"millions of Americans will hear the call for Alito's defeat ..."

[understandinglife]

It's not done, until it's done, everyone. Fight, fight, fight ....

I spent the past week sitting in the hearing room listening to Samuel Alito evade and stonewall. I can tell you that media reports declaring Alito as good as confirmed are underestimating the effect of his disappointing testimony.

Here's what Senator Leahy, leader of the Judiciary Committee Democrats, had to say yesterday evening: Judge Alito "failed the test whether he would serve to protect Americans' fundamental rights and liberties."

As Senator Durbin described, Alito has routinely allowed "the 'crushing hand of fate' to always come down" on ordinary Americans needing protection from the courts, and in favor of the government, law enforcement, and corporations. A vote to confirm Alito to the Supreme Court could undo the life's work of senators and countless Americans who have spent their careers fighting for working people, the dispossessed, and the victimized.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid sent clear signals that Alito could face a stiff fight from Senate Democrats in a press release Thursday evening: "Judge Alito's responses did little to address my serious concerns about his 15-year judicial record…. The right wing insisted that Justice O'Connor be replaced with a sure vote for their extreme agenda. Four days of hearings have shown that Judge Alito is no Sandra Day O'Connor. Senate Democrats will meet next week to discuss the nomination."

Today, People For the American Way and the rest of the 75-member Stop Alito Coalition are launching the next phase of the fight. We will roll out a new ad and grassroots campaign, through which millions of Americans will hear the call for Alito's defeat over the holiday weekend. When senators return to work after the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, we will swamp the phones with calls, flood their fax machines, and show up in their offices to demonstrate the depth of opposition.

http://www.SaveTheCourt.org/AlitoHearings

http://www.SaveTheCourt.org/CoalitionEffort

Peace.

[fooj]

1. NGU! EVER!!!

Peace.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. !

:kick:

[mazzarro]

3. Maybe too late

I am afraid that this campaign did not start well ahead of the hearing and it maybe too late now! I always hate the call by some in the progressive movement that caution against being on the offensive because it will turn the moderates off. I have not seen the moderates rushing to our side despite innumerable compromises and caution. Rather progressives/liberal are constantly taken advantage of and hood-winked at every turn.
Isn't it time we stood our grounds especially our leaders in congress? Let us not allow ourselves to be deceived any longer - hoping for support from 'moderate rethuglicans', they will always tow their party's line.

[Surya Gayatri]

13. But, maybe

it couldn't have kicked into high gear until AFTER he'd reconfirmed his extremist positions in a public forum. Studying his record is one thing, but hearing him back it up openly under questioning is another. He is now unequivocally on the Congressional record as being a far-right activist. SG

[TheUnspeakable]

4. Just signed the petition&am calling my Senators-thx for posting!n/t

[TheUnspeakable]

Just signed the petition&am calling my Senators-thx for posting!n/t

[TheUnspeakable]

5. Just signed the petition&am calling my Senators-thx for posting!n/t

[cally]

6. I was just about to post this....contribute if you can

PFAW is a great group. This email makes me somewhat hopeful.

[understandinglife]

7. "Alito must be filibustered. And he must be filibusted by a unified ...

... Democratic Party and Senate caucus.

Alito clearly believes that the Constitution does not protect a woman's right to seek an abortion. While this single issue is sufficient to sway many activist liberals to support a filibuster of Alito, abortion is not an issue which every Democratic Senator, or the Democratic Party, has made a litmust test of judicial fitness.

Every Democratic Senator, and the Democratic Party, have subscribed to the view that recognition that the U.S. Constitution vests the Supreme Court with the final authority to protect our citizenry's individual rights from infringement by the Legislative and Executive branches is a litmus test of judicial fitness. And Alito has failed this test. Alito cannot be trusted to protect individual liberties from infringement by the Executive Branch. And it is on this basis, a basis to which every Democratic Senator subscribes, that he must be filibustered.

Much more at the link:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/13/144114/599

Worth reading all of this diary at dKos.


Peace.

[Jo March]

8. KICK - The home fax is ready to go!

I've made calls all this week and will continue.

NGU.

NEVER.

No retreat, no surrender, baby.

[Nikki Stone 1]

9. kicked and recommended

:kick:

[Im with Rosey]

10. I have also been sending emails

The more we do, the better it will be. Try to fax, call and email. Thanks for the link UL! I am having difficulty keeping up with all the petitions! Hurray for our side. NGU

[MissWaverly]

11. I saw his reaction on Bush vs Gore

which was basically, Gee, I don't know, I'd have the see the case in front of me in my
capacity as a judge, what an evasive non-answer. If ever the was a case where the
Supreme Court stepped over the line and interfered it was Bush vs Gore. His record is based
on a strong support of states rights. What we have here is another yes man. Just what
George needs.

[stillcool]

12. Thanks for the heads up...

signed and forwarded.

[FogerRox]

14. SHUT THE SENATE DOWN

These days with the internet a good idea makes it around the world in 3 days. SO please spend the next 3 days sending out email to everyone, every blog, every message forum, every DEM Senator. Tell everyone why it is important for the Senate DEMS to SHUT IT DOWN. Tell everyone it is OK to SHUT IT DOWN.


Faced with an unacceptable situation in the Ukraine-- Ukrainians took to the Streets and SHUT IT DOWN

Faced with an unacceptable situation Rosa Parks got on the BUS.

Faced with an unacceptable situation Martin Luther King Marched.

kick & Recommend all filibuster threads including mine-- PLease:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2366893

[greiner3]

15. I really believe that Dems will not filabuster;

But it would be GREAT news if it did!:woohoo:

[FogerRox]

16. If they do-- SHUT IT DOWN are you going to DC?

[Tsiyu]

17. Had to go in to work for a few hours this afternoon

and face people who have no clue about the hearings and really don't care one way or another.

The media do their jobs well.

My plan is to make lots of phonecalls and e-mails over the next days and to talk about Alito's horrific (yes, a superlative meaning: causing fear, disgust or horror- hope that intense word doesn't force anybody to swallow too much Xanax) record to anyone who will listen. I may even try to get in on some Right-wing talk shows (gotta screw up the courage for that one). Silence and apathy are not an option.

And I am currently studying the Constitution and its history to better understand what we stand to lose if this nominee is confirmed. Better than reading all the defeatists prattle on about giving up.


Good for you, ul, for cheering us on. :thumbsup:

[understandinglife]

18. "Silence and apathy are not an option." Exactly. And, thank you ...

... for all you are doing :toast:


Peace.

[understandinglife]

19. Durbin on the Fillibuster: "EVERYTHING is on the table" -- see this post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x135456

We can stop Alito if we want to.

Focus. Be unrelenting.


Peace.

[Time for change]

20. We can't afford another Supreme Court justice who doesn't give a damn

about ordinary citizens. The powerful in this country already have way too many unfair advantages.

It's very good to see that some Democratic Senators at least are getting ready for a fight.