What should be the Democrats strategy now ?

[kentuck]

It is almost certain this right wing judge, Alito, is going to sail thru. Either the Democrats let it go or they try to stop it. The only way they can stop it is with a filibuster. The only way they can filibuster is if they can get at least 41 Democrats to stay together. First, Harry Reid needs to take a headcount and see how many we have on our side and how many are on the other side.

Secondly, he needs to put pressure on those "pro-choice" Republicans that depend on that issue to keep Democrats from challenging them in their districts. And many of those live in districts where they need the "pro-choice" vote. Every Republican is not a lock for Judge Alito.

Thirdly, Democrats need a rational justification for a filibuster. What would that be? It would be to preserve the rights that women have fought so hard for the last 40 year. It is a fight about womens rights. We cannot surrender that fight.

Until we can get some answers from Mr. Alito, we will continue the filibuster. If we can get the information we are looking for, and we are assured he is not a threat to the rights of the women of this nation, we will stop the filibuster and let it go to a full vote. That is the only option I see for the Democrats at this time...

[Guaranteed]

1. I like the "fight to the death" option, as opposed to the

"lay down and die" option.

[kentuck]

2. We need to get the Democrats on the same page...

We will not let the Reich-wing Repubs set women back to the 1950's with their radical politics. That is the message we must coalesce behind. And those Repubs that go along with their right-wing radical friends will pay a price if they go along. The people deserve to have answers to their questions. Our rights are worth more than a pig in a poke...

[radio4progressives]

5. i'm a woman that's important, but this is much bigger than merely women's

rights.

this is about basic civil liberties for every single american - both genders, all races etc.

[regnaD kciN]

11. No kidding...

This is about having a die-hard right-wing majority on the Supreme Court that will vote their ideology on each and every issue. It will be like December 12, 2000, every day.

I'm serious. If Alito gets confirmed, it's "game over." With a Republican in the White House, they'll get a rubber stamp under the notion of "unitary executive." If there's a Democrat in the White House (hello, Hillary?) they'll find a way to declare unconstitutional any initiatives that might move the country to the left. And we can count on this pattern for at least the next twenty to thirty years.

I mean it -- if we can't win this one, we might as well just pack up and go home.

:grr:

[radio4progressives]

3. exactly..

seriously, they've got plenty of reason to filibuster - mainly with regard to civil liberties and civil rights - that's the bottom line - proponent of uber executive powers - above and beyond Congressional authority.

they have the amunition - they just have to use it now.

[welshTerrier2]

4. you want a filibuster justification? read this ...

here's the short list from the linked article:

EVIDENCE OF EXTREMISM
OPPOSITION TO ROE V. WADE
SUPPORT FOR AN IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY
INSENSITIVITY TO ORDINARY AMERICANS' RIGHTS
DOUBTS ABOUT THE NOMINEE'S HONESTY

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/12/opinion/12thur1.html?hp

[radio4progressives]

7. perfect! print & read it on the phone, email & fax to those idiots in DC

[welshTerrier2]

10. call me a naive optimist but ...

i say the Dems will filibuster ...

Alito is REALLY bad news in a "nice guy" package !!

[kentuck]

9. I think we need a simple message we can give the people...

although all the above are on the mark, I think the most effective issue, and the one most people will understand, is the possible loss of rights by women. Politically, we split the pro-choice Repubs from the right-wingers and we use that as an issue in the next election. But, we must do it in a way that does not appear to be uncompromising, imo...

[unkachuck]

6. what's wrong with just saying it like it is....

....the guys just too damn conservative and we don't want him....if you want our cooperation, bring us someone closer to the center....

[radio4progressives]

8. well apparently that's too simple. it has to be spelled out them..NT

[autorank]

12. At this VERY MOMENT. Call Dem Senators DEMAND Filibuster

Tell them "choice" is on your mind, in a big way. That's the buzz word, CHOICE

[AtomicKitten]

16. The Republicans are infinitely more organized.

The only hope of a filibuster is if the Senators hear from the Dems loud and clear that we will accept nothing less.

[flyarm]

13. one word..filibuster!!!!! n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

14. 56% of America opposes Scalito if he opposes Roe. Justification.

[sandnsea]

15. Nelson, Landrieu, and one other

Conrad or Nelson of FL, Pryor or Lincoln, Lieberman, array of people who would go against a filibuster. And we certainly don't have a cross-over from the right. Abortion is the wrong issue, family privacy rights would have been a winning issue but it's too late to go down that road.