CNN: DiFi said not much reason to filibuster Alito.

[smartvoter]

And comments supposedly from the Dems (aides was the description) that activists expectations are unrealistic.

edit: typo and clarification

[Walt Starr]

1. My line in the sand is Alito

If Alito is confirmed with no filibuster followed by the nudclear option, I start shopping for a new party.

[Le Taz Hot]

15. B.b.b.b.ut Walt!

Haven't you heard? We're supposed to vote for her because she's a Democrat! Otherwise, we're helping the Republican candidate into office. And we're not really Democrats. And we're unpatriotic. And we demand "purity." And ... and ... and ... 'Scuze me. :puke:

That piece of you-know-what lost my vote when she voted FOR the war.

[Walt Starr]

18. To quote that great American, Popeye the Sailor Man, ...

I'VE HAD ALL I CAN STANDS, I CAN'T STANDS NO MORE!!!

This one is it for me. I've been reading the Green Party site today.

If Alito is confirmed, it had damned well better be because the Repukes went nuclear!

[Generator]

26. I was just wondering if you felt the same way yesterday

I think of you as the average, middle of the road Dem, who has had enough! Glad you still are holding fast. I'm so in your camp. I said to my husband, "I should write my senators???" What, they can't see this Alito dude is the worst thing to ever happen to the supreme court at a a time when the president is openly flaunting the constitituion? When the balance will be tilted to the extreme right for the rest of our lives??!! Why can I? Little uniformed housewife. C'mon..they have to do their jobs. I CAN'T do it for them. If they don't fight this, I don't think they deserve their jobs. Period.

[Walt Starr]

40. Alito has been my final straw since his nomination was announced

I've taken all I can. either the Democratic PArty collectively grows a spine or I am through.


This is my litmus test.

[yodermon]

27. ya know Walt,

You don't have to belong to a party, you know.
Being an Independent is very, well, liberating.

[Walt Starr]

42. I could go down that road

but would never be able to vote for any Democrat or Republican should there be no filibuster.

[LoZoccolo]

43. So you will be off of DU for good starting right after the vote?

If you don't like people pointing out your flip-flop on NBD, I wouldn't go there.

[AgadorSparticus]

53. don't forget "circular firing squad". That's another popular one

around here. Yea, it all makes me want to puke too... :puke:

[LoZoccolo]

32. And you won't vote for anyone except Dean in 2004.

Oh hey, it's 2006!

[LoZoccolo]

37. NBD -> NBDOC -> MNBD -> ABB!

NBD: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=166233#166460

NBDOC: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=173767

MNBD: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=168294#169334

ABB: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=83648

[realFedUp]

2. so not much reason to vote for her this year either then...nt

[wryter2000]

8. self-delete

self-delete

[WI_DEM]

3. So it begins

the "consensus" democrats will come out and end up supporting Alito.

[VolcanoJen]

4. CNN's excels at doing the President's bidding, don't they?

Unbelievable how they just spent five minutes propping Alito up.

Ed Henry, Congressional Reporter: "It's obvious how frustrated the Democrats are. Alito just remains calm and cool, while the Democrats fly off the handle."

Wolf Blitzer: "Ted Kennedy is under a lot of pressure from the activists."

I'M GOING TO FUCKING THROW MY TV OUT THE WINDOW

[Blutodog]

9. Blitzer

Wolf has lately really started to annoy me. His phony coolness is just callousness in disquise. He's a top Bu$hCo bootlicker. We can't expect anything but cheerleading from the MSM on TV for Alito it was a given from day 1.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. He really showed himself

the other time when he recently interviewed Dean about Abramoff and at the end had that long annoying sigh.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. That's why I turn it off

I feel much better doing that and sticking to progressive radio.

[wtmusic]

34. the old "fly off the handle, irrational" mantra

God that gets old :grr:

[fujiyama]

48. Ed Henry is such an annoying smarmy dick

I can't stand that guy.

And Blitzer is like the Bush apologizing robot, with that dull monotonous voice.

[hang a left]

was she referring to getting him out of committee???

Or was she referring to a filibuster???

[smartvoter]

21. CNN said that she said not much to filibuster over. nt

[babylonsister]

5. She didn't totally discount a filibuster though; I'm hoping she's

just holding her cards close to her vest for now.

[hang a left]

7. Ah good.

Here is to hoping the Dems WANT a showdown in the full senate.

[wryter2000]

12. Okay

I guess they can't do much in the committee. If she's planning a filibuster in the whole Senate, I understand that.

DiFi was leading the filibuster against the other wingnut judges when the compromise was reached.

[smartvoter]

23. Unless misquoted, they reported she said not much to filibuster on. nt

[Ladyhawk]

47. She's my senator, she and Boxer. I contacted them about this,

but as the above poster said, "Why the hell should we tell them to do their jobs?" I did because I thought it was my duty, but I just bet DiFi won't do hers.

[Neecy]

6. hey, DiFi...

This 'activist' volunteered for your first Senate campaign and donated money to you.

I guess it's 'unrealistic' to think that those of us who have carried the water for years for an increasingly unresponsive party will continue to give a shit.

Kiss my ass, war profiteering bitch.

[MuseRider]

11. Ahhh Neecy

I wish I had said this. Perfect.

[CountAllVotes]

10. cyl Feinstein

Never liked you and still don't like you, now more than ever. :puke:

Doesn't give a damn about people's rights, especially WOMEN!.

I'll vote for anybody BUT Feinstein (DEAR DIANNE) in the next election!


:dem: :kick:

[mike_c]

16. that's our DiFi....

:grr:

[Kagemusha]

17. Sadly, from a distance looks like DU, Kos, FDL, have totally lost.

(throw in Atrios and his supporters and other blogs for good measure)

I sympathize greatly with all the "Imperial Presidency" opposition and so on, not because it is advantageous for the Democratic Party, but because it's a small r republican ideal as well as a small d democratic ideal. But.

The politicians have done an absolutely miserable job of pinning anything related to that issue, or abortion, or shady past, or past decisions, or pretty much anything, on Alito himself.

And the base's arguments would, to an outside observer not familiar with the issues like I am, seem out of touch, completely off the rails, taking Alito's involvement with the theory of the Imperial Presidency completely out of proportion, and, frankly, seem very much besides the point: Alito just plain doesn't seem like that bad a guy, outside the way that the Bush Administration is determiend to use him. In other words, the real problem for liberals isn't Alito: It's the President appointing him. Therefore, the base looks petty, partisan, and worse, Chicken Little.

And I actually agree with a lot of the criticisms so it hurts to type this.

I can see how from Feinstein's position it looks like a lost cause. Alito is saying mostly the right things; he may be keeping his fingers crossed behind his back while saying it, knowing there are loopholes and that at any rate, once he's confirmed, it's a lifetime appointment. And Edwards' grilling of John Ashcroft didn't exactly negatively impact his career as Attorney General; once he was in, all criticism collapsed and his only wounds were self-inflicted.

In other words, Alito would have to be filibustered because he's a big, fat liar, without evidence that he is anything more than a small fibber about things he did as a political Justice Dept. appointee or in university. And he'd have to be filibustered by a party which holds as a matter of collective faith that fibbing in a court of law about a blowjob in the Oval Office didn't come anywhere close to a disqualification for public office.

There's no "there" there to justify a filibuster to the public with. Nothing Feinstein can use, anyway. I'm sorry, people, that is just how it is...

[Vinca]

19. I agree. I think we're screwed. nt

[Walt Starr]

20. Then the Democratic Party is a complete and utter failure and should be

completely abandoned by the activist base.

I'm sorry, that is just how it is...

[Kagemusha]

36. Well, what I said shouldn't be taken as arguing you're wrong.

And from your point of view (and I've seen your posts here on DU for a number of years) I completely understand that sentiment, the sentiment that Alito is entirely bad enough that political convenience be damned, he should be opposed.

But even if that was so, Alito's an eel and a tug of war over him isn't looking likely to end well.

[Walt Starr]

41. Then the Democratic PArty is a complete and utter failure and the activist

base should abandon it as a hopeless cause.

[LoZoccolo]

45. If your actions fail to get you what you want...

...what would that make you?

[smartvoter]

46. I think it's more complex than that. nt

[LoZoccolo]

50. Well thanks for explaining.

I knew you had it all worked out, just how it should all happen.

[smartvoter]

51. Never said that.

Why are you out looking to fight? Surely you can see the complexity of this situation, with this nominee and all the threads out here on his crap, and the long history of Dems not standing up, and yet you get personal with someone who says this issue at this time the line for him. What do you gain from the hit? I am not being sarcastic. When I see these things, I often wonder what someone gains, or perceives he gains, from this kind of thing...

[LoZoccolo]

55. I didn't get personal; he got personal.

He told us what he's gonna do and where his line in the sand was, so of course this issue is going to involve his credibility when he's made similar threats.

My point is, people shouldn't waste our time here frustrating us with threats, especially since they've turned out thusfar to be idle threats. We have an election in 2006 and don't have time for street theater. There is way too much counterproductive stuff here said and done for dramatic effect which accomplishes nothing.

[shance]

30. On puleez. What utter bull.

Its obvious your true leanings.

[Kagemusha]

38. I have no time for petty reflexive name-calling.

Look, I was just back at Kos to look over what I'd missed. (I'm recovering from a cold, lots of sleep required.) And the arguments, loud as they are, are numerous, unfocused, and far, far too wordy for anyone but hardened angry partisans. I expected better; I've seen better. Reports of senator questioning have resulted in similar tales: disorganized, ineffective; in Salon's words, lobbing shots that even a tree sloth could dodge with ease.

Think of this as a little 'tough love'. And if you really do think that anyone who isn't a rah rah cheerleader even when the ball's being dropped must be a Freeper troll then that's your loss.

[in_cog_ni_to]

31. No "there" there? How about this "there"...

Do you still believe the Constitution does NOT protect a woman's right to privacy and an abortion?

He refuses to answer that question.

70% of the citizens of this country DO NOT want Roe v. Wade overturned! 70%! If THAT isn't a "there"...I don't know what is.:grr:

[sendero]

44. I essentially...

.... agree with most of what you say here, well thought out and well said.

However, I disagree on one point. The Dems don't need to "justify" anything with the public. Why should they, the Republicans never justify anything.

No, this is about whether or not the Dem senate is going to use all the tools at their disposal to counter this nomination. They should do exactly that, including a filibuster. The very least we gain is that the senate rules are changed forever with basically no cost to us. And those rules will be missed some fine day.

IMHO, a reason that the Dems get no traction (it isn't just a talking point, it is basically true) even in the face of a virtual meltdown on the other side of the aisle, is that Dems never stand up and put their collective feet down.

Win or lose if they don't try to stop this nomination, then I'm giving up on them. Because IMHO, if packing the court with someone who believes in an Imperial Executive isn't enough to motivate them, then nothing is. In which case they can go to hell, they are useless.

[GR]

22. She Didn't Say Block She Said Filabuster...

but that's wrong too. He's lying in his job interview. Isn't that grounds for immediate dismissal?

[Walt Starr]

24. Not if the liar is a Republican

Democrats simply put their tails ebtween their lags, roll over, and whimper.

I'm about done with this wimp ass party.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. Fuck Diane. How's all that money her husband is making

from the war in Iraq that SHE voted for?:grr:

Did she give a reason why we are unrealistic?

My only hope now is a bomb dropping today.

[arbusto_baboso]

28. Really? Then, Diane, as a Californian, there's not much reason for us to

re-elect you to the Senate, is there?

DiFi is just as bad a corporatist as the most RW repugs. She's a whore, plain and simple.

[Xithras]

29. You know, I recently got chewed here when I said I wouldn't vote for her.

Lets see, she's extremely pro-business, cosponsored a bill to restrict our right to sue when a manufacturer knowingly sells a faulty product, supported the Bush tax cuts, supported the Bush prescription drug plan, voted for the Iraq war, is an ardent supporter of capital punishment, supports the flag burning amendment, supported CAFTA, and now won't even use her power to block an reichwinger from the Supreme Court...and these are just over the past five years! She has a long history of "Republican Lite" ideology.

She needs to be replaced. Why she is representing our party, particularly from a Democrat dominated state like California, is a mystery to me. Her only really "left" causes are gun control and abortion.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

33. Right, DiFi. Let's save the filibuster for something "important".

The mere fact that a racist, misogynist, ultra-conservative judge is about to be seated for life on the Supreme Court isn't at all important.

He, like Roberts, did a good PR job and that's what really counts.

No wonder the American Public is disgusted with politics and politicians.

[in_cog_ni_to]

35. WTF was up with the GANG OF 14??? WTF did the Democrats

get out of that bullshit deal? NOTHING! We saved the filibuster? GOOD! USE THE DAMN THING! FILIBUSTER!

[smartvoter]

39. "We saved the filibuster? GOOD! USE THE DAMN THING! FILIBUSTER!"

LOL and Amen!!!

[robbedvoter]

49. So, what's the big thing they reserve the fillibuster for? If not now when

When is it important enough for them to f*ing react?

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cocoa]

54. I'd like to see the exact quote

[smartvoter]

56. Yes. CNN paraphrased it but didn't play it. nt