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Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just Not Enough

By Jeralyn, Section Sam Alito
Posted on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 05:10:01 PM EST
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Sen. Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Dick Durbin, Russ Feingold, Debbie Stabenow, Ted Kennedy all have come out in support of John Kerry's filibuster plan.

E-mail them your appreciation. And keep working on those who resist. Sen. Feinstein said last week she'd oppose a filibuster and yet changed her mind. Others can as well.

Those Democrats opposing the filibuster, like Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, use reasoning like this:

Democratic officials said Mikulski had said during this week's closed-door caucus that the 2006 and 2008 elections were more important than a symbolic last stand that would fail to prevent Alito's confirmation.

Let your Senators know that if they support the filibuster, you will work even harder for a Democratic majority in 2006. Show Mikulski she's wrong.

This is not about a symbolic last stand. It's about taking an important, real stand against the lifetime appointment of a Judge whose record and statements show he believes in unchecked presidential power, will roll back civil liberties and a woman's right to choose and almost always rule for the prosecution in criminal and death cases.

Leahy and Schumer and the others need to get on board. It's those who don't endorse the filibuster, whether the votes are there or not, whom we will remember the most in 2006.

Update: Sen. Ted Kennedy posts a diary on the importance of rejecting Alito at Daily Kos.

Update: We need Sen. Ken Salazar. Via Jane:

Denver Metro Region
2300 15th Street, Suite 450
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 455-7600
Fax: (303) 455-8851

Washington, D.C.
U.S. Senator Ken Salazar
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5852 main
(202) 228-5036 fax

Pikes Peak Region
(719) 328-1100

High Plains Region
(970) 542-9446

Arkansas River Region
(719) 542-7550

Four Corners Region
(970) 259-1710

Western Slope/I 70 West Region
(970) 241-6631

North Central Region
(970) 224-2200

Alamosa
(719) 587-0096

To the phones. Make it happen.

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    Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just Not Enough | 27 comments (27 topical)
    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:35:20 PM EST
    You know, if Kansas had a Democrat Senator, I would DEMAND that they filibuster Judge Alito. That way they would just be walking the plank for the next election. Why don't all you Democrat wooses get rid of Tim Johnson and the corn-husker guy? The only reason you don't win more elections is because people don't perceive you as militant enough. These guys are clearly not up to your level of purity; I suspect them of being counter-revolutionary. Stand up for your beliefs! Jimbo

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#2)
    by ras on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:39:37 PM EST
    I view this as an open takeover attempt of the Dem party by the Hard Left, 100%, lock, stock and barrel, no heretics allowed. I also think they'll ultimately succeed. The fb is the line in the sand in this battle, and we'll see how many line up on each side. It could still finish inconclusively if the D's fb and lose. They would then declare yet another "moral victory" to add to their collection, which'd delay the real internal battle for a short while. Wouldn't last long, tho. Sometime between now and '09, the Dems are gonna split up. Will the refugees form a 3rd party or join the initial wave that already went to R's some years ago and tipped the balance of power? Tough call, cuz the most conservative ones get driven out first (e.g. Zell Miller), and each successive wave will be a little more liberal than the one before it. Where will they go?

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:59:50 PM EST
    Byrd's phone and e-mail reportedly is full or unavailable. So lets go with MaximusNYC from kos open thread suggestion (there are other # there as well): Fax Senator Byrd: 202-228-0002 Remind him about that copy of the Constitution he carries around with him. Be nice as he has been there for us in the past. This is a lapse, oversight and big mistake. We need to convince him to change his mind.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#4)
    by squeaky on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:15:03 PM EST
    Got lost in the thread over at kos while reading comments. It is a Diary (post) by Senator Ted Kennedy not open thread. Worth reading and the comments too. Lots of contact info for Senators.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#5)
    by Sailor on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:25:40 PM EST
    I view this as an open takeover attempt of the Dem party by the Hard Left, 100%, lock, stock and barrel, no heretics allowed. I also think they'll ultimately succeed.
    ras, I view it as a matter of conscience. And I really don't think that women, minorities and people who think children shouldn't be stripped searched constitute the 'hard left.' It isn't pandering to extremists, it is a shining example of the (possible) difference between repubs and dems.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:39:00 PM EST
    I really love this site, but feel compelled to point out that there is not such thing as "Democrat Support" or "Democrat Senator" in the English language. I really wish you wouldn't pump up right-wing memes.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#7)
    by Beck on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 09:41:54 PM EST
    Mikulski is worried about the elections? What the heck, voters won't remember this in the fall of 2006, much less in 2008. It will be ancient history by then. Voters have zero memory.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 10:48:49 PM EST
    ras:
    I view this as an open takeover attempt of the Dem party by the Hard Left
    View it however you like, but understand that your view is hopelessly biased, so any analysis based on that view is worthless. Your comment is typical of the myopic perpective of an extreme right winger who suspects anyone who expresses a desire for moderation of being a communist.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 01:29:23 AM EST
    Everything except ras's perpective, from ras's perspective, is hard left.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#10)
    by Johnny on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 05:36:50 AM EST
    Plus he's Canadian, eh? So he really doesn't know what he's talking aboot, he lacks the proper perspective.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#11)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 06:49:28 AM EST
    Squeaky writes:
    Remind him about that copy of the Constitution he carries around with him.
    Remind him of what? That the Pesident nominates and the Senate advises and consents? And that requires a vote? Or maybe remind him that the Constitution says absolutely nothing about fillibuster? sailor writes:
    ras, I view it as a matter of conscience. And I really don't think that women, minorities and people who think children shouldn't be stripped searched constitute the 'hard left.'
    Uh, you left out some info, saolor. The police had a search warrant, which you put a great deal of faith in, and the search was done in private by female officers. Now, please tell me what is wrong with that? ras - The battle started years and years ago.

    Re: Democrat Support for Filibuster Grows, Just No (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 07:35:16 AM EST
    There's nothing in the Constitution about an up or down vote being needed for a Presidential nomination as well, which i