Posted on 01/15/2006 10:06:12 AM PST by LdSentinal
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Democrat who plans to vote against Samuel Alito sided on Sunday with a Republican colleague on the Senate Judiciary Committee in cautioning against a filibuster of the Supreme Court nominee.
"I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "This might be a man I disagree with, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the court."
She said she will not vote to confirm the appeals court judge, based on his conservative record. But she acknowledged that nothing emerged during last week's hearings to justify any organized action by Democrats to stall the nomination.
"If there's a filibuster of this man based on his qualifications, there would be a huge backlash in this country," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. He is one of 14 centrist senators who defused the Senate's showdown over judicial filibusters last year, saying such a tactic is justified only under extraordinary circumstances.
The committee's top Democrat, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said last week that unidentified Democrats will "exercise their rights" to delay a committee vote that Republicans sought for Tuesday.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada has called on party members to hold off making a decision until after a meeting Wednesday.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., would not rule out a filibuster, saying committee Democrats were still going through the hearing transcripts and awaiting answers to written questions.
"It's premature to say anything till we fully assess the record," said Schumer, who appeared with Graham on "Fox News Sunday."
But Feinstein, who said she was concerned about Alito's conservative record on abortion rights and deference to executive power, acknowledged the 15-year appellate judge had the legal credentials to serve on the Supreme Court.
"I was impressed with his ability to maintain a very even demeanor," she said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
"I think there is an additional weight you must give to his background, his qualifications and his ability," she said.
The Washington Post, in an editorial Sunday, said Alito is "undeniably a conservative" but that nominees should not be opposed on ideology alone.
"To go down that road is to believe that there exists a Democratic law and a Republican law - which is repugnant to the ideal of the rule of law," the newspaper said. "While we harbor some anxiety about the direction he may push the court, we would be more alarmed at the long-term implications of denying him a seat."
All 10 Republicans on the committee have announced their support for Alito, a 55-year-old former prosecutor and Reagan administration lawyer who is President Bush's choice to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Likewise, the Senate's 55 Republicans are expected to line up strongly behind Alito.
Sen. Arlen Specter, the committee chairman who supports abortion rights, acknowledged that Alito gave himself latitude during the hearings to revisit the 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion decision by declining to call it "settled law."
But Specter, R-Pa., noted that other justices such as O'Connor and David H. Souter also were believed to be hostile to the Roe decision, only to surprise everyone later with an opposite view once they were confirmed.
"The rule seems to be that there is no rule," Specter said on ABC's "This Week."
I don't understand the Democrat's tactic of delay. It gains them nothing.
I think it was O'Reilly that said they should just look at his rulings over the years and vote. The hearing and the rest is just so much political BS.
She said she will not vote to confirm the appeals court judge, based on his conservative record. But she acknowledged that nothing emerged during last week's hearings to justify any organized action by Democrats to stall the nomination.
A new Democratic party dogma is about to be set in place as a new directive?
Go ahead Diane, smear him, his family, and the horse that tows their wagon!
Cut the stealth games and show us who you and the Democratic party really are.
I dare you.
The harm will come to the rats if they filibuster so I am all for it.
In all likelyhood Pres. Bush will get one more pick to SC.... if they filibuster over Alito that makes them look even more silly for the 3rd pick.
3rd pick on media will be THE VAST RIGHT WING SUPREME COURT 24/7 regardless.
Lately, it's all they have.
Does that help? ; )
Who's your guess for the #3 vacancy ?
It must be pretty thick writing on the wall for the left if Feinstein is saying this.
I don't understand the Democrat's tactic of delay. It gains them nothing.
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IMHO, it does -- it prevents Bush from being able to talk about Alito in the state of the union address.
She may be a democrat, and a liberal one, but she is not a moonbat.
Has DU started a hate thread about her yet?
They are trying to confirm the idea to their voters that they are worthy of reelection.
They just want to have another meeting so they can blow gas out of both ends of they overfed bodies.
There's nothing stopping the President from mentioning him, anyway. Put it in the context of demanding swifter action on judicial nominees.
Nah, she's a moonbat alright. She's just having an off day.
She's is a leading proponent of gun control. She at one time, perhaps still does carry a concealed weapon herself.
"While we harbor some anxiety about the direction he may push the court, we would be more alarmed at the long-term implications of denying him a seat."
Dianne actually gets it.
Deny Alito, get Janice Rodgers Brown.
Deny JRB and get someone even tougher.
You democrats want "hard ball" we got yer "Hard ball"!
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