New Poll: Only 39% Favor Confirming Alito for SC

[WI_DEM]

You would hope that these numbers would give the Democrats in the Senate a certain resolve to go forward with a filibuster and even get a couple of Republicans to join in. And it's Rasmussen to boot.

Q: Should the Supreme Court confirm Samual Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court?

Yes: 39%
No: 26%
Not Sure: 35%

These numbers suggest that there is a sizable minority who are not sure--either they are not paying attention or they don't know enough to make a decision. The fact that only 39% can actually come out and say "Yes" is a big plus for the Democrats. That's well below a majority. Bottom line is that 61% of the American people in this poll are either against Alito or are unsure and that is after all the publicity of the confirmation hearings.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/January%20Dailies/Alito%20Confirmation%20Jan%2013.htm

Of course Rasmussen tries to put a positive spin on these numbers--I don't see it that way.

[Vincardog]

1. Why filibuster? Why not just Vote him down?

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Think we got 5 or 6 Republicans to vote no?

That would be sweet.

Maybe we should start calling Republican Senators too.

[flpoljunkie]

6. With 55 R's and D's like Ben Nelson, very unlikely, but incredibly sweet!

And moderate Republicans have signaled they think Alito will not vote to overturn Roe, but will continue to incrementally chip away at Roe--which was plan Alito cooked up when he worked in Ronald Reagan's Justice Department-- a fact little reported in the media.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Hugh 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are going to stop that little fascist. Keep calling your Dem. Senators.

Get your friend or neighbor to call.

I'm going to put my 9 and 11 year olds on the phone and have them call.

[mom cat]

13. I agree...We can still do this! The 35% or whatever are Bush's core.

The majority of Americans might well be swayed by a filibuster...They couls keep re reading Gore's speech!

[wiley]

4. Just Say No to Alito!

[pat_k]

11. Hear, Hear!! -- It's simple. Demonstrate Conviction or be Complicit

Alito is emblematic of unlimited executive power. The fight against Alito is our Normandy in the campaign to drive out the Bush regime and the ever-expanding dictatorial powers they claim.

If they do not stand and fight, it will be another blow to their self-esteem and further proof of the "weak Democrat" image. If they don't fight against the fascists, they become complicit with them.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. K&R

[n2doc]

7. but..but..the people really want him!

I mean, Senator Graham from SC said so! He said if there wasa fillibuster they whole country would rise up in rightous indignation against the dems! He...wouldn't be telling a lie, now, would he?:eyes:
The MSM want him confirmed so bad they are practically humping themselves with glee writing all the stories about how Alito's confirmation is "certain". Well, we'll see...

[WI_DEM]

8. Graham is also the louse who caused poor Mrs. Alito to cry

[WI_DEM]

9. bump

[MissWaverly]

10. What a coinicidence that the same # that still approve of Bush

[AuntiBush]

12. Ya'd Think.

Filibuster, Dems... please!

[WI_DEM]

14. So Feinstein is going to vote against Alito, but wouldn't support

a filibuster?

[pat_k]

15. Filibuster!! -- It's Simple: Show Conviction OR Be Complicit

Sen. Biden posed this hypothetical: If We the People, through our representatives in the Senate and House, pass a binding resolution prohibiting the President from ordering any sort of attack on Iran, could the President ignore them and order Bombs to be dropped on Iran?

Alito refused to say such a Presidential Act would be a crime against our constitutional democracy. For him, it was just another Open Question.

The notion that the 1973 war powers act (which was passed by Congress and can be revoked or radically altered by them) empowers the President to IGNORE subsequent acts/resolutions of Congress is INSANE. You don't even need to have ever heard of the war powers act to know that absolute power like that is NEVER freely given to a leader; it is only taken by force.

Contrary to what the Fascists would have you believe, the three branches of Government DO NOT share power equally.

The balance of powers FAVORS Congress. When we established our Constitution for the United States of America, we yielded NONE of our Sovereignty to ANY institution we created, but we did vest more power in Congress than the Judiciary or the Executive. As OUR VOICE it is only right that Congress has more power. How do we know we gave Congress more power? Simple. We gave Congress the Power to Impeach the President and members of the Judiciary. (The President and the Judiciary Can’t Impeach Congress).

Of course, it is possible for the laws we pass to address specific problems to conflict with the tenets of our Constitution. We have given the power to resolve those conflicts to the Judiciary, but that power can never TRUMP trump Congressional Action. The Court is simply serving as an institution that insures the laws WE establish are consistent with the guiding principles WE establish. They are not TRUMPING our will, they are ensuring that -- as we strive for a more perfect union -- our laws are the most accurate reflection of our will that can be acheived in an imperfect world.

Alito is emblematic of unlimited executive power. The fight against Alito is our Normandy in the campaign to drive out the Bush regime and the ever-expanding dictatorial powers they claim.

If the Democratic Senators who best represent us do not stand and fight, it won't just be another blow to their self-esteem and further proof of the "weak Democrat" image, if they don't fight against the fascists, they become complicit with them.

Note: Some of the above was pulled from a discussion from yesterday. If you're interested, here it is:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x146536

[Neil Lisst]

16. Senate Dems know their best shot is the debate ...

They are gearing up and getting their ducks in a row for the Senate debate, which should be considerably more useful than the hearing.

Alito simply lied his way through the hearing, and without the power of chairmanship, Dems could do little about it. Alito would never believe any witness who lied so obviously in the face of compelling evidence.

What a liar he is, and dishonest to the core. He was coached to say anything to get past the committee, and he did. He sat there claiming he knew nothing about CAP. What a liar!!

First the debate to better inform the public (who didn't watch the hearings), then the filibuster (hopefully).

It will be without the quisling Pub senators Snowe, Collins, and Chaffee, who don't have a backbone among them. We've already lost Nelson, but if we hold 40, we can filibuster.

As for the threatened nuclear option, the pubs still have to have the votes to make that dog hunt, and there may be pubs who would not vote against cloture, but would also not vote for a rule change.

[John Q. Citizen]

17. Kick!