‘Senators in Need of A Spine’
Jan 26th, 2006 at 7:51 am by Susie
You know, when even The New York Times editorial board is telling you to filibuster, you might want to think about it:
Judge Samuel Alito Jr., whose entire history suggests that he holds extreme views about the expansive powers of the presidency and the limited role of Congress, will almost certainly be a Supreme Court justice soon. His elevation will come courtesy of a president whose grandiose vision of his own powers threatens to undermine the nation’s basic philosophy of government — and a Senate that seems eager to cooperate by rolling over and playing dead.
It is hard to imagine a moment when it would be more appropriate for senators to fight for a principle. Even a losing battle would draw the public’s attention to the import of this nomination.
At the Judiciary Committee hearings, the judge followed the well-worn path to confirmation, which has the nominee offer up only the most boring statements and unarguable truisms: the president is not above the law; diversity in college student bodies is a good thing. But in what he has said in the past, and what he refused to say in the hearings, Judge Alito raised warning flags that, in the current political context, cannot simply be shrugged away with a promise to fight again another day. [...]
Senate Democrats, who presented a united front against the nomination of Judge Alito in the Judiciary Committee, seem unwilling to risk the public criticism that might come with a filibuster — particularly since there is very little chance it would work. Judge Alito’s supporters would almost certainly be able to muster the 60 senators necessary to put the nomination to a final vote.
A filibuster is a radical tool. It’s easy to see why Democrats are frightened of it. But from our perspective, there are some things far more frightening. One of them is Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court.
They need to run the numbers…
The last I heard, there were 50 Republican senators and 1 Democratic senator coming out to vote in favor of Alito. Is this MSM at their best, saying you’ve lost, don’t even fight?
Nope, no Democrats, Fla. Ben Nelson pulled his vote back.
Ben Nelson is from Nebraska…that’s a good sign he pulled his vote, he is fairly conservative, somewhat more then Bill Nelson of Fla. But I don’t hold out much hope for a filibuster at this point.
It’s always SO convenient when The New York Times editorial board takes a position on an issue when it’s practically past due, overdue let’s say, and has no chance in hell of influencing anyone who matters this late in the game.
If I weren’t such a “freedom-lover” (in spite of Osama’s best efforts to convince me to hate my freedoms; yeah right), I’d be almost hoping that one of the early decisions Alito on the Supreme Court casts the deciding vote for was to severely restrict the freedom of the free press. I really mean that! The New York Times and The Washington Post and a whole lot of other “librul media” have proven to me with their slanted shill and unwarranted support of this administration that a free press doesn’t exist anymore.
Bill, Ben, Bart, I have trouble with B names….
[I]Bill, Ben, Bart, I have trouble with B names….[/I]
That’s why it’s called “the B list”.