David Gergen: The Conservatives achieve greatest success in 40 years

[adigal]

On Larry King: he said the Dems fault was not highlighting that this is the conservatives' greatest success in 40 years, what they have been working for for 40 years. Sadly, I think they are right.

[Radio_Lady]

1. "The most egregious activism of the Supreme Court of the US was

stepping in to decide Bush v. Gore." (Larry King show tonight -- just heard it.)

Just curious:

How did the court split on that decision; I'd just like to know how the nine justices voted -- did Sandra Day O'Connor decide it or Kennedy? It was 5 - 4 I believe, wasn't it?

I need someone with a firmer grip on the research on this case from 2000.

Thanks in advance!

In peace,

Radio_Lady

[adigal]

2. Sandra Day, who we all applaud as so "moderate"

was the decisive vote. I have no love lost for that Republican tool.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Adigal, I though that was the case, but wasn't sure.

[joeybee12]

13. Actually Kennedy should be considered the decisive vote...

both O'Connor and he voted with the majority, but afterwards it came out that Kennedy was really torn, and might have gone the other way. Sandra had no qualms--Miss Moderation is simply a political tool.

[fujiyama]

14. The five that voted for Bush

in Bush v. Gore were Scalia, Rehnquist, Kennedy, Thomas, and O'Conner.

O'Conner is also said to have made a statement on election night when FL was called for Gore, "Oh, no and I wanted to retire under Bush".

But compared to Alito, O'Conner was definetely a moderate, especially on choice, church and state issues, and certain other cases.

I really loved Mitchell's comment about Bush v. Gore. It was very direct and I noticed Drier had little to say about that.

[David Dunham]

4. The Dems do not control the Senate. They are the minority.

There's really nothing the Dems can do to stop Alito.

[adigal]

7. Oh, yes, they can...FILIBUSTER!!!

and if the Repubs go nuclear, shut the goddamn Senate down!! We are being ruled by a man who was not even elected the first time and elected on lies the second time. He has 38% approval rating - even my wingnut friends are desperate for someone to get us the hell out of Iraq, and fix our economy.

This man has no right to his nominee. The media has no right to scream at us when they never screamed at all that he has done.

Screw him...filibuster.

[adarling]

5. he was correct in his statement

this is probably the most balanced group of people they have had for a political discussion, probably because maher wanted that.

[Sparkly]

6. I think he's right that stacking the USSC has been a long-term goal.

What I wonder is, what Republican VOTERS think THEIR victory has been??

If they want affordable energy, healthcare, peace and security, what has BushCo delivered?

Most Americans want abortions to be safe and legal; most want freedom of religion; most want a clean environment, an independent "non-activist" court, strong schools -- what has BushCo provided?

If they want terrorist attacks, unnecessary wars, budget deficits, wasted tax dollars on the sky-high national debt, pollution, corruption, lies, torture, job exportation, misuse of the military, undermining the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, spying on Americans, backing out of international treaties, and loss of credibility around the world -- I guess they got that... But I can't believe they really DO want that.

Was it really all about tax cuts, praying, and gay marriage -- is that what made the 02 and 04 elections even close?!?

It's just hard to fathom.

[NewJeffCT]

8. Republicans have a lot of 1 issue voters

Most Americans are pro-choice, but most pro-choice voters are not single issue voters. I'm guessing that a good half of the anti-abortion crowd are single issue voters.

Most Americans want gun control. Yet, I'm guessing that many in the NRA vote Republican because they want their guns and no restrictions. A guy I know who should be tailor made to vote Democrat - crappy job, no health insurance, poor health overall, no job training, etc - will always vote Republican because he's afraid Democrats will take his guns.

[Sparkly]

9. You may be right.

They always seem to be afraid of one thing or another.

[flpoljunkie]

15. The election was close cause the media did not do their job, same as 2000.

And, until they do, we have an uphill climb, to say the least.

[Telly Savalas]

23. Nah, it's the electorate that didn't do its job.

The problem isn't that some yo-yo on TV failed to spoon feed political news and analysis properly to the American public. The problem is that too many Americans let the TV do their political thinking for them.

[flpoljunkie]

24. If the media fails to accurately inform the voters, they're prime culprits

[Telly Savalas]

25. So how is it that you are properly informed if the media isn't working?

[wisteria]

10. We may have swayed some of the public to our side,but unfortunately

the outcome would be the same- all of the majority party Republicans will vote for him and he will become the latest justice.
Alito seems like such a suck up and apparently has been more than willing in the past to present information and positions about himself that will impress those he is seeking employment with, it might just be that he is doing it once again. Everything he has done up to this point has been primping for this position,IMO. Maybe he'll end up fooling us all once he doesn't have to be concerned about losing his job. JMO- trying to present a possible,though unlikely, silver lining in this appointment.

[flpoljunkie]

16. Alito seems a congenial man who very much bows to authority--not good!

Not good, at all--especially with the lawless and imperial Bush administration.

[sandnsea]

11. This is the face of Republicanism

Eisenhower was a military man, like Wes Clark. Not a politician. He is not representative of the Republican Party or any party. Other than Eisenhower, what great Republicans are there? None. They're either zealots like Poppy and Nixon, or lackeys like Reagan and Ford. But they ALL believe God should be in the public square and that government's job is to protect commerce. The neocons are a unique bunch, but Pat Buchanan Republicans aren't worth a shit either.

[f-bush]

12. Gergen's a pig...

interesting how at the repukes greatest success comes their greatest scandal. Repukes have an uncanny ability to break the law and then play the victim when caught.

[DeepModem Mom]

17. Actually, Gergen didn't say this in a crowing way --

I was watching, and he said it in the context that the Dems weren't able to communicate to the people the importance of Alito's nomination. Of course, that's hard when the press makes Mrs. Alito's crying jag the lead story, and, I think, most people don't understand, and/or are not interested in, Constitutional issues.

[f-bush]

19. That's two thirds of the problem

We live in such a self gratifying society in which something acutely and directly affects you, everybody got this two second attention span and doesn';t want to read or think past the fluff.

[AX10]

18. He's right. The GOP has wanted this for 40 years.

Now they will get a right wing nutcase on the USSC.

[RandomKoolzip]

20. Well, bully for the conservatives, then.

:bounce: Yay conservatives! :bounce:

You worked your ass off for forty years to "win," because you see all this shit as some big game, not the real live experience it is, as if it's all just moves on a chessboard and the losses don't have a human toll. You act as if we ought to be proud of you for working so hard to make everyone else's lives much harder. You conscienceless fucks.

:bounce: We're all so proud of you! :bounce:

[opihimoimoi]

21. The Pubs success is proof/confirmation Humanity is a MISTAKE/an ABBERATION

Take a look at the Planet lately??

[leesa]

22. And it only cost us one democracy and one planet!