Senator Schumer: Bolton won't face filibuster per Raw Story

[rhett o rick]

A leading Democrat senator said that a filibuster of President Bush's controversial UN Ambassador John Bolton "is unlikely," RAW STORY has learned.

Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Senator, appeared last night on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer. During the course of the interview, Schumer explained "I think that if you count the votes, a filibuster is unlikely, but a lot of Democrats are deciding, weighing the positive of Bolton that he's been for Israel and negative that he has almost an antagonistic, "go at it alone" attitude to the nations of the world, which we need with us to fight a war on terror."


http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Senator_Schumer_Bolton_wont_face_filibuster_0731.html

I hope I did this post right. Wasn't sure it qualified for Breaking News.

Does anyone have the latest possible filibuster vote breakdown?

[Virginia Dare]

1. Excuse me, Senator Schumer, but

isn't he the UNITED STATES Representative to the U.N. He's not the FUCKING ISRAELI Representative to the U.N., so I really don't give two shits what positives he's done for Israel. What the fuck has he done for the fucking UNITED STATES!!!

:argh:

[rhett o rick]

3. Bolton hasn't done Israel any favors either. The Neocons want

to take on the rest of the World back to back with Israel. Not sure that is in Israel's best interest.

[Virginia Dare]

4. Yep, agreed...

the Israeli people are sitting on the Titanic right along with us.

[ixion]

2. ah, the voice of the opposition party...music to the GOP ears

:eyes:

[rhett o rick]

5. Excuse my ignorance, but I didn't understand your comment.

Do you favor a filibuster? Are you opposed to dissent in Demo Party?

[ixion]

7. I favor an opposition party

and the dems have shown time and time again that they are not this opposition, and I find this to be an example of this behavior.

Of course people are allowed to dissent. Agreeing with the GOP talking points is not really dissent, however, but capitulation. There's a fine line, but there's definitely a line there.

[LynneSin]

9. So what you're saying is you didn't bother reading the entire article

In which Dick Durbin said they're 1 vote from the filibuster

:grr:

[ixion]

11. we'll see

they've been pretty timid about using a filibuster thus far.

And speaking of filibuster, it would have made a great deal more sense to filibuster Alito or Roberts for SCOTUS rather than pulling it out for something far less important, like the Walrus' position at the UN.

So my premise still holds. Speaking of a filibuster on a (relatively) minor matter is merely the guise of opposition, IMO.

[rhett o rick]

12. What I hear Ixion saying is the Demo's have done a poor job at

opposing nomination of Roberts, Alito, etc. I agree. Why no filibusters?? I don't have confidence that they will filibuster now. I read Ixion as saying they aren't acting like an opposition party.

Please correct me Ixion if I misrepresented you.

Peace and vigilance

[LynneSin]

6. Make sure you read the ENTIRE article please!!!

From that same article:

The New York Senator's remarks stood in contrast to those of Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Democratic Whip, who told an internet radio show last week that the Democrats needed only one more vote to sustain a filibuster against Bolton, according to Steve Clemons at The Washington Note.

I know that both of my democratic senators are still on board with opposing the Bolton nomination (Biden & Carper).

Let's see how this plays out.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Thanks for pointing that out! Schumer's trying to take center stage

or something lately and I'm frankly getting sick of it. IMO, let Harry Reid and Durbin speak for the Democrats and put some duct tape on Schumer for a couple of weeks.

[LynneSin]

15. I nominate that for best reply

clearly Schumer isn't speaking for all democrats.

We have 3 votes we can lose and still get the filibuster and we know already that Voinovich is crossing back over to his own side (meaning he's voting "yes").

I think all of this is a bit of "wait & see"

[rhett o rick]

16. I prefer "email and call" to "wait and see". nm

[Norquist Nemesis]

17. I'm betting there are 7 to 9 Dems that will drop and vote yes

to end debate. Hmmm... Let's see

Lieberman
Nelson (NE)
Nelson (FL) --possibility
Schumer
Clinton
Pryor
Lincoln (AR)
Byrd
Cantwell

Hope not, but we'll see.

[rhett o rick]

10. Opposing the nomination and supporting a filibuster are too entirely

different things. My Senator, Cantwell, opposed a Alito filibuster then voted against his confirmation once he had the votes. To me, if you oppose a filibuster then you support the appointee. The filibuster is a tool to be used by the opposition party to help ensure that the majority party doesn't run roughshod over the minority. Appointing John Bolton is roughshod, we need a filibuster.

[Ian David]

13. Bolton's plan for Israel is to Immanentize the Eschaton...

America's Roadmap to The Apocalypse
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/IanDB1/667

[Totally Committed]

14. Our Democratic electeds in the House and the Senate have

saddled us with Alito and Roberts... both, without a fight. And, we all see how that is working out.

Now, at a time in our history when diplomacy is of the utmost importance, they are going to lay down and allow a Bolton appointment to the UN -- which he has been sent to destry -- without so much as a tussle, let alone a filibuster.

I am angry. I am disgusted. I am about at the end of my rope with this capitulation, collusion, and cowardice. Almost all of this Party's electeds (save a very very few at the moment) SUCK OUT LOUD!

TC