Official Senate Debate – Alito Nomination – Thread 1

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Good morning Junkies! Start time in 5 minutes.

CSPAN2






On edit - correct channel :blush:

[Coexist]

1. 3 minutes to go....

[Jeanette in FL]

2. Thank you for doing this

Yesterday I was not able to watch, but reading through all the threads, I felt as though I watched it myself. I won't be able to see the whole thing today either, but know when I get home, I will be updated. Thank you so much for all of you who take the time to do this. Very much appreciated.

[FreedomAngel82]

86. Yes, it's a great source for a summary of what happened

It'll probably reair later tonight on CSPAN though.

[cali]

3. Yes, indeed.

Thanks very much. I don't get C-SPAN 2, so this is my way of staying updated.

[Lasher]

6. Did you know you can watch it on the internet?

Hit this link:

http://www.c-span.org/watch/index.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2&ShowVidDays=30&ShowVidDesc=&ArchiveDays=30

[hang a left]

4. Thanks Viva La....

[LizW]

5. Chaplain praying now -- nice tie.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. This always ticks me off a bit...

Why do we pray at the beginning of Government session? What happened to separation?

Pledge of Allegiance

Morning business now - Ten minutes each

[LizW]

14. So fake.

Not to dis the Chaplain or anything, I'm sure he's a fine man. But it just seems fakey to read a prayer out of a little folder. It just seems sort of grandiose and not very heartfelt.

[FreedomAngel82]

91. Right

At my church during the service only time anybody has notes is to remember names of people who are sick, having surgery etc. Not the actual prayer itself. :shrug:

[FreedomAngel82]

89. I don't know

I think as long as it's a secular prayer and not just for one particular religious view that might be okay. I've always struct that as odd myself. :shrug:

[CAcyclist]

107. Yeah, but what about those of us who are atheists

and are tired of having religion - any religion - forced on us.

[insane_cratic_gal]

7. they have it listed as cspan1?

Or is that just the reaction?

[noalito]

8. huh?

Ok, i've never watched one of these....they freakin pray at the beginning? We argue about separation of church and state and these bastards pray before they argue about it? Amazing...

[insane_cratic_gal]

10. they pray for wisdom

but considering Bush got voted in and his nasty agenda, I doesn't hold much water for me!

[VelmaD]

11. If you tallied up the number of things...

our government does that clearly violate the seperation of church and state...your head would explode.

[Lasher]

Congressional Chaplains

Congress has retained paid (Christian) chaplains since 1789 to open sessions with prayer and to provide spiritual guidance to members and their staffs upon request. This practice was strongly opposed by James Madison at its inception.

The constitutional propriety of Congressional chaplains was challenged in an August 2002 lawsuit filed in federal district court by Michael A. Newdow (the California man who won a federal appellate court decision against the use of the phrase "under God" in public school-led recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance). As far as I know, the case is still pending.

On edit: Welcome to DU, noalito!

[FreedomAngel82]

92. What about the first amendment for non-religious people?

:shrug: Do they have to participate or is it just a thing? I've seen it before but never the whole thing (I caught the ending once).

[Lasher]

106. I don't know, but I guess that's the point of the 2002 lawsuit (EOM)

[beltanefauve]

109. I believe the case

was thrown out on a technicality. Nice way for the Supremes to avoid "under God".

[Wordie]

61. Hey! Welcome to DU, noalito! Glad to have you join us!

:)

[jmowreader]

82. They freakin pray at the beginning of every Senate session

It's a tradition: every morning, before they transact any business, a preacher comes in and says a little homily. They've always done it.

They could be meeting to debate the nomination of Mister Hankey to the post of federal sewer commissioner, and they'd pray before they started.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. Frist up now... setting the rules for debate

[Coexist]

15. "We'll go on into the night"

His strategy for countering the Dems holding the floor indefinately.

[Skidmore]

13. Stevens (R-Kook) in the chair.

Between him and Frist look for funny business. Crooks all.

[Sydnie]

27. Teddy left his HULK tie at home today

No funny business will be allowed. :rofl:

[hang a left]

16. Executive session

guess we don't get to watch huh?

[LizW]

17. McCain grandstanding about lobbying reform now.

[noalito]

19. Unbearable

I can't stand McCain...

[LizW]

22. I can't stand to look at him.

[VelmaD]

30. It sounded like McCain did the thing that annoys most of us...

using "Democrat" when it should have been the DemocratIC leader. Argh!

At least Frist said it right though. *sigh*

[FreedomAngel82]

95. That annoys me as well

Oy. And yes props to Frist for at least doing that. Hasn't he done that before? I'm not sure. I think when speaking to the press or something about the democrats he's always referred to Reid as the democratic leader. I personally am surprised.

[yodermon]

105. even rep. slaughter did that during her speech

the other day, <cringe>. :(

[Viva_La_Revolution]

37. Welcome to DU noalito!

[Coexist]

21. Frist is also terribly concerned.

poor dear, someone get him a stray cat, please.

[LizW]

24. snork

[rodeodance]

73. i would like to put the snock up his you know what.

[Lasher]

38. Ha ha, LOL!

:rofl:

[Skidmore]

18. McCain there to save the day re:lobbying reform

and mentioning the sainted Joe Lieberman as his buddy in rescuing the universe.

[oc2002]

20. the debate is but a formality, Alito must be fillibustered and stoped.

The real dems need to show the stuff they are made of is greater then the hype of the right wing facist propaganda machine.

That is the duty they must face up to when they took office, not to cower down and bow to they corporate elites.

[hang a left]

23. Frist pleading for bi-partisanship

:puke:

[woodsprite]

28. To that, the Dems only need to say one thing -

"You only get as good as you give out, Bub!"

[Coexist]

33. Amen.

[insane_cratic_gal]

32. Let me Join you!

:puke:

Oh, now his ass is preaching about bi-Partisanship, when he knows his ass is on the line!

[Marnieworld]

36. to a repub bipartisanship means...

obey, do not oppose and shut up.

[FreedomAngel82]

96. Except for Harriet Miers of course

What hypocrites.

[Wordie]

25. Here's how to help stop Alito...it's not too late yet!

I'd like to remind everyone to keep those emails/Faxes/phone calls going. Here are some great resource threads:

Want Democrats with SPINE. Show them YOURS! OPPOSE ALITO! Free FAX! NEW INFO!:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x224519

Documented points against Alito:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x26392

And don't forget to visit EarlG's ActivistHQ's thread on Alito:
REPOST: Activist Corps Action to stop Alito
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x26435

And for good info from the Senate Judiciary Dems:
Great fact check site on Alito. Check it out...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2390002

[Coexist]

26. "smearing" Alito. Shut up, asshole.

I am sooooo on edge this morning.

[Dinger]

49. They Ought To Let MeTalk, I'll Show Them What A Smear Is!

Think I have a chance??

[Coexist]

58. Why not - look at some of those people who are allowed

Why not us?!

[Dinger]

66. Damn Right! Thanks (nt)

[hang a left]

29. While cat killer is talking, I am sure we can miss part of this

but...could someone run down how a filibuster is started and when we might see some fireworks.

[Lasher]

67. There will be a vote for cloture

This is a vote to end further debate on an issue, and proceed to the vote on its passage. The cloture vote requires a 2/3 majority to pass. Anyway, if you don't get clothure a filibuster will ensue.

On edit: Here's more about cloture

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Filibuster_Cloture.htm

[Coexist]

70. Yes, 60 is the "supermajority" required.

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30360.pdf
<snip>
"In particular, a Senator who seeks recognition usually has a right to the floor if no other Senator is speaking, and then may speak for as long as he or she wishes.
Also, there is no motion by which a simple majority of the Senate can stop a debate and allow the Senate to vote in favor of an amendment, a bill or resolution, or any other debatable question. Almost every bill actually is subject to two potential filibusters before the Senate votes on whether to pass it: first, a filibuster on a motion to proceed to the bill’s consideration; and second, after the Senate agrees to this motion, a filibuster on the bill itself.

Senate Rule XXII, however, known as the “cloture rule,” enables Senators to
end a filibuster on any debatable matter the Senate is considering. Sixteen Senators initiate this process by presenting a motion to end the debate. The Senate does not vote on this cloture motion until the second day after the motion is made. Then it usually requires the votes of at least three-fifths of all Senators (normally 60 votes) to invoke cloture. Invoking cloture on a proposal to amend the Senate’s standing rules requires the support of two-thirds of the Senators present and voting."

[Wordie]

85. Some wiki info on the nuclear option:

The filibuster has been around since the early 1800s. It is a way to ensure that any nominee or proposal has broad support. Here's some of what wiki says:

Supporters of the right to filibuster argue that the Senate has a long tradition of requiring broad support to do business, due in part to the threat of the filibuster, and that this protects the minority.

And...
The legality of the nuclear option has been challenged. The Senate parliamentarian, Alan Frumin, was appointed by Senator Lott. Furmin is an ostensibly neutral staff member and appointed keeper of the Senate's rules, and is opposed to the nuclear option.<2> It's been reported that a Congressional Research Service report "leaves little doubt" that the nuclear option would not be based on previous precedents of the Senate.<3>

The wiki article about the nuclear option is quite detailed, and worth a read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Option

btw, you can find a pdf of that Congressional Research Service report to download by searching through Google on "CRS nuclear option."

[jmowreader]

87. It's REAL simple to start a filibuster

You get the floor.

You start talking.

And you don't stop. I think you can yield to the senator from (fill in name of senator in your party who's ready to start talking up a storm) but some filibusters are done by one person.

This is the benefit of "unlimited debate" like they have in the Senate: you can just go on and on and on and on....

[LizW]

31. Frist up now -- gotta move the trash can near my chair

in case I hurl.

[VelmaD]

34. Too late here

I lost my lunch when he called Alito a man with integrity. *barf*

[Skidmore]

35. Not one Bar Association member could find one objection

to Alito? I still find that hard to believe.

He fully intends to legislate from the bench. Has done it before and will do it again.

[VelmaD]

39. But Frist just said he wouldn't...

and we know he'd never lie. :eyes:

It's like they think if they say something enough times that makes it true.

And Frist has a lot of nerve to complain about how Alito was treated in his hearings since he led the effort to keep so many of Clinton's judicial nominees from ever reaching the floor for a vote.

[Coexist]

40. Not one of these groups has anyone on the ABA???

http://www.nominationwatch.org/2005/12/momentum_agains.html

[Wordie]

42. There are reports, though, that many colleagues had complaints...

And I don't think the Bar Assoc. ever was able to grade him on things such as his propensity to expand presidential power, because it's only those Justices on the Supreme Court who decide on issues of presidential power.

It is odd, though, isn't it?

On a positive note, the distinguished former Dean of the Chicago School of Law just recently changed his mind about Alito, and now thinks he is a danger and shouldn't be confirmed:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x231565

[noalito]

47. I agree skids

The ABA is no bastion of conservative thought...why do these people support and even recommend someone whom they know will fight to destroy protections they themselves vow to uphold (roe)? What's the deal?

[Dinger]

60. I Still Have A Question That I Think Applies Here

They (pugs) seem to have been repeating this a lot in recent weeks (ABA, blah, blah, blah). But I remember that shortly after the gigling murderer got into the WH, he stopped a long, 50 year tradition where the Senate (I think) rates a candidate to the federal bench (lifetime appointments), with a blue slip or pink slip. I'm not a lwayer, so I really don't know too mujch about this, but I remember that this was considered an early indication that * was going to go to the hard, fucked up "right." So to bring up that that ABA supposedly loves Scalito, is just plain BS and I hope someone talks about this on the floor today. Any DU lawyers know about this??

[Viva_La_Revolution]

41. Here are your Senators, listed Alphabetically

For those who want to keep track of the votes - Already we have 12-Y and 10-N

Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Corzine (D-NJ)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
Dayton (D-MN)
DeMint (R-SC)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Inouye (D-HI)
Isakson (R-GA)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)

[hang a left]

45. Isn't there a debate first.

Why are people voting already??

[Mass]

50. Unfortunately, last count by AP was 51 to 20.

5 Republicans uncommitted : Stevens, Alexander, Collins, Chafee, Snowe.

22 Democrats and 1 independent uncommitted.

50 Republicans YES
1 Democrat YES

20 Democrats NO

[evirus]

64. traitor!

that one would be Nelson (D-NE)

[FreedomAngel82]

99. Who was the one democrat? Joe?

[Mass]

100. Ben Nelson

[Sydnie]

53. My son has actually had someone writre a program for us

that works off your list. He hasn't shown me how to operate it yet though. Once I check it out I will share it with you all too. I think it is radio buttons where you can tick the aye, nay boxes for each one listed. I also asked him to have it calculate a total, but I don't know if it does or not yet. He wanted to show me how it worked several days ago and I didn't take the time right then to do it. I should have though. Will see if he can do that tonight.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

62. oh Goodie! Give him a big DU kiss!

What a sweetheart!

[hang a left]

43. Does anyone know when this might heat up.

I am asking again. When a filibuster might be hinted at.

[Coexist]

46. don't know. When they attempt to close the debate.

this could go on all night, it seems.

[hang a left]

52. Well maybe I will just turn the tv way up and get some housework

done. I don't want to "watch" republican senators bloviate all day.

[Coexist]

56. they will be "taking turns"

like good children.

[Dinger]

74. Can "Rule 21" Be Used Here?

I'm dumb, but I remember that that got the repugs in a tizzy.

[evirus]

44. blurry

grrr i have to watch on the low quality windows media stream (comcast dosnt carry c-span 2)

[FreedomAngel82]

101. Weird it does here

:shrug: I get all CSPAN's and we have Comcast cable.

[VelmaD]

48. If Alito is in the judicial mainstreatm...

it's only because Reagan and the Busses have appointed so many right-wing nutjobs to the bench. :eyes:

[Ovett]

51. what does absence of a quorum mean? nt

[VelmaD]

63. I'm not sure about what it means officially...

but I know to me it indicates that entirely too many Senators have made up their minds and aren't bothering to listen to any of the debate.

[Coexist]

68. "I'd like to suggest the absence of a quorum" is a common

statement made at the end of the Senator's speech or statement. It is meant, not to REALLY suggest the absence, but to have a (required) official roll call, to stall for time between speechifyin'.

Each side only gets so much time to speak, so they call a "time-out" when necessary.

[Wordie]

54. Don't forget to recommend this thread for the greatest page...

And thanks again, Viva_La_Revolution, for doing this!

:applause:

[insane_cratic_gal]

55. Doing Roll call yes?

Who is the one calling the names?

Is that Cheney?
sounds like Vadar

[evirus]

59. hoooooo puuuuurrrrrr

hoooooo puuuuurrrrrr.................hoooooo puuuuurrrrrr............hoooooo puuuuurrrrrr

*vaders resperator*

[insane_cratic_gal]

65. He's dark sided!

Where is that wife swap woman when you need her?





Mr. Allen.. No wonder the repukes fear him "Come to the dark side!"

[evirus]

69. THEIR ALL DARK SIDED

GET OUT OF MY HOUSEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! ALL OF YOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!! (or what ever she says, you would think a show called wife swap was sinful by name but appearently she dosnt know any better)

[evirus]

57. frist is a hypocrit

hypocrit: getting a twig up your butt about not being able to vote, then tells all his slaves to vote one way, do you call that a fair vote?

[Horse with no Name]

98. well it might be a little difficult to twist arms this time

Seeing as the Abramoff cash cow has dried up...

[FreedomAngel82]

102. Heck no!

They're not even listening to the people they supposivley represent. :mad:

[Wordie]

71. Here's a thread with some anti-Alito petitions you can sign while waiting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2384990

They're really quick...you can do them during the lulls in the action.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

72. Spector up... talking about Patriot Act Re-auth. nt

[Coexist]

75. Leahy up...

discussing the reason for the Sunset Provisions.

Wants minor changes made before final vote.

[helderheid]

76. Thanks! I'll check back in after I drop my kid off at school!

[rodeodance]

78. What is this vote for please--i missed the beginning. thankx

[rodeodance]

81. specter does NOT want another PA extension -set date for Feb 3

[flpoljunkie]

77. Dems not up til 11AM. Check out C-Span, lobby reform hearing starring

Feingold, McCain as witnesses.

[Coexist]

79. Damn - my son has a dental appt at noon...

Well, maybe I'll sit in my car and listen to C-Span on Sirius.

Damn, damn, damn.

[Skidmore]

80. If the Dems were to horse trade the Alito nomination away,

what do you think they would trade it for? Something is going on in those back halls now and I don't have a real good feeling about it.

[rodeodance]

83. i do not think anything is 'going on' (dems)--that is silence you hear

[VelmaD]

84. Am I the only one who finds it distressing...

that Specter just noted that he's going to have to absent himself from committee hearings on the NSA spying scandal to come make his statement on the Alito confirmation? You can't tell me that the two issues will get the attention they both deserve if Senators are having to run back and forth and miss parts of both.

[Skidmore]

88. Some more Frist scheduling magic?

Trying to keep those hearings away from the public and to not give them the attention they deserve. CYA time for the administration.

[in_cog_ni_to]

97. The hearing is on C-SPAN 1. The Senators are testifying before the House

committee. Durbin is testifying right now. Feingold, McCain and Norm (asshole) Coleman are there.

[madokie]

90. dr frist the cat killer, the constitutional killer

[Wordie]

93. There are 5 moderate Republican senators who have not yet announced

their vote on Alito (all the other Republicans are voting yes). Since the Republicans hold such a majority in the Senate, the vote of these 5 is really important. Here is a thread (by IndyOp) on how you can contact them to urge them to reject the Alito confirmation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x230777

[Viva_La_Revolution]

94. Thread 2 is up!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x235101

[ncrainbowgrrl]

103. Locking-here's thread #2

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x235101

[maddezmom]

104. locking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x235101

[Moderator]

108. locking....

Please post into the other threads.


Thank you.