Robert Byrd falls for the old “Handwritten letter from a ‘Democrat'” Ploy and announces he’ll support Alito. Yes, Senator, we get many of those same “I’m a Democrat, but I can’t abide what my party is doing” notes as well. Constantly. One of the most tired tricks in the Troll Playbook. Sorry to see you fall for it.
In the meantime, Pam from The Democratic Daily, is hearing from her inside sources that Kerry will lead a filibuster. We can’t confirm anything of the sort, nor can we deny, but Pam seems to feel strongly about it, so we pass on this link to her report with that caveat. Don’t know if Byrd’s announcement, which we believe was released after her post, will have any effect on that or not.
UPDATE: Pam updates her item to include a link to CNN’s report, posted just minutes ago, that Kerry “will attempt a filibuster”.
I called both of my senators who thankfully are Dems.I also called Kerry and Kennedy’s office and Kennedy’s office told me YES it is the truth.They will fillibuster.YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
I hate to say it, but it’s time for Byrd to be retired. I thought he knew better. I read his statement on his website. He was duped.
Kerry will try for Alito filibuster
You apparently write them as well as get them!
Dear Ann [Coulter],
I was a Republican for many years, voted for Reagan and still attend Reagan’s former church, Bel Air Presbyterian. I am writing an article about the Alachua Republican Party and wanted to clarifiy something with you. I had heard about your speech in Gainesville and was troubled in regards to your comments on the First Amendment and the stifling of the free speech of Democrats. Do you stand by those remarks? Do you wish to clarify or add anything to them — and do you really feel that stifling free speech and/or violating/changing the U.S. Constitution is the best way help spread democracy to the rest of the world?
… Lydia Cornell
Pretty funny actually 🙂
It’s about damned time that someone in the party showed some scrote.
I just wished that the Dems had perfect unity… if they did, then some of the Repubs (the good, moderate ones) will start to split with the neo hags and side with the Demos.
Then, a filibuster wouldn’t matter, because an up or down vote would kill Sammy’s confirmation.
Whoops… forget that… on Paragraph 1, Line 2…. please note amended line:
"some internal intestinal fortitude."
My apologies.
You can go here to get the holdouts over themselves…
http://www.SaveTheCourt.org/AlitoFilibusterCA
It’ll probably put you on Kerry’s mailing list, but….
Damn, caught the title out of the corner of my eye as I was scrolling down – though it said:
"Brad Comes Out in Support of Alito…"
WTF? LOL
A letter to Ann Coulter is meaningless. She has no power. A letter to Byrd is not meaningless because he has power. He has responsibility. He should use better judgement. I think it’s time for him to retire.
I watched nearly all the confirmation hearings, and I have to say I came away, despite myself, with a less negative opinion of Alito than I thought I would. I found him to be deeply intelligent, chapter and verse knowledgeable about the law, with a judge’s demeanor and a much more distinguished record (overall, despite the glaring problems) than I had imagined. As opposed to the clearly idealogical stances of Scalia and Thomas, I found him to be bright, logical, and found the fact that he concurred with his more liberal colleagues in something like 98 percent of cases to be an interesting, sometimes overlooked fact. One thing I believe about Supreme Court justices is that they are like no other officers of our government. They are beholden to no one, and often go in directions that no one could have imagined (David Souter, for example). I was particularly impressed with the testimony of some very esteemed judges, and I had to wonder: was Alito being judged based on all the other crap, lies, power mongering of the Bush administration, even more than his own qualifications? Was his reception partly a function of our simply being fed up with being steamrolled, shut out, cheated, and lied to? Yes, I know all about the things he has said and done, and I decided to oppose him based on the opinions of my fellow democrats. But, even at the time, I told myself to watch what Byrd would do. He may be old, but if you have EVER taken the time to hear the man speak, you know he is the most eloquent, constitution-loviong, fearless Democrat in the Senate now and maybe ever. He has seen it all, and he has nothing to lose by telling the truth and doing what is best for the country. For my part, I wish Robert Byrd was in his 50s instead of pushing 100–we sorely need his leadership and wisdom. I don’t know if this changes my opposition to Alito, but I would never write off a decision of Sen. Byrd. In my opinion, he deserves our utmost respect and attention. And if you think he is capable of being duped, remember his passionate opposition to the war–when practically no one else dared. No one has called bullshit more times with more credibility. It is possible we may be picking the wrong battle here. I suppose it’s better than no battle at all, but it seems to me we don’t have much of a chance of keeping Alito out. Instead, we may permanently cement his allegiance to Republican causes–and permanently lose our ability to filibuster (nuclear option) to boot. And at this point, we ain’t got much else. Peace.
Though = thought where’s that damn T
The Dems sure need to get their act together if they ever want to help us out of this mess – been signign and sending every petition I can find. Have got lots of thank yous from Fienstien, Kennedy and Kerry, Now let’s do something Senators!!!!
Senator robert byrd take that copy of the Constitution that you keep in your pocket and stick it up your Ass!
Alito is a member of the Federalist Society, whose mission is put the executive branch above the other 2 branches of government, once Republicans have figured a way to steal elections. Then tip the court with 5 radical-right Supreme Court justices, who say that the executive branch is above the law. Alito makes 5. Thank you, Robert Byrd! You just signed the death of our nation’s democracy. Look up the Federalist Society, when you get a chance.
Sadly, Byrd chose his own reelection over the future of the country. After all of the unfair treatment he received from the theocrats, he emerges as an enabler of those who would restrict our civil rights. At his age, the decisions of Alito and the gang of four will not affect him personally. It is our grandchildren who will suffer.
I applaud the Senators who support the filibuster.
Rudy,
I enjoyed your post. I am neither for nor against the filibuster. Frankly I don’t think it will help because he will be confirmed anyway and it will just give the hate mongers something to bellyache about. I am not impressed with Mr Alito and seriously, I really do not believe he will be an impartial judge. He is going to be confirmed, so really I am just hoping for the best here.
I think that Mr Byrds references to hand written letters from "constituents" was silly and naive. He should be more alert than that. The people writing those letters were not his "supporters" and never will be. He was used. Maybe he is old, maybe just trusting, I don’t know. Everyone has to retire someday. Maybe this is his wake up call.
Holy Mackerel, we be Expectin Company soon and need lot’s mo ASSbestos!
I do not know why Senator Byrd made this mistake, but it will come back to haunt him.
Even tho I respect his willingness to be an individual, which I do not see in the republicans in congress nearly enough, I think he has made a mistake on this one.
Byrd also referred to the questioning of Alito by his fellow Democrats as "outrageous."
He’s an old-school politician. He harks back to the days when courtesy reigned on Capitol Hill, and he wants to return to that era. In the olden days, if a nominee was qualified on the basis of intellect and temperament (Alito obviously is), there was little or no fuss. Byrd remembers that, and I think he’s honestly offended by the politicization of the nominating process.
I’m in Rudy’s camp, and Jo’s. I’m not frightened that Alito might vote to overturn Roe v. Wade (half the country would agree with that), but I am frightened by his support for an imperial presidency. But Alito is going to be confirmed, no matter what, so the question becomes, "Is a futile filibuster worth the effort?" I don’t think it is.
Progressives should remember this: Alito will be there for life, Bush will be there for three years (at the most). If a liberal Democrat reaches the White House, Alito’s view of expanded presidential power could work against the G.O.P. That’s why we might better save our energy to ensure clean elections.
comment 18
I’ve been reading that the conservatives have been using the abortion and homo issues to get "conservative" supreme court justices…and while everyone’s fighting about these 2 "distraction" issues, the real reason the conservatives want to get 5 radical right judges, is so the Republican president will be above the law, with 5 supreme court justices always backing him, partisan-wise and not constitution-wise. This plan has been in the works by the "rightwing" since Roosevelt and since Nixon. They found a way to assure a Republican president (electronic voting machines). That’s the key thing in the whole plan. Because if the rightwing wanted to place the executive branch above the other 2 branches, they HAD to have a vehicle to ASSURE a Republican president. If their plan of placing too much power in the executive branch was achieved and there was a Democratic president, the whole thing backfires.
Think about this: All of these things the Bush administration is doing to concentrate more and more power in the executive branch, would be given to a Democrat president, if a Democrat wins the next presidential election. Right? So, most Americans don’t know it, but there WILL BE A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT IN 2008…doesn’t matter who it is. Or the "rightwingers" would’ve placed all this power above the law into a Democrat president…and they are not stupid.
Maybe Bush, if he isn’t impeached for the wiretapping, will set the precedent that he is above the law, and maybe he’ll stay in office past 2008. Why not? He is above the law because there’s a war going on. Right? the "vague" "war on terror"…we think that’s stupid, because it’s not a real war. But actually they are really smart, because a "war on terror", or a war on a noun, has no end. We’re at war with NO ONE right now!!!
Think about this though Big Dan. Why would it make sense to put a Republican in power with all the scandals going on? Maybe this is a front to put a Republican "Democrat" in as Prez to show that the voting machines work and then it’s back to square one. They still have the supreme court judges and they keep the public happy. Seems like lately I’ve gotten alot better at thinking like a crook. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or not…
Democrat Senators that Will Not Support The Filibuster Of BENITO ALITO
Will be Automatically Entered The Following Hallowed Fraternity. "List"
. . . "THE ORDER OF THE EMPTY SCROTUM" . . . or BRA (for the Ladies)
. . . . . . . ROBERT C. BYRD . . . . U.S. Senator West Virginia
RLM: We shouldn’t want Alito’s expanded view of the presidency to work for or against anybody, regardless of ideology.
Do You want to see Adolf bush with his Shit Eating Grin and His arm around Benito alito at the State of the Union?
It’s Like Deja Vous All Over Again!
Very interested theme, with attention I will read following registration fees.