Reid admits Democrats can't block Alito (will support filibuster)

[sabra]

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=1150593&tw=wn_wire_story

Reid admits Democrats can't block Alito

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid admitted on Friday he and fellow Democrats lack the votes to block President George W. Bush's nomination of conservative appeals judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Everyone knows there is not enough votes to support a filibuster," Reid said, referring to the procedural roadblock that some Democrats said should be used to put off a vote on Alito.

The Nevada Democrat said, however, he would vote for such a measure to at least send a message of opposition to the nominee. That vote will come on Monday with final confirmation set for Tuesday.

"I think it is an opportunity for people to express their opinion as to what a bad choice it was to replace (retiring Justice) Sandra Day O'Connor" with Alito, Reid told reporters after a speech at a Washington hotel.

[Avalux]

1. So he will support it anyway??

"The Nevada Democrat said, however, he would vote for such a measure to at least send a message"



:D

[GrpCaptMandrake]

2. Oh, GOODY!

A *symbolic* gesture!

To me, this is tantamount to a confession by Senator Reid that he's unfit to lead the minority and in no wise fit to lead us in a majority.

[samhsarah]

8. If they don't have the votes, they don't have the votes...

These are Democrats we're talking about. We don't have a "hammer" like Delay to go around threatening people's wifes and children. At least they have to vote for or against cloture on Monday, and those piss ants who think they can vote no on Alito and yes on cloture will have to show their weak pathetic faces to all of us.

[WI_DEM]

12. So who in your opinion should be leading it who would have

delivered the other democrats--especially those red state dems?

[michiganbuckeye1970]

16. Agreed

This was a major battle where unity among the Dems would have sent a huge message. If he couldn't get that across to his fellow Dems, he is no leader. We may as well have Lieberman in charge.

[savemefromdumbya]

3. Democrats have nothing to lose - important to make statement!

Dems have to show spine otherwise they are viewed as 'wishy washy'Liberals?

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jarnocan]

6. keep readin you might

get a clue.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beetwasher]

10. WTF Are You Talking About?

The extraordinary circumstances are that Alito is radical rightwing lunatic who wants to strip people of their civil rights, roll back reproductive health rights and anoint Chimpy king. It doesn't get more radical than that.

And for you to claim that Scalia was somehow against what the Repubs stand for is the height of delusion. WTF kind of drugs are you on?

[AzDar]

11. Strip-searching a 10-year -old seems extraordinary to me...of course,

I am not a Troll. The entire "Gang of 14" was a stupid idea...You can't broker a square deal with the Devil; and in my opinion, at this particular moment in history, if you vote/are Republican you are either stupid or evil.

[samhsarah]

13. Or both.

I go with both.

[durablend]

15. ARROGANT SOCIOPATHS

Just keep repeating it, cuz it's the truth

[samhsarah]

17. Catapult the Propaganda

Not gonna work here, troll. DUer's have impeccable progagadar.

[Bumblebee]

14. Methinks you are confused both about the facts and whether you belong

to the DU community.

[Straight Shooter]

18. *sniff sniff sniff*

Phew! What's that smell?

:rofl:

[samhsarah]

19. This will be YOUR PRESIDENT...

All in due time, troll. All in due time.

[michiganbuckeye1970]

20. Things have changed since Scalia and Ginsburg

The feeling in the air is that there is far more at stake. Also, since Scalia has shown, time and again, his true colors, it is important to make sure no more of his kind join the ranks.

The neo-bigotry promoted by the right wing demands that the Dems provide a strong opposition. Not standing up fiercely against it serves almost as an endorsement of it.

[mdmc]

22. welcome to DU

I guess this is as good of a time as any to stand up against w.

[jarnocan]

5. shoudln't be defeatist but

I hope they do well with the filibuster! The old better to hang together....
and we need to keep on doing whatever we can, our rights and democracy are worth the effort.
"Whenever power is unchecked and unaccountable it almost inevitably leads to gross mistakes and abuses. That is part of human nature. In the absence of rigorous accountability, incompetence flourishes." - Al Gore so true http://jarnocan.blogspot.com

[Vidar]

7. Good for Harry, even if only symbolic!

[passy]

21. I think they have enough votes. This is but a diversion.

Not showing their hand until the last minute is the best strategy, especially knowing how the RNC and the MSM would spin it over the weekend.

[Kralizec]

23. I'm glad someone here see's what they are doing.

Last time they talked filibuster beforehand got them a nuclear reaction.

I agree with you.

[jsamuel]

24. could be, I certainly hope so...

[Strawman]

25. I'm not sure what to think about these Senate Dems anymore

I got my hopes up when Kerry called for the filibuster yesterday, but today it seems like nothing more than an a cynical empty promise. Now that the hopes of a successful filibuster are all but dead, it's a cost-free position to appease the base. Where were all these Senators a week or so ago, when it could have made a difference? Now all they're coming out of the woodwork in favor of a filibuster that will never happen. It's a bandwagon without any wheels. Hop on, and we'll take your picture. What a joke.

This red meat for the base is thin gruel IMO. But they'll always have an answer. They were playing their "cards close to the vest," blah blah, blah. What a bunch of bullshit. I'm sick of the apologists. It's possible Reid really does want to see the filibuster used. But at the end of the day he didn't want to risk his political juice within the caucus by going over their heads and taking the case to the public. That's the only way he could have pressured some of these recalcitrant Senate Dems out of their comfort zone and got them on board. High risk sure. But it's worth the risk. The day this guy sits on the Court is the day our democracy disappears. We no longer have any standing. Now many of those 5-4's the right way will go the wrong way, and if Stevens steps down, God help us all. I hope if that day comes these Dem Senators grow some fucking balls because that might be our last chance to stop this runaway train.

Maybe Reid can pull some arcane procedure out of his ass to delay this a little longer. What that might be I have no idea. That's probably the best shot. But it shouldn't even have to come to that.

[FogerRox]

26. we need to

SHUT IT DOWN

SHUT THE SENATE DOWN