Senate Clears the Way for Final Vote on Alito Confirmation

[NashVegas]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/30/politics/politicsspecial1/30cnd-alito.html?hp&ex=1138683600&en=5e13639279e4febe&ei=5094&partner=homepage

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 — The nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. for the Supreme Court cleared an all-important procedural hurdle in the Senate this afternoon as liberal Democrats failed to muster enough support to block a vote on his confirmation.

The Senate voted, 72 to 25, to shut off debate and hold a vote on confirmation Tuesday morning. Sixty votes are needed to shut off debate, and 41 to keep one going, so opponents of the nominee fell far short this afternoon.

[Wheezy]

1. stoopid reporters. That's not even accurate.

41 votes are not required to keep a debate going.
asshole.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[drm604]

25. Nope.

People can abstain from voting. As far as I know if you get 59 votes for cloture and, for example, 40 votes against then debate continues.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

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[AndyTiedye]

2. WTF?

:wtf:

[wordpix]

3. that is a piss poor number, 25, to keep debate open but look on the bright

side: Dems can get ready for the debate on the NSA spying that will maybe lead to Bush/Cheney getting impeached.

If Dems don't wimp out on that, too.:( :mad:

[William Seger]

12. What's the point?

We can't possibly get enough votes for impeachment, so might as well not even bother with that, either. Wouldn't want the MSM and those precious "centrist" voters to get mad at us for being BushCo obstructionists. Those crafty Senate Democrats understand that the best way to stop the Republican majoritarianism is to just throw ourselves under the wheels of the juggernaut and hope to win the sympathy vote... someday.

[hogwyld]

13. But don't forget

We're keeping that powder dry for when it really, really matters.:nuke:

[lastliberalintexas]

27. Yeah, because there's every indication that we'll retake the House

Impeachment? LOL.

[LiberalVoice]

40. they will ofcourse...

I mean how many times do we have to see them bitch out?

[PhilipShore]

4. WP: Senate Ends Alito Filibuster Attempt

Washington Pos
By Fred Barbash
January 30, 2006

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/30/AR2006013001021.html

By a 72-25 vote, the Senate cut off a symbolic filibuster attempt today on the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel A. Alito Jr., all but assuring that the federal appeals court judge will be confirmed Tuesday morning by the Senate.

[yurbud]

7. always the next fight

[PhilipShore]

11. Theodore Roosevelt: Far better it is to dare mighty things...

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

[54anickel]

21. "a symbolic filibuster attempt " sounds bout right. You all enjoying

chewing on the bone tossed our way as much as I am? :grr:

[VegasWolf]

5. That's it. I'm changing my affiliation from Democrat to Independent

immediately. I don't even want to be called a Democrat. True, there is no viable independent party at the moment, the numbers will grow. Those who voted for Nader last time aren't going to be happy with the weak-kneed democrats. Their numbers will only grow. The Democrats have proved that they are not worthy to be in power. Someday there may be a real opposition party.

Sorry for the double posting, but I've had my fill.

[BlueManDude]

8. I'm sending the DSCC a contribution

Zero and xx/100 dollars along with a note to let them know how much I appreciated their disorganized and embarrasing efforts.

[54anickel]

24. Nice idea, maybe we could get a movement going doing that. Better yet,

make it out for 1 cent...zero would just end up in the trash but a bunch of pennies, they might actually waste the time to process them. :evilgrin:

[Megahurtz]

9. I'm with you, I've HAD IT.

:argh:

[tedzbear]

26. Why not register Green Party?

I did.

[Straight Shooter]

10. "liberal Democrats"

I guess that makes the rest of them conservative Democrats. Or, as I like to call them, back-stabbing DINOs.

[Sparkly]

17. Check out the AP's phrasing.

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Monday all but guaranteed Samuel Alito's confirmation as the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice, shutting down a last-minute attempt by liberals to block the conservative judge's nomination with a filibuster.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060131/ap_on_go_su_co/alito;_ylt=AouB1hEQSzNsRR06Edu4H3Gs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

[rodeodance]

19. lots of talk of 'liberal left" (kennedy at top) and Dems (leftovers) last

few days on the talk shows.

[NashVegas]

20. Does That Mean 25% of the Senate is Liberal?

Suddenly, I'm given hope.

[SeaBob]

14. DEMs

Q: Whats the difference between a Conservative Democrat and a conservative Republican?

A: nothing:mad:

[depakid]

15. Bye Bye 2006

Oh well.

Until there's some reason to vote FOR Dems- other than they're a "less bad" than Republicans, they'll continue to remain irrelevant in national politics.

Nobody likes appeasers and cowards- they'll choose corruption first. Wait and see.

[Wordie]

37. Nonsense. This vote will have no effect on how conservatives vote

(we don't have their votes anyway); little effect on how middle-of-the-roaders vote (there was a huge percentage of "don't know" responses in the polls on Alito, even right before this vote), and if anything, when the dust clears, there will emerge an energized and better-organized Dem base (those of us who appreciate the courageous stand the filibuster supporters took), who will vote for progressive Democratic candidates.

The effect on 2006 will only be negligible or good (except for the traitors who voted for cloture, who will go down in flames in their primaries).

[depakid]

43. You just watch

This may have been the stupidest political move ever on the part of those who voted with the far right. In all the years I've followed politics, I honestly don't remember anything quite this self defeating. Maybe Jimmy Carter's "malaise speech."

1. It demoralized the base and independents (and a lot of those who often don't show up to vote becuase they think there's not much difference between the parties);

2. It's going to dry up contributions;

3. It shifts momentum back to the Republicans right when they were on the ropes- and right before the State of the Union (and what's anticipated to be a rather weak response);

4. It's further evidence that the Dems are spineless and incapable of effective leadership;

5. It creates an even wider rift between progressives and so called "moderates."

6. and it further legitimizes far right policies- making a nationalized campaign pretty well impossible at this point.

Like I said- and sorry to have to say it- kiss 2006 goodbye.

I should also add that those who voted for this fascist are going to face a significant and even substantial opposition from within their own party. Brilliant.


<on edit the stupidest political move I've ever seen was Clinton's signing the Telecommunicatons Bill and virtually handing over Radio all over the country to the far right>

[thefool_wa]

16. Questions and suggestions

So, we had 25 senators stand up and say "This will not fly!" today. I am fairly certain (I haven't done the count) that this HAS to mean that some Dems vote yea on the ceasing of debate. Does anyone have a link to a list of who voted and how?

Next question: We still have a HoR vote for confirmation, correct? Maybe we can stir the pot over there. Though, it is harder to do in the House.

I feel the way many of those who have posted here feel, a little betrayed an alot scared. I've known for some time that the Democrats do not have the backbone to truly lead this country any more. If they did then their strongest President in 50 years would not have spent his entire time in office battling baseless allegations of criminal activity only to get impeached (and acquitted) for a technicality that was completely unrelated.

I do like many of the politicians in the party but they are so hung up with trying to doing things better (ethically & politically) than their opponents that they seem to refuse to throw down when the shit hits the fan. What we need is a new third party. One that can win the strong politicians in the Dem party over. One with new, truly progressive ideas that can reshape the way things are done here in America and bring about true, beneficial change.

I have been working with a group in the NW that is working on exactly this plan. It will be a looooooong, hard fight to get any kind of clout or following (let alone break in with any representation), but those who are involved are so fed up with the way things are now that we feel we need to do something. Anyone out there who wants to know more should let me know.

[NashVegas]

23. House Does Not Vote on This

And even if they did, Dems are even more outnumbered there.

[Common Sense Party]

42. I'm still looking for a Party of Common Sense to Emerge

One that understands we need ethical, thriving businesses, yet we also need clean water and air.

One that will fight to keep our country safe from all enemies, foreign and domestic, but will not ruthlessly begin wars where there is no need, and will respect the rights of all our citizens.

One that is not beholden to special interest groups, lobbyists and backslappers, whether they be from the right or left.

One that understands we must be a moral, virtuous, ethical, and good nation...but we needn't be a fundamentalist Christian nation to do so.

One that emphasizes not only the RIGHTS we are all entitled to and which are to be protected by our Constitution and our system of laws and government, but also emphasizes the RESPONSIBILITIES each of us owe to our country and our fellow man.

And most of all, I want a party that won't merely TALK about these things when they're trying to get elected, but will actually ACT on them and LIVE by them.

[VegasWolf]

18. A list of the only honorable Democrats;

The rest will never receive a vote from me.

Here are the votes to continue the filibuster:
NAYs = 25

Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)

[NashVegas]

22. I'm Trying to Look at the Silver Lining, Here

I know there are many who are frustrated with the Dems on this. I'm ecstatic for and about those Dems that tried to do something, that stood up and went on the record as saying "Alito stinks!"

I didn't believe there would be any attempt to filibuster at all a week ago. Now I see that some Dems are finding their spine, and think they were smart to wait until the last possible moment to announce the call for a filibuster, giving the 'pukes less time to put together a media campaign.

[Born Free]

28. the party is not united

Democrats still can not unite to stand up for the American way of life, as long as the party remains fragmented it is worthless as an opposition party that can serve as a check for the right wing agenda being shoved down American's throat. As long as the democratic party is divided they have no strength and will always fall, in order to stand they must be united together with the goal of saving the American way of life that we all know and love.

[NashVegas]

30. We Know That

And it's going to be an interesting test come November, to see which wing gains or loses seats.

[Zhade]

36. That's the problem with having rightwingers like the DLC in the party.

They don't even have to be bribed to go along with the republicans!

[superconnected]

29. Any bets on when abortion is over-turned?

How about ID getting a supreme court stamp to be taught in all schools. How about the internment camps opening for public enemies - ie the gay threat to familys.

Even the patriot act is going to get a supreme court stamp.

I guess the only question now is, how long till it happens.

[delete_bush]

35. maybe it's a good thing the

2nd amendment will be safe. :evilgrin:

[Solly Mack]

31. "Senate Clears the Way for the Marginalization of Congress"

YAY!!! Congress ..way to "render" yourselves obsolete!!!!!


That ever expanding executive will keep you on just to maintain the illusion of democracy - but I guess that's enough for you. As long you're not the ones dying for lies, going without health care, and freezing to death - what does it matter???? Just keep those pay raises coming!!!!

[Riddler]

32. With the Constitution of the United States at stake.....

it's nice to know the Democrats in the Senate were more concerned with being labeled "obstructionists" by the Republicans than they were with saving our country. Today I am ashamed to be a Democrat.

[Erika]

44. So change your party affiliation

What's your problem?

[Selteri]

34. Please don't criticize my comment too sharply... BUT

I think that this might very well be a political ploy on the parts of some of the democrats that is poorly thought out, thinking that should they hand over to Alito the ability to derail justice in America to the far right that it will create a left backlash in the voter populas.

This result, though if it is a tactic or not is questionable, had proven in the past that at any time the supreme court moves hard to one direction or another that the voting populace notices the changes and reactes to vote strongly in the opposite direction as they realize their rights are suggesntly in party line peril. THis hasn't happened _too_ often in the past, but when it does, things tend to shift in a responce quickly.

Woe be to any democrat who would pull this kind of tactic in my voting district as they would lose my vote immediately.

[Zhade]

38. Of course, now they have easily-rigged voting machines.

NT!

[Zhade]

39. Of course, now they have easily-rigged voting machines.

NT!

[EndElectoral]

41. A Sad Sad Day