True Majority names 8 Senators who aren't sure how they'll vote.

[funkybutt]

From True Majority email:

"RIGHT NOW, Senators Debate Ending Power to Block the Most Extremist Judges

Supreme Court's Future is in the Balance

Call Key Senators Today and Find a Friend in a Swing State to Make a Difference



We at TrueMajority avoid “sky is falling” rhetoric to hype activism. Please know that this issue, right now, is really important.

It looks like the votes of just eight key Senators will determine whether the Senate retains the ability to block the most extreme judges from getting lifetime tenure in federal courts - including the Supreme Court. (1) Only 10 of President Bush's 218 judicial nominees have been denied by the Senate. (2) To ram through those ten extremists, and more like them including the next Supreme Court justice, Bush and the Senate leadership want to turn back 200 years of history and prevent the Senate from blocking the very worst nominees.

Eight Senators have said they aren't sure how they'll vote. This will be so close, and the stakes are so high, that we need to scour the country to enlist every like-minded person represented by the key Senators.

If you live in one these key states, call your targeted Senator now.

If you know people who live in these states -- and they share your desire to protect America's courts from extremists -- please forward this to them and urge they call their Senator now.

Maine Susan Collins AND Olympia Snowe
Nebraska Ben Nelson
Ohio Mike DeWine
Oregon Gordon Smith
Pennsylvania Arlen Specter
Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee
Virginia John Warner

Call the United States Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 between 8 am and 6 pm Eastern Time and ask for your senator's office. Once transferred, tell the Senator's receptionist that you oppose ending the use of the filibuster against judicial nominees. It'll be that quick and that simple - they don't have time to engage you in debate, they are just keeping track of how many call on this issue. Please only call if you are a constituent.

Our voices right now can make a real difference. Please make a call if you live in those states, and urge your friends who live there to make a call.

Watching Washington for you,
Darcy Scott Martin


=============================================================
1) For more information about this fight to protect our courts, check out http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=17881

2) Here's Senator Leahy's thoughful statement on this issue, including a history of the filibuster and the facts about how carefully it's been used http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200505/051805a.html

3) Most Americans want to keep this important check and balance, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2004/10/26/AR2005032201677.html
"

[MuseRider]

1. Pat Roberts of Kansas

was also said to be wishy washy on this. A call to his office and his aide had no clue what I was talking about!

[KansDem]

5. Pat Roberts is writing the new, improved Patriot Act...

Much of what he's writing gives law enforcement new powers to act on administrative subpoenas without a judge or court's influence. He probably thinks that with his new, improved Patriot Act, there'll be no need for a judiciary...

[MuseRider]

8. I read it.

I don't know how but we have to get rid of this guy. I am so ashamed of my state these days. No more sticking up for it anymore.

[Oreo]

2. What's the congressional 800 number?

I can never remember it. I'm sure people would call more readily if it was free

[splat@14]

3. Done, thanks. Got both my senators. n/t

[funkybutt]

4. Here are their phone numbers in case the switchboard is full

Maine, Susan Collins - [phone]
Maine, Olympia Snowe - [phone] (toll free in Maine)
Nebraska, Ben Nelson - [phone]
Ohio, Mike DeWine - [phone]
Oregon, Gordon Smith - [phone]
Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter - 202-224-4254
Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee - [phone]
Virginia, John Warner - [phone]

[safi0]

6. I heard Chaffee and Snowe

were NO's. If Chaffee doesn't vote with us, in 06 he's a deadman

[napi21]

7. I just listened to Gordon Smith say he made up his mind, and was voting

against the fillabuster. He said he started out telling the Senate leadership that they couldn't count on his vote, but he has now made up him mind. It was on cspan coverage on the Seante floor about 45 minutes ago.

[funkybutt]

9. that sucks!

[kwolf68]

10. John Warner?

Holy cow....He's downright leftist these days compared to the rest of the fascist Repukes up there.