Democrats Announce Opposition to Alito Nomination

[kpete]

(Sorry if this is a dupe - let me know - I know you will - Peace, Kpete)

Democrats Announce Opposition to Alito Nomination
by mcjoan
Tue Jan 24, 2006 at 01:34:30 PM PDT
From Senator Reid's staff:


Washington, DC --Following today's party-line vote on Samuel Alito in the Judiciary Committee, leading Democratic Senators joined members of the Judiciary Committee to announce that they were united in their intention to vote against his confirmation in the Senate.

Alito failed to demonstrate his independence from the Executive Branch in his hearings. An independent Supreme Court is essential to protecting the Constitution and preserving the system of checks and balances that preserves our Democracy. Ironically, the vote in the Judiciary Committee came on the same day that Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez was speaking about President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program.

"Judge Alito has failed to demonstrate a commitment to the system of checks and balances enshrined in our Constitution," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. "At a time when the president is abusing his power at every turn, I cannot vote to confirm a judge who won't be an independent check on the executive branch."

...

"Judge Alito has spent 15 years siding with the powerful at the expense of the rights of individuals. He is the wrong choice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, where he could be making decisions impacting the rights of our children and grandchildren for the next 20 to 30 years," said Senator Debbie Stabenow.

"Judge Alito took careful cover in platitudes about the law, with which no nominee who has ever come before the Committee could have disagreed. However, the American people were entitled to honest answers, not practiced platitudes. I expected, and the American people deserved, to hear more," said Senator Chuck Schumer.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/24/153430/916

also:

These statements from Reid, Stabenow, and Schumer are their first statements of opposition to Alito. But I want to be sure not to overlook the critical importance of Senator Feingold's opposition, the first time in his career that he has opposed a judicial nominee.

[stray cat]

1. All Alitos future decisions are on the republicans

[samhsarah]

2. OMFG!!!! THANKS KPETE!!!!!

This is good news guys......I feel a filibuster coming.......

[samhsarah]

3. Oh yeah, and K&R

:kick:

[Marnieworld]

4. without a filibuster this is meaningless

They have to fight now or we lose it all.

[Czolgosz]

13. This show of (near) unanimity is NOT meaningless. I hope it is a precursor

to a filibuster, but it is significant by itself regardless of whether a successful filibuster follows.

If Alito is confirmed, he will dismantle our rights. If that happens, a party line vote would be a CRITICAL part of laying the blame for that tragedy on the doorsteps of the Republican party (which would pay a price at the ballot box for such an outrage).

Also, in the shorter term, unanimity among the Democrats greatly enhances the pressure on the moderate Republicans from Maine, Rhode Island, and the non-insane portions of Pennsylvania and Ohio to break the ranks of the Bushistas (and if they don't break ranks, they must fall to their Democratic opponents who better reflect the voters' values in those states).

[bigjohn16]

22. The Democrats have the ability to stop Alito...

... and it looks like they may choose not to. A vote for cloture and a no vote on confirmation is an insult and should be treated as such in my opinion.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. Wow on Feingold

I didn't know that with him. I knew he supported Roberts but this is a big deal if not even Feingold is going to support him. Wow!

[meow2u3]

6. SCALITO WAS COACHED!

And one of the senators on the judiciary committee was one of the coaches. How low will the pukes sink to win? How low will they go?

[Wordie]

7. K&R

[kpete]

8. Feingold: Alito Would Be "Dangerous Addition" to Court

Feingold: Alito Would Be "Dangerous Addition" to Court John Nichols
1 hour, 46 minutes ago



The Nation -- Not to be lost in the reporting on Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee vote to endorse the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to serve on the Supreme Court is the fact that U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wisconsin, has voted for the first time in his Senate career against a Supreme Court nominee.


More than any other vote by a member of the committee -- which split 10-8 along partisan lines, with all Republicans backing Alito and all Democrats opposing his nomination -- Feingold's vote stands out.

While the seven other Democrats on the Judiciary Committee had all voted against one or more Republican nominees for the high court, Feingold had, until Tuesday, voted to confirm every Supreme Court nominee, Republican or Democrat.

This break in pattern by the man who is arguably the Senate's most adventurous thinker and independent player ought to serve as a basis for rethinking strategies with regard to blocking the nomination as it now moves to the full Senate -- up to and including the prospect of a filibuster.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20060124/cm_thenation/152420_1

[sweetm2475]

9. WOW!!!!! K&R!

Keep up the good work everybody!!!!! Keep calling, faxing, writing, it's WORKING!!!!! Feingold baby...YEAH!!!!

[kpete]

10. Watch Feingold...

"I think he will stand in front of the tanks"

(From Kos)

[samhsarah]

12. Oh I sure hope so!!!!

[Czolgosz]

15. If Feingold will stand in front of the tanks, all will be forgiven for the

questionable votes on Roberts, Ashcroft, etc. All leaders of this filibuster instantly earn my allegiance in the presidential primary, and the allegiance of most of the hard-core Democrats I know.

[samhsarah]

17. Count me in

[stillcool]

11. oh, my heart be still....

everytime we are at these crossroads, I get carried away with the possibility of a change in direction. That this could be the one. Here we are again, and it is hard for me to reign in my emotions. Everytime I hear another dem voting NO, it brings tears to my eyes. I crave the conclusion and dread it at the same time.

[samhsarah]

14. I'm right there with ya...

The waiting is killing me. What an emotional roller coaster. But a very up day!

[samhsarah]

16. Senate Panel Votes Along Party Lines to Endorse Alito

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/politics/politicsspecial1/24cnd-alito.html?hp&ex=1138165200&en=bf91db6c0d726a45&ei=5094&partner=homepage
NYT - More like DEMS UNIFY TO OPPOSE HIM!!!!! Man I can't wait till' we are the majority again!

[pat_k]

18. No to Alito is NOT enough -- Vote to Filibuster is the MORAL Imperative!

Any Member of the Senate that Claims to Oppose Alito is Morally Obligated to Publicly Commit to a Filibuster
(i.e., publicly commit to voting AGAINST ending debate).

To Oppose a Filibuster
IS
To Support Alito's Confirmation
(Your no vote is meaningless if you vote to end debate)

I'm being a broken record on this in other posts, but it is CRITICAL that we make it crystal clear.
They have Three Options: Get Behind the Filibuster; Vote to Confirm; OR Get Out!

[TheModernTerrorist]

19. I'm glad Stabenow is my senator

I'm glad to see my senators and reps at the forefront lately. Stabenow, Levin, Conyers, etc.

keep it up! :-)

[Wordie]

20. Stabenow was just great in that press conference yesterday.

Such a powerful story she told; a powerful indictment of Alito.

[bigjohn16]

21. I didn't see a commitment to a filibuster but I may be wrong.

If all this means is a no vote on confirmation then it's a waste my time and nothing more then pandering.