Alito Filibuster: It Only Takes One

[cal04]

With the fate of the U.S. Constitution in the balance, it’s hard to believe there’s no senator prepared to filibuster Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, whose theories on the “unitary executive” could spell the end of the American democratic Republic. If confirmed, Alito would join at least three other right-wing justices – John Roberts, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas – who believe that George W. Bush should possess near total control of the U.S. government during the ill-defined War on Terror. If Anthony Kennedy, another Republican, joins them, they would wield a majority.


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A filibuster could give voters time, too, to learn what Alito and Bush have in mind for the country under the theory of the “unitary executive.” If after a tough fight the Democrats lose, they could then say they did their best and the voters would know what was at stake. Losing, however, might not be the end result. A swing in public opinion is certainly possible if even one senator takes the floor to wage an old-fashioned, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” filibuster in defense of the most fundamental principles of the American democratic experiment. A filibuster could touch a public nerve if it concentrates on protecting the Founding Fathers’ framework of checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law – all designed specifically to prevent an abusive Executive from gaining dictatorial powers. Secondarily, the filibuster could explain to the American people the need for courage in the face of danger, especially at a time when some political leaders are exploiting fear to stampede the public into trading freedom for security.

Rallying the Nation

If an elder statesman, like Robert Byrd, or a younger senator, like Russell Feingold,
started speaking with a determination not to leave until Bush withdraws the Alito nomination,
the filibuster could be a riveting moment in modern American politics, a last line of
defense for the Republic. In effect, the filibustering senators would be saying that the
future of democracy is worth an all-out congressional battle – and that Alito’s theory
of a “unitary executive” is an “extraordinary circumstance” deserving of a filibuster.

A filibuster also could force other senators to face up to the threat now emanating
from an all-powerful Executive. Democrats would have to decide if they’re
willing to stand up to the pressure that Bush and his many allies would surely bring
down on them. Republicans would have to choose between loyalty to the President
and to the nation’s founding principles. For some senators, the choice might define
how they are remembered in U.S. history.

more
Robert Parry
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/012106.html

[unblock]

1. uhh, i don't think it's possible to filibuster unless you have 41 senators

the filibuster rules have changed over the years and i think now they can call a cloture vote at just about any time during debate. 60 votes and debate, and any filibuster, is over.

however, the arguments in favor of filibuster stand. i don't see how the democrats can lose by trying to filibuster, unless it ends by the banana republicans buying off enough democrats to end debate. that would look corrupt and pathetic.

[still_one]

2. This is an extremely important test for me

either the democrats stand for something, or they are part of the problem

[feelthebreeze]

4. Yep. Litmus test.

[still_one]

6. for me it is

enough is enough, six years of doing nothing

[unblock]

5. it's important to the REPUBLICANS that they have a TOKEN opposition

it lends them the appearance of a democracy, the illusion that our institutions still function.

democrats need to filibuster, dare the banana republicans into using the 'nuclear option', then raise holy hell.
walk out on the state of the union address, disrupt floor proceedings with boos and parliamentary pain-in-the-ass maneuvers, announce that the system is broken and will remain broken as long as banana republicans are in charge.

alito is a convenient starting point, especially given the disaster that would be his ascension to the bench. but from a power standpoint, the democrats have to fight big, and this is their best chance for a big fight.

[mediaman007]

7. For five years they have been waiting for something important, before

they take drastic action. I don't think that anything more important than this is on the horizon. They've passed on the tax cuts, rolled over on Homeland Security, done nothing about the millions lost in the Defense Department. The Democrats need to be of some value to this country. I can't think of a better issue than Alito.

[mom cat]

8. It looks like we have got them Only Ben Nelson is voting for Alito.

Check this out from nocrony.com:

By now we all understand that the entire corporate media has conspired to sell us yet another lie, this one about our power to stop a stealth candidate with a lifelong agenda as a record from completing a reactionary takeover of our Supreme Court. We CAN stop Alito. Oh, yes we can. All we have to do is keep speaking out to our senators. Yesterday, Senator Durbin made it very clear, a filibuster is NOT off the table. They are just waiting for us to show them that we the people are ready to back them up and all the representatives we need will stand up WITH us.

http://www.nocrony.com

[robinlynne]

3. yes.

aboslutely true!