CALL TIM JOHNSON -- ONE OF THE CRUCIALS -- all his nos.

[Zan_of_Texas]

We need him to vote no on Alito.

And, we need him to support a filibuster.

Democrat, Lutheran. Has voted against cloture in December on a major issue (that's good).

Senator Tim Johnson (D - SD)

[phone]
Fax [phone] or 228-5765

Web Form: johnson.senate.gov/emailform.cfm

His judiciary staff person in DC is Charles Galbraith

Main District Office:
Sioux Falls
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Aberdeen
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Rapid City
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[mom cat]

1. Great info... K&R...Get this seen!

[Shortyfuse]

4. Called the minute he voted yes

Called Nelson yesterday. called Landieu and Emailed Byrd. I Emailed Byrd that I was not mad , just stunned and broken. ( takes a lot more than a bunch of Rep. Nazi to get me down.)

[mom cat]

7. Welcome to DU shortyfuse... What a great handle!

:hi:

[coffeenap]

2. called washington-office is closed, left message. Thanks. nt

[rodeodance]

3. kick

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. I just called him and left a message!

"kick:

[Helga Scow Stern]

6. I just faxed all numbers. n/t

[mom cat]

8. Tell him to vote "NO" on cloture...or at least abstain. And to vote "NO"

on nuking.

[Wordie]

9. K&R

[pat_k]

10. The Telegram I sent to him

To: Sen. Tim Johnson

January 26, 2006

I understand that you have announced your intention to vote to confirm Judge Alito because you "cannot accept an argument that his views are so radical that the Senate is justified in denying his confirmation."

Your conclusion is surprising. Judge Alito demonstrated how radical his views are when he offered his standard response -- that he couldn't offer an opinion; that he'd figure it out if it came to the Supreme Court -- to the hypothetical case Sen. Biden posed. (If We the People, through our representatives in the Senate and House, passed a resolution prohibiting the President from ordering any sort of attack on Iran, could the President ignore our will and order Bombs to be dropped on Iran?)

Citizens do not need a law degree (or even a high school degree) to know that it's lunacy to think the constitution gives (or even might give) the President the power to flagrantly violate the collective will of the people codified in the acts and resolutions passed by our Congress.

Judge Alito's refusal to acknowledge ANY limits on executive power endangers the most fundamental tenets of our constitutional democracy. As Geoffrey R. Stone, a former Dean of the University of Chicago Law School pointed out:

". . . Whatever else Judge Alito may or may not have made clear about his views on such issues as abortion, federalism, and religious freedom, he has certainly made clear that he has no interest in restraining the acts of this commander-in-chief. That, in my judgment, poses a serious threat to the nation, and is a more than adequate reason for the Senate -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- to deny his confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States."

I urge you to reconsider your position and join with other members of the Democratic Caucus in a filibuster.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

11. Called

left a message.

[stlsaxman]

12. Left message...

thanks!

[Triana]

13. Just called - left a message - Kick (& R)

...and I wrote him an email as well.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

14. Also, Snowe, Collins, etc...

even if they are Republicans, if you know they are moderate and pro-choice, then you know they are persuadable. If you truly believe Alito puts Roe in peril, then you MUST vote against him out of principle.
It should go beyond party lines.

I think Kerry has made an eloquent statement for the filibuster.
Go to kos and read his post there if you haven't already.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/26/192843/363

[alittlelark]

15. I just got off the phone w/his Bro-in Law

I work w/ him. He was shocked when he heard and e-mailed his siter. It seems that it might have something to do w/ an AF base that is the biggest employer in S Dakota... they've been closing a lot of bases. I think he may have had to make a deal w/ the devil.:mad:

He's going to call me back if there is anything more definate.

[spuddonna]

16. LOL! His bro-in law?!

whoa... connections! :)

[alittlelark]

18. He's a sound technician, and I do voice work.

We work together often.

[spuddonna]

20. That's cool....

...and kinda a freaky coinkydink.

It also makes your screen name very cool! :)

[Zan_of_Texas]

19. I thought credit card companies were the big bread and butter for SD

Deals with the devil are invariably followed by more "deals" -- on increasingly bad terms.

Look, we all know the Rs and especially the right-wing have power -- they have money to throw around, contracts, economic development, and can threaten to run candidates against you. They are BULLIES.

Remind him that huge numbers of people don't even turn out to vote, because they don't feel represented. They feel cynical that their politicians sell them out.

It's NOT selling out to stand up for your principles, and avoid a right-wing ideolog sitting on the court deciding important matters for the next 28 years.

Make Bush come back with a judge who will actually support the Constitution instead of his "fringe" theory of the unitary executive (NYT's term).

So, if he does vote YES on Alito, do see if he would stand aside and not vote with the cloture side.

[KitchenWitch]

17. his DC office vm is full

I am currently calling his SD offices.