More Senators Announce Opposition to Alito

[Wordie]

It is NOT over yet! Perhaps we all should also contact these Senators to thank them for their support of our rights, and for speaking out against Alito's confirmation.

January 20, 2006

More Senators Announce Opposition to Alito

More Senators have announced their opposition to Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court. Encouragingly, no additional Democrats have announced support for Alito since Ben Nelson (NE). Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), the Democratic Whip, announced his opposition to a packed auditorium at Northwestern University School of Law. “In the record, the writings, the words, and the life of Samuel Alito, I searched for evidence of his caring heart – evidence that for the next two or three decades he would use his position on the Supreme Court to enlarge our freedom, protect our privacy, and respect the delicate balance of power and responsibility our Constitution creates,” said Senator Durbin. “At the end of the day, at this historic moment, I cannot say with confidence that Samuel Alito meets that test.”

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), in announcing his opposition, said, “Based on his record, I am gravely concerned that Judge Alito does not believe the Congress has the authority to protect the fundamental rights of all Americans.”

Other Senators who have announced publicly their opposition to Alito include Patrick Leahy (D-VT) (the Ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (the only woman on the Judiciary Committee), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Ken Salazar (D-CO), and Max Baucus (D-MT). Senators Leahy, Baucus, and Salazar all voted for John Roberts in September.

http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=9477

[Burning Water]

1. Think it will be enough?

Think there will be a filibuster? I don't, and I am very discouraged right now.

[Wordie]

2. Well, three of those (now opposing) had voted for Roberts. That's a

hopeful sign. I haven't given up yet. I think the Senators are being bombarded as we speak by calls and emails. They blocked cloture on the Patriot Act, remember.