Posted on 01/26/2006 11:40:02 AM PST by jmc1969
Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, whose confirmation seems certain in the Republican-run Senate, padded his modest Democratic support Thursday with endorsements by Sens. Robert Byrd and Tim Johnson.
Alito already was assured the votes of the 55 Republicans in the 100- member chamber enough to be put over the top when West Virginia's Byrd and Johnson of South Dakota joined Nebraska's Ben Nelson in saying they'll vote yes.
Alito would become the nation's 110th justice, replacing retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Throughout her years on the high court, she often has been a key fifth vote on contentious social issues including abortion, affirmative action and the death penalty.
"I am troubled by Judge Alito's apparent views on matters such as executive power, his past opposition to the principle of one person, one vote, and his narrow interpretation of certain civil rights laws," Johnson said. "Even so, I cannot accept an argument that his views are so radical that the Senate is justified in denying his confirmation."
Johnson and other senators also are advising Democratic leaders against attempting a filibuster, the only chance the minority party would have to stop Alito's confirmation.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Chafee can't afford to not vote for cloture. He might be able to get away with voting no on the floor, but Laffey will clean his clock in the primaries if he backs a filibuster.
Right. That's why I said that those plus the three that will actually vote to confirm Alito means that the Dems can't really filibuster. Then I figure that some of the Dems candidates will engage in a "non-sustainable filibuster" just to satisfy the moonbats. So they can claim some kind of moral victory. But dubyaismypresident got me to thinking that if a couple of our RINO's voted agains confirmation this would cause the DUmmies to explode because it will look like they could've filibustered. Actually I don't know if you can cross party lines to vote for a filibuster but it would sure cause the DUmmies to melt down. LOL.
2 more to be filibuster proof.
Byrd is generally untolerable when it comes to his votes, but he is very much about order and principle in the Senate. He takes his role as Senator seriously and is serious about bringing home pork for WV. I believe he has integrity...a lot more than most of the D Senators and even some of the Rs. Don't get me wrong...I am not a Byrd fan, but he respects the Constitution and the institution that he serves in (yes he belongs in an insitution too). I wish more Senators took their responsibilities as serious as he does. I certainly wish that "my" Senators would stop sharing the same brain cell and take some cues from this Senator.
Yes, I know I will get flamed for this, but occasionally, I find myself admiring this Senator's service and then he does something so incredibly partisan or liberal and I want to rench.
60 has been reached. 55 Pubs, 3 Dem yes's, and Landrieu and Salazar who have publicly announced they will not support a filibuster even though they plan to vote no confirmation.
Can you imagine how ticked off THEIR base would be? They'll stay home or work in a primary to defeat the incumbent. It would be the one time I'd be happy to see a RINO be a RINO. LOL! (only after they all vote YES for cloture though)
Byrd at least knows what the US Constitution is......mcCain is a rambling, simpering media whore with delusions of godhood.
The irony of a US Senator harping about "one man, one vote" is apparently lost on him.
SD
I heard Byrd's speech and I was thinking that Byrd must be among the few in the Senate who is actually paying attention to the objections in emails. Now if we can get the Republicans to read and pay attention to theirs about other issues, there's still hope.
No.
But I think he lurks here to steal my ideas :)
Hey Karl, if you are out there, I'll take a job in lieu of back-pay.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Hell, Kerry can fillibuster with a single campaign speech.
Sheets is only doing it because he is in re-election mode. To him, it is a "throw-away" vote to cover his expansive butt.
I think he likes the idea that Alito was tied to CAP in his college years, Byrd being a Grand Kleagle and all.
Well, it ain't much of a choice, McManiac or Sheets.
Thanks for the ping.
If Fertik's telling the truth (and I guess it could happen) then Kerry has really gone off the rails.
Democrat Senators up for re-election this year:
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Thomas Carper (D-DE)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Mark Dayton (D-MN)
Diane Feinstein (D-CA)
Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Of the above, Clinton, Kennedy, Feinstein, Sarbanes, and Kohl will never vote to confirm. It will be interesting to see how the others end up voting.
Great. It is over thna. We won and won very very very big :)
Bryd? You can't get out if it that easy. ;)
Kerry would have single-handedly taken away the RATS' filibuster option on a personal grand-standing move.
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