Posted on 01/26/2006 11:40:02 AM PST by jmc1969
Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, whose confirmation seems certain in the Republican-run Senate, padded his modest Democratic support Thursday with endorsements by Sens. Robert Byrd and Tim Johnson.
Alito already was assured the votes of the 55 Republicans in the 100- member chamber enough to be put over the top when West Virginia's Byrd and Johnson of South Dakota joined Nebraska's Ben Nelson in saying they'll vote yes.
Alito would become the nation's 110th justice, replacing retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Throughout her years on the high court, she often has been a key fifth vote on contentious social issues including abortion, affirmative action and the death penalty.
"I am troubled by Judge Alito's apparent views on matters such as executive power, his past opposition to the principle of one person, one vote, and his narrow interpretation of certain civil rights laws," Johnson said. "Even so, I cannot accept an argument that his views are so radical that the Senate is justified in denying his confirmation."
Johnson and other senators also are advising Democratic leaders against attempting a filibuster, the only chance the minority party would have to stop Alito's confirmation.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
As Nelson on the Simpsons says, "Ha!Ha!"
Have we heard from Chafee, Collins, etc.?
I figured a few more red state Dems might... ;)
Could you please add "Bob Byrd to vote FOR Alito" in the headline! That's big, IMHO. :)
Have Chafee, Collins, and Snowe said they'll vote for him?
I'm surprised it's not 99.
Robert Byrd? Did anyone tell him he's supporting Alito?
If true, that makes 58 Yea. 3 more to be fillibuster-proof.
That's safer than getting in front of it.
I've been saying, Robert Byrd is by no means the worst Dem on Capitol Hill...
"I've been saying, Robert Byrd is by no means the worst Dem on Capitol Hill..."
But he is one of the craziest.
Sheets Byrd is up for re-election and might have to actually spend some money to stay in office. Apparently he cannot afford act quite as ridiculous as The Swimmer these days.
Which doesn't mean that some of the Dems running for 2008 won't try something. They'll call it a "non-sustainable" fillibuster just so that they can throw a bone to their moonbat voters. Watch DUmmies brag about the "non-sustainable" fillibuster as being their "alternate win".
Boy, that's damning with faint praise.
Where are all of the Byrd bashers now? Surely nobody will support one of "Sheets"' decisions.
It should be noted that a block of senators usually follow his lead.
West Virginia's Byrd and Johnson of South Dakota joined Nebraska's Ben Nelson in saying they'll vote yes.
--It is good that even the Dems can have the cooler heads prevail.
Good for "Sheets" Byrd, but disappointed with Leiberman. Just when you think Joe has turned the corner, he reverts back to his "Al Gore For President" days. Sad.
Rush just said that Byrd said on the floor that he'd received hundreds of e-mails from all over the country denouncing the dems' behavior in the judiciary hearing. I think Sheets is feeling the heat.
The Dem caucas is likely going through senate race polling #s to see which red-state donkeys can give the Yea votes. There will be at least 60 Yeas simply because then the Dems can say to their kook base that the votes simply weren't there to sustain a filibuster.
It's so transparent.
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