What is this drek the news is reporting they are NOT going to filibuster?

[saracat]

As You all know I have praised Reid when he has done good but I have never had any real respect for him after the bankruptsey vote. There isn't an explanation for that vote. If he cannot get the act together for this wirth the huge public outcry, I am going to actively find a way to work on replacing him. What possible good could come of NOT filibustering?

[sandnsea]

1. It might not be him

It might be Lieberman, Nelson, Lincoln, Pryor, Hillary, and who knows who. I get the feeling Harry does what the concensus decides.

[saracat]

2. The leader has an obligation to 'lead".

And many of the aforementioned, inclusing Lieberman are announced NO votes. Nelson is the only yes. I am aware of. Kerry would filibuster if asked.

[sandnsea]

6. See #5

I honestly would bet my life that Hillary is the problem.

[whometense]

15. If that is true,

that makes the speech she is making right now 100% disingenuous, lying, and it makes her even worse than someone like McCain who votes for him outright.

[Mass]

16. Consider that she is just saying that this is a Washington debate

and that people in her state are not speaking about that. This is the typical triangulation we are getting used to know.

[sandnsea]

17. Which is what Raw Story referred to

Did I say that already? Sure. She'll give a happy little speech and vote no, but won't bring all her and Bill's political power to the issue so people can learn why they should care. Where has Bill been on this anyway?

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. I will blame Reid too

He is the caucus leader; he needs to LEAD. If he can't strongarm the DLC contingent, then we need a leader who will. I'm TIRED of these same 5 or 6 turncoat "Democrats" handing Bush victory after victory in the Senate, and I'm tired of everyone acting like Reid is such a fiery, kickass leader, when I have seen NO evidence of his ability to hold the Dem caucus together at ALL. And like you said, sometimes he even VOTES with the bad guys - witness the bankruptcy bill.

[sandnsea]

5. NOBODY strongarms Hillary

Raw Story just posted that some Democrats want to focus on the NSA story. Right after that this Hillary-eavesdropping piece comes up in LBN. Her and her 2008 ambitions have been the fly in the ointment all along.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2065183&mesg_id=2065183

[WildEyedLiberal]

7. Then he can strongarm the others

We could filibuster without Nelson or Hillary. Unless the entire DLC contingent follows Hillary's cue on everything, which makes Reid a fucking pointless figurehead, much like the Queen of England.

[sandnsea]

8. Clintons have more power

That's the truth of it and it is not just the DLC contingent. The right wing may well be pushing Hillary in the media, but so is a very large and strong group of DC strategists who have nothing to do with the DLC. Power power power.

[WildEyedLiberal]

10. Ugh

:puke: I'm sorry, but at this point, they're like a malignant tumor on the party. They'd help run the country into the ground if they thought it furthered their political ambitions. That's different from Bush how?

[wisteria]

9. Blah, Hillary!

Actually do something worthwhile and take a real stand rather than just talking tough. Honest, the more I see and hear her the more I dislike her.

[WildEyedLiberal]

11. I know

Right now, she's only about two steps above McCain in my book.

[Blaukraut]

4. it's our half of the 14

Senators who made that deal last time. They're obstructing the filibuster. Reid should have told them that the deal was off. Get the hell in line or get out. Kerry is the only one who publicly stated (through a staffer, but still) that he would support a filibuster. Why didn't any of the others?
What are they waiting for? Playing nice is not going to work anymore.

[kerrygoddess]

12. Saving the filibuster

for the possibility of something even worse than Alito (not sure that there is worse) but that is the concern.

They have made it clear they will go nuclear. It's possible that the public outcry we see on the internet is not the same as the consensus they are getting. Just a thought.

[Mass]

13. They have already lost the filibuster if all it takes for them not to use

it is a threat from the GOP. They would be better off forcing the GOP to invoke the nuclear option and show people their real face.

[kerrygoddess]

18. I'm not convinced it's not going to happen

regardless of what the news says. I've been listening all day - every one of them is mad as hell - I know they have been keeping all of this close.

[whometense]

19. Something doesn't compute,

that's for sure. It's serious cognitive dissonance - something's way off. I wish I knew what.

[kerrygoddess]

20. My guess (my hope)...

my prayer, is there is going to be a rabbit pulled out of a hat. Maybe I am wrong, but even now listening to Hill...

[saracat]

21. Please pray for that rabbit KG or , I just don't know.........

[ray of light]

24. I hope you're a mindreader and that you're right!

I've been calling people and telling them it's about the executive power issue as much as the abortion.

[Inuca]

22. SIck, at home, and watching CSPAN

ANd I keep seeing at the bottom of the screen that a final schedule for the vote has not been decided on yet. Can this maybe mean that the filibuster is still been considered as an option? Otherwise, they should have been able to decide when to vote on this, shouldn't they? On the other hand, maybe it's only my feverish head....

[jenndar]

23. Good thought.

If the debate is meant to continue until at least Friday, they wouldn't announce a filibuster today.

[ray of light]

25. feel better soon.

(From this site: http://www.greet2k.com/everyday/getwell/index.shtml )

[ray of light]

26. Alito IS the worst! He strip searches 10 year old girls!

[karynnj]

27. Kerry 's tone of voice when he referred to that was

one of absolute disgust or revulsion.

[ray of light]

28. I wonder if the fundies KNOW this!

I'm sorry but there were MANY other ways to handle that situation. And the resulting trauma to the 10 year old is cruel and heartless and unnecessary!

AND I'm sure the 4th amendment protects unreasonable search and seizure.

[karynnj]

29. I absolutely can't think there could be any reason to justify this.

It really is disgusting - There has to have been a better way.

[Mass]

14. I agree with you.

whatever it means as I have never been a great fan of Reid.

[GRLMGC]

30. God, this is depressing

They should filibuster. They really have nothing to lose. I'm pretty disillusioned w/ Reid too, we need another kind of minority/majority leader. Unfortunately, we haven't seen anyone REALLY forceful in 40 some-odd years.