What irks me: GOP had 1 turn against them; Dems had 19!

[BigBearJohn]

I wonder why they call it a Democratic "Party"?

Aren't there times when even "we" should walk in lockstep?

Or am I hoping for too much?

[Maat]

1. You got that right.

I'm disgusted.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. New name:

The Funding Apparatus That Isn't Republican.

[spuddonna]

3. "The Democratic Party: Keeping Our Powder Dry Forever!" n/t

[LiberalVoice]

4. Can we admit now they are spineless? nt

[BigBearJohn]

5. Just what is it that keeps the GOP voting en masse as ONE VOICE?

[LiberalVoice]

8. A lust for power, money, greed? nt

[lastliberalintexas]

12. Actual reprisals from the party

Do you see McCain or Snowe in any leadership positions? Think Chafee will chair any real committee any time soon? Think again.

The repubs play hard ball, even within their party. Even supposed moderate to liberal repubs like Chafee cave and support the administration when they need to, otherwise they'd face an opponent in their primary- and one financed by the RNC, not just some poor shlub mounting a challenge worthy of a 3rd party candidate.

[depakid]

19. EXACTLY

yet another of the 99 reasons the Dems keep losing vote after vote and election after election.

They're not even relevant in national politics anymore.

Sad.

[havocmom]

6. What irks me is the GOP attacks the DEM leadership for 'demanding

conformity' as I heard on one GOP senator say today.

Once again, the GOP projection illustrated. They charge DEMS with doing what they do themselves. Gads, if the DEMS did ANY such thing, the votes would be closer on every issue. If DEMS are to 'partisan' why is it the GOP votes in lockstep and the DEMS have their DINOS?

Pisses me off to hear a US Senator spewing that shit on the floor.

[lastliberalintexas]

7. Which republican voted no on cloture?

I didn't hear about that...

[Innocent Smith]

9. No Repub voted against cloture

But there will be at least one Repub vote against Alito.

[lastliberalintexas]

13. So? That's not a defection

Chafeee and Snowe will be *allowed* by the republican party to vote against Alito tomorrow when it doesn't really count so that they can crow to their liberal state constituencies about how liberal they supposedly are. That's not a defection, and Chafee should get absolutely zero credit for coming out and saying he'll vote against Alito when it doesn't matter.

[Innocent Smith]

16. Agreed

Someone said it was a real defection?

[mmonk]

10. You understand the problem.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Yes, we absolutely did need to walk in lockstep.

Now the repercussions must begin.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Correction: GOP had NONE vote against them on cloture

They voted in lockstep, rubberstamp Congress as per usual.

[Old and In the Way]

15. In light of the monolithic Republican borg.....

seems like we need to demand the same borg-like partisanship in our Democrats. I've never seen such Party discipline like the Republican do it today. There was a time when our agenda could be carried forth by a majority built from members of both parties...that day is long gone.

[BigBearJohn]

17. How the hell do you win when everyone has their own agenda?

[upi402]

18. Whip took a seat? They're used to us takin' it in the ass silently

And voting for them all over again.
Like hoping an abuser will change this time.

I dunno.

[fujiyama]

20. Actually they didn't even have that

The repukes enforce disciple. Unfortunately, the Dem party is weak, spineless, and has no clear message whatsoever. Basiaclly it's just a loose coalition of people that vote however they please. We have the same problem in both houses...but we seem to have the same problem in general as well. Exit polls from the last two elections (OK, well they may not be very accurate) show that more Dems voted for Bush than repukes that voted for Gore or Kerry.

Many of these folks that voted for cloture are from red states, but that's no excuse. This vote was too damn important. I think many cynically viewed this as 'just another vote' and want to go back and discuss what senator they can name a bridge after or perhaps write a resolution congratulating the super bowl winner.

The message, more or less, we've received from the party's moderates is "we kinda sorta don't agree with the republicans but don't know why but have no other solutions".

[Nutmegger]

21. YES, YES, YESS!!!!

As much and I, and we, hate to admit it, the Repukes always vote in lockstep. I mean they had to drag sorry ass Cheney to cast a deciding vote for a budget bill (correct me if I'm wrong). So a few Repukes will vote contrary to the Party's will but nothing like today's situation. If the tables were reversed, the Repukes would have demanded party solidarity - how they demand that I do not know. Must be a money thing I imagine or that they are even harsher when someone votes outside of the Party.

This was our only chance to halt, or at least slow down, Alito. Now he will be sitting up there listening to the arguments while doodling a caricature of Bush and Condi. Alito is harmful! For chrissake, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS! THIS IS OUR EFFING LIFE! This is why the effing filibuster exists! I don't even think anyone abstained! For gods sake!

I need more ice cream.