why (i fear) the democrats will NOT filibuster alito

[unblock]

for the same reason that banana republican strategists never want roe v wade ACTUALLY overturned. nibbled to death, yes; but overturned, no. why? because the existence of row v wade makes millions of single-issue voters donate to "christian" republicans to fight their idea of the lord's fight. actually overturning roe would deprive them of a singularly effective fundraiser. for the same reason, they keep pumping up hillary's visibility. having her out there serves them well. they gotta have someone to hate, something to fight against.


i'm getting very worried that the democrats are actually secretly happy to see the court go solidly conservative, because they will quickly get some outrageous decisions handed down that will become great election fodder for democrats. the president can spy, woman can't have birth control (or at least must notify their husbands), who knows, but we know it will be bad for the country, but good for horrifying democrats.

too late to save the country, perhaps, but a big fundraising coup for the democrats. many of them will get re-elected, and perhaps even find themselves in the majority and chairing committees.


can there be any other reason? if you're not going to filibuster someone like alito, a clear extremist nominated by an unpopular president under pressure from his party extremists, while he's doing illegal things and justifying it based on an illegal war, when a clear majority of the people think the country's on the wrong track, who the hell WOULD you filibuster???

[RagingInMiami]

1. But if they run the judicial, legislative and executive branches

Then how long can they keep leading the christains on, telling them that they're fighting the good fight. Now, I'm sure, the christians are going to expect some payback.

[unblock]

2. fortunately for republicans, the christian faithful don't demand results

they're satisfied with the assurance that they're making progress.
patience is a virtue, the fight against evil is neverending, and they'll take the rest on faith.

[RagingInMiami]

7. Well, I don't know

You saw how pissed off they got when bush recommended Harriet Myers.

[unblock]

8. people they get up in arms about. results they let slide

they take it on faith when shrub says the economy's booming or the iraq war is going well.
but they definitely want "their" people in the right places.

also, note that the masses didn't object to miers so much as the right wing powers that be, who then started the smear campaign against her. only then did the public object.

[acmejack]

3. I will be stunned if they filibuster

I will be sorely disappointed if they don't, but not surprised in the least.

[BlueManDude]

4. I'm beginning to think that alot of elected Democrats AGREE w/ Alito

Why fillibuster someone you want to see on the court.

[tocqueville]

5. yahoo : Alito Appears Headed for Confirmation

There was positive comment from the Democratic side as well. Sen. Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska said, "So far I have seen nothing during my interview with the nominee, the background materials that have been produced or through the committee process that I would consider a disqualifying issue against Judge Alito."

It takes 41 votes to sustain a filibuster, and there are 44 Democrats and one Democratic-leaning independent.

"We can only afford to lose five senators favoring Judge Alito before a filibuster is impossible," said Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat. "It's a very tight margin, and I'm not going to presume one way or the other whether my colleagues are even interested in it."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20060112/ap_on_go_su_co/alito_128

[Burning Water]

6. I think you are wrong

on the Republican strategist's desires. The overthrow of Roe would simply throw the issue back to the states, and the politicians. Lot's of whom could run on the promise to make abortion illegal in Alabama, or wherever. The same people who are voting for them now would still do so, and they are doing all right, electorally, so why not?

Naturally, this would also energize the Democrats, and lots of politicians from both parties would be able to build careers for themselves out of the incessant fights. And, let's face it, for most politicians (Ds or Rs) their own personal careers are what it's all about.

[neverevergivein]

9. It sucks but...you're right

Abortion going to the states would make the Repukes very happy. there are more red states than blue states. That might mean a permanent majority of red senators and congressmen. Might not matter to me, I'll be in Costa Rica or something.