Posted on 10/31/2005 6:12:34 AM PST by hipaatwo
This is a winning political move. Alito is at least as qualified as Roberts, and his Casey opinion will not sustain a convincing filibuster. The Democrats seem trapped here. Reid has warned the president not to nominate Alito. And despite the narrow and non-substantive character of Alito’s dissent in Casey, the Dems will be forced by their groups to make abortion the issue. So if there is no filibuster, this is going to come off as a huge victory for the president.
On the other hand, a failed filibuster against this qualified a nominee will be an even bigger victory. A filibuster will inundate us with repetitive analyses of the Casey decision. But there is nothing in that decision that will carry a majority of the public against Alito. Conservatives will be infuriated by the attempted “borking,” the Democrats will look obstructionist, and the filibuster will fail. If anything, that would be even better politically for the president and the Republicans.
The third, and least likely possibility, is a successful Democratic filibuster. That could only be the result of a successful borking, with major media malfeasance, and would make conservatives even madder. The result would be a gigantic election showdown with conservatives even more activated than liberals.
So every political outcome is positive. The downside is the possibility that a filibuster will hold up the larger legislative agenda. But I don’t think even moderate Republicans are politically endangered by this. They will break a filibuster and will not be punished. Moderate Democrats will be in more danger if they do filibuster. Again, I think this traps the Democrats between their own groups and the broader public. Big win for the president.
Ping a ling a ding dong. I think your ping list may like this :)
I smell comeback..
Doctor, we have a heart beat!
This is definitely one of the things the dems did not want Bush to do. Now if we can only get some traction on Iraq and get that energy bill through to allow refineries to expand - then we can put a stake through the heart of the dems in 2006.
Okay, who's got the picture of Kristol wettin' his pants?.......
From your mouth to G-d's ears.
Federal Appeals Court Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.
Federal Judicial Center (www.fjc.gov) ^
Posted on 10/01/2005 11:53:24 AM PDT by new yorker 77
Makes you wonder how he could even think of nominating Miers over this guy. This would have saved him a lot of headache.
Yaaaaaaaay, Sam Alito from NEW JERSEY! Yaaaaaaay!!!!
The Dipsh!ts at the DU are out of their skulls over this appointment!
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That means Bush made the correct decision.
...trying to hold back laugh...biting lip...bwh...bwha...can't keep...it back....bwhahahahahahaha!!!! Watch 'em squirm!
Yaaaaaaaay, Sam Alito from NEW JERSEY! Yaaaaaaay!!!!
Yaaaaaaaay, Sam Alito from NEW JERSEY! Yaaaaaaay!!!!
Yep, but he's on the bench here in Philly :)
Someone here on FR said that the Miers nomination was a fient in the first place to get the Democrats to trap themselves into demanding a non-crony with experience. Only problem I see with that theory is that Miers is a personal friend of the President and I can't see him intentionally putting her all that crap for naught...
Big fat slap on the back from me :)
TURN THE FREAKING PAGE ALREADY!!
I thought I would check to see if this was a good pick by all, before I made my own judgement this time. ;)
Ping
In the immortal words of LL Cool J, "Don't Call it Comeback!"
What about the FOURTH OPTION? The nuclear option?
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