Alito - Did Byrd pull something to throw the RePugs off? It seems

[BR_Parkway]

rather strange to me that they are claiming he's voting for Alito because so many calls, but the crafty old statesman has been around those corridors for a while.

Let's look at the last hour:

1. Byrd announces he'd vote Yes,
   
   
2. Specter jumps up and tries to get a vote,
   
   
3. Reid comes down and say, um, No
   
   
4. Kerry comes out for filibuster
   

Is there a grand chess game going on?

[Avalux]

1. lol - I just posted something similar:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=251683&mesg_id=251706

Could be!! :hi:

[BR_Parkway]

2. All the talk of there aren't enough votes for filibuster, ho hum, lull

them to sleep

It's like they pounced as soon as Byrd had his say

Then it has run like clockwork with everyone doing their part.

Man I hope I'm right and they have finally gotten their act together.

[Strawman]

3. No. I think Byrd is what one would call an "institutional patriot"

Above all else. He is loyal to the institution of the Senate. He wants to see the Senate's authority and traditions (including the filibuster) preserved. I think he sincerely intends to vote for Alito and fears a filibuster will prompt the nuclear option which will lessen the Senate's traditional power to give advice and consent on SCOTUS nominees. He's not a liberal even though he was vocal opponent of the *'s conduct of the war. Mostly he was in disbelief that there was essentially no debate on the floor of the Senate. I'm not totally shocked if he supports Alito.

That being said, I disagree with Byrd's stance on Alito. I hope Kerry and the filibuster prevail and I support the filibuster.

[EFerrari]

8. I agree. Mr. Byrd's first wife is the Senate. So, please let's

keep talking to him.

There are any number of points we can bring up on this nomination that would resonate with him -- in especial, the degrading of the Senate under an "unitary executive".

:kick:

[Strawman]

9. Yeah.

That's where I would think he could be persuaded to oppose Alito.

If Byrd was so appalled that the Senate chamber was empty and irrelevant on the eve of this current war, wait until Justice Executive Statements is seated in the swing seat on the SCOTUS.

[maddezmom]

4. perhaps you're on to something

I hope you are correct. :)

[blm]

5. I hope so.

That's all I can say.

[saracat]

6. No. This is only Kerry with a spine trying to

preserve the Constitution. Byrd has NEVER been supportive of Dem principles. Many here on DU think he is a "liberal" because he didn't support the war. He is a conservative . Always has been. He is NOT a hero for our side. He voted for the Bankruptsy Bill. He voted for Roberts. He is on the side of the mine owners. He is NOT one of us and he isn't part of a plan to unseat Alito. He WANTS Alito!

[Peace Patriot]

10. Welll, I know Byrd is not a liberal, but he has been an absolute brick on

the Constitution and the out of control executive, AND on some of the other nominations, such as Gonzales. Maybe I've misread him. Maybe he's just been play-acting as defender of the Constitution, but he's some very talented clown, if that's the case. I don't think power of the executive was such an issue with Roberts. But it's very plain with Alito. So, like I said, maybe Byrd has just been a frigging pharisee on the "balance of powers"--a lot of hot air--OR is part of a parliamentary strategy. We'll see. (My read on him is that he's a pretty smart guy, and would't be fooled by an argument that the filibuster has to lay fallow in order to preserve it. What good is it then? Has he SAID this--that they have to not use it in order to save it? )

[theboss]

7. No

Byrd almost always approves the president's judges - whoever the president is.

It simply shocks me that people don't know this.

[kentuck]

11. Oh, there's a chess game, all right..

and the King is on the run....he needs some protection.

[LiberalAndProud]

12. I still have a huge crush on Senator Byrd.

I.don't.understand his decision on Alito, but I'm still infatuated.

[Innocent Smith]

13. No

Byrd is voting for Alito. He is a Senator who means what he says.