Feingold said on NPR today that he wouldn't filibuster Alito

[undeterred]

and I am really pissed.

Write to Russ and tell him we are counting on him, especially since he is calling himself a "Progressive Patriot".

[e-mail]

or

http://feingold.senate.gov/contact.html

[John Q. Citizen]

1. Link?

Did he say NO filibuster or did he say doubtful.

There is a hugh111 difference

[undeterred]

4. Repeating what I saw on another post

Haven't seen a story yet, but it was 8am this morning. I hope I'm wrong. He voted for Roberts though.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=186x12853

[WI_DEM]

2. Why would he say this?

I'd have to see a link. If it is true I'm very disappointed--even Lieberman says the filibuster option is on the table!

[mom cat]

3. Keep calling him...and all of these on the list:

Filibuster Alito!!!
Actions & Crafts!
The Democrats need to pull together and filibuster Alito's confirmation. It only takes one senator to filibuster, but it takes 40 (out of 45 Democrats, plus the spare Republican here and there), to support his/her right to do so and keep the floor open.


**CodePINK Boston's urgent call for help!**

Here are the Senators to call, with the reason we think they should be talked with (for example, Dems who voted for Roberts, Bush's last nomination, are more likely to vote for Alito as well). They are roughly prioritized, but that of course depends on your personal priorities and approach. You might want to focus on CHOICE (expected to be the biggest issue in this confirmation). All you have to say is "I'm calling to register my firm opposition to Alito's confirmation and my support for a filibuster", although of course it's fun to dress that up with a rant about your favorite issue, the threat not to vote for him/her, questions about their voting plans, etc. Ask your representatives to be corageous and represent what they have worked so hard for and to stand strong for what they believe in.

Free numbers for D.C Capitol Switchboard (they'll connect you to any Congressperson, or give you their address):

1-866-340-9281

1-866-340-9279

1-877-762-8762

1-888-355-3588

OR go to http://www.congress.org/ for easy links to contacting your own senators.

OR order a telegram to be delivered to a senator for $12.95 at congress.com!

P.S. Don't see why this is important? Review information and issues on why the Alito thing is so crucial at Save the Court.org: here


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Favorite Democrats
to Contact to Support a Filibuster
MA: Edward Kennedy
[phone]
Boston:617-565-3170
Kennedy is doing a great job opposing Alito, and is a strong candidate to filibuster. Call and support him!

MA: John Kerry
[phone]
Boston:671-565-8519
Calling our own representatives is probably going to be the most effective!

NY: Hilary Clinton
[phone]
website: http://clinton.senate.gov/

NY: Chuck Schumer
[phone]
Schumer has also done a great job questioning Alito, and is "not ruling out" a filibuster. Call and support him!

CA: Barbara Boxer
[phone]
website: http://boxer.senate.gov/

CA: Dianne Feinstein
[phone]
Feinstein voted against Roberts and plans on voting against Alito, but was quoted by Associated Press on Sunday as saying, "This might be a man I disagree with, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the court." Call and tell her that YOU disagree with the man, and that DOES mean he shouldn't be on the court - we need a filibuster!
Update: Feinstein was quoted in the Washington Post recently saying she will not support a filibuster. Do your best to see if you can still convince her otherwise!
Update:How about also calling Sen. Diane Feinstein D-CA and telling her to stop stating self-defeating obits for the filibuster on Alito. Her husband is a big corporate guy (read as "conflict of interest") -- is Alito's long record of corporate bias a factor in her going light on Alito?

HI: Daniel Inouye
[phone]
website: http://inouye.senate.gov/
Inouye voted against Roberts, but is in the Gang of 14.

WI: Russell Feingold
202-224-5323
Feingold has said he plans to run for president in the next election. Show him he won't have your support if he supports Alito's approval!

NV: Harry Reid
[phone]
website: reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm (includes a contact form)
Reid is the Senate Minority Leader. He is not planning to filibuster as yet.

VT: Patrick Leahy
[phone]
Leahy sits on the Judiciary Committee and voted for Roberts' nomination. On the bright side, AP reported that he is standing up for the Democrats' right to delay the committee vote a day so that the Democratic caucus can meet. Call and tell him that he's on the right track but that he needs to do more - FILIBUSTER.

IL: Richard Durbin
[phone]
Durbin is the Senate Minority Whip, and he should be pulling together the Dems. But he seems unconvinced so far: "We can only afford to lose five senators favoring Judge Alito before a filibuster is impossible. It's a very tight margin, and I'm not going to presume one way or the other whether my colleagues are even interested." (1/13/06)

NJ: Robert Menendez
[phone]
Menendez is being appointed to replace Jon Corzine, and will take office January 17th - just days before the Alito vote. It will be his first important vote as a Senator, so call and tell him to make it a good one! (He's also up for re-election this year)

CT: Joseph Lieberman
[phone]
Voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

WV: Robert Byrd
[phone]
Byrd voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

AR: Mark Pryor
[phone]
Nelson voted for Roberts and has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

NM: Jeff Bingaman
[phone]
Bingaman voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006

WI: Herb Kohl
[phone]
Kohl voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006.

NE: Ben Nelson
[phone]
Nelson voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

CO: Ken Salazar
[phone]
Salazer voted for Roberts and has pledged not to support a filibuster unless under "extraordinary circumstances." Tell him this is extraordinary!

ND: Kent Conrad
[phone]
Conrad voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006.

MI: Carl Levin
[phone]
Levin voted for Roberts and is up for re-election in 2006

These twelve Senators all voted for Roberts and are likely to be swing votes on Alito:

AR Blanche Lincoln
[phone]

ND Byron Dorgan
[phone]

CT Christopher Dodd
[phone]

OR Ron Wyden
[phone]

SD Tim Johnson
[phone]

DE Thomas Carper
[phone]

FL Bill Nelson
[phone]

WA Patty Murray
[phone]

LA Mary Landrieu
[phone]

MT Max Baucus
[phone]

WV John Rockefeller
[phone]

WI Russell Feingold
[phone]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Our Eight Favorite Moderate Republicans
To Convince to Accept a Filibuster
These have pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes):


NAME (State) PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE &
OTHER INFO
McCain (Arizona) [phone] see website http://mccain.senate.gov/
Graham (South Carolina) [phone] see website http://lgraham.senate.gov/
Warner (Virginia) [phone] see website http://warner.senate.gov/
DeWine (Ohio) [phone] see website http://dewine.senate.gov/


These have pledged not to support a filibuster unless in "extraordinary circumstances":


NAME (State) PHONE EMAIL WEBSITE &
OTHER INFO
Specter (Pennsylvania) [phone] see website
http://specter.senate.gov/

Specter is Chair of the Judiciary Committee and pro-choice.

Update: Why not also call Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee,and remind him of this quote from his 2000 book, Passion for Truth: "he Senate should resist, if not refuse to confirm Supreme Court nominees who refuse to answer questions on fundamental issues. In voting on whether or not to confirm a nominee, senators should not have to gamble or guess about a candidate's philosophy, but should be able to judge on the basis of the candidate's expressed views."
Chafee (Rhode Island) [phone] see website
http://chafee.senate.gov/

Chafee has considered switching parties, is pro-choice, and is up for re-election in 2006. He has pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes).
Collins (Maine) [phone] see website
http://collins.senate.gov/

She is pro-choice and has pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes).
Snowe (Maine) [phone] see website
http://snowe.senate.gov/

Snowe is pro-choice and up for re-election in 2006. She has also pledged not to support the "nuclear option" (changing Senate rules so that a judicial nominee filibuster could be overcome with only 51 votes).

[iamjoy]

6. Graham Won't Support A Filibuster

his nose is so far up Alito's tush, I'm surprised his neck isn't brown.

Graham was coaching Alito on evasion tactics so he can make it through the nomation process.

[John Q. Citizen]

19. Lindsey Ghraham? The Republican? No I don't think he will.

[radio4progressives]

5. I just called his office in Washington..

the staffer said that he hasn't made up his mind yet on the vote.

I let the staffer know, that activist across the country were lobbying Senators that we felt we were unsure of, but Feingold wasn't on our list because we assumed he was on the same page with us on this one. I then urged her to make it known to Senator Feingold that activists across the country were vehemently opposed to Alito's confirmation, and that i urged Senator Feingold to vote against his confirmation.

Shit man! I can't believe we have to lobby Feingold on this!

[MH1]

7. You can't believe? Remember, he voted for Roberts.

He thinks the President should get his picks. As I understand it.

You'd think Alito was far enough off the map for even Feingold to vote against him, though.

[undeterred]

11. He'll probably vote against him

but not filibuster. Which makes him just your ordinary run of the mill wimpy Democrat, not the progressive Democratic leader we thought he was.

[undeterred]

9. This is from a news story yesterday

"While undecided on how he'll vote, Feingold said the committee most likely will confirm Alito's nomination Tuesday and the full Senate will follow suit within a week.

"He (Alito) is a bright guy and I like his personality but I'm not sure he'd be objective on critical votes," Feingold said. "I was troubled by the fact he was answering all of our questions (during the confirmation hearings) but there was no reasoning behind his answers."

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=69264&ntpid=7


He was at a grade school. I don't think he'll vote for Alito but he won't stick his neck out to stop it either. And if Russ hasn't made up his mind by now, that's really disappointing.

[mmonk]

16. True

on the issue of haven't made up his mind. When in doubt, filibuster. We have only one constitution and this could be the final assault on it.

[mmonk]

8. freedom can die without much of a whimper

if people aren't vigilent.

[AngryAmish]

10. coward

[mattclearing]

12. Kneejerk much? You might want to wait for a link. n/t

[EFerrari]

13. Contact info here:

[e-mail]

Middleton
1600 Aspen Commons
Middleton, WI 53562-4716
[phone]
TDD [phone]
Fax [phone]




Milwaukee
517 East Wisconsin Ave., Room 408
Milwaukee, WI 53202-4504
[phone]
Fax [phone]
La Crosse
425 State St., Room 225
La Crosse, WI 54601-3341
[phone]

Wausau
Firstar Plaza
401 5th St., Room 410
Wausau, WI 54403
[phone]
Green Bay
1640 Main Street
Green Bay, WI 54302-2639
[phone]

Washington, DC
506 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4904
[phone]
TDD [phone]
Fax [phone]

[Dr.Phool]

14. Bill Nelson said he's undecided, but leaning towards "NO".

According to today's St. Pete Times.

Keep the calls, letters and faxes rolling! I'm even going to fax my repuke Mel Martinez.

[FreedomAngel82]

20. Which Nelson?

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. There is only one Bill Nelson in the Senate

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. dupe

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. dupe

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Typical DLC/DINO/PNACer

;)

[pstans]

21. Feingold is not even close to being a DLC/DINO

I believe you need to read up on Sen. Feingold. Sen. Feingold was the only Senator to vote against he Patriot Act when it was first enacted and he led a bipartisian group that held up the renewal of it. Feingold is also know for the McCain/Feingold Campaign Finance Reform. He supports a PAYGO ammendment to ensure a balanced balanced budget. He returns his pay raise to the Treasury every year. He voted against the Iraq War Resolution and in favor of funding to support our troops. He was one of only 5 Senators to oppose the Telecommunications Act of 1996 with Leahy, Wellstone, Simon, and McCain.

http://www.russforpresident.com

[liberalpragmatist]

40. Freddie Stubbs is being sarcastic - n/t

[pstans]

17. Done

Email sent.

[gumby]

18. Link here

http://wpr.org/ideas/programnotes.cfm

In the 8:00 hour.

Feingold says the Dems will not filibuster.

[undeterred]

22. Well that sure doesn't sound like he's the guy trying

to get everyone to filibuster.

[John Q. Citizen]

34. Do you want someone to call publically for a filibuster now?

If they are going to filibuster, I would prefer they make like they don't know, that it's doubtful, that some Dems are saying no (without naming names.)

They need to build a case and putting off the vote and speaking about what's troubling about Alito is part of this.

If we don't know, the Repos don't know and that's good.

[undeterred]

35. I wish I had that much wishful thinking left in me,

but I don't. This is another Democratic "lay-down".

[John Q. Citizen]

36. Look at the Bolton filibuster. They said the same things they are

saying now.

I saw the Leahey speech on c-span this morning and it seems they are spending an inordinate amount of time laying the groundwork about why Alito is bad for America.

I mean I don't know, but why hasn't the leadership just come out and absolutly ruled out a filibuster?

Why put the vote off a week, lay all this ground work and then let it go through? That would be a huge political mistake.

Why all this "it seems doubtful" talk?

Not one Senator that I'm aware of has said they will vote for cloture. Only Nelson from Nebraska out of all the Dems has said they will vote for Alito.

I recall during Roberts conformation that many announced early they would vote for Roberts. There wasn't any of this I'm not sure, we'll see, stuff.

So that's what I'm basing this on. Not wishful thinking.

[undeterred]

37. I truly hope you are right.

:shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

24. He said "apparently" not.

I don't buy it, and he didn't say he would vote for cloture.

He said enough dems have said, No Filibuster, without naming any of these Dems.

[gkhouston]

26. he said "apparently not". "Apparently" could be a weasel word.

Whether he truly believes there aren't enough votes to filibuster or whether he's doing strategic hemming and hawing is anybody's guess. He didn't say whether or not he himself would support a filibuster (at least not in the part of the clip I heard).

[gumby]

23. Poor Russ

He is basing his decisions on the delusion that Bush "won" the elections.

How can Feingold protect our Constitution is he can't even tell an election from a judicial coup or an election from massive election fraud.

[undeterred]

28. he knows

and he probably knows about PNAC and 911 and lots of other things

If the idea of running for president were not on his mind, I bet he wouldn't be so careful about how things look to the right.

Russ, please don't turn into Hillary. :cry:

[gumby]

33. Was he thinking of the presidency when he voted for Asscrap?

Ashcroft sat there and lied in the Senate's face, and Russ voted for him 'cause he said the president (sic) is entitled to his picks.

[yodermon]

29. Oh crap.

[John Q. Citizen]

31. He didn't say he wouldn't fiflibuster, he said that

"enough Dems have said no filibuster" that "apparently not."

We will see.

[depakid]

32. Feingold's like that

which is why he's a poor choice for higher office.

He passes on almost all of the nominees.

[undeterred]

38. Well I jumped too far on this and I apologize

I still think its a good idea for people to remind Russ that we are counting on him.

Since he is "still deciding" whether or not to vote for or filibuster a candidate like Judge Alito, maybe we can influence his choice.

[Czolgosz]

39. Russ threw us under the bus with Roberts, too. I think he defers too much

on matters of Presidential appointments because he fancies himself in the position of the President one day. I cannot think of another reason why someone who votes well on many issues has a cancerous blind spot on the issue of Presidential appointments.

Hopefully, after Russ's embarrassing vote IN FAVOR of confirming Roberts (followed by a sickly Lieberman-esque and disingenuous "explanation" of his vote that was pure spin), at least Russ may vote against Alito if he's unwilling to filibuster.

[undeterred]

41. If he votes "for" Alito that is something incomprehensible

for a progressive candidate. If the right can force Bush to come up with someone more suitable, the left can too.

[Avalux]

42. Locking.

The information in this post has not been verified and there are conflicting reports about what Feingold actually said.