Official Senate Debate – Alito Nomination – Thread 9

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Thread 1-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x234580#234966
Thread 2-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x235101
Thread 3-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x235518
Thread 4-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x236172
Thread 5-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x236816
Thread 6-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x237473
Thread 7-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=238051&mesg_id=238051
Thread 8-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=238624&mesg_id=238624

[flpoljunkie]

1. Nelson says Alito votes for "big corporations over ordinary Americans" in

his rulings. Will vote NO on confirmation. No word on whether he will also vote NO on cloture.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. has voted for most of Bush's judges...

216 out 226

Gotta say no to Scalito! (ha. it rhymes)

[flpoljunkie]

7. Nelson made good argument against Alito, the "Company Man" aptly

put by the "dean of the Washington press corps," David Broder. This "Company Man" will vote for the government, the corporation, the unitary executive over the common man. Alito's record makes this inclination of his plain for all to see, and it is very worrying.

[appal_jack]

116. a meme worth trying... (Repost)

(note: I typed a version of this into an earlier Scalito thread, which promptly dropped off the homepage. Hope I am not breaking any rules by adding it here - it relates to the "No to Scalito" rhyme...)

Lots of folks have adopted the "Scalito" moniker, and it's a good one. Every time I hear Alito's name, I echo "Scalito," with the accent on the "ee" sound. It's fun, in a sort of laugh-at-the-absurdity-of-imperial-america-in-decline sort of way. Problem is, a lot of Americans don't really know who Scalia is, so the Scalito reference gets a little lost.

Today, as I heard some newsie drone on about the confirmation hearings for "Samuel Alito," I echoed "Scam-y'all Scalito." Wow, what fun! Alliterative and factual! It helps to be living in the south to do this well. One does not need to be up on current Supreme Court politics to understand "Scam-y'all."

OK, OK, so maybe I'm feeling a little lost, now that I've called both my Senators (Dole and Burr), and their aides have politely informed me that my input will be ignored.

I'll probably call them again, but really, with two RepubliCON Sen's, might yelling "Scam-y'all Scalito" back at the radio not accomplish nearly as much? Maybe if more dem's take up the rallying cry, it will. It's fun, try it. Get your friends to do it too.

-app

[ralps]

3. He's calling Alito on his evasive answers, both in committee & in his

answers to Nelson personally. :hi:

[Wordie]

8. Another eloquent speaker.

Is it just me, or do the Dems seem to have far more eloquent speakers than the Republicans?

[ralps]

9. It seems that way to me too

:hi:

[tavalon]

32. Which Nelson

Bill or Ben?

[ralps]

35. Bill Nelson of Florida

:hi:

[Wordie]

4. Thanks yet another time for Viva and don't forget to recommend! eom

[kpete]

5. K&R & THANKS

[ralps]

6. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island up now

:hi:

[ralps]

10. Based upon Alito's writings the 14th amendment would be invalid, & to

second guess the congress.- Paraphrasing. :hi:

[Wordie]

11. Another friendly reminder: Capitol Switchboard numbers- call your Senators

Capitol switchboard numbers:

1-888 355 3588
1-888 818 6641
1-877 851 6437

Just tell the operator which Senator you wish to speak to and you will be connected.

And these are toll-free!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. 86 memorandum...

talked about increasing the power of the executive so they could 'shape the law'.

fuckin outrageous!

FILIBUSTER!!

[Wordie]

13. Alito pushed signing statements, saying ...the president's interpretation

of the law should be just as important as the legislature's. ...and Bush has used these to over-rule will of Congress.

Why aren't Republicans up in arms about that???

[Viva_La_Revolution]

14. Alito sided with Government 90% of the time...

while other judges nationwide sided with the Gov. 54% of the time.

[kpete]

16. Took awhile

But I just got through to Harry Reid's Office again.

[Wordie]

18. What did they say? eom

[Wordie]

17. Excellent point. Yet creepy Hatch thinks we should not have a

"scorecard." I can see why!

[Wordie]

15. Even Chertoff (Sec. of Homeland Security) wrote a decision highly

critical of Alito's decision on the strip search case.

[melissinha]

19. I'm loving Senator Reed

He's all about discussing Alito's record and what it means.... notice how the repukes don't talk about record .. cause they know his record is Anti-American and Anti-Constitutional..

Way to go Senator Reed. Excellent job, thanks for speaking on the behalf of a resident of the state of Texas.

[helderheid]

20. big thumbs up for him

[ralps]

23. Sen Reed will vote no

:hi:

[acmavm]

21. They all need to gang up on Nebraska's weasel Nelson and beat

the shit out of his worthless ass.

I hope someone suggests it.

[kpete]

22. Sorry,

Salazar won't filibuster Alito but will vote no
STORY TOOLS
Email this story | Print

RELATED STORIES
Salazar opposes Alito

RELATED LINKS

By Ann Imse, Rocky Mountain News
January 25, 2006

Colorado Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar said today he won't be part of any possible Democratic filibuster to stop a vote on the confirmation of Samuel Alito as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I do not intend to join in any filibuster against a vote on Judge Alito," Salazar said in a telephone news conference.

In his view, Alito's nomination is "not filibusterable" due to his stellar academic record and support of his colleagues on the appeals court.

Still, Salazar has said he would vote against Alito, especially due to his history of decisions favoring a strong executive branch.

Asked about prospects of a filibuster attempt by other Democrats, Salazar said, "I don't know whether that will happen. That's not in my hands."

Salazar said the Senate would vote on Alito and then "we'll go on to other issues that are important to our country."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_4414916,00.html

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

26. If you don't want him on the court, why not filibuster?

What a piece of useless, spiness dogshit.

[Kni7es]

58. See ya next time, not

Well while we'd like to keep him in office, we just might not vote for him next time then. It's time to get rid of the spineless cowards running the party and put someone in Congress who's got some balls.

[ralps]

24. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington up now. She'll vote no

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

25. Murray up - Voting NO

"I take this responsibility very seriously."
:bounce:

[Zan_of_Texas]

61. Murray was good. She spoke about Miers, and the ideological context.

of that nomination, and the Alito nomination.

Right out said how the right-wing of the Republican party found Miers not predicable enough on ideology, so forced her replacement with someone more to their liking (this is not even a paraphrase, just a recollection of what she said).

I thought she made good points though, since the Rs are arguing that it's the Ds who want a judge who will vote a certain way.

My point: you can often tell the truth of a matter by listening to what the Rs says about the Ds, then turn it around. In this case, it's actually the Rs who are seeking a judge who will vote a certain way on cases.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

27. nevermind

:P

[ralps]

29. I think this is Wayne Allard of Colorado

:hi:

[ralps]

28. Sen. Wayne Allard of Colorado up now- He'll vote for Alito

:hi:

[El Supremo]

30. OMG, my Senator Allard!

This is the first time I have ever heard him speak in the Senate. He hides. Now I see why. HE CAN'T SPEAK! "Sanuel Alito". What a jerk.

[melissinha]

31. This guy is swarmy

He's up there with my Senators Hutchison and Cornyn....


His defense and misinterpretation of Alito's ghastly interpretation of the law is disconcerting.

[Hawkeye-X]

108. He's my Senator.. He's embarrasing.

And We're itching to throw him out on the streets in '08.

[Ammonium]

33. Allard

He adds an editorial by some colorado newspaper to the record as proof to Alito's "good record"? Wow he's reaching with an elastic arm on that one.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

37. To be fair...

there were 2 editorials. :eyes: I've always wondered why they allow them at all! they aren't factual and are always slanted.

edit to remove bad bolding.

[Ammonium]

44. They ought to be removed

exactly! What does it matter what some editor thinks about the nominee? It doesn't add facts to the argument, just makes the speaker feel good he's got someone else who thinks like he does.

[ralps]

34. Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona up now

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

36. Kyl up now

says Dems are proposing a new test for judges...blah blah. The dems better come back with all the examples of Repugs doing the same.

[Robeysays]

40. what channle is this on?

cspan?

[ralps]

42. CSPAN-2

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

43. CSPAN2

:)

[Zan_of_Texas]

50. You can see them on your computer -- www.c-span.org CSPAN2

.

[VP505]

45. They only need

one name "Myers":banghead:

[ralps]

46. AWWWW Poor Baby. WAAAAA just stop bitching Kyl!!

:hi: :cry: baby

[bettyellen]

38. Unassailable integrity and 1/2 a mil worth of Vanguard he forgot, huh?

[flpoljunkie]

39. Apparently Alito never even put Vanguard on his recusal list!

The question is why.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

41. I thought he did for a few years....

and then for 3-4 years after that didn't. I know I heard something like that earlier, I'll try and find it...

[bettyellen]

49. it was on the list then disappeared and he TRIED TO BLAME HIS STAFF

as if it was a technical glitch that made them screw up and somehow it was shown that his explaination held no water at all.
Ted Kennedy nailed him on that. Alito looked pretty embarrassed.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

52. Thanks!

:hi: bettyellen!

[bettyellen]

66. Anytime, and thank you Viva, for all you been doing. Great threads!

[ralps]

47. Sen. John Ensign of Nevada up now

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

48. Ensign up now

jeez - they're only halfway thru their time! ugh!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

51. How much ya think that suit cost?

$$$$$$$$

looks like he pays for his tan too.

[Dinger]

53. These Threads Still Too Slow For Me

We should have 20-30 threads by now! Seems like too many pugs today. He we given up? I sure as hell have not, not till the bitter fucking end!

[helderheid]

54. I'm a bitter ender too :)

[ClayZ]

64. I have been watching/listening all day....

My teeth are clenched!

I have called, faxed, emailed, bitched, hoped, prayed.


I think I will drink now.....

[helderheid]

94. yes, time for booze - most definitely!

[ralps]

55. There have been a number of quorum calls happening, like what's

going on now. :hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

56. Coleman up next - says CSPAN nt

anybody have that pic of him.. bad teeth/good teeth? Cause you know he hates people seeing it.

[givemebackmycountry]

57. Randi Rhodes (if you can listen)

Is doing a great job breaking this down and telling us who we need to be watching.
Snow, Collins, George Boynavich? (R Ohio - sic)
He's the Republican that cried at the Bolton hearings.

She's praying for Jeffords, an Independent to plead for a filibuster at the end.

"We need to slow this down, the American people are just learning about the "Unitary Executive" and they are just learning who Samuel Alito is"

Slow things down.
I'm with her.
If this happens before the SOTU we are screwed.

If it doesn't, the Chimp will have to discuss it in front of the entire nation.

No "American Idol" or "24" because everything will be pre-empted.

We need to see the Monkey defend this asshole in front of the nation.

This has to happen.

[Kni7es]

59. How would we things slow down?

[givemebackmycountry]

67. Well a filibuster is really nothing but an a "extension of the debate"

It really means nothing.
It doesn't mean we are saying "NO" to Alito.

It just means we extend the debate.
Slow it down.
Talk about it some more.

What's the rush?

[wordpix]

127. I agree-with a filibuster, the American sheeple can learn the issues

since most of them don't bother reading/watching/hearing the news

[Viva_La_Revolution]

60. Voinovich

she may be right. Besides.. It will piss the Chimp off to no end, and that's always fun. :evilgrin:

[ralps]

62. Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota up now

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

63. Coleman up now. Is it just me...

or is there no soul behind those eyes?! :scared:

[HillDem]

65. no soul at all

can you believe this clown took over for Wellstone?

[ralps]

68. What "main Thing" is he talking about!!! What the Frell!!

:hi: :wtf:

[LuckyLib]

97. You're right. There isn't. He's a Republican shill.

He was mayor of St. Paul Mn, wanted to run for governor. Tim Pawlenty, a state representative, wanted to run for Senate. BushCO (Cheney) came to town and said, "Hey boys. Here's how it is. Coleman will run for Senate (Wellstone's seat), and Pawlenty, you go for guv." And that's the way it is. See how it works? Even in liberal Minnesota?

[ralps]

69. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois up now- pointing out the various

Republican talking points. :hi:
edited to add a comment

[Viva_La_Revolution]

70. Whoo hoo! back to the good stuff.

[Sugarcoated]

71. Is it just my imagination

or did Durbin already speak?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

74. yep. you'll see that a lot over the next few days.

[Sugarcoated]

76. Cool

I can listen to him all day.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

72. HATCH GAVE CLINTON THE NAMES GINSBURG AND BREYER!!

OOHHHHH!! HAHAAAAAHHHAAAAA!

Clinton had never heard of them till Hatch recommended! It's all in his book!

[ralps]

73. & he's entering into the record a letter opposing Alito

:hi:

[ralps]

75. & Alito's agreeing w/ the strip search of a 10 year old girl

:hi:

[ralps]

77. He's bringing up the Terri Schivo case!!!!!!!!!!

:hi:

[ralps]

81. "is this President or any President above the law"- The Spying/ FISA

scandal. :hi:

[ticapnews]

78. C-SPAN has the count at 49-23....

but they don't include Landrieu in their count. Have any Democrats other than Nelson and Landrieu jumped the fence? If we lose two more Dems - and don't get any Repubs or Jeffords - then the game's over.

[ralps]

79. I don't think Mary Landrieu has spoken in the Senate yet

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

80. The only crossover from either side is Nelson the Traitor. (D-NE) nt

[MadisonProgressive]

100. Somehow we have to make him pay for this - BIG TIME!

[gordontron]

117. when is he up for reelection?

[bearfan454]

123. You can count on DINO Holy Joe to suck up the bushco.

He votes with the pukes all the time. I hate that Zell Miller want to be.

[Freddie Stubbs]

125. Landrieu has never said one way or another how she would vote

[ticapnews]

128. Yesterday she said she would vote for Alito

because she doesn't want to see the Senate tied down on this nomination when there are other things to do, like send relief to the Gulf states hit by Katrina. It's a stupid decision on her part, but she has apparently made up her mind...

[Freddie Stubbs]

129. Stop posting lies about Democrats

She only said that she she didn't want a filibuster. She never said that she would vote for him.

[ticapnews]

130. For the purposes of this confirmation, the only vote that matters

is the cloture vote. Once cloture is invoked Alito will be confirmed easily. The only way to stop Alito is to veto (sorry about the rhyme). Voting yes for cloture and then voting no on the nomination itself is meaningless.

If she votes for cloture she is voting for Alito. End of story.

[Freddie Stubbs]

131. He would still get confirmed even with a filibuster

The GOP will simply change the rules. They have the votes and the will to do it.

[ticapnews]

132. Then make them do it.

Let them expose their lust for power in front of the American people. Force their hand. Don't give them a free ride.

[Sydnie]

82. I don't have control of the tv - is it still going on? n.t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

83. oh yea, Durbin is still up....

I'm trying to get dinner and watch too, no time to post. Seems everyone else has deserted. :shrug:

[Sydnie]

84. gonna try at C-Span then

What good stuff did I miss - who should I read about?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

92. any of the Dems will be worth your time. :) nt

[ralps]

87. I'm still watching & thank you Viva & Everyone for moderating

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

93. thanks. and I like your critters.

:hug:

[stepnw1f]

85. Your Subject Line Just Made me Laugh

"I don't have control of the tv"

I really needed that this evening....

[Sydnie]

89. my daughter has control now ... =(

[stepnw1f]

90. Can You Stream It from CSPAN's Web Site?

[Sydnie]

91. Just brought it up and plugged in the headphones

:hug: thanks for the help. :hi:

[stepnw1f]

95. Your Welcome

;-)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

86. Roll call again...

now that Durbin is done, you aren't missing much.

[Sydnie]

88. did I miss byrd? I really hope I haven't! n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

96. Nope.

I'll be glued to the TV then too.

I'm always a little afraid when I hear him speak, he gets so passionate for a man his age. I suppose if he were to go in the middle of a rant on the Floor of the Senate, he wouldn't mind.

[Sydnie]

99. It's only fitting that he should, don't you think?

I will weep so hard that day. :cry:

[ralps]

98. Is this now a replay???

:hi:

[Sydnie]

101. No, they are doing another period of morning business

ohhh blivet** needs bodyguards to enter the chamber for the SOTU, poor baby! They should just lay down and let him walk on a carpet of Congress!

[ralps]

105. Ok It stands adjourned, until tomorrow. Thanks alot Everyone

:hi:

[Wordie]

110. FYI...they're doing a replay on C-Span2 eom

[Sydnie]

111. right now? Cool! n/t

[DemInDistress]

102. this 10 year old girl who was strip searched..was she a

terrorist? Is alito a pervert like the correction person who did the strip search? did alito look at the picture of that stripped child. what was the circumstance that led to the stripping of that 10 year old? I'd like to know? can you help me ?
GOP= PARTY OF PERVERTS AND OTHER SEXUAL PERVERTED ACTS....LIKE BULLDOG GANNON AND ABRAMOFF IN A SAUNA WAS BUSH WITH THEM...
REJECT ALITO FOR THAT REASON ALONE !!

[Sydnie]

104. No, she might have been a "drug mule" down there

so violate her just in case!

[DemInDistress]

107. MIGHT HAVE ?? still not clear ..someone please help me

understand the nature of that strip search...CHILDREN UNDER NO MEANS SHOULD BE STRIP SEARCHED...CALL MOM,

[Sydnie]

109. Mom was searched too

they both were. His argument was that, if they didn't search this girl completely, it would send a message that children should/could be used as mules because they wouldn't get searched.

The mother was searched too.

Now that I think about it, it sounds just like the actions that we are guilty of in Iraq against the detainees that we have rounded up. hummmm ... does that equate to legalized torture here on our soil? I think it just might ....

[DemInDistress]

112. THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP..AND

NO,ITS NOT OK BY ME NOR SHOULD IT BE ....WE AMERICANS NEED TO STOP ALITO BEFORE OUR KIDS OUR STRIPPED FOR NO GOOD REASONS. THIS KIND OF SHIT IS TABOO'..A PATDOWN WOULD SUFFICE OR EVEN AN X-RAY. SHAME ON THE GOP..GRAND OLD PERVERTS.

sorry for all the caps but I'm one angry american today

[Sydnie]

113. Rant on - I can relate to how you feel!

I don't think it's ok too. They would have had to shoot me to do that to my daughter.

[DemInDistress]

114. thank you,,,you make me feel better,I'm not alone.....nt

[Sydnie]

119. anytime

come sit by me! :hug:

[DemInDistress]

121. Sydnie,,you don't realize how I wish I could especially

today. I'm having a real bad day but thanks for that hug I feel comforted,...:loveya: :loveya:

[aquart]

122. Strip search wouldn't turn up anything on a mule.

Were they talking about a cavity search?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

103. Thune up

making motions adjourned until 9:45am tomorrow

Night all!

[Sydnie]

106. Night Viva!

Thanks for the threads!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

115. Thread 9?

Thread 9? Don't those liberal hippies over there at DU have anything better to do than....

What? This IS DU? Well, I, uh, (clears throat)....

Ahem. I just sent a fax to six senators; Chafee, Hagel, Collins, Snowe, Nelson, and Voinovich.

ME: Collins(R) [phone],
ME: Snowe(R) [phone],
OH: Voinovich(R) [phone]
RI: Chafee(R) [phone],
NE: Hagel(R) [phone],
NE: Nelson(D) [phone]

I believe the R's to be undecided, and maybe the D could change his mind. I'm in Virgina, and the faxes were a local call. I don't think John Warner will oppose Alito, and it's a waste of perfectly good electrons to write Allen.

The fax's topics were the unitary executive theory, the statement accompanying the signing of the torture bill, and the warrantless wiretapping. All concerned the expansion of executive power, a subject that may be of particular interest to the members of the legislative branch.

I urge everyone to write his own text, rather than cutting and pasting.

Keep up the good work.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

118. Hee hee! Apparently the Freepers have more time on their hands than we do!

Ugh! I need a shower, and lysol. ick

They have one thread over there with over 2200 posts on the Debate.
I tried to read some of it, but it made no freakin sense and that software just sucks. a bunch of bad predictions (the vote was gonna happen this afternoon, did ya hear? lol) and bad photo-shops of kennedy. Lots of insults and no substance, they didn't even understand half of what was happening.
I jumped to the end... they think there is something shady going on because the debate didn't go to 11pm like Fristy said it would. They're sure there's a vast conspiracy going on! :rofl:

the link - if you dare... The OP is just PRICELESS! :puke:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1564584/posts?q=1&&page=1

[Sydnie]

120. One page was all I could take

I really don't like that layout over there. Too hard to follow, even if you could understand what they were trying to say.

:spank: for making me go there. :rofl:

[radio4progressives]

126. People, I recomend we use the appropriate term of Domestic Spying, rather

than the use of the term "wire tapping"

Wire Tapping is the BushCo term.. they don't want people to understand that the concern at issue is Domestic Spying.

[Lasher]

124. The first thread of day 2 is up!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x245795