I'M SSSUPER, thanks for ASKing!!
Posted on 11/03/2005 4:19:12 AM PST by psychopuppy
By JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - A group of centrist senators who halted a previous filibuster fight is making plans for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, but at least two of the group's Republicans say their decision is already made: no filibuster. ADVERTISEMENT
"I don't believe that, with all sincerity, I could let that happen," Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., a member of the so-called Gang of 14, said after meeting with the federal appeals court judge whom President Bush nominated to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Graham and Sen. Mike DeWine (news, bio, voting record), R-Ohio, were taking their anti-filibuster message to the other Senate centrists at a meeting Thursday. But the group's Democrats were urging them to withhold judgment, saying Alito has been the nominee only since Monday.
The defection of even two members of the group, which decided earlier in the year to support filibusters only in "extraordinary circumstances," would virtually ensure that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., would win a filibuster showdown.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
McCain wants both sides of his bread buttered. Conservatives can't afford those knid of representatives. They are damaging our interests.
"He was. But note that outrage with the gang of 14 was also immediate."
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Agreed. My point is that these two conservatives were expecting and anticipating the outrage of their conservative base, and in refutation to the continuing mythology that any surprised "outcry by the base", "holding their feet to the fire", and other such tripe, is responsible for what they are saying now. I believe that it was the weekend _before_ the MoU that I first heard Graham informing people he was party to those discussions and why, and clearly that was prior to the conservatives' "pressure", not in response to it.
I said then that I disagreed with them, and I still do. Nevertheless, I also believe it was personal courage and integrity (and fear that stealth RINOs Voiny, Specter, Hagel, etc. would promise Frist a "yea" and instead vote "nay") that led THOSE two in the MoU, not any rejection of their personal committment to conservative principles.
[This is not meant to be applied to the other card-carrying RINOs plus the dangerous "maverick" McLame.]
Hmmmm. One year until election day?
I like your philosophy. I think I would also decline to vote for Graham. He got too cocky.
I wrote a letter to Senator Clinton telling her of my wish that she would support the nomination of Judge Alito and vote for his appointment to the SC. Below is part of her answer:
"...the Senate must initiate a thoughtful and deliberate process of closely examining and scrutinizing Judge Alito's record to determine whether he merits a seat..."
"What we know about Judge Alito raises serious questions about whether he will be steadfast in protecting our most fundamental rights. Please be assured that I intend to closely examine Judge Alito's record and qualifications and carefully monitor the Judiciary Committee hearings in order to determine whether he intends to be a guardian of the rule of law who puts fairness and justice before ideology."
Whew, listen to her!!!!!!!
Not to omit the fact that a piece of bread buttered on both sides would never know which side to land on.
I thought that Harry Reid was pro-life.
HA! Take that Libs.
Only when he is talking about his own life.
As for innocent children, Reid doesn't give a damn.
"The Gang of 14 neets today and they do want to stay in the spotlight."
If Sam Alito gets confirmed without a filibuster and they play a role in it, then I say let them have their camera time.
Don't rule out Robert Byrd supporting Alito. He voted to confirm Pricilla Owen.
I thought that Harry Reid was pro-life.
So are Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Al Gore, nominally.
But the point of my offhand quote was to illustrate the core meaning or core justification for mounting a filibuster against Judge Alito. The filibuster depends on the nominee constituting "extraordinary circumstances," a candidate so bad, that he doesn't even deserve an up or down vote.
I expect the nomination to proceed to a floor vote without the spectacle of cloture abuse.
I too can never vote for McCain.
I will however put all my efforts into stopping him in the primaries.
I still can not throw away my vote on a third party....the send a message crowd only sends it to themselves!
Republican Sens. Mike DeWine of Ohio, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Olympia Snowe of Maine have said they don't see Alito triggering the "extraordinary circumstances" standard the group had set that could initiate a filibuster.
Every time I hear about the "gang of 14" I want to scream.
Can you imagine the conditions that have made 14 people control 100?
LOL! I hear you, George. I hear you.....
I just got back to this thread... I'm sorry if I was not clear on my post...You are correct.. to break a filibuster, would require 60 YES VOTES to stop debate.. however the "constitutional" or "Nuclear" OPTION would on require a simple Majority (51 VOTES)...
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