How many votes do we need to filibuster Alito?

[still_one]

I think it is 40

They have some pro-choice repugs which have NOT voted against bush on important issues, plus we have some pretty conservative democrats who I don't feel very comfortable with doing the right thing

I will be watching to see which democrats fight this, and filibuster if they have the votes, and which cave in

I am pretty skeptical that he can be stopped. What were pro-choice, civil liberty advocates thinking when this moran was voted in a second term?

The polls taken constantly say Americans are for safe and legal abortion, along with stem cell research.

[ktowntennesseedem]

1. We actually need 41.

They need 60 to stop a filibuster, so 40 would leave us one vote shy to keep Alito blocked.

[bryant69]

2. Yeah that's right.

However, I think they can impose the nuclear option by a simple majority.

I also think that this will be an a-list issue for congressional republicans; they aren't going to let anybody off of the reservation if they can help it.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[still_one]

4. if they impose the "nuclear option"

would they have a majority for that? If they try to do it on this, I do NOT want any democrats compromising. The last compromise was a joke. Let the games proceed, and if the nuclear option becomes a reality, then when our opportunity comes, and it will, I want to show those repukes no mercy when we have the majority again, which might possibly happen in 2006

[bryant69]

8. They might get one or two

I hope not; but it's possible. You are right about the implications for those democrats who choose to stab their colleagues in the back.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[ktowntennesseedem]

5. Right, they really only need 50 to go nuclear (sorry, nuculer)

because Cheney can vote to break a tie. But as much as they love to threaten us with that option, I think a lot of them are hoping it doesn't come to that. With the way Chimp's numbers are going south, any Repug with half a brain will see the nuclear option as less than popular with the folks back home who just might vote their ass out of office in '06. Going nuclear might have short term gains, but it will backfire on them when Dems' take back Congress (God, I hope so!).

[still_one]

3. thanks

[PDittie]

6. Six Republicans

assuming we keep Landrieu and Nelson of Nebraska and Pryor and Lieberman in line.

Not at all a safe assumption.

[still_one]

7. I can't be too optomistic about this one

but I still want to see the democrats fight