OK...Is a filibuster possible ?

[kentuck]

I am reading about Kerry's call for a filibuster and all the other posters saying that a filibuster is still in the cards? It is my understanding that at this time there are 55 Repubs, 44 Dems, and 1 Independent. As of right now, Senators Nelson, Byrd, and Johnson have said they would vote with the Repubs and for Alito. Also, Senators Feinstein and Landrieu have said they would not vote to filibuster. They may change their minds? Also, Senators Lieberman, Pryor, and Salazar probably will not vote to filibuster. I think Salazar has stated such. But Pryor and Lieberman have not said yet. However, we should note that all three are part of the Gang of 14. Considering that Snowe, Collins, and Chaffee have not yet voted, but will probably vote whatever their Party requests, please show how we get the 41 votes to keep filibuster going?

[Justitia]

1. FOCUS - stop "yes" votes for cloture, this is the 1st step

If we eliminate 60 "yes" votes for cloture, we go to step 2.

[neverevergivein]

2. I think this is a bad idea....sorry to say

Not to get too flamed here, and yes, I am fairly new...

But if Alito is confirmed anyways (either by straight vote or nuclear option) and we lose the possibility of filibustering, we then get Kavanaugh and a whole host of really radical district judges. Plus, if Stevens or Ginsberg leaves, we are totally screwed. Just my two cents.

I wish we could have seen this type of fight earlier, but my gut feeling is, we're too late now.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. LOL

Please try again later.

[MadHound]

7. Bad idea for who? Bushco?

Oh fucking well. If we don't use the filibuster now, when will we?

FILIBUSTER! SHUT IT DOWN, SHUT IT ALL DOWN!

[Kazak]

9. Maybe it's not too late to change your user name...

:puke:

[newsguyatl]

10. lol

you're funny.

[Occulus]

11. Nice screen name. n/t

[Quixote1818]

37. LOL! Oh, the irony of your post! nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Ginsberg will NEVER retire under a repuke administration.

Never, ever, ever. Stevens, even though he was appointed by Ford, has become more Liberal over the years. I don't think either of them will retire during this administration. It's too dangerous for the country. Now, they both may be murdered by the BFEE, but that's another thread.;)

[DearAbby]

17. we lose the possibility of filibustering? If we dont use it when needed

and it is needed here, WE HAVE ALREADY LOST IT..

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. Also, we will be taking back the House and Senate in Nov.

and the WH in '08. IT'S THE REPUKES WHO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT LOSING THE FILIBUSTER. NOT THE DEMS.

[hang a left]

19. .....

[AbbyR]

24. I don't usually flame, so I'll try to be polite...

If we are afraid to use the filibuster, we've lost it anyway. Might as well lose it over something as important as this.

[Justitia]

27. sorry! All circuits are busy right now! -eom

[DemInDistress]

3. can a vote be changed...example nelson from yes on alito

to NO on alito?

[Justitia]

28. Absolutely! Formal vote has NOT HAPPENED YET.

Let's throw our backs into turning this ship around!

[DemInDistress]

45. let's roll....let's do it since the vote is not official

my best shot is reminding dems in the senate alito supported the strip searching of a 10 YEAR OLD GIRL ..
I have 2 nieces who will be 10 soon and some reckless cop may want to see her NUDE,ALITO IS A PERVERT WAITING FOR A SUPREME SEAT...

[MrBenchley]

4. Possible....

We'll see....

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Lieberman's statements were quite strong today, kentuck

I wouldn't count him out based on our past views on him.

[kentuck]

13. He has been strong on pro-choice issues in the past...

that is true...

If we can get him to vote against cloture and one more Democrat, Landrieu or Feinstein, and get the two Repubs, Chaffee and Snowe, I could see the possibility...The Repubs would have 59 votes - one vote short.

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. IMCPO, DiFi will filibuster if they need her.

I think what she was saying all along that she didn't think we had NEAR ENOUGH Senators to support a filibuster. BUT WE DO! I think DiFi will support it. She'd be NUTS not to.

[Justitia]

29. Has anyone talked to her since Kerry's stmt? Constituents? -eom

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. Don't know. Maybe someone in Ca. could call her office and ask

if she would support KERRY'S call for a filibuster.

[kentuck]

8. Reid did say he was talking with Chaffee and Snowe ?

If we take those two away from the Repubs, will they still vote for cloture and against Alito? What would be the count if we assume we get those two Repubs??

[Quixote1818]

38. Chaffee voted against the Iraq War. He is a Republican maverick

and I don't think Snowe is running again. She has nothing to lose plus she could get away with voting against her party in Maine.

I can't answer your questions but those two are a ray of hope for us.

[LSparkle]

12. Let's not ANALYZE ourselves out of DOING SOMETHING for a change

IMHO, that's a failing of the Dems -- we analyze everything to the point where we don't take ACTION! Call them simple-minded, but the Repugs don't spend so much time contemplating their navels; they just act -- brashly and wrongly. We need to at least TRY once in a while, to show the public what we STAND FOR!

[hedda_foil]

14. Just talked to Durbin's office. He's working on it!!

They're looking for the numbers. If they can find 41 who won't back down, they'll filibuster. That's what it boils down to folks. Call, call, call.

[Hubert Flottz]

16. I think it's going to happen...

And I think the dems are slick as hell! I've been wrong before, but I think something is up.

[kentuck]

20. I pray you are right, Hubert...

I have been totally demoralized by Byrd's vote....but I can see the possibility...the slightest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel...

[Justitia]

32. Let's not give up on changing his mind! Let's call him again - eom

[Hubert Flottz]

43. "totally demoralized by Byrd's vote"

Me too...

[katty]

22. NOW is the time FILIBUSTER

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. I wonder if they're just playin' with the repukes by letting

them stew over whether we have 41 Senators or not when, in fact, we already have 41 to support a filibuster? Reid seemed awfully "sheepish" today when he was on the floor. Specter was trying to get a date certain for a vote and Harry wouldn't commit to a date.:)

[Hubert Flottz]

44. I'm thinking Mr. Byrd is putting a stop to the case the GOP made...

after the committee vote yesterday..."Those old EVIL Democrats"...voted along a straight party line against Bush's enabler Justass and that's the first time in American history that, that EVER happened! The GOPers forgot all about the fact, that they had just ALL voted along a straight party line, when they voted FOR Sammy in that same Committee!"

[gkhouston]

21. Looks like Kerry's going to try it, even if he goes down in flames

it may be that some fence-sitters will fall on the filibuster side if they see how close the tally is coming to 41.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. Can you imagine if the Dems are only 1 or 2 short of a filibuster

and that 1 or 2 refuses to budge? I can see Lieberman holding out, but I'm not sure about Landrieu and Feinstein. DiFi will lose the female support from some MAJOR organizations if she doesn't support a filibuster. I just can't see her withholding her support for it. Who else is left?

[gkhouston]

36. I don't think Lieberman will hold out

as others have sagely reminded us, the game isn't for us to get 41 votes, it's for the R's to get 60. Feinstein et al may decide to abstain, which is a wimpy thing to do, IMO, but it would have the same practical effect as voting no.

[in_cog_ni_to]

41. Whatever works! If they abstain, I can live with that.

Then it really does fall on the repukes for not getting the 60 cloture votes. :) THEY come out looking bad. Not the Dems.

[mattclearing]

30. Even if the Senate votes for cloture, I am still glad tha someone will

filibuster. Win or lose, it's how you play the game.

[underpants]

33. That's exactly how I feel

I think Kerry just became the front runner too.

[mattclearing]

35. I would still put a number of people before him.

But it's a nice effort.

[kentuck]

31. I think Pryor may be the key vote...

He's a member of the Gang of 14....and he's rather new. Can he be persuaded to go along with the Party?

[in_cog_ni_to]

42. Well, either go along with the party or

they can make your life a living hell if you don't. ;) I don't think the Dems are as vicious as the repukes, but they could threaten him with no support for his state?

[kentuck]

34. Hey! They're cleaning our clocks !

:) Bastards! Go Dems!

[underpants]

39. LOL

While their were busy cleaning all the clocks the Dems secretly held a vote and the Republicans were officially declared DICKS and ASSHOLES and it was entered into the Congressional record.

(closes book takes off reading glasses)


Okay kids time for bed now....