Alito will win. America has many more conservatives than leftists.
After all, he is Rehnquist's replacement. Roberts was O'Connor's replacement, even if he was appointed chief justice.
Posted by Neutral at January 9, 2006 05:35 PMIt is interesting to see Republicans back away from Alito's rulings. Ted Olsen was on Hardball and he denied over and over that Alito was "conservative" and swore up and down that he wouldn't overturn Roe v. Wade. It's certainly hillarious for conservatives to pretent that they aren't conservatives.
Posted by Ga6thDem at January 9, 2006 05:37 PMI'm glad someone finally said it - Big Media Matt doesn't speak for me.
Posted by iamcoyote at January 9, 2006 05:48 PMBravo, Steve. That is exactly what I've been thinking. I wouldn't have put it in quite the same way , but still... Honestly, wtf have we got to lose at this point? Really. What do Dems have to lose by risking the "Nuclear Option"? They have no power anyway. They can't hold real hearings and don't have subpena power. It's time to push it all to the edge. Dems could gain some yardage here. But if they don't put up a real fight, I'm not sure Joe Sixpack is going to be impressed. Joe Sixpack ain't happy with BushCo---hell, the Repubs in general---but he ain't impressed with the Dems either. Joe Sixpack may sit up and take notice if the Dems are willing to push this as far as the "Nuclear Option." It may force them into trying to understand why the Dems would do such a thing. Poor Joe is searching for a reason to vote for Dems. This could do it.
Posted by Babba at January 9, 2006 05:50 PMLet the nuclear option happen. This pack of crooks and liars is going down in November anyway. If for no other reason than because this summers' gas prices are going to leave the voters looking for someone to punish. No filibuster will make it easier to pass the needed reforms after 2008 when we have total control of the national government again.
Posted by rlp at January 9, 2006 05:55 PMSince when did the filibuster become so controversial? It wasn't when the Rethugs used it repeatedly and routinely, without much shrieking about the sky falling. The GOP nuclear "crybaby" option to ruin the Senate if a legitimate vote doesn't go their way is, however, draconian and unprecedented. It really is going nuclear, AKA going postal on the constitution if they don't "win".
.
I don't know if the crooks or liars are going down in November, I don't have much faith in the citizens of America. But I do know that Alito on the Court is the end of the Court as an independent institution reflecting the constitutional views and values of ALL Americans, not just the views and values of the extreme right wing "christians" and authoritarians of America.
If one thinks the country and its constitution are worth trying to save, then this is a decisive moment in our history. If the Republican Senate decides that getting a Justice Alito is worth violating existing Senate rules and destroying the age-old traditions of the Senate, then make them do it with the whole country watching.
Bush's presidency has hopelessly and permanently divided the country. Presumably that was his intent, as he has singlemindedly plotted and stayed this course from the day he assumed office.
There's no reason not to let Bush's reckless folly proceed to its final conclusion----a supreme confrontation over the future of the Supreme Court as a shared national institution and the Senate as our supreme deliberative body.
Posted by euzoius at January 9, 2006 06:25 PMThe End of the American Experiment is nigh, merely awaiting the confirmation of Alito to initiate the auto-self-destruct sequence. Once Alito is inserted into the Hall of the Court Je$ter$, the process to eliminate the judicial and legislative branches of the government will begin, and King George will finally have the dictatorship about which he has long made unfunny comments.
It is time for the Democrats, and any Republicans who still care about the nation they were born in, to take a stand. It is an American tradition to believe in dying on your feet rather than living on your knees. Either we are American patriots, or Bu$hCo mice. The time to choose is now. It finally has become a case of 'You are either with America and against Bu$hCo, or you are against America and for Bu$hCo'.
Posted by pessimist at January 9, 2006 06:50 PMTrigger the nuke. Its time. Either this is going to be a Republic, or its going to be a dictatorship. Its that stark.
You fight, or you die. That's the way life is. Its the way life has always been. Eventually, you're faced with the choice: Fight, and possibly be exterminated; or capitulate, and certainly be exterminated.
Damn, Dems, what have you got to lose? Capitulation has landed you on the brink of extinction. Fight like warriors, and let the battle transpire as it will.
Posted by God Of War at January 9, 2006 06:51 PM... THE problem for Dems, which is pandemic (it appears), is you can't merely oppose this nomination with faint praise. You must ATTACK this nomination with ferocity and outrage-- based on a REAL self-righteous indignation. Heartfelt not militant, mind you... Oh, never mind... you couldn't pull it off anyway... Just chalk it up to yet another Repub drubbing... When will the whining begin...
Posted by tjschill at January 9, 2006 06:56 PMHave to agree with you on Yglesias.
Does he have his own vaseline, or does he rely on government issue?
After listening to Alito's comments today, he sounds like a reasonable guy.
Posted by caliman at January 9, 2006 07:13 PMHe'd be quite a drooling right wing clown if he couldn't appear "reasonable" in his opening statement, don't you think?
Posted by euzoius at January 9, 2006 07:21 PMAfter listening to Alito's comments today, he sounds like a reasonable guy.
So did Hitler and McCarthy at one time in their careers.
Posted by phidipides at January 9, 2006 07:21 PMSo quick to throw out Hitlers name. Shame on you, you don't even know the man. To compare him to a man that exterminated 6 MILLION jews. Just wrong!
Posted by caliguy at January 9, 2006 07:26 PMTom Coburn is pigfucker crazy, and he let America know it today.
And, here's the kicker: He's probably Assholito's biggest fan.
Tie that Coburn anvil onto that fucker and shove him off the boat.
Posted by God Of War at January 9, 2006 07:28 PMTo moonbat leftists, everyone is Hitler except a foreign dictator who wore military outfits, had a moustache, and conducted genocide.
Posted by Neutral at January 9, 2006 07:33 PMGo ahead and do a filibuster. I doubt Frist nor the moderate 14 will overturn it. But it will go bad for the Dems in the mid-terms IF the republicans played it right, but they won't especially with McCain and Lindsay and Collins acting like the were born in this most elite of all clubs.
The Clock is ticking on the liberal Ford appointee Stevens who is about 85 years old, but still holding strong.
The Problem with Republicans is their picks often get a change of heart when they become justices.
Scalia/Reagan and Thomas/Bush 41 have stayed strong-
Rehnquest/Nixon/Reagan has been very conservative.
Stevens/Ford- Big liberal/moderate, but thats what he was before he went on to the bench
O'Conner/Reagan was a true moderate
Kennedy/Reagan was either a moderate conservative or a conservative moderate
Souter/Bush 41 has been a true liberal and big time embarrassment.
Ginsberg/Breyer/Clinton have been true liberals picked as liberals who acted that way.
So why do ruling often go 5/4, not because Democrats pick moderates, its because Republicans often times do.
So don't be surprised if Roberts/Alito turn out to be very moderate, although we hope not.
I hope that Souter eventually has his home condemned by the group thats wanting to turn into a hotel per the Keto ruling. That would be sweet. The liberal weazel.
I will say this, Democrats proudly put up liberal jurists, and Republicans stand back and vote to confirm them, for God's sake Ginsberg was rated with a 98% Liberal rating by the ACLU which I believed she worked for or was the president of, and she was confirmed without a glitch.
But Republicans have to run stealth candidates because the Democrats politicize it over one or two key issues.
The ability for a women to choose the sex of her child and thereby kill her unborn daughters so that she can have boy babies.
And whether the jurist is for racial discrimination whereby blacks are given preferences over equally or better qualified whites merely for the sake of "diversity", whatever that means.
Oh, and as to Bush's idiotic pick of Myers/Miers (sic) as his choice for the court,
Man oh Man, did you guys screw up with that one.
You should have cleared the gates for her, she was a real good choice to be a good moderate.
Bush was stupid for picking her, thank god, some conservatives stood up to him and told him to fix this problem.
I hope Alito is the choice to be a true conservative and let us legislate ane execute the laws with as little of their mind numb meddling as possible.
Posted by carpediem at January 9, 2006 07:39 PMOh, and Dearest God of War, and Coyote,
The use of foul language, although clearly appropriate from time to time, can lose its effectiveness when used repeatedly.
(Remainder of post deleted by host for too much foul language)
Posted by carpediem at January 9, 2006 07:44 PMYou’re right, Neutral. The GOP never, ever stoops to playing the Hitler card themselves.
It's always the moonbat leftists only.
Posted by Steve Soto at January 9, 2006 07:51 PM… everyone is Hitler except a foreign dictator who wore military outfits, had a moustache, and conducted genocide. Posted by NeutralYou mean the guy who didn't attack us on 9-11 and whom Bush attacked illegally? Or do you mean the guy in the flight suit that killed maybe as many Iraqi's as the guy with the mustache?
…But Republicans have to run stealth candidates because the Democrats politicize it over one or two key issues…..Posted by carpediemRepublicans run stealth candidates because their ideology is so radical they have to pretend to be moderate. After they secure the office, America's right wing media covers up for them. Fighting for constitution democracy against the Imperial Presidency is a fight worth fighting. It's too bad that Republicontarians haven't the courage of their ideology and submit to their baser authoritarian impulses. Posted by Mike at January 9, 2006 07:52 PM
Don't speak Hitler here. Just because we have a preznit who feels free to trump up reasons to violate international law (or any law for that matter), a court that already holds scant regard for the Bill of Rights, and a so-called opposition party with the heart of a churchmouse, let's stick our heads in the sand and cower. In such a posture, let us pray. All together now, "Oooohh, don't say Hitler!!!" And let us keep saying it as they shut down the universities, law schools, Planned Parenthood and similar organizations, while the corporate press is so "owned" that it less and less even pretends to be balanced. Whatever the ominous parallels to both the details and the overall arc of 1930s corporate-state totalitarianism, just remember one thing: "Ooooh, don't say Hitler!!!"
Posted by baked potato at January 9, 2006 08:07 PMIt has been proven true, however, that many Dems did take money from Abramoff's partners.
I notice you didn't bitch about McCarthy, was that better?
To compare him to a man that exterminated 6 MILLION jews. Just wrong!
No I did not. I just said that Hitler and McCarthy appeared resonable to some at one time in history. Am I incorrect?
I think you might Sieg Heil the president gasman on occasion. You'll notice I'm not saying anything about the gasman no matter how much you think I might be.
Posted by phidipides at January 9, 2006 08:10 PMYou folks all seem bitter and difficult to talk to. Trolls on this site seem to be more polite, post better (less profane) responses and seem more open to new people. You guys deserve need to do better unless you want to remain as small and unknown as you currently are. Is everyone here negative? Good night, I can only handle so much in one day. Life is too short to be that angry.
Posted by caliman at January 9, 2006 08:19 PMBend over Matt, here comes the White House again.
Does anybody get the sense that he's got a job lined up at The New Republic?
Posted by dj moonbat at January 9, 2006 08:47 PMThey are replaying it again and again on the SPAN.
Tom Coburn needs to go straight to fucking hell.
Damn that bastard MAN using all of his bullshit statement to condemn women forever to the control of MEN.
I am so angry with his comments that I can't hardly type straight.
GOW - I am completely with you on this one.
What a frightening prospect this all outlays.
If he thinks that he has had to treat 300 women who have had medical difficulties due to abortion, wait until it is criminalized. Then he will be able to treat thousands from botched back room abortions and bury thousands more.
Abortion is a woman's issue. Coburn can take his dick and hammer it to a board and let every woman who stands to be crucified by his philosophy beat it to the pulp that he deserves. With no anesthetic.
Posted by Anjha at January 9, 2006 09:16 PMNo guts, no Glory, Matt!!!
Posted by Duckman GR at January 9, 2006 09:53 PMOh it IS wrong to kill mythic little girl babies to have little boy babies. How bout killing the little boy babies though? I'm about at the point where I wish Old Lady Bush had reconsidered her options.
Please consider ye who start handing out the abortion is murder cards - do you want to care for unwanted babies? Because we could set up a nursery in your guesthouses. That would help. No? Ok, then shut it.
I doubt there will be a filibuster and I doubt very very much that Alito won't be confirmed. It's a stealth bomber ready to drop. The worst part is that we have reached an age where we expect a judge to stare us in the eye and LIE about his morals, his beliefs, and his judgements. That to me is the saddest kick of all.
Posted by bethany at January 9, 2006 10:16 PMActually, Yglesias seems to "get it." It's lost on this crowd, but the Democrats need to start winning people's hearts and minds instead of this WE HATE EVERYTHING, WOE IS US mentality.
Optimistic messages. Real plans and goals for the future.
This site is hillarious. Anti-Bush 24x7, when Bush is never running for anything again. Instead of fighting lost causes, seems to me time would be better spent planning for the future.
Posted by muckdog at January 9, 2006 10:18 PMCaliman, what you have to realize is that we have been putting up with these trolls for a very very long time. Forgive us if we don't exactly speak kindly to them, but their bs is really really old.
Posted by Judith at January 10, 2006 03:33 AMAs others have said, at this point what do we have to lose. The ultimate irony is that if Alito is confirmed (and having Coburn as your #1 fan speaking in support should give you an inkling of Alito's true ideology and thoughts) his current known viewpoints are for defering to executive branch of gov't for power. That whole idea is amazing, and will make not only the Senate that confirmed him useless, but the Judicial branch Alito goes to useless... (well except for the part where they reaffirm the executive powers telling them that they are the only branch in gov't that really matters).... rendering the series of checks and balances a total fraud outside the executive. One party state and gov't...when will the democrats and the masses realize it...it's not healthy for democracy.
Posted by emal at January 10, 2006 05:02 AMI've let my 2 senators know in writing that 'Scalito' is not acceptable to this lawyer. Any judge who will not follow black letter law (see FISA) is NOT qualified to sit on the highest bench. That is not to mention he is a principle author of Shrub's 'I don't have to follow the law because I'm preznit' philosophy.
Posted by weinerdog43 at January 10, 2006 05:36 AMWell, Muck,
Jr. has turned the GOP into the Southern Fundamentalist party and he is the head of it. Right now the GOP is the one doing the planning-it's planning for lots of jail time.
Did you see Delay on TV? Your hero is quite a scream! He played the "fundamentalist victim card". LOL
Posted by Ga6thDem at January 10, 2006 06:44 AMYou folks all seem bitter and difficult to talk to.
I don't know. When you see comments running towards 200 on some of these posts, we seem quite talkative.
post better (less profane) responses
Simply stunning in its vapidity.
But, you see, we need our trolls. Without them we have no clue as to what the neo-cons are thinking. That's where they err on their own blogs. By keeping us out they have no idea what our arguments are. Indeed, you can fathom from their arguments that they perceive only liberals posting here, when the truth of the matter is that there are many conservatives and true Republicans coming into our ranks and commenting back to them. But they aren't hearing that. All the neo-cons have is, "Liberals want free blah, blah, liberals support faggot marriage, liberals don't blow the Chimporer." They have made themselves clueless as to what the street really thinks. They have no idea what they are confronted with.
Posted by phidipides at January 10, 2006 08:11 AMI've been a Republican since 1976, although I find party affiliation in and of itself not much of an indicator of political philosophy. I live in Oklahoma, and many of my friends who are the staunchest supporters of Bush and his administration are registered Democrats. Since I'm not a neo-con, I often get labeled a liberal by my Democrat "neo-con" friends. The irony of all this usually escapes them. Maybe I need new friends.....
As a Republican I see little to no "conservatism" from this administration, but I'm not alone. George Will, not usually considered a bastion of liberal thought, laid into the House Republicans today for their lack of restraint while in control of two, of the three, branches of government.
I've thought of changing parties, but I just can't bring myself to do it. There are certain things about the Democrat party I find I don't like as well. And who knows, being a Republican may be a good thing again in the not too distant future? Hope the regulars here don't see me as a disguised troll, although I'm certain the real trolls throw me in the liberal camp because I dare to disagree with them.
Posted by Cosrai at January 10, 2006 02:45 PM"....lead to the filibuster..."
Please do. Bring on the Byrd option. Your folks know Byrd: he is the one in the white sheets.
Posted by Bagley at January 10, 2006 08:23 PM