Posted on 01/28/2006 8:44:13 PM PST by LdSentinal
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said efforts by Democratic leaders in the Senate to drum up support for a filibuster of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito’s confirmation are likely to fail, and he appeared to be leaning against delay tactics.
“I have to tell you, the votes are probably not there for a filibuster,” the senator said during a stop in the Quad-Cities to open a new congressional office in Moline and to speak to the Quad-City Times editorial board. “It’s my understanding that at least seven Democrats have announced they will not be supporting it, meaning at most you’d get 38 votes. It’s largely a symbolic vote. The question is are you going to vote once or twice against Alito.”
As the floor debate in the Senate ensued Thursday, the leaders of the filibuster attempt — Massachusetts Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry — were trying to drum up support in their caucus for blocking Alito.
They were counting senators like Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Debbie Stabenow on their side.
Obama wouldn’t announce which way he’d vote, but seemed lukewarm about the prospect.
However, he reiterated his opposition to the conservative judge’s nomination. Obama, a former president of the Harvard Law Review, said Alito’s record is too rigid.
“When he’s not forced to follow Supreme Court precedent, he consistently sides in favor of the more powerful party,” the senator said.
Obama also expressed concern that Alito was not a strong enough supporter of governmental checks and balances.
“At a time when the executive branch is stretching its powers to the absolute limit — whether its wiretapping provisions, its approach to what are considered enemy combatants and a host of issues related to the war on terror — it’s very important, I think, we have a Supreme Court that is very independent and is willing to say to the president, ‘Here are the boundaries of your power,’” Obama said. “And I don’t get the sense Judge Alito is willing to do that.”
Very simple. Either all 7 of the Dems in the "gang of 14" honor their commitment not to filibuster, or all 7 of the Pubs in the group vote for the constitutional option. No problem.
No mention of integrity and doing what he thinks is "right"..
If he TRULY feels that Alito is that bad...and there is an attempt by HIS PARTY to stop his confirmation, then he should join them...because it is his belief that Alito should be stopped from being confirmed...
NOT...because it will fail, or it is politically expedient to not try the filibuster.
Just like Obama's party's record with the abortion litmus test.
“When he’s not forced to follow Supreme Court precedent, he consistently sides in favor of the more powerful party,” the senator said.
When the Democrats are not forced to follow Senate precedent, they consistently side in favor of the more powerful special interest groups.
Obamada Somada Homada Damada Amada Bamada
Meanwhile, Obama is displaying the characteristics of why I think he'll eventually be seriously dangerous: he's a pragmatist -- he knows which battles to fight as a Democrat. Since there's 20% of the public in the middle that doesn't care enough to inform themselves about politics, that's the kind of approach from the Left that will win major elections.
The dessert cart rolls on....
The filibuster talk is just so they can tell the MoveOn.org moonbats "we tried" and keep them sending their donations.
News flash. The next nominee will be at least Hispanic if not female Hispanic. The Hispanic block is the fastest growing demographic in the US. They will soon hold the swing vote in major Southwest states as well as California and Florida (if not already) and are much more likely as a voting block to be offended by any Democrat attempts to keep a Hispanic off the Supreme Court. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/09/05/rehnquist_death_puts_pressure_on_bush?mode=PF
Better here.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/09/05/rehnquist_death_puts_pressure_on_bush?mode=PF
LOL!
Forgot osama.
That word: pragmist. No, he is not a "pragmatist,"; he is an opportunist. The first implies a detachment from ideology. He is very much the ideologue.
I stand corrected: but for Democrats, I see those words as practically being synonyms!
He is dangerous in that he is like Bill Clinton. He wears a moderate mask, the sort that Mrs Clinton is trying so hard to wear. but which keeps slipping.
The next one will be Miguel Estrada and that should send Schmuck Schumer, Fat Teddy, Di Frankenstein, Joke Biden and Dumb Durbin into a tirade of cataclysmic proportions
Sen. Obamada, next time ask a Freeper. We knew of this a week ago.
Another stupid democrat. He sees two options: follow precedent, or favor "the powerful". A supreme court justice is first and foremost expected to look to the Constitution. I wonder if the dems know about that document?
It is funny cause this whole thing wasn't really about a filibuster or stopping Alito in the first place. IMHO! It was hatched by Lurch when he figured it would be harmless to everyone concerned cause the votes are not there. When someone pointed out to him hes like 5th or 6th down the list under Al Shartons name to get the nomination for pres in 2008 he quickly figured out this would get him a lot of cheap publicity in a hurry, keep his name ''relevant'' and make him the darling of the loony left for a while.What Lurch hasn't figured out is what RATS ''HATE'' more than any Republicans,are Democrats who run for office and fail. Now he is getting the loony lefts hope up again, and setting them up for a major fall.Does anybody here think the RATS are going to give him another chance for the presidency after this debacle?!.......Neither do I. Someone should tell Lurch and put him out of his misery!Quick!
A smart man even if he is a Democrat.
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