CNN: Anti-Alito filibuster soundly defeated ~ campaign .. ...fizzled Monday evening.

CNN ^ | Monday, January 30, 2006; Posted: 7:56 p.m. EST (00:56 GMT) | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Final confirmation of Supreme Court nominee expected Tuesday

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Judge Samuel Alito stands just one step away from a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court after a spirited ninth-inning campaign by some Democratic senators to block his nomination fizzled Monday evening.

The final vote on Alito's nomination is now scheduled for Tuesday morning, and, with at least 57 senators on board, approval is virtually assured.

Alito's supporters in the Senate, as expected, cleared the final roadblock Monday when senators, by a vote of 72-25, decided to cut off debate and proceed to a final vote, rebuffing an attempt by a cadre of liberal senators to talk the nomination to death.

The vote easily exceeded the 60 votes needed to pass the motion. ()

In the end, only 24 of the chamber's 44 Democrats went along with the filibuster, a maneuver allowed under Senate rules to block a vote by extending debate indefinitely. It was also supported by the chamber's lone independent, Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont.

Arguing against cutting off debate, Sen. John Kerry -- who spearheaded the filibuster effort with his fellow Massachusetts Democrat, Sen. Ted Kennedy -- said Alito's record during his 15 years on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has given "the extreme right wing unbelievable public cause for celebration."

"That just about tells you what you need to know," Kerry said. "The vote today is whether or not we will take a stand against ideological court-packing."

But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said the move to cut off debate fulfilled a "very straightforward principle -- a nominee with the support of a majority of senators deserves a fair up-or-down vote."

"The sword of the filibuster has been sheathed because we are placing principle before politics, and results before rhetoric," Frist said.

[RJL]

They sure get upset at the idea that they might not be able to kill babies.

[lawnguy]

You will hear this in a dem primary debate sometime not to far from now:

"I led the fight to stop the court packing by this administration. Senator Clinton didn't take a prominant role in that fight, but I was on the front line, fighting the good fight, like I did in Viet Nam."

[Paradox]

Kerry, et al, KNEW this was destined to failure, they were just playing the moonbats like a fiddle. This will enhance the way they are seen by the faithful. They risked NOTHING. However, they have thrown Reid under the train...

[You Dirty Rats]

approval is virtually assured.

Nonsense. John F. Kerry has a plan to stop confirmation!!

[syriacus]

Tired of all the whining and crying by that whole bunch of cheaters, liars

Dour, dour, liberal scowlers
Angry men with meager powers.
Dems can bark, can lie, and bite
But still can't win their dirty fight.

[MediaAnalyst]

"I'm afraid I've forgotten why cloture needs 60 rather than a simple majority, is this a relatively recent development ?"

I'm not sure, but the continued use of filibusters on nominees, to the courts or elsewhere, is brand new. The MSM would love us to think that there is nothing unusual about this tactic, but it has NEVER been done on a sustained basis by Republicans (although both we and the Dems have used other tactics to slow down nominees).

[garbanzo]

If we're better people, and have better ideas, and are better for the world--WHY DO WE KEEP LOSING?

Oh, this person is so close to figuring it out, but I doubt they will.

[syriacus]

They sure get upset at the idea that they might not be able to kill babies.

That is the shortest, best summary that I've read about this.

[del4hope]

Courtpacking! I would have to tell her: Something has to be done to OFFSET her husband's contribution to the court!

[IonInsights]

That 20 bucks wouldn't nearly cover the maintainance-man fee after overfilling the barf-bag and then sawdust to help clean up the mess.

Kerry would do it once he discovered that Helen has a seven-figure bank account.

[righttackle44]

When I heard the vote totals, I sang all the way home. (Now I'm the first to admit that that isn't a real good thing for the people driving around me. But it was worth all the threatening stares and shouts.

[IonInsights]

Credit where credit it due. Spector deserves an atta-boy for this one.

[taxesareforever]

Whew, that was close. Feinstein staved off the Cindy Sheehan threat by voting for the filibuster. I bet she was scared.

[onyx]

Pookie. What you said! LOL

[IonInsights]

You might be celebrating this republican/Bush victory too soon. If Kerry's and Kennedy's history are to be taken seriously, look for them to appear on the senate floor tomorrow morning with belts full of explosives around their waists for their last ditch attempts to stop Alito from getting into the court. They ain't going down without thoroughly terrorizing Alito and his wife and holding the rest of America hostage..

Problem is that Kerry left his explosive belt in Davos, whereas Kennedy's is filled with bottles of scotch.

[syriacus]

My, Gosh!!! Look at its eyes.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Do I hear 83 yeas? We have 83. Do I hear 84 yeas? 84 yeas for the confirmation of Samuel Alito as an associate justice on the United States Supreme Court it is! Sold to the demagogue's that are scared sh!tless, especially in New Jersey.

Ladies and gentlemen, the dull thud in the background was Senator Kerry's career.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

No doubt!

[McGavin999]

Ensign from Nevada was in a car wreck on the way to the airport. Although he wasn't seriously hurt he was hurt enough to be taken to the hospital and couldn't get back to DC on time for the vote. Hagel wasn't there for some reason, I haven't heard what that reason was. Chafee voted no for the filibuster but plans on voting no for confirmation.

[Hat-Trick]

Arguing against cutting off debate, Sen. John Kerry -- who spearheaded the filibuster effort with his fellow Massachusetts Democrat, Sen. Ted Kennedy -- said Alito's record during his 15 years on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has given "the extreme right wing unbelievable public cause for celebration."

As some of my fellow Freepers have said previously - Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.