In light of Sen. Fristian's move re: Alito: SHUT IT DOWN!!! NOW!!!

[Roland99]

In honor of:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=119503


F I L I B U S T E R !!!

SHUT IT DOWN!!!


Hell... SHUT IT DOWN N O W !!!!

[Darkhawk32]

1. I agree! Kick and nom!!! n/t

[mom cat]

2. Here is a great contact list! Tell them all to filibuster and block nukes:

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


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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).

[Roland99]

3. Wow! Thanks!!

[mom cat]

4. Hey, I like yuur threat on shutting it down!

[Roland99]

5. It's time to put the PLANTATION OWNERS outta business!

[Darkhawk32]

6. The word Plantation is soooo offensive to Republicans....

they miss owning them don't you know.

[ClassWarrior]

9. I'm guessing Frist has some slave owners in his family tree...

NGU.

[Wordie]

21. That is really helpful, momcat! It must have taken a lot of work. Thanks!

[Wordie]

24. Template to use to write your Senator with concerns about executive power:

I just wrote a letter to my Senator, and I created this template from it. I offer it here for anyone who doesn't have the time to compose a letter, but wants to express concerns about the threat that Alito poses regarding the expansion of presidential powers. Feel free to copy it, chop it up, edit and/or change it in any way that suits your particular interests and those of the Senator to whom you are writing. Note that this is a rather long and thoughtful letter, and I have no idea if Senators ever really get a chance to read the letters that constituents send in. Still, it doesn't hurt to try, imho.

Dear Senator (NAME) :

I am writing to you to urge a "No" vote on the confirmation of Judge Alito as Supreme Court Justice. I am particularly concerned about your vote because I know you voted in favor of Judge Roberts' confirmation. Although I was opposed to the confirmation of Judge Roberts, I can understand how his impeccable credentials and the support of so many in our country persuaded you to vote for him. Alito, however, is a very different case. (If your Senator voted against Judge Roberts, you can just leave that part out.)

You have said, in reference to President Bush's startling revelation that he had authorized spying on American citizens, (fill in a relevant statement of your senator here. Or, if the particular senator hasn't made such a statement about the spy scandal, just say something like "I know you have pledged to support the liberties of Americans...something generic, that all Senators would have said.)

I applaud your statement, and hope that you will recognize that if Judge Alito were to be elevated to Supreme Court Justice, he would pose a threat to the rule of law and those liberties that we, as American citizens, value so dearly. Judge Alito, in a speech to the Federalist Society in 2000, said, "...the Constitution makes the president the head of the executive branch, but it does more than that." More specifically, he said that, "The president has not just some executive powers, but the executive power -- the whole thing."

Refering to the theory of the "unitary executive," Judge Alito went on to say, "I thought then, and I still think, that this theory best captures the meaning of the Constitution's text and structure."

It appears that there were some in the Senate and in the media who were fully satisfied with Judge Alito's answers to the questions posed to him on these important constitutional issues. Judge Alito said "No person in this country is above the law, and that includes the president, and it includes the Supreme Court." He also said, "Neither the president nor anybody else...can override a statute that is constitutional." Yet as a Supreme Court Justice, it would be Alito himself who was in the position to determine the constitutionality of our laws. He would thus determine, in any particular legal challenge to the President's actions that might arise, if the President was actually required to follow them, through his power as a Supreme Court Judge to determine the constitutionality of the laws themselves. Consequently, the assurances he gave in the hearing mean little, although on the surface they sounded good.

When he was later questioned about specific constitutional issues, Judge Alito refused to answer, citing the possibility that such a question could come before him, should he be confirmed. So, although it appeared that Judge Alito had backed away from his earlier statements on the expansion of presidential power, in fact his statements can also be seen as an intellectually nimble and highly effective way of avoiding the question.

As Media Matters recently pointed out, "Alito's statement only raises questions; it doesn't answer them. What is the scope of Congress' constitutional authority? What is the scope of the president's constitutional authority? Alito's statement says nothing about that balance of power..."

(Find the criteria that the Senator has said they would use to judge Supreme Court nominee. It probably will be available on the Senator's website, which you can easily access through this link: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm . Then say that Alito doesn't meet the criteria that the Senator established as being necessary for a nominee to get his/her vote)

There are lots of other reasons to vote against Judge Alito: his record shows him to be a supporter of business interests over those of the little guy; he was a member of an organization that took some very unacceptable stands regarding civil rights and diversity; he is against choice. Make sure not to include that "choice" part if the Senator in question is against it! And modify this with any other issues that you know your senator is particularly concerned about.) But those reasons, all of which both you and I care about deeply, pale in comparison to the risk that Alito poses, in what could be a decades-long tenure on the Supreme Court, to the liberties that so many Americans have sacrificed to uphold. You MUST vote against this nominee, and if called upon to do so, support a fillibuster against him. As your constituent, I am depending on you.

Thank you.

Sincerely,



P.S. I know you must be concerned about the threat of a nuclear option, but in the event of a strong Democratic effort, don't you think such a threat would probably vanish? The Rebublicans, after all, don't really want to lose the fillibuster either. And ask yourself this: when measured against the risk Alito poses to the traditional checks and balances that our system of government and our liberties depend on, isn't it WORTH risking the fillibuster to stop him? The American people are depending on you and your Democratic Senate colleagues to stand up and call the Republican's bluff.

[Wordie]

35. Letter template: shorter version

Dear Senator (NAME) :

You must vote "No" vote on the confirmation of Judge Alito as Supreme Court Justice. Judge Alito, if confirmed, would be in the position to upset the balance of powers between the Congress and the Legislature, and could rule that the illegal wiretaps about which Bush has lied to the American public are constitutional.

Some in the Senate and in the media were fully satisfied with Judge Alito's answers to the questions posed to him on important constitutional issues. Judge Alito said "No person in this country is above the law, and that includes the president, and it includes the Supreme Court." He also said, "Neither the president nor anybody else...can override a statute that is constitutional."

Although appearing to be a backtrack from his earlier statements supporting the expansion of presidential power, these and other statements made by Judge Alito can also be seen as an intellectually nimble and highly effective way of avoiding the question. Nothing in Alito's responses really said anything definative about how he would see the balance of power between the branches of government. When he was later questioned about specific constitutional issues, Judge Alito refused to answer, citing the possibility that such a question could come before him, should he be confirmed.

Remember, if confirmed as Supreme Court Justice, it would be Alito himself who would be the final referee on issues of constitutionality . Nothing in his responses ruled out potential future decisions that would further erode our civil liberties. As a Senator, you surely don't want to risk your legacy by allowing this man a position on the Supreme Court, while these vital questions remain unanswered.

All of the many other reasons to deny this confirmation pale in comparison to the risk that Alito poses (in what could be a decades-long tenure on the Supreme Court) to our Constitution, upon which all our other hard-won rights depend.

You MUST vote against this nominee, and if called upon to do so, support a fillibuster against him.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[radio4progressives]

7. K&R

:applause:

[renie408]

8. Sorry..What did Frist do?

I hate asking questions on here. But I don't know what Frist did with regards to
Alito. Sorry.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. He's gagged the senate floor from speaking on Alito until after

the vote, which is, I think, Jan. 25th.

[TheVirginian]

22. After the Judiciary Committee vote, or after the floor vote? (n/t)

[Gloria]

23. This "gag rule" reminds me of what their policy is towards 3rd

world women (soon to be women here in the US, too).

Insulting...and Democrats will take this shit???

[Roland99]

11. Here's the DU thread on Frist playing Plantation Owner:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x181844

[samhsarah]

17. DID YOU SAY PLANTATION?

FOR SHAME!

[Roland99]

25. Well smack mah mouth!

;)

[Imagevision]

12. I agree with the need to use Alioto as an example of things to come.

[Roland99]

13. And things that have been. And things that are.

[PleadTheFirst]

14. Shut it the hell down NOW!!!

[greiner3]

15. What the hell, I'd like to see fireworks in January; n/t

[Roland99]

16. Works for me!

:D

[samhsarah]

18. SHUT THE MF DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K&R:kick:

[Wordie]

19. K&R

[NativeTexan]

20. These Facist Bastards need to have their.....

...heads in guillotines!! Frist is an arrogant elitist mother, and something has to happen.....I AGREE....

SHUT THAT SUMBICH DOWN NOW!!!

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Does anyone remember what happend with the last gov't shutdown?

Did the public sypathise with those who shut it down?

[Roland99]

27. Public sympathy is not what's at stake here. Our DEMOCRACY is!!

This is the right thing to do.

It's time to make a stand against tyranny!

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. How does increasing the possibility of Democrats losing senate Seats

further the cause of democracy? Alito is going to get confirmed, one way of another.

[Roland99]

29. He won't get confirmed if the Dems stop this tyranny!

And stopping this tyranny is what we want!

You want to get out the vote, then show that the Democrat party has a spine! Being GOP-lite ain't cutting it!

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. How exactly do they stop the confirmation?

The filibuster won't work. They can't actually 'shut down' the Senate. That is simply a euphemism for procedural maneuvers that would greatly slow down the Senate's ability to conduct business. It would not actually stop the confirmation.

So far no one has been able to explain a plausible scenario in which Alito's nomination can be stopped.

[Roland99]

31. They can filibuster ANY measure coming up for a vote

And they can certainly filibuster the process of approving Alito to the SCOTUS.

Force these tyrannical, plantation owner-mentality bastard Republicans to stop their march toward eliminating democracy and instituting one-party rule.


Should these Republican Senators then invoke the "nuclear option", they will be seen as the power-hungry bastards that they are.


Filibuster and Cloture
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Filibuster_Cloture.htm

[Freddie Stubbs]

32. If they invoke the nuclear option, Alito get confirmed

It is that simple. Most people won't outraged that the rules were changed, or 'reinterpreted.' Republicans will simply respond that filibustering a USSC nominee who has the support of the majority of the Senate has never been done before.

[Roland99]

33. Let them invoke the nuclear option. Let them expose their tyranny

You seem like you don't give a shit one way or the other.

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. The problems is that most Americans won't see it as tyranny

They will see it as the usualy political squabbling.

I certainly do give a shit, but I'm not in favor of counterproductive tactics just to satisfy a few die-hard politically-inexperienced partisans.

[zann725]

36. Kick! If not NOW? Then WHEN! Shut it down. Show us a Filibuster, Dems

...like never before seen. Come on...show us a REAL one.

Like the "Stackhouse Filibuster" in West Wing/Sesons 2.

Shut it down!