Asking a dumb question, so I'll ask here and not in gd :)

[jillan]

Arlen Specter seemed very concerned about a woman's right to choose, and he also seemed very concerned about how much power bsh should have. He was the one that called for hearings on the nsa/wiretaps...
I was glued to the hearings, and watching him, I saw him teeter back and forth. I wasn't surprised when he said he would vote for him, but I also wouldn't have been surprised if he didn't.

Now for the dumb question -
When he said he would vote for Alito today, was he saying that he was not going to block the nomination?
Or was he saying yes to Alito to go all the way to the Supreme Court?

[wisteria]

1. It appears likely to me, that he is going to vote for him "reluctantly"..

This is typical Specter.Arlen raises concerns and promises a fair hearing, coming across as a free thinking and acting moderate, but in the end he is a true party guy. The last time he raised a valid point and suggested he was going to pursue as certain strategy, the Bush Administration threatened to remove him as ranking member on the Judicial committee. I would bet $100.00 that he is voting yes out of committee and in the final floor vote, though he does so with concern over Roe vs Wade.

[jillan]

3. Well he has to live with himself.

So if he is doing it as a loyalty to the party, and he really doesn't want to, he is the one that is going to have to carry that baggage around for the rest of his life.

Do you think we have a chance at any repugs in the Senate voting no.
Today's hearings really made me ill. I am so afraid of an Alito/Roberts team.

[wisteria]

21. I don't think we will see even one stray from the pack. n/t

[ProSense]

2. This is where I completely agree with Conyers

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Whats the Difference Between a Moderate Republican and a Republican?

Two disturbing, but not unexpected items in the New York Times today.

First, on the front page, above the fold, in their analsyis section, Adam Litak notes "Alito May be in the Mold of Scalia and Thomas." After reviewing the hearings, my reaction is, of course he is. That is why Bush picked him. He has been catering to the far right since he took office. Is there any doubt that a president who would lie about war and spy on U.S. citizens without warrants, would do everything within his ability to enhance his own power and limit the rights of ordinary Americans?

Second, an editiorial entitled "Pro-Choice Senators and Judge Alito" that observes the hypocrisy of these supposedly pro-choice Republicans who seem not to be doing anything to block the nomination of the most serious threat to Roe v. Wade since Robert Bork. Its fine to say your pro choice and defend a woman's riight to choose, but now that the moment of truth has come, these "pro-choice Republicans" -- in the Senate and House -- appear to be AWOL.

So, what is the difference between a moderate Republican and a Republican? Nothing, and America will be paying the price for it.

http://www.conyersblog.us

[jillan]

5. Did you see my post in gd last nite about what Bork said about the

hearings? He was on with Wolf. Bork basically said that Alito was skating around the isssues.

[ProSense]

8. Yes, I saw it.

late yesterday there was this article also:

Democrats frown on judges' testimony
Seven of Alito's colleagues speak at Supreme Court hearing
From Bill Mears
CNN

Thursday, January 12, 2006; Posted: 7:58 p.m. EST (00:58 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As the fourth day of sometimes-contentious hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito came to a close Thursday, Democrats expressed concern over an unusual move in which seven of Alito's fellow judges on a U.S. appeals court testified on his behalf.

more...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/01/12/alito.judges/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[globalvillage]

9. So, when are people like this going to turn their party around?

RMC Opposes Judge Alito for Supreme Court

The Republican Majority for Choice (RMC) regrettably announces its opposition to the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.

RMC is an organization whose core mission is to protect the right to choose as outlined in Roe v. Wade and to represent the millions of Republicans who strongly support this right. After much research and analysis of Mr. Alito’s own record and statements on this issue of individual freedom it is clear that he is an advocate for further restricting this right.

<snip>

But Judge Alito’s position on choice, however, is not the only disappointment surrounding his nomination. The selection of Judge Alito sends a very clear message from the Bush Administration and the Republican leadership in Congress that they are willing to continue steering the party into a marginalized corner that puts it at odds with most voters..

Sadly, we have come to a point at which average Republicans are beginning to abandon the GOP policy and candidates. We have seen this in the public outcry concerning President Bush’s opposition to stem cell research; we saw it last November in the Virginia gubernatorial race, and we will see it again this year if Republican candidates continue to promote extremist views. We pledge to continue our mission to promote common sense solutions to help lessen the incidence of abortion while ensuring that women and families maintain the safe and legal right to choose. We will no longer stand by while women’s rights are used as a political soapbox for either party.

http://www.gopchoice.org/index.asp

Seems to me, they talk a good game, but, in the end, they'll do just what Specter is doing. It's not until they start 'walking the walk' that real conservatives are going to take their party back.
Until then, it's us v. fundies.

[TayTay]

4. He indicated a yes vote all the way.

I belive he will vote to confirm Judge Alito all the way to the Supreme Court. He didn't find sufficient reason not to in the hearings. And, he would probably lose his Chairmanship if he didn't vote to get him out of Committee. (Rethugs are vindictive and Specter had to promise his soul in order to get that Chairmanship.)

Remember the vote on John Roberts to be Chief Justice? I'm only going to list the Dems who voted Yes and then the Dems who voted No and the so-called moderate Republicans.

Grouped By Vote Position YEAs --- (possible 27, still 2 short of the nuclear option being deployed.)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Byrd (D-WV)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI) Moderate Repub
Collins (R-ME) Moderate Repub
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Feingold (D-WI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Snowe (R-ME) Moderate Repub
Specter (R-PA) Moderate Repub
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---22
Akaka (D-HI)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Corzine (D-NJ)
Dayton (D-MN)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Obama (D-IL)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)

We know the folks in the Nay column for John Roberts are in the Nay column for Judge Alito. But do you think that the Nelsons, Landreiu, Lincoln and Pryor are going to come over and vote Nay or vote for a filibuster? I don't think so. I also don't think the moderate Repubs I mentioned above are going to vote against Alito. I just don't.

I don't think we have a filibuster. How many of the Yeahs above do you think will flip. (We need 41 for a filibuster, which would trigger the 'nuclear option' anyway and Alito still gets in.) I can count and I think there will be opposition on the floor of the Senate next week to Alito, probably very vigorous and filled with references to women's reproductive rights, the necessity to curb executive power and the rights of the poor versus the rich corporations, but who is that going to flip? I can count and it does not look good at all.

[ProSense]

6. Yeah, and while everyone is screaming

about illegal spying they vote for the person who initially condone such action.


Edited to add: and that includes the Republicans like Spector who have serious concerns about the activity.

[jillan]

7. Agreed. Alito is in.

I just wish the dems would have had a more coherent presentation. I don't know if it would have done anything or not. I have to agree with Biden, these hearings are a joke. The votes will be the same as if there wasn't any hearings.

[jillan]

10. Another question - or opinion

Why do you think that bsh wants Alito confirmed before the Sofu (state of the union)?

Why is this so important to him? Something's up.

[TayTay]

11. Bush wants to turn around his poll numbers

and wants to cite some successes in the Congress. If Alito is confirmed then Bush can trumpet bi-partisan support for two Supreme Court nominees since the last SOTU. The SOTU is a big cheerleading thing for Bush, and this will make the point that he appoints people who Democrats vote for.

[jillan]

12. Good point, he needs to have at least one accomplishment - lol

Actually, he did sign legislation on the
Violence against woman act.... but that of course was right before he nominated Alito.

[whometense]

13. Did you see the McLaughlin Group tonight?

Way too much wingnut gloating. But aside from that, they all agreed that the next Bush appointee to the court (god help us if we have another repuke king after little george) would tip the balance.

I don't get that. I thought O'Connor was the swing vote. Anyone understand their count?

Plus - and this realllllly pissed me off - they were asking who is the current leader of the democratic party, and someone (Buchanan, I think) said, "John Kerry?" and I swear Eleanor Clift smirked and laughed and shook her head. But maybe I saw it wrong - they were all talking at the same time, and possibly she was reacting to something someone else said. But I don't think so. Anyone else a witness to that?

[TayTay]

14. Well, Eleanor doesn't like JK

So, I am not surprised. The Dems don't have one leader right now. They have a lot of people who are jockeying for position. We shall see how this year plays out.

[whometense]

15. I did see part of some show -

I think it might have been Hardball. Yes - it was - I only caught part of it, and it annoyed me so much I had to change channels. I like to watch Beat The Press on PBS on Friday nights, anyway.

He had Chris Cilizza http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/ and ....I forget - some other snarker. The other snarker (who WAS that?) said he thought Biden had just blown his 2008 bid this week. (I liked that part.)

Did you see last night's Daily Show? They had a hilarious bit with counters to decide who was the biggest blowhard on the Judiciary Committee. De Wine won - but Biden gave him a run for his money.

[globalvillage]

18. I saw TDS

Teddy was in the running.

It was pretty funny.

[whometense]

20. Did you like the Ed Helms line

about Mrs. Alito?

"Due to a tragic laundry accident she was forced to show up at the hearing wearing her grandmother's couch." hee hee.

[globalvillage]

23. LOL. I missed that part!

:rofl:

[jillan]

17. I am impressed that Buchanan said that about Kerry.

Glad someone is noticing.

[whometense]

19. I watch that show petty much every week

(my husband enjoys a good republican food fight), and I have to say that Buchanan is the one person on the show who consistently says things that surprise me. Not always in a good way, mind you, but still. The guy is kind of inscrutable.

[wisteria]

22. Clift is pissing me off. She seems to be in cahoots with KOS,

and the DLC. She promotes Hillary and Warner and dismisses Kerry whenever she can.I don't think she has ever had a good word for Dean either. I think I going to send her one of my, knock it the hell off letters. I swear, it looks like she is being paid to discredit Kerry. What could she possible have against him that she behaves like this?

[whometense]

16. I thought I'd heard Specter

would vote against anyone who wasn't pro-choice. I guess Alito obfuscated enough to clear Arlen's conscience. :sarcasm: