Apparently Chris Matthews has predicted a filibuster when he was on the Today show this morning. He said the Gang of 14 is breaking up and has no sway in the matter. He has it backwards, the Gang of 14 would need to hold together for a successful filibuster.
Perhaps Graham and DeWine have heard back from their constituents? The people they were sent to serve?
Perhaps the flooding of fax/phone calls to their office had something to do with it..
Great news..
Alito is IN...
Well..maybe not IN but at least guaranteed a vote..which is good enough for me..
I for one, am looking forward to the hearings
I will believe it when I see it.
I hope they go nuclear/constitutional sooner than later.
Two GOP senators announce that they will not support a filibuster, and the news reports that the gang of 14 is "breaking up"? They would be breaking up only if some of the others support a filibuster.
I guess, then, that we can infer that supporting a filibuster is sticking together but opposing it is breaking up.
What about all these reports of "pro-choice" and other "moderate" rulings by Alito? Can someone set my mind at rest about that?
free dixie,sw
Warner(R), Specter(R) and Nelson(D) lean heavily towards supporting Alito
I suspect McCain(?) and Lieberman(D) will also support Alito.
Voinovich(R), Chafee(R), Snowe(R) and Collins(R) are 50/50
I predict no fillibuster and Alito is accepted with 54 votes.
Acute political instincts ping.
One notes the hopeful attempt at damage control by the media, pretending a split in the group where none yet exists.
This isn't "Breaking". They said this days ago.
That still leaves the arch-conspirator, the Cataline of the Republican party, the Quisling of the era John McCain.
As long as he is holding back, there are others in the gang of traitors who will attempt to foil the administration on this one.
McCain will get my vote for President when Hell freezes over. If he runs against Hillery, I will vote for an independent conservative.
McCain has been a thorn in the side of the administration since Bush got elected, always pressuring towards the left.
They apparently got the same message that W got.
The Base is watching. Fear the Base.
The Dim's are screwed. It's finally dawning on them that they don't have diddly squat for influence anymore. The only tool they have in the Senate is the filibuster and that's only available to them as long as they don't use it. When they pull it out the GOP will take it away for good. I hope they DO filibuster.
I wrote a letter to Senator Clinton telling her of my wish that she would support the nomination of Judge Alito and vote for his appointment to the SC. Below is part of her answer:
"...the Senate must initiate a thoughtful and deliberate process of closely examining and scrutinizing Judge Alito's record to determine whether he merits a seat..."
"What we know about Judge Alito raises serious questions about whether he will be steadfast in protecting our most fundamental rights. Please be assured that I intend to closely examine Judge Alito's record and qualifications and carefully monitor the Judiciary Committee hearings in order to determine whether he intends to be a guardian of the rule of law who puts fairness and justice before ideology."
Whew, listen to her!!!!!!!
Republican Sens. Mike DeWine of Ohio, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Olympia Snowe of Maine have said they don't see Alito triggering the "extraordinary circumstances" standard the group had set that could initiate a filibuster.
HEARING START JAN 9th.... Call White House, and ask President Bush to use RECESS APPOINTMENT for Judge Alito..
I will believe it after I see it.
I would not believe any of the 7 on their oath.