LIVE THREAD: Day ONE - Senate debate on nomination of Samuel Alito to SCOTUS: C-span 2; 9:30 am EST

C-span

[ken5050]

Good morning once again, all you fellow political junkies. Put on a fresh pot of coffee, put the sticky buns in the oven, put a fresh battery in the remote control, and join us for the latest episode of the world's greatest daytime soap opera, "As the Democrats Bloviate." Yup, once again, it's that time...

[loveliberty2]

Thanks for the blue ribbon. It's just that our marvelous Constitution deserves more serious respect than the Democratic Senators are giving it. To hear them talk, that wonderful document just needs judges to modernize it and "keep it in tune with the times," according to some "living constitution" advocates.

Professor Walter Berns dealt with this argument in an essay entitled, "Do We Have a Living Constitution?" (originally published in "National Forum," the Phi Kappa Phi Journal, 1984, with an edited version in "Our Ageless Constitution," Bicentennial Edition 1987) According to Berns, "the Founders' concern was not to keep the Constitution in tune with the times but, rather, to keep the times to the extent possible, in tune with the Constitution."

That, after all, is what a written Constitution is for--to protect the people from those who would expand its provisions under the guise of "taking care" of them.

[Txsleuth]

Nothing happened...except a LONG diatribe by Durbin about the NSA scandal...

I got really mad...because Durbin was so sanctimonious...it was disgusting...he was telling Bush that he has to come to them...in order to do what he wants..

Any way...for some reason..they stopped a few hours early...and Harry Reid NEVER made an appearance..and John Thune closed down the Senate..not Frist..

So, there is some of us wondering if there is something UP or what.

What do you think?

[Txsleuth]

YOU need to post more often....you are a font of wonderful thoughts, insights, opinions...and links.

Thank you so much...

[loveliberty2]

Senator Leahy's remarks at this hour are ludicrous! To claim that the Democrats are not speaking from 'talking points' speaks of their underestimation of the plain intelligence of ordinary American citizens who have watched and listened to these hearings and today's "speeches."

[Cboldt]

It's just that our marvelous Constitution deserves more serious respect than the Democratic Senators are giving it.

It deserves more respect than it gets from Republicans too.

... the most important function of the United States Senate is the confirmation of U.S. Supreme court justice for lifetime terms.

They make the decision on the cutting edges of all of the big questions in our society.

As things have evolved, the Congress punts to the court, the executive branch punts to the court. And they have lifetime tenure and independence, and they have come somehow in our society to take on those cutting edge questions. So it is very, very important.

Transcript: Sen. Specter Discusses Alito Nomination : October 31, 2005

And the sentiment expressed by Specter doesn't directly address the balance between the power of the individual v. the power of the government. Specter's balance is aimed at "punting" the role of government heavy from the executive (or legislative) to the courts.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I've been away a lot today. Do we have the current Senate vote (Ayes and nays) to this point?

[Bush gal in LA]

I thought the same thing( somethings up) when they ended early today. But if you are smelling filibuster why wouldn't they keep it going till 11? On the other hand if Frist and Reid are talking filibuster behind the scenes, maybe they decided to end early cause they figure whats the point of going on with this?

[Cboldt]

Do we have the current Senate vote (Ayes and nays) to this point?

No vote has occurred. C-SPAN2 was keeping track of Senators' positions, anticipating the vote that will be taken on a future day.

C-SPAN2 unofficial tally of Senators' positions on the confirmation vote of Samuel A. Alito to the Suprme Court.

     Aye = 49                   Nay = 23
     7 GOP yet to commit:       21 DEM yet to commit:

     Chaffee                    Akaka           Johnson 
     Collins                    Bayh            Landrieu  
     Smith                      Bingaman        Lautenberg
     Snowe                      Byrd            Levin    
     Stevens                    Cantwell        Lieberman
     Vitter                     Carper          Lincoln 
     Voinovich                  Conrad          Menendez
                                Dayton          Pryor 
                                Dorgan          Rockefeller
                                Inouye          Sarbanes   
                                Jeffords                   

     DEM Crossover = 1          GOP Crossover = 0

     Nelson (NE)




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[p23185]

Kyl

I would like to see him in a leadership position, or run for Pres '08.

[Bush gal in LA]

So far 49 yes votes for our side. And 22 for the RATS. We need 51 to confirm judge Alito. The weird thing is they were supposed to go to 11 tonight and decided to end early for some reason. They will continue tomorrow morning.......

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Thanks. I wonder if Landrieu could be a crossover too?

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Thank you

[Delphinium]

My husband said he heard on tal radio today that atleast one Republican will vote nay? Have you heard?

[Bush gal in LA]

Your welcome . But I made a mistake . Its 23 no votes for the RATS!

[Cboldt]

I wonder if Landrieu could be a crossover too?

Highly likely. She's trolling for cash.

[Cboldt]

My husband said he heard on tal radio today that atleast one Republican will vote nay?

I've heard nothing of the sort. Could be true, but I don't see one. Chaffee, Collins and Snowe are the most likely (in no particular order), and I predict all of them will vote for the nominee.

[Txsleuth]

Do YOU have any thoughts on whether the absence of Reid, or the early closing time has any significance??

[Delphinium]

I predict all of them will vote for the nominee.

Thats what I thought, sure hope he mis heard.

They better not!

[Cboldt]

Do YOU have any thoughts on whether the absence of Reid, or the early closing time has any significance??

Yeah, but I'll defer to the geniuses on that.

[Txsleuth]

Uh-oh....I am smelling sarcasm here!!!

Okay smarty pants...be sure and let me know if you are right, okay???

LOL...

BTW...thanks again for all of the great links and opinions based in facts...you are terrific.