"Why I Oppose the Filibuster "

[Poiuyt]

I'm not sure I agree with this, but it does make you think. I do agree that a filibuster can backfire if there isn't also a campaign to get the public on our side. And we haven't done much to educate the public on what Alito is REALLY like and why he is so bad for America.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/why-i-oppose-filibuster.html

One thing that concerns me is if we do block Alito, who will Bush put up next? I'm guessing that Bush has a list of nominees that goes from bad to worse. I can't imagine him nominating a moderate or even a sensible conservative.

[FreedomAngel82]

1. So does that mean

they like fascism instead?

[FormerDittoHead]

2. I'm thinking the Filibuster would be a great opportunity to start...

Seeing that the press is otherwise unwilling to adopt OUR talking points, I can't think of a better way for them to start playing some of OUR sound bytes....

[Vincardog]

5. Bingo. Filibuster by playing some of OUR sound bytes....

[Jersey Devil]

3. I ask you - What is there to lose?

We will stop winning elections? We already did that.

[HereSince1628]

4. If we sustain a filibuster on Alito, we do same for those on his right

And that will just end up leaving O'Conner on the court.

[Marie26]

6. Some good points there

I really, really wish the Democrats could fillibuster Alito, but it seems like they're dragging their feet. Like the author points out, there's no real public relations campaign or organization to the fillibuster effort (on the Senator's side). When's the last time you saw an anti-Alito ad? If the Democrats do this half-heartedly, it'll make us look weak & divided. They should've planned this from the start to make a statement - similar to when Harry Reid shut down the Senate. It would be great if the party united to do this, & I think the risk of "blowback" is minimal. People want leadership on these issues, we're just not getting it from the Senate.

[endarkenment]

7. The main thesis is "we don't have the public on our side"

for which 'john in dc' offers no actual evidence. I think that 70% of the public doesn't know who Alito is or that there is a supreme court vacancy. Further, I think the poster means really 'the mainstream media is not on our side'. No duh. His admonition then appears to be 'do nothing until we have the punditocracy supporting us'. OK. Typical inside the beltway democratic defeatism. Fuck it. Lets get ready to rumble.


Or put it another way: 'today is a good day to die'.

[Poiuyt]

9. You're right. The public DOESN'T know who Alito is

I guess I would like to successfully filibuster Alito, and at the same time begin a massive campaign educating people on what's going on. Filibuster first to stop the bleeding.

[Marie26]

10. So why don't they get the public on our side?

You're probably right that most people don't have an opinion on this issue, but this means Democrats have a chance to get the public on our side. They could run ads saying exactly why Alito is bad for democracy; they could organize an effort for Senators to appear on talk shows supporting the fillibuster effort, they could communicate directly w/grass roots organizations to organize protests, distribute talking points for a unified message against Alito, etc. Most people don't know about the "unitary executive theory" - so it's up to the Democrats to explain why this nomination should be opposed at all costs. So far, they haven't. I'm just dissapointed.

[endarkenment]

16. Because we do not have access to the media.

We are running ads by the way, but the right owns the mainstream media. It is really hard to get a message out when your message is routinely ignored and the opposition message (smooth sailing alito lovefest) is regurgitated endlessly.

We have to make news to get our message out at all. Saying no to Alito will cause a tsunami in the propaganda machine: they just got finished assuring everyone for the last three weeks that it was a smooth sailing lovefest and then WHAMO it ain't! Huge disconnect. Lots of people who pay no attention to anything except missing white women in aruba or the latest child murderer are going to snap to attention and go take a look at what just happened in congress and what they will learn is that the Democratic Party is STANDING UP AND FIGHTING FOR THEIR RIGHTS and the the Republicans are acting like spoiled brats and that the talking heads on the teevee are fucking liars. Gee, how bad would that be?

[fairandunbalanced]

8. how do you know what the public really thinks these days?

I agree that it really doesnt matter because G W will just appoint some other cronie but we really can't say forsure what the public thinks because the media conducts polls in its own news room. There is no backfire when you have nothing to lose.

[berni_mccoy]

11. Let me systematically tear this apart:

"1. I want a filibuster of Alito."
Ok, shut up about not filibustering then and get with the program.

"2. But, it is bad politics, and dangerous..."
Total B.S. You don't need a campaign... how can you launch a campaign in under 2 weeks between hearings and a vote? What you need is for the party to listen to its BASE and to have a SPINE.

"3. Why is it bad politics? Why not just go ahead anyway?"
Subpoints a,b,c,d are ALL COMPLETE BULLSHIT. The public will think less of the Dems than they do now? More B.S.! The public will think BETTER OF THEM for TAKING A STAND, FOR FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. What the public doesn't understand is when a Senator who represents them will vote NO for a nomination and then NOT BACK IT UP by doing EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO BLOCK IT.

"4. So the question remains, what possible good comes from the Democrats launching THIS filibuster now?"
This question shows the idiocy of this argument. WHAT CAN BE GAINED?!?! Preservation of CHECKS and BALANCES... Preservation of Civil Liberties, Preservation of the U.S. Constitution. Alito has PROVEN HIMSELF A LIAR TO CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ALREADY. He FAVORS BIG COMPANIES and REFUSED TO RECUSE HIMSELF IN CASES OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. The real question you need to be asking is "What EVIL will come from NOT FILIBUSTERING?"

"5. You don't have to win to win, but..."
Spoken like a true LOSER.

"6. I get the desire to do something, but..."
It sounds like you have the desire to do something for the republicans...

"7. There is a third option..."
You are talking about disrupting and dismantling the leadership of the party... now THAT MAKES SENSE... NOT!!! Are you getting paid by Jeff Gannon?

"8. John Kerry is using you."
Ok, you can STFU now... you've lost all credibility in your above 7 points...

[John Q. Citizen]

12. I read the piece but was unswayed. His arguements are weak and

buy into the whole Repo mindset that the American people are behind Alito. I think most are concerned to some extent, and a significant amount are alarmed.

The point of a filibuster should be to use it to educate the American people. If you expect to do anything at all of consequence without attracting a reaction from the pro-fascist forces, you a living in a dream world.

It doesn't matter right now who bush may put up. We will deal with it when it happens. The alternative is to just sit back and let it happen to us. And that is no alternative.

Harry Reid was doing a great job of inoculation against the SOTU and of tieing corruption and abuse of power to Alito.

Now Lautenberg D- New Jersey is savaging Alito. All right!!!!!

[Fridays Child]

13. How do we educate the public when the corporate media shut us out?

I'm not suggesting that you should have the answer to that question. I just want to remind everyone that we need to regain a media voice. Alternative media, the Internet, etc. are great but, for most people, it's the network news that tells them everything they know about current events.

[Vyan]

14. Knock 'em all down if you can. n/t

[ClassWarrior]

15. I guess we'll never know who Bush** will put up next unless...

...we block Alito. I for one would like to know.

NGU.