The Frist Filibuster Hits Washington (Princeton students / DC)

[struggle4progress]

Princeton's student protest leaves the campus

Princeton's Frist Filibuster hit the road early this morning when, after finishing an on-campus political protest that lasted more than 300 consecutive hours, 45 sleep-deprived students piled onto a bus at 4:30 am to take their campaign to Washington. The students oppose Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's bid to change Senate rules to prohibit Democratic filibusters against judicial nominees, the so-called "nuclear option" that may soon come up for a Senate vote.

The Princeton group, called Filibuster for Democracy, started its two-week, nonstop filibuster on April 26, reading everything from political speeches and poems to phone books and the digits of Pi. They stood in front of the Frist Campus Center, so named after the Senator's family pledged $25 million to his alma mater. As word of the effort spread, hundreds of students joined in—despite looming exams—and a number of parallel protests started up at other schools, including Harvard, Howard, the University of California at Berkeley, and Yale.

Upon arriving in Washington, the Princeton protesters were joined by students from area universities, and set up a filibuster platform in front of the Capital Reflecting Pool. A team of bloggers on site posted news of the protest at FilibusterFrist.com and used a Webcam to project live images.

In addition to student speakers and constitutional scholars, Congressman Rush Holt and Senator Frank Lautenberg spoke at the protest, and Senator Jon Corzine was scheduled to speak Thursday. The students plan to return to Princeton Thursday evening. <snip>

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1060378,00.html

[lonestarnot]

1. Damn I wish I were there!

[lakeguy]

2. nice! maybe we can get a million frist filibuster march going.

[Rose Siding]

3. NYT: Democrats Seek to Rally Forces for Showdown Over Judicial Nominees

WASHINGTON, May 11 - Digging in for a showdown over judicial confirmations, Democrats are trying to rally party loyalists with an online advertising campaign and planning a rally on Thursday with sympathetic Princeton students.

At the same time, the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay group, and the Republican Majority for Choice, an abortion-rights group, are breaking with their party with a print advertising campaign opposing one nominee, Judge William H. Pryor Jr.

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is widely expected to send Judge Pryor's nomination to the floor. He is the fourth and the last nominee whom Democrats have promised to oppose most vigorously.

http://nytimes.com/2005/05/12/politics/12judges.html

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Way to go, Gen Y!

These kids give me hope.

[struggle4progress]

5. Me, too! eom

[IChing]

7. We need more of you guys

Students start thinking about strikes
Whaaaat? What about my classes?

right on gen y

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. Ladies and Gentlemen! May I present.....

America's future leaders!

:applause:

All of the sudden, I'm feeling better about the future of our country. :-)

[geckosfeet]

8. Will he get the message ??

I saw that story and thought is was fabulous. Hoping that Frist and the filibuster busters get the message and lay off.

Here is a question:

Suppose they did succeed in removing the filibuster. Then suppose that a democratic senate majority and administration eventually comes to pass. Would the republican minority have the testicular fortitude to demand the return of the filibuster?

[newyawker99]

10. Hi geckosfeet!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[sonias]

9. Good for them

I'm proud they're still at this. We did a call in with them May 3rd here in Austin, TX while we watched "Mr Smith Goes To Washington". What an awesome group of young people.

I salute them!!

Sonia