a filibuster", although of course it's fun to dress that up with a rant about your favorite issue, the threat not to vote for him/her, questions about their voting plans, etc. Ask your representatives to be corageous and represent what they have worked so hard for and to stand strong for what they believe in.

Free numbers for D.C Capitol Switchboard (they'll connect you to any Congressperson, or give you their address):

1-866-340-9281

1-866-340-9279

1-877-762-8762

1-888-355-3588

OR go to http://www.congress.org/ for easy links to contacting your own senators.

OR order a telegram to be delivered to a senator for $12.95 at congress.com!

P.S. Don't see why this is important? Review information and issues on why the Alito thing is so crucial at Save the Court.org: here


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Our Favorite Democrats
to Contact to Support a Filibuster
MA: Edward Kennedy
[phone]
Boston:617-565-3170
Kennedy is doing a great job opposing Alito, and is a strong candidate to filibuster. Call and support him!

MA: John Kerry
[phone]
Boston:671-565-8519
Calling our own representatives is probably going to be the most effective!

NY: Hilary Clinton
[phone]
website: http://clinton.senate.gov/

NY: Chuck Schumer
[phone]
Schumer has also done a great job questioning Alito, and is "not ruling out" a filibuster. Call and support him!

CA: Barbara Boxer
[phone]
website: http://boxer.senate.gov/

CA: Dianne Feinstein
[phone]
Feinstein voted against Roberts and plans on voting against Alito, but was quoted by Associated Press on Sunday as saying, "This might be a man I disagree with, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the court." Call and tell her that YOU disagree with the man, and that DOES mean he shouldn't be on the court - we need a filibuster!
Update: Feinstein was quoted in the Washington Post recently saying she will not support a filibuster. Do your best to see if you can still convince her otherwise!
Update:How about also calling Sen. Diane Feinstein D-CA and telling her to stop stating self-defeating obits for the filibuster on Alito. Her husband is a big corporate guy (read as "conflict of interest") -- is Alito's long record of corporate bias a factor in her going light on Alito?

HI: Daniel Inouye
[phone]
website: http://inouye.senate.gov/
Inouye voted against Roberts, but is in the Gang of 14.

WI: Russell Feingold
202-224-5323
Feingold has said he plans to run for president in the next election. Show him he won't have your support if he supports Alito's approval!

NV: Harry Reid
[phone]
website: reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm (includes a contact form)
Reid is the Senate Minority Leader. He is not planning to filibuster as yet.

VT: Patrick Leahy
[phone]
Leahy sits on the Judiciary Committee and voted for Roberts' nomination. On the bright side, AP reported that he is standing up for the Democrats' right to delay the committee vote a day so that the Democratic caucus can meet. Call and tell him that he's on the right track but that he needs to do more - FILIBUSTER.

IL: Richard Durbin
[phone]
Durbin is the Senate Minority Whip, and he should be pulling together the Dems. But he seems unconvinced so far: "We can only afford to lose five senators favoring Judge Alito before a filibuster is impossible. It's a very tight margin, and I'm not going to presume one way or the other whether my colleagues are even interested." (1/13/06)

NJ: Robert Menendez
[phone]
Menendez is being appointed to replace Jon Corzine, and will take office January 17th - just days before the Alito vote. It will be his first important vote as a Senator, so call and tell him to make it a good one! (He's also up for re-election this year)

CT: Joseph Lieberman
[phone]
Voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

WV: Robert Byrd
[phone]
Byrd voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

AR: Mark Pryor
[phone]
Nelson voted for Roberts and has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

NM: Jeff Bingaman
[phone]
Bingaman voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006

WI: Herb Kohl
[phone]
Kohl voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006.

NE: Ben Nelson
[phone]
Nelson voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

CO: Ken Salazar
[phone]
Salazer voted for Roberts and has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

ND: Kent Conrad
[phone]
Conrad voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006.

MI: Carl Levin
[phone]
Levin voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006

These twelve Senators all voted for Roberts and are likely to be swing votes on Alito:

AR Blanche Lincoln
[phone]

ND Byron Dorgan
[phone]

CT Christopher Dodd
[phone]

OR Ron Wyden
[phone]

SD Tim Johnson
[phone]

DE Thomas Carper
[phone]

FL Bill Nelson
[phone]

WA Patty Murray
[phone]

LA Mary Landrieu
[phone]

MT Max Baucus
[phone]

WV John Rockefeller
[phone]

WI Russell Feingold
[phone]



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Our Eight Favorite Moderate Republicans
To Convince to Accept a Filibuster
These have pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes):


NAME (State) PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE &
OTHER INFO
McCain (Arizona) [phone] see website http://mccain.senate.gov/
Graham (South Carolina) [phone] see website http://lgraham.senate.gov/
Warner (Virginia) [phone] see website http://warner.senate.gov/
DeWine (Ohio) [phone] see website http://dewine.senate.gov/


These have pledged not to support a filibuster unless in "extraordinary circumstances":


NAME (State) PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE &
OTHER INFO
Specter (Pennsylvania) [phone] see website
http://specter.senate.gov/

Specter is Chair of the Judiciary Committee and pro-choice.

Update: Why not also call Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee,and remind him of this quote from his 2000 book, Passion for Truth: "he Senate should resist, if not refuse to confirm Supreme Court nominees who refuse to answer questions on fundamental issues. In voting on whether or not to confirm a nominee, senators should not have to gamble or guess about a candidate's philosophy, but should be able to judge on the basis of the candidate's expressed views."
Chafee (Rhode Island) [phone] see website
http://chafee.senate.gov/

Chafee has considered switching parties, is pro-choice, and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes).
Collins (Maine) [phone] see website
http://collins.senate.gov/

She is pro-choice and has pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes).
Snowe (Maine) [phone] see website
http://snowe.senate.gov/

Snowe is pro-choice and up for re-election in 2006. She has also pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes).

[benburch]

5. I love my Sr. Senator!

OK, Mr. Obama, you next.

[barb162]

6. Right!

[f-bush]

7. Thank you Senator Durbin

Way to keep your spine!!!!