Did the Democrats attempt to filibuster Alito's nomination?

[kentuck]

and failed? Or was there just talk of a filbuster but they never carried through? What is your recollection on this, since Republicans are talking about filibustering the next SC nominee? I recall that the Repubs were going to pull the "nuclear option" and vote in Alito on popular vote only? Should Democrats threaten the "nuclear option"?

[Botany]

1. Some did but Chuck Schummer and Diane Feinstein helped kill it.

n/t

[ShortnFiery]

2. My recollection was that our "illustrious leader" of the Senate, Harry Reid, had FEET OF CLAY.

He refused to filibuster the Alito Confirmation vote. IMO, for reasons as inane as the Corporate M$M's manufactured slight by the "demon" Senator Kennedy making the pure and chaste Mrs. Alito CRY. Remember that stupid farce? :shrug:

[Aloha Spirit]

3. I recall there was no filibuster, but an agreement to save

the nuclear option and the filibuster for extreme circumstances.
Enough senators value tradition too much to abuse the rules except when absolutely necessary.

[karynnj]

12. That was earlier when they agreed to accept several bad lower court judges

The gang of 14 Democratic and Republican Senators agree to stick together - swinging to the Republican side when they determined that the action to stop something was "political", but to swing to the Democratic side when something would otherwise pass that was too far to the right. They NEVER ever swung to the Democratic side.

As to abusing the rules, this was a time when they needed to filibuster. As John Kerry said:

I understand that, for many, voting for cloture on a judicial nomination is a very difficult decision, particularly on this Supreme Court nominee. I also understand that, for some of you, a nomination must be an ``extraordinary circumstance'' in order to justify that vote. I believe this nomination is an extraordinary circumstance. What could possibly be more important than this?

This is a lifetime appointment to a Court where nine individuals determine what our Constitution protects and what our laws mean. Once Judge Alito is confirmed, we can never take back this vote. Not after he prevents many Americans from having their discrimination cases heard by a jury. Not after he allows more government intrusions into our private lives. Not after he grants the President the power to ignore Federal law under the guise of protecting our national security. Not after he shifts the ideological balance of the Court far to the right.
<snip>

We believe no less. And we should do no less. We did allow the confirmation of three of the most objectionable appellate court nominees. There was no talk of prolonged debate on Chief Justice Roberts. Now we are presented with a nominee whose record raises serious doubt about serious questions that will have a profound impact on everyday lives of Americans. What on Earth are we waiting for?

Many on my side oppose this nomination. They say they understand the threat he poses, but they argue that cloture is different. I don't believe it is. It is the only way that those of us in the minority have a voice in this debate. It is the only way we can fully complete our constitutional duty of advice and consent. It is the only way we can stop a confirmation that we feel certain will cause irreversible damage to our country.

[seabeyond]

4. there were demands being made by public but they refused to do it.

they had no desire to filibuster regardless of what the people wanted

[blm]

5. Kerry and Kennedy led filibuster and Schumer and Clinton led argument against it behind closed doors

of Senate Dem caucus giving cover to any Dem on the fence. After thousands of calls to her office, Clinton joined the filibuster the next day, but knew damn well that the damage was already done. Senate staffers for the anti-filibuster Dems planted corpmedia complaints against Kerry and questioned his 'motives' for filibustering Alito. Great team to play for, eh?


There WAS a filibuster vote and not enough votes to continue.....Kerry and Kennedy, along with internet Dem activists like DU and Dkos, worked their asses off to MAKE it happen.

[karynnj]

8. Not to mention they mocked him for calling in the filibuster from the "slopes of Davos"

This is spite of the fact that Kerry, who was not on the Judicial Committee, which did a PATHETIC job at the hearings, and Kennedy argued for the need to filibuster in the Democratic caucus the day before Kerry was scheduled to go to the international economic conference at Davos. Before he left, Kerry and Kennedy decided that - though it was unlikely to succeed - it was important to make the best effort they could to fight it. Kerry gave a speech before he left arguing for not approving Alito.

Kerry wrote a diary on Daily Kos (which I think was his second one) making a case as to why Alito was far out of the mainstream. Kennedy followed the next day with a coordinating diary. Both told people what to do and they listed the Senators' phone and email information. That diary became HUGE and a huge effort there and here - where the action item to call Senators was pinned to top for several days. This generated huge numbers of calls and visits to Senators on this issue. As BLM noted, some people initially against it agreed to be for the filibuster - including Reid and Clinton. Some were actually a bit passive aggressive - like Reid speaking when the vote was scheduled of it failing - or Biden (the worst questioner on the Judiciary committee)who said he would vote 'just once' for the filibuster. (this, of course, would have made his vote useless if he were number 41.)

The ridicule Kerry endured was unconscionable and stupid. There were probably no more than 2 dozen Senators in play. He knew those who backed it and he knew many who were hopeless. He had a blackberry and he had their numbers. In addition, anyone here, on DKOS, or almost anywhere on the left blogosphere saw the call to action. It was the strongest such action from the left to influence a vote. (The right wing succeeded on immigration in a similar effort that was lead many by talk radio)

Senators Kerry and Kennedy did everything they could to stop Alito - the Democratic leadership didn't.

[karynnj]

6. Kerry and Kennedy filibustered it, but failed

They couldn't get the support of the centrist Democrats. This should have been the gang of 14 moved to the Democratic side - but they didn't, even though Alito was out of the mainstream.

[seabeyond]

13. kerry? doing what the dem people want? wow. seems like kerry is always there for the people

further, it seems like kerry does this more than any of the other representitives.

i am impressed. and surprised, seeing how there are those in the dem party that worked so friggin hard to keep him out of the whitehouse. dems....

you would have thought we would have had his back, wink

[karynnj]

14. Yep - that Kerry

who just this week:

Afghanistan / Pakistan

Kerry and Lugar introduced a bill to provide non-military aid to try to stabilize Pakistan and win the hearts and minds.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/05/kerry_and_lugar.html

Middle East Peace:

- gave a brilliant speech at AIPAC, that while sincerely speaking of our commitment to Israeli security made a very strong case for the 2 state solution and argued against settlements. (Biden and he had back to back speeches - and they are in line with each other. Link to that session - http://cspan.org/Watch/Media/2009/05/05/HP/A/18231/Vice+Pres+Biden+Sen+John+Kerry+DMA+Remarks+at+AIPAC+Annual+Conference.aspx

Iran

- He held an extremely important hearing on Iran this morning. The first panel included DA Morgenthau (remember BCCI) who successfully investigated, stopped and won fines from a British bank that helped Iranian banks evade US laws in transactions to get components for nuclear weapons. He balanced that with Nickolas Burns on policy towards Iran. This is a hearing that really should be watched by people here concerned about Iran - this is where the grownups should be.
(My summary -
My overall take away
1) Iran is making serious progress in creating a bomb
2) Regime change is NOT the current policy
3) Burns speaks of the non-engagement policy being not just Bush's, but all Presidents since Carter (clearly spreading the blame there - but it seems fair)
4)Burns has some optimism that Obama can get Iran and Russia to deal with him when they wouldn't with Bush.
5) Morgenthau and Kaufman were awesome in explaining the skirting of US law by the British bank. Kerry and Morgethau clearly have enormous respect for each other. (Here Morgethau's office did an incredible job - stopping something very dangerous and their records will inform what the government knows on Iran's effort. Kerry praised him for taking on these efforts over his career - and that is praise well deserved.)
6)There are efforts to increase transparency in international transactions

Watch it here: http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg090506a.html

Helping Durbin a little on the foreclosure misery

- A Kerry amendment to the Housing Bill just passed. It will allow renters to stay in foreclosed buildings until the end of their lease or given 90 days to vacate.

Healthcare:

- The Nation magazine wrote this:
"As Dr. Dean noted, the battle for real reform begins Tuesday morning, when Senator Max Baucus chairs a Senate Finance Committee hearing that will look into the public plan option. Activists are writing messages on why such a plan is critical and Senator John Kerry will read some of them into the record at the hearing.
... http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut/433029/the_battle_for_healthcare_begins

The Fate of Journalism

Kerry will hold what should be an interesting hearing on the problems newspapers are having. It is scary to thing how ill informed this country would be if most of the major papers folded. Here's a link showing the broad range of people who are included in the panels.

Wednesday's first panel, beginning at 2:30 pm in the Russell Senate Office Building, will include Sen. Ben Cardin, who recently introduced a bill to allow certain newspapers to apply for non-profit status.

The second panel includes some well-known names in the media world: Arianna Huffington, David Simon (The Wire, Baltimore Sun), Marissa Mayer (Google), Albert Ibarguen (Knight Foundation), Steve Coll (New America Foundation), and James Moroney (Dallas Morning News).
http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0509/Kerry_chairs_Future_of_Journalism_hearing.html
It will be covered on C-SPAN 3 at 2:30

Not to mention it is only Wednesday - and he will be hosting the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Senate tomorrow. Much of this will be ignored here as some are more interested in whether Elizabeth still loves John and that HRC took a sick day Monday due to allergies.

[seabeyond]

19. man, we had a lot of stupid democrats that ate up the rove/repug/ media spew

was amazing the attacks within the party that kept kerry out. shameful. elected and voters

[ixion]

7. No, they caved and "kept their powder dry" and screwed us

once again.

[karynnj]

17. yes they filibustered - but it failed

[ixion]

18. No, they talked about it, but never actually got around to it

http://news.google.com/archivesearch?pz=1&ned=us&hl=en&q=alito%2C+filibuster&cf=all&sugg=d&sa=N&lnav=d0&as_ldate=2006&as_hdate=2006&ldrange=2005%2C2005


Kerry appears to lack votes for Alito filibuster
CNN - Jan 27, 2006
Why do you think John Kerry wants to filibuster Samuel Alito? WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry has urged his Democratic colleagues to unite ...
Doing the numbers on the Alito filibuster - salon.com
Kerry, Other Democrats Threaten Alito Filibuster - FOXNews
salon.com - salon.com - All 260 related - Related web pages

Anti-Alito filibuster soundly defeated
CNN - Jan 30, 2006
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Judge Samuel Alito stands just one step away from a lifetime appointment to the US Supreme Court after a spirited ninth-inning campaign ...
Democrats Squabble Over Alito Filibuster - CBS News
Democrats Divided On Alito Filibuster . - St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive
St. Paul Pioneer Press - Kansas City Star - All 154 related - Related web pages

Democrats undecided on Alito filibuster
International Herald Tribune - Jan 19, 2006
By Rick Klein. WASHINGTON: Senate Democrats emerged from a private meeting held to discuss the Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Jr. with no decision on ...
DEMOCRATS STEER AWAY FROM ALITO FILIBUSTER - Myrtle Beach Sun News - NewsBank ($2.95)
More Democrats Say They Will Oppose Alito - Washington Post
Chicago Tribune - Los Angeles Times - All 101 related - Related web pages

Democrats Don't Plan Alito Filibuster

[blm]

22. Kerry forced the vote on senate floor despite Dem leaders working against him.

.

[karynnj]

25. Not true - the way you filibuster is to defeat a cloture movement

The vote for cloture was on January 30, 2006

Here it is in the Senate roll call - http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00001

Your last link is from slightly less than 2 weeks before they did filibuster.

The middle one says the anti-Alito filibuster failed - now there's no reason for an article on something that didn't happen failing.

"Anti-Alito filibuster soundly defeated
CNN - Jan 30, 2006
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Judge Samuel Alito stands just one step away from a lifetime appointment to the US Supreme Court after a spirited ninth-inning campaign ...
Democrats Squabble Over Alito Filibuster - CBS News
Democrats Divided On Alito Filibuster . - St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive
St. Paul Pioneer Press - Kansas City Star - All 154 related - Related web pages

The first one is just a snarky FOX NEWS attempt to question Kerry's motives. Kerry's motives were completely based in his values and appreciation for the Constitution.

There was a filibuster - and it failed.

[ixion]

29. You are trying to redefine the filibuster... there was no filibuster

There was only talk, and some attempts made, but in the end there was no filibuster.

Alito Filibuster Was Not In the Cards, Nor the Nuclear Option
OpEdNews - Jan 31, 2006
by Rob Kall Page 1 of 1 page(s). Our OpEdNews.com /Zogby People's Poll provided info that predicted the defeat of the Alito filibuster effort. ...
Related web pages

Harkin, Obama: Alito filibuster is unlikely
Quad City Times - Jan 28, 2006
John Schultz/QUAD-CITY TIMES US Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., center, shakes hands with supporters after opening his new district office Friday afternoon in ...
Related web pages


Alito Filibuster Update - Keep Calling
newshounds.us - Jan 30, 2006
The filibuster in NOT dead yet!!! We have until 4:30 PM ET (3:30 CT, 2:30 MT, 1:30 PT). Here is the latest update from democrats.com about who to put ...
Related web pages

[karynnj]

30. All of those are saying that the filibusted failed

What do you think a filibuster is? Seante rules changed since Mr Smith goes to Washington.

[madinmaryland]

21. God, I hate that phase "kept their powder dry". They kept it dry for eight years

and look at the mess we are in.

:grr:

[ixion]

23. yeah, me too

it's gotten us a whole-lotta nothin', IMO.

[spanone]

9. failed filibuster attempt by Senator John Kerry...vote was 58-42

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_alito

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. 25 Democrats voted against cloture:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00001

16 short of what was needed for a filibuster.

[lame54]

11. Mrs. Alito cried and it was a done deal

[leftstreet]

24. I cried seeing Mrs. Alito wearing my old sofa cover

[Botany]

28. What our great media failed to tell us was that:

1) Sen. Graham was questioning Alito @ the time.

2) A handler for creative response concepts was right next to Mrs. Alito and gave her
the signal to start the water works.

3) 2 or 3 "press people" were ready as Mrs. Alito ran in tears from the room ..... they had a press release ready to go
w/ the point being Ted Kennedy made this poor women cry ...... despite the fact in the AM she was laughing and
smiling as Kennedy was questioning her husband.

*****************

BTW Gloria Borger of CBS was the biggest whore selling the crying game story.

[2Design]

15. they rolled over as usual is my memory n/t

[Occam Bandage]

16. Yes. It failed. nt

[malaise]

20. I seem to remember Clarence Thomas ' vote as

52-48. Since when do we need 60 votes.

[karynnj]

26. Alito didn't get 60 either

There were Senators who voted against Alito, but refused to vote against cloture. The cloture vote is what takes 60 votes. Kerry and Kennedy forced a cloture vote - which got more than the 60 votes required.

[karynnj]

27. Alito didn't get 60 either - it was 58 - 42

There were Senators who voted against Alito, but refused to vote against cloture. The cloture vote is what takes 60 votes. Kerry and Kennedy forced a cloture vote - which got more than the 60 votes required. If all the no votes (done so they could say they voted against him) had voted against cloture, the filibuster would have worked.

[old mark]

31. Just out of curiosity, what is Alito's voting record like? Has he been the

RW Trog people feared he would be or what?

mark