JK on the floor speaking NOW

[TayTay]

[rox63]

1. Wow, that was a quick flight back

Especially since people were bashing him for posting on DKos from Davos last night. I hope he caught a few zzzz on the plane.

[ginnyinWI]

2. thanks--streaming it now

He probably does eat, sleep, and work on those flights. I remember something about his ability to take catnaps anywhere.

[rox63]

3. Streaming it now

He is pissed! Go JK!!!

[_dynamicdems]

10. Now that is the JK I love to see! Fighting MAD and taking NO

PRISONERS!

I wish I could see....I'm in work....

[TayTay]

4. Wow!

This is just amazing. He is on-fire. "Keeping the poweder dry -- for what?"

Oh this is just wonderful.

[ProSense]

5. Kerry is pissed.

What amazes me is that people who supported Roberts are opposing Alito, and people are pretending its politics. It's about protecting civil rights; wake up. Stand up for something.

[_dynamicdems]

13. Good for him! He can be a one man wrecking ball when he has

a mind to. Hope he ate his Wheaties!

[_dynamicdems]

14. Good for him! He can be a one man wrecking ball when he has

a mind to. Hope he ate his Wheaties!

[TayTay]

6. Live-blogging on DKos

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/27/133527/089#23

My DU access today is s-l-o-w. So I am back at DKos with my newly refound password.

[TayTay]

7. That was a brilliant speech!

Just brilliant. I know they will re-broadcast tonight so you can catch it on C-Span. It's was every bit as wonderful as I expected.

[rox63]

8. And he did it

while he was probably horribly jet-lagged. :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[_dynamicdems]

17. Poor baby! Wish we could all give him big hugs. GOD, I hate

those BENEDICT ARNOLD DEMS!

[whometense]

11. Missed the first half of it

at least. Anyone capture a sound file????

Oh, and - BLUE TIE

[ProSense]

15. It was totally awesome. I wrote a

mini rant to the red state and fence sitting Democrats:

What difference does it make?

If you, as a Democrat , will not stand up for civil rights and the principles of democracy, rendering the party system in Congress ineffectual against right wing ideology, what difference does it make if a Republican has your seat? The Democrats can still fight for that seat, but fight now for Senator John Kerry and the Democrats who are fighting for democracy.

Sometimes it’s good that a Democrat wins a seat in a conservative state and can vote counter to the Republicans when it matters on key Democratic issues, but where do you draw the line? When the balance of power is allowed to shift so drastically in the judiciary, the branch of government that can impact our very civil liberties, and we know Democratic members of Congress support this shift, what difference does it make if a Republican holds that seat?

If you don't see the value in opposing someone who will tear at the fabric of our democracy, isn't this proof that you are not interested in defending democracy. Another supreme court nomination may well be presented within the next two years, why should we expect that you will vote any differently or change your views at that next juncture?

It's clear that the difference is not about being a Democrat or Republican, it's about principle and conviction. Without either, what difference does it make?

I’m sure the Democratic Party can find in red states candidates like you who will vote and not alienate their constituents, but who also value civil rights enough to take a political risk when it matters most: to defend the principles of democracy.


- end -


These Democrats still need national support and the party should exercise the power of the purse. Demand they stand up when it matters.


Thoughts! (It's a radical, but what else is left? I can't think of any reason for not supporting a filibuster to take a stand.)



edited to change Republican state to conservative state, and to add I want to send this to a few Senators later.

[ProSense]

21. Well, I was in a rush. I've cleaned up the letter

and e-mailed to Kerry's hit list (Democrats) pinned in GD:

Dear Senator

I am writing to express my concern about the nomination of Sam Alito to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.

What difference does it make?

If you, as a Democrat, will not stand up for civil rights and the principles of democracy at a time when those who espouse right wing ideology seek to render Congress ineffectual as an equal branch of government, unable to exercise the people’s will, what difference does it make if a Rubberstamp Republican has your seat? This is an election year, the Democrats can still fight for that seat, but they don’t have to fight for someone who, in an important and defining moment, decides that standing up is not worth it. Please fight now with Senator John Kerry and the Democrats who are fighting for democracy.

It’s good that a Democrat wins a Congressional seat to represent a conservative state and can vote counter to the Republicans when it matters on key Democratic issues, but where do you draw the line on when to support the Democrats and when to vote with the Rubberstamp Republicans? When the Republicans attempt to shift the balance of ideology so drastically in the judiciary, the branch of government that can impact our very civil liberties, and we know Democratic members of Congress support this shift, what difference does it make if Rubberstamp Republicans holds those seats?

If you don't see the value in opposing someone who will tear at the fabric of our democracy, isn't this proof that you are not interested in defending democracy? Another supreme court nomination may well be presented before Bush leave office, why should we expect that you will vote any differently or change your views at that next juncture?

The difference here should be clear, it's is not about being a Democrat or Republican, it's about principles and conviction. Without either, what difference does it make?

This is about the country, the rights of all Americans, not just your constituents. Your vote will impact me, my neighbors and friends and family across the country. This is a national vote. So please consider joining the fight to filibuster Sam Alito. Mr. Alito’s hedged responses to the line of questioning during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings were disturbing, and given his past position on granting executive powers, I hope you will give serious thought to rejecting his appointment. Equally important is his obvious support for signing statements that are currently and liberally being used to place the president above the law. This should be alarming to you personally since one such statement was recently attached to Senator John McCain's torture ban, which receive tremendous bipartisan Congressional support, to ensure human rights are not violated in the name of capturing and prosecuting terrorists.

If you value civil rights, I urge you to take a stand. It matters now because what's at stake is the foundation of our democracy and the ability of members of Congress to do the job the people elected them to do.

Thank you in advance for seriously considering this request.

[seabeyond]

23. i love the way you write prosense

i love your name too. lol lol. i have been using sense a lot the last couple days. i too am pro sense, wink. but you posts, just smart. good stuff

[ProSense]

25. Thanks Seabeyond. n/t

[beachmom]

9. That was awesome!! It was also an appeal to conservatives.

Don't forget Waco and Ruby Ridge and all of that from the '90s. I think a lot of those right winger/Libertarian types voted for *, and now JK has properly warned them and put them on notice, that this sort of thing may become MORE common not less. And also, what conservatives should be worried about is that Alito will be making these rulings no matter WHICH party is in power. What goes around comes around.

When I ran up to watch him (thanks Tay Tay for the heads up), he was talking about how the future is NOW. Then he said something like "I know this goes against the punditry here in Washington". Did he read my NYT e-mail? :) Okay, probably not, but the point is, I swear he is reading our posts, and using what makes sense and might work. He's figured out that thousands of brains work better than just a few. Or am I imagining this?

Damn, I want even MORE fight on Monday with that Oscar winning performance I have described before that I fantasize will be covered by all news outlets as a "brave last stand". Is that a bit over the top? Anyway, today's speech was excellent. Now take that, JK, and revve it up even a little more . . .

[sandnsea]

12. That was just terrific

I just don't understand how any Democrat, anywhere, can't pick that up and take it to their constituents. Red State Democrats are even more concerned about government and police over-reaching than city Democrats are. I also don't understand why they don't use these occasions to build bridges, instead of turning and running. :grr:

[whometense]

16. Anyone catch Harold Ford's

comments on c-span? They read them right after JK's speech.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

Who the hell asked his opinion anyway??? He's not voting on it.

[sandnsea]

18. Yes

I heard. The stupid thing is that there are enough truly lousy decisions to really rankle people, the exact people we need to get to and the exact kinds of issues that will move them. Whoever is in charge of our strategy on Alito is who is causing problems in this party. I'm going to keep firing arrows until I hit a target, that's all I know.

[jillan]

19. Oh sure, I leave for a few hours, and look at what I missed!

Hope they re-run it.
I'm sure they will.

[jenndar]

20. I think the plan is to re-air it around 8 EST

I'd check the C-SPAN listings closer to then, though.

[jillan]

22. nothing listed.

:cry:

[rox63]

24. He'll be on shortly

Right after Dayton finishes up.

[sandnsea]

26. Video on the Senate site

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/home.cfm