Posted on 01/27/2006 3:27:29 PM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON -- Long-smoldering Democratic dissension flared openly Friday as liberals sought support for a last-minute filibuster of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito against the advice of leaders worried about a backlash in the 2006 elections.
"I reject those notions that there ought to somehow be some political calculus about the future. ... The choice is now," said Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the party's 2004 presidential candidate and a White House hopeful for 2008. He said it was imperative to fight for "those people who count on us to stand up and protect them."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., announced she would support the filibuster, despite saying earlier this month that she did not see anything that would justify one.
"Based on a very long and thoughtful analysis of the record and transcript ... I've decided that I will vote no on cloture," Feinstein, the only female member of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. Cloture would end debate and bring the nomination to a vote.
Two of the party's Senate leaders, Harry Reid of Nevada and Charles Schumer of New York, privately made clear their unhappiness with the strategy, even though they, too, oppose Alito's confirmation. And Rep. Harold Ford, seeking a Senate seat in Republican-leaning Tennessee, dismissed the filibuster approach openly.
"It does not appear that there is any reason to hold up a vote. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will move quickly to bring this process to a dignified end," he said.
Despite a decision by Kerry, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and others to try to block a final vote, leaders of both parties agreed that Alito's confirmation was assured for next Tuesday. The 55-year-old appeals court judge would replace Sandra Day O'Connor, who has cast deciding votes in recent years in 5-4 rulings...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Bring it on -- and this will be the FINAL test of the Repubs.
70? Wow.
They're in disarray now? Wait til Darth-Bader Ginsburg needs a replacement.
That's going to be great...exploding heads here we come...wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
The stupid Dems have known all along that they couldn't filibuster Alito. They played this so that red state Senators could vote to appease their home state voters, so that hard-left blue staters could feel like their guy did everything he/she could to stop Alito, and so John Kerry can appeal to the base for the nomination in 2008.
Never again will a Ruth Bader Ginsburg sail through the confirmation process.
The GOP just needs to threaten that any filibuster of Alito will need to be a 24/7 event not just a "when we feel like it" filibuster.
I want to see Fat Teddy at 3 a.m. reading from the Washington D.C. phone directory, particularly all the Arabic names that start with "A".
Where are all the "Lie-berman come on over to our side" people now?
Red on Red fighting...I love this.
Don't ya just feel the love in the air ... FOFL!!!
All this ensures is that there will be a very divisive Dem primary as they fight over who did, and who did not, filibuster. 60+ votes for cloture and guess what... that party fractures into thirds. Woo-hoo !!!!! Who's got the popcorn?
When ACLU lawyer RBG needs replacing, the Dems will insist on another ACLU lawyer.
Forgetting, of course, that RBG replaced a conservative justice.
Of course...gotta keep some degree of contrived balance, the Constitution be damned.
We Want Kerry!
We Want Kerry!
Speaking of Lieberman. Does he really want to be a part of what is going on right now in his party? I thought he had more sense than most of his Komrads.
You got it right.
Am looking forward to knife fights in democrat backrooms.
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