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 ...
"But he is one of the craziest."
I'm not even sure about that. I'll take Byrd over Kerry, Kennedy, Boxer, etc. any day.
The other Democrats are behinds.
If they can get away with a TANKED filibuster without getting hit with the Nuclear Option, then they can use that as 'precedent' for future filibusters.
Better Nuke em just in case!!
I sometimes get the feeling that Bryd is actually among the most patriotic of the Dems in office. Agree with him or not, it seems as though he actually bases most of his decisions on what he feels is best for AMERICA, rather then making decisions based on this overriding guilt that most Dems seem to have because the US is the sole superpower.
He must be one of the only Senators up there that actually accept correspondence from non-constituents.
Byrd knows what percentage of WV voters voted for Bush. ;) A vote against Alito would make his re-election bid that much more costly.
Disappointed in Lieberman too. There is a reason he is a Democrat. At least he has the cajones to support the WOT.
This is a ch__ch. What's missing?
Byrd deserves to be bashed most of the time.
This time, he gets a pat on the head for doing something sensible. But, this one vote doesn't change my opinion of the man. He should retire.
Help me out. How do you filibuster? Does Kerry just say, "I filibuster". Dont we have enough votes already?
The Senate requires 60 votes to prevent a filibuster. Right now, they are not there yet.
Come on, I want a filibuster. Let's break it once and for all.
Wow. Just wow.
Do they not realize how a filibuster will hurt them come November?? Stupid.
Right now a lot of conservatives are dismayed at the Pubbies in Washington. They've acted more like Dems in office with their waste & lobbyist money. If the Dems filibuster, the base will come out in droves to vote in November. I consider it a present!
Either way though, they're in a catch 22. If they DON'T filibuster, THEIR base will stay home. LMAO!
That's their strategy now. Since they won't do a real filibuster. This strategy will work on the DUmmies. Those idiots will never realize how they've been played. Kerry's response will be "I voted for the filibuster before I voted against it".
I agree. Everyone acts like he is the anti-Christ, but he is actually a social conservative. He carries a copy of the Constitution with him and has demonstrated many times that he is a strict constructionist. If I recall correctly, he was the only ranking dem that harshly criticized William Blythe Clinton. Most here hate him merely because he has alot of power. IMHO, his reverence for the constitution beats a dozen Chafees, Snowes, Specters, McCains & Liddy Doles.
Too bad he isn't GOP. If he were, nobody here would tolerate anyone criticizing him.
I am pleased that Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) decided not to drink the liberal kool-aid on the Alito nomination. Tim is a decent guy and has, now that he is out of Tom Daschle's influence, been better reflecting this red state's values.
I don't know what his reasoning is but he did say it.
2 more. Cloture passes with a 3/5th affirmative. It takes 41 votes to defeat the motion.
I'm going to get myself in alot trouble here for saying this, but I'm going to be completely honest. If I had to choose between McCain and Byrd, I would choose Bryd in an election.
I realize that this will draw the ire of many here, so I am eager to debate it.
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