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Obama: Votes aren't there for Alito filibuster
Quad-City Times ^ | 1/28/06 | Tory Brecht

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.”


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: 109th; alito; alitovote; filibuster; filubuster; muslimsleeper; nomination; obama; obstructionistdems; osama; supremecourt
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To: RobbyS

Speaking of Mrs. Clinton.......Obama is young enough to watch her fail before his big shot. Hillary would clean his clock and leave him by the wayside.......too bad he won't take her on, he will be a formidable opponent in due time at this rate.


61 posted on 01/29/2006 4:57:15 AM PST by tioga (Speaking out from the god-forsaken frozen tundra of the Hildebeast.)
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To: dawn53

"... since Canada "changed parties" they seem to prefer Belize."

Yeah, I noticed that too. They can carry by bags when my next cruise ship stops there.


62 posted on 01/29/2006 5:06:43 AM PST by toddlintown (Lennon takes six bullets to the chest, Yoko is standing right next to him and not one f'ing bullet?)
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To: Bush gal in LA

Maybe things got hot in the Swiss Alps and Kerry needed an excuse to leave. Or he really was that befuddled that he didn't realize the vote was coming up.


63 posted on 01/29/2006 5:09:29 AM PST by Dante3
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To: tioga

"...he will be a formidable opponent in due time at this rate."

Sure, once he drops his pro-abortion stance, drops his affiliation with Cook County politics and quits pandering to special interests groups.

You're obviously not from Chicago nor anywhere in Illinois. He's being heralded by the MSM, that's all. Don't fall for the spin.


64 posted on 01/29/2006 5:10:57 AM PST by toddlintown (Lennon takes six bullets to the chest, Yoko is standing right next to him and not one f'ing bullet?)
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To: toddlintown

If the MSM can make algore and skerry contendas they can do it for Obama. Just one Perot in the race and it's over. (sigh) I would ask you how he got elected, but then I have have Hillary and Chuck so I won't.


65 posted on 01/29/2006 5:14:23 AM PST by tioga (Speaking out from the god-forsaken frozen tundra of the Hildebeast.)
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To: AmishDude

"He'll happily keep getting elected until somebody whispers in his ear that he ought to run for President. And then it will be John Kerry all over again."

Right. This guy already believes his own press releases. I'm just amazed, however, how many FReepers talk this guy up.

Get a clue folks. The Hollywood types are already mentioning Obama's name as "the future POTUS." That's a good sign that he's destined to go nowhere.


66 posted on 01/29/2006 5:15:52 AM PST by toddlintown (Lennon takes six bullets to the chest, Yoko is standing right next to him and not one f'ing bullet?)
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To: LdSentinal

Funny think about a Democratic Republic, votes count. The libs just can't tolerate that concept unless the deck is stacked in their favor.


67 posted on 01/29/2006 5:16:43 AM PST by Flint
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To: Mannaggia l'America

"The filibuster talk is just so they can tell the MoveOn.org moonbats "we tried" and keep them sending their donations."

Precisely.....

http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2006/01/flim-flamibuster.html


68 posted on 01/29/2006 5:25:25 AM PST by traderrob6
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To: dawn53

Good for Canada for missing this bullet, but what a shame that beautiful Belize has become a target for left-wing exodus. (LOL!)


69 posted on 01/29/2006 6:01:55 AM PST by alwaysconservative (BIBLE: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
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To: hsalaw
Wow! A dem who can count!

Yep. I was about to say, before I read your post, that Obama has two things going for him: 1) he can count, and 2) he can read the handwriting on the wall. Marginal attributes to be sure, but the best he's got.

70 posted on 01/29/2006 6:15:04 AM PST by southernnorthcarolina (I've upped my standards! Up yours!)
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To: AmishDude

I have a feeling there have already been whispers of that sort in his ear....and he acts like it. pfffffft


71 posted on 01/29/2006 6:23:19 AM PST by Txsleuth
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To: LdSentinal

"The Great OZ has spoken!"


72 posted on 01/29/2006 6:23:54 AM PST by SAMS (Nobody loves a soldier until the enemy is at the gate; Army Wife & Marine Mom)
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To: SAMS

Lets face it, all the opposition to Alito is based on his religion.The Democrats are becoming the new No Nothing Party. For those of you in Rio Linda, that's ANTI-CATHOLIC PARTY. But, these politician should keep in mind that the Catholic vote is 26 % of the total vote, and is the largest Swing Vote in the country. Next time they are up for re election, voters will remember how they voted on Alito.

The democrats will never win an election with these tactics


73 posted on 01/29/2006 6:31:03 AM PST by analyst65
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To: Bush gal in LA

Kerry is a Narcissist. You are thinking of "anorexia" - which is driven by an underlying poor self-image. Narcissism is driven by a hugely inflated self-image. All your other datum point to a narcissist, plus his outright lies about what happened in Vietnam and his appalling betrayal and slandering of our troops when he came back. He is a "look at me" junkie, with an incredible sense of entitlement and belief in his own "greatness". Watch him with his staff and you will see what a nasty piece of work he is. Limousine liberal barely scratches the surface of the way Kerry operates. He is a condescending twit.


74 posted on 01/29/2006 6:35:52 AM PST by bjc (Check the data!!)
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To: Txsleuth

He acts like the whispering in his ear is "You could be President some day." Give it a few years and they will drop the "some day."


75 posted on 01/29/2006 6:36:59 AM PST by AmishDude
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To: tflabo
Obamada Somada Homada Damada Amada Bamada

and his faithful partner Roseanne Roseannadanna

76 posted on 01/29/2006 7:05:32 AM PST by rmgatto
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To: alancarp
Obama is displaying the characteristics of why I think he'll eventually be seriously dangerous: he's a pragmatist

That, and he's handsome and articulate. He speaks in such measured, reassuring tones that he actually seems to know what he is talking about. He's able to disguise the moonbat character of the modern Democrat Party.

77 posted on 01/29/2006 7:13:40 AM PST by Hardastarboard (Bush spied so that no one died.)
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To: gov_bean_ counter
Who do you see as the Latina female? I am not familiar enough with the courts to know what woman has both the conservative and legal chops to make it though the confirmation hearings, as well as the correct ethnicity (I can not believe I used that word in a sentence).
78 posted on 01/29/2006 8:21:49 AM PST by Talking_Mouse (Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just... Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Lancey Howard
Senator Jeffords is an inspiring story. He sold his soul for far less that the "whole world", and the very next chance they got, the American people took it away from him.

I just love it when a traitor, I don't think that's too strong a word, gets his.
79 posted on 01/29/2006 8:34:20 AM PST by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: chesley

re: Jeffords.
Truly, his is an inspiring story.
The scumbag is now totally irrelevant.


80 posted on 01/29/2006 8:46:09 AM PST by Lancey Howard
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