Attempted "Filibuster" is a Sham; There are at Least 60 Votes for Cloture

[tritsofme]

All 55 Republicans and Mary Landrieu, Robert Byrd, Tim Johnson, Ken Salazar, and Ben Nelson have all announced their intentions to invoke cloture and end debate on Alito. I bet there will be 65 to 70 votes for cloture.

The rest is smoke and mirrors, and politicians trying to throw the base a bone.

[babylonsister]

1. We'll take the bone - gladly. nt

[Mass]

2. So call these senators. Dont blame those who are trying.

or do you want them to keep silent.

[jsamuel]

3. bull, we can get them to abstain from voting for cloture

many of them said they don't want to filibuster, but if they "abstain from filibustering" they will not give the Repubs the 60 votes they need to stop the filibuster.

[Shrek]

4. I fear you may be right.

It's easy to grandstand for the base if you know you won't have to follow through.

[Mass]

8. Call Lieberman, Tell him to filibuster.

[seabeyond]

5. people demand and yell for it. we have been saying it, and attacked

and again and again told,...... doesnt matter, need to do regardless. kerry does, and you dump on him

who knows what will happen. there are a couple days. we will see how it develops. piss on someone else's parade

[tritsofme]

20. I'm not pissing on anyone's parade.

I'm just living in the reality based community.

[seabeyond]

22. i sit in that base. reality base. but this is where we are now

and the dems put us here. all kinds of dems. the ones on this board, other blogs, nyt editors, molly whomever...... so now i support kerry

[joanski0]

6. What do you mean, A Sham?

At least the liberal Democrats are trying to fight back, as opposed to the DINO's.

[WilliamPitt]

7. Hang on

Did they say they would vote for cloture, or did they say they would vote for Alito?

Big difference.

[tritsofme]

11. You think a senator is going to support the nomination, and filibuster on

the floor?

Byrd, Johnson, and Nelson will vote for Alito.

Landrieu and Salazar will invoke cloture.

That's the bare minimum.

[WilliamPitt]

23. No

Voicing support is different from voting for cloture and killing debate. These Dems are voting yes, but will they also vote to screw their colleagues out of a debate?

I'd be surprised. That having been said, we're sitting at 41 as far as the number we need for a filibuster. One more aye vote and its done.

[tritsofme]

27. It would be illogical to support a nominee

and simultaneously deny yourself the chance to vote for him.

Votes for cloture are always higher than the vote on the floor.

[jsamuel]

16. absolutely, they can "abstain from voting for cloture"

big difference indeed

[blm]

9. ALL 55 Repubs - are you sure?

.

[tritsofme]

15. For cloture? I'd bet my house on it.

Could possibly one of the Maine senators or Chafee vote against his confirmation? Sure.

But they will vote to invoke cloture, I can guaruntee you that.

[Straight Shooter]

10. Raise hell anyway.

One little push and the Dems all tumble over. Screw that. I'm giving them my opinion whether it changes their mind or not.

Byrd just lost his legacy. Shall I despise him, or shall I pity him?

[AngryAmish]

45. He was in the KKK

[tritsofme]

47. And he has apologized numerous times.

I'm glad to see Democrats resorting to RW smear tactics on Byrd.

Circular firing squad assemble!

[Straight Shooter]

48. I know he was in the KKK and he isn't exactly my hero.

There are many things I admire about Senator Byrd, including his eloquence, his tenacity, yet I'm very aware of his past transgressions. It's a shame to think about how hard he's fought to redeem himself from that nasty era in his life, only to sink into the mud again. :(

[AbbyR]

12. I'm going to remember this...

if Pryor votes for cloture and for Scalito. His dad is coming to down next month, and I will ask him if he agrees with his son's vote and why. I am so MAD at him.

[Halliburton]

13. does Cheney have a vote too?

I sure hope not.

[tritsofme]

19. Only if after cloture is invoked

and the confirmation vote is tied 50-50.

[beaconess]

25. He doesn't have a vote on cloture and he only votes on confirmation

if it's a tie.

[depakid]

14. I say filibuster and put them on record

as betraying the party- and the American people.

Show them for the losers and far right enablers that they are.

[beaconess]

26. Exactly - force them to show whether they think civil rights, women's

rights, democracy, etc. are worth using every quiver in the bag. If not, their rhetoric and no votes are just bull.

[cascadiance]

39. Yup! We need a measuring stick for the primaries coming up!

That should be a reason for them to vote against cloture, even if they don't have the votes to stop it. Of course, they could be doing this after they know it's been rigged for some of the Dems to "take the fall" for them.

[robbedvoter]

17. Randi just counted 58 in all (including the Dems)

[DearAbby]

18. Why is there someone always trying to piss in my Weaties?

Dont stand down...Keep the pressure on.

[bullimiami]

21. yes we will gladly take the bone.

what we want is for democrats to fight this with every tool they have.
if they do that, and fail. so be it. we will be happy with those who fought and know where we stand with those who did not.

[WI_DEM]

24. I would rather lose with a fight than lose without even trying

you may call it throwing a bone to the base, I call it the right thing to do.

[senseandsensibility]

28. Kind of like, "better than to have love and lost than never to have

loved at all". I agree! Go for it!

[Peace Patriot]

29. Are you trying to stop people from calling with a subject line like this?

I don't get it. Why post such a downer, when people are trying to rally support, and make the peoples' views known? You could have saved it, you know. Why at this critical moment?

[tritsofme]

31. I'm just pointing out facts.

I'm not going to be the one surprised on Monday when there are 60-65 votes for cloture.

[hlthe2b]

32. So it is more important for you to be able to say "you told us so,"

than to work together to try to pull this out? I sure as hell hope you are an extreme minority. Whether an uphill battle or not, is your country and constitution not worth picking up the damned phone and giving it a try?!!!

[tritsofme]

34. I'm confident my senators, Obama and Durbin, will make the right

decision on Alito.

And I'm certainly not going to call another senator and misrepresent myself as one of their constituents.

[hlthe2b]

42. .....

"First they went after the Communists, and I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist.
Then they went after the homosexuals and infirm, and I did not stand up because I was neither.
Then they went after the Jews, and I did not stand up, because I was not a Jew.
Then they went after the Catholics, and I did not stand up, because I was Protestant.
Finally, they went after me, and there was no one left to stand up for me."

-Pastor Martin Neimoller, speaking of whom the Nazis targeted during World War Two



Thank GOd, there are so many DUers who WILL get off their "cans" and try to protect our constitution. Enjoy your lazyboy and your sixpack, while we all do the heavy lifting--while it lasts....

[GreenArrow]

52. well, these people are U.S. senators.

You may not be one of their primary constituents, i.e., from their home state, but as federal office holders, they have a secondary responsibility to the rest of us as well, especially on an issue of national importance, like this one is. They work for all of us citizens.

Nevertheless, I tend to agree with your original post.

[blm]

37. Since the 60 isn't there RIGHT NOW, then this is the best we have

and we should go with the best we have at this point.

[cindyw]

30. As if someone should not filibuster if they don't have the votes.

If there was one vote shy, how does this change any persons need to do what they think is needed for our country. Even if it goes down in flames, we Dems need a whip count for the sake of the Senate primaries coming up.

[Beaverhausen]

33. I thought Salazar is a NO?

[tritsofme]

35. No on confirmation, Yes on cloture.

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1138287605/7

[cascadiance]

40. In other words a useless non-commital bum!

[Jersey Devil]

36. Let those who will not filibuster stand up with the Republicans

They are worried about heat being put on them if they filibuster? It won't hold a candle to the heat they will feel if they vote for cloture. I won't support any of them who refuse to uphold the filibuster and will post, write and email everyone I know to urge them not to contribute a dime to them. I'll post against them and blog against them and do everything that I can do to defeat them.

What good are they anyway if they allow Alito to be confirmed without a fight? A majority in the Senate would mean nothing with the likes of them "on our side".

[cascadiance]

43. They will become pro-life, pro-executive power, anti-constitution,...

pro-discrimination, pro-corporate, and most of all PRO-REPUBLICAN...

They should be told they don't get any more Democratic Party support from this point forward. Excommunication is needed!

[B Calm]

38. SENATOR BAYH, I'm watching you!

[mmonk]

41. The risk for dems that would vote for cloture

is if Kerry comes out a hero to the rank and file democrats. That would put them in the role as villains to the base.

[DefenseLawyer]

44. Smoke and Mirrors?

Sham? Just because it may not succeed doesn't make it a "sham". I'd say it is a good way for Democrats to stand up and be counted, one way or the other. Let those alleged Democrats go on record as being okay with Alito on the bench, let them go on record as standing with Bill Frist. They can explain their position in detail the next time they have their hands out to the DNC or to you and me for their next campaigns.

[tritsofme]

53. No senator stood up and supported a fillibuster

until there were already 60 votes for cloture.

This is nothing but a cynical ploy to convice the base that they are fighting the good fight.

[incapsulated]

57. Correct

A point most seem to be missing.

I'll applaud a real fight, even if it means certain death. But being played... that's another story.

[bklyncowgirl]

46. It is better to go down fighting! nt

[wisteria]

49. Why not do some good and try to convience the listed Dems to

change their votes. We are doing this on principal and fairness. Instead of being cynical, why not try to be positive and try to make a change for the better.

[Czolgosz]

50. Forcing cloture will emphasize the partisan nature of this fight which

will be important in the future at every occasion when the Roberts-Alito court ruins our Constitution.

[SurfRidem]

51. Whoa...easy with that ice water...

Just kidding.

How anyone could expect a filibuster after the Gang of 14 is beyond me.

[Nutmegger]

54. Regardless, I will remember how JK stood up for us

when no one did. Everyone was just going to go about their day and cast they little "no" vote and wipe their hands. Na-uh, not with me. I will remember what JK has done.

Thank you JK. I feel like our voices haven't been ignored. If this nomination is going to go through, let's fight it and fail while trying.

To quote my favorite socialist leader, Eugene V. Debs, "It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it."

Well said Mr. Debs, well said.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

55. Stop sounding like a typical defeatist Dem...

SHIT - I'm so tired of hearing this crap ever since the BUshistas took control. We can't win, we don't have the votes, waaah - waah- Waah - NO WONDER THEY CALL US WHINING DEMS.....


Yeah I know its not easy...but JEEEZ-US please don't EVER GIVE UP FIGHTING THESE BASTARDS..... AT LEAST IN THE SENATE THEY DON'T HAVE VOTING MACHINES & DIEBOLD TO MANIPULATE THE VOTE - SO DONT GIVE UP YET- IT'S NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER..................... KEEP THE CARDS AND LETTERS COMING.....

[CHORONZON]

56. Good. Its a sham worth playing into.

Lets show them that this issue is worth fighting for anyway.

[newyawker99]

58. Hi CHORONZON!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[understandinglife]

59. Sure glad Tom Paine and Patrick Henry didn't feel that way about ...

... confronting the British Empire.


Peace.

[Spazito]

60. Gosh, you seem very keen on trying to supress the active

movement towards DUers contacting their representatives to encourage them to support the filibuster.

For example, this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x257528

Interesting, to say the least.