Senator fires back at attack ads(Dobson's war on GOP holdouts)

[Robbien]

Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she has no intention of yielding to pressure from the Colorado-based evangelical group Focus on the Family, which is calling her a "squishy Republican" in its campaign to prevent Democrats from using the filibuster to block the appointments of some federal judges.

Firing back at the organization, which is running ads against her in Alaska and targeted her during its "Justice Sunday" simulcast to conservative churches around the country last weekend, Murkowski said the group is trying to undermine the Constitution's separation of power doctrine that has served the nation well for more than 200 years.

. . .

The lobbying arms of Focus on the Family of Colorado Springs, Colo., and its close ally, the Family Research Council of Washington, D.C., are pushing hard on the Senate to change its rules so that controversial judges can be approved by a simple majority, not the 60 votes that would be required to overcome a filibuster.

. . .

Leaders of the two evangelical organizations have gone further than just demanding a stop to the filibusters, but are also looking for ways to remove judges. The Los Angeles Times obtained a tape recording of a March 17 discussion between James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, who said there were ways besides impeachment for Congress to remove federal judges -- and even entire courts -- to get a judiciary that takes their views on abortion, same-sex marriage and situations like the Terri Schiavo case.

. . .

Radio and newspaper ads from Focus on the Family began appearing two weeks ago, targeting Murkowski and eight other Republican senators who either opposed or were undecided on changing the filibuster rule.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/6433226p-6312288c.html

[Justitia]

1. Is she becoming a Democrat?

:popcorn:

And I would like to hear more about this gem:

"The Los Angeles Times obtained a tape recording of a March 17 discussion between James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, who said there were ways besides impeachment for Congress to remove federal judges -- and even entire courts -- to get a judiciary that takes their views on abortion, same-sex marriage and situations like the Terri Schiavo case."

[LostinVA]

4. I'd love to hear this tape

Is it advocating overthrowing government??? Isn't that a TERRORIST act?

[ret5hd]

7. they discussed...

congress refusing to allocate funds for entire circuit courts...no money, no court, no problem. nothing in the constitution to prevent this.

[LostinVA]

2. The GOP has a tiger by the tail, and they're the ones who

let it out of the cage.

[reality based]

13. As JFK once said

"remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside."

[sui generis]

3. that's the best they can do? name calling? how childish.

Dishonesty is their hallmark after all. The last thing they give a damn about is the "family" since most of their time is spent bashing gays and wayward republicans. They could really do something real and positive for families everywhere if that's what they really wanted to do, but instead they're obsessed with gays and single parents and people's very personal choices about their own bodies and lives.

[Robbien]

9. Name calling works. Think flip flopper

The Christian Coalition knows how to work it base.

[sui generis]

14. great point. Children love to mock things by name-calling.

they do know their base.

[davidinalameda]

15. but she's not squishy

WTF

:shrug:

[sui generis]

17. it takes some steel to be able to stand up

to your own party, especially when they're so willing to figuratively flay you alive for doing it. No, I don't think she's "squishy" at all.

[davidinalameda]

19. I'll lay you odds that she votes for Bolton though

[SaveElmer]

5. Western voters don't like this...

This is the ultimate in government run amok, Alaska has a strong libertarian strain. Look to the west to become Democratic territory before long.

[tmooses]

18. I agree, the Repubs have become the party of government intrusion..

as part of their neocon deal to take power. It looks like this is backfiring here in Oregon as well as states like Montana and Colorado. This first indication of this was the widespread resistance to the Patriot Act in places out west which are politically conservative. The neocons and Bushites have bought the whole package and now have to live
with it or suffer the blow back from these Christo-fascists.

[Zynx]

6. Is she anti-nuclear option now??

That makes the vote count very interesting...

[Robbien]

11. No, she says she is still thinking.

She just resents the fact she is being pushed around.

[warrens]

8. Let them keep it up

They're going to hand us the Senate and the House and the White House. This is so unAmerican, even some on the far right are getting nervous. Shut down an entire appeals court because you don't like some of its decisions? Insane.

[pacalo]

10. The religious fanatics seem to be wearing out their welcome...

Good to see the fanatics alienating the sensible conservatives. I expect the list to grow. What goes up must come down, especially if it defies common sense & good judgement.

[Robbien]

16. But these guys are politicans first and these attacks do worry them

no matter what kind of front they put up for the press.

Move America Forward attacks Voinovich for his vote on Bolton

Focus on the Family attacks GOPers for their votes on the filibuster

Club for Growth attacks GOPers who vote against tax cuts

and Freeper & Dittohead brownshirts join in on all the feeding fests.

Its tough being a GOPer who thinks for themself.

[catmandu57]

12. Looks like a backfire to me

I hope this does just the opposite of what they want, and stiffens the backbones of their targets. It be really funny if they were sent tax bills now, kind of a fuck with us buddy.