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AlitoWaffleWatch: The Clueless Caucus
Despite overwhelming opposition from Democratic voters, activists, and donors - not to mention the editorial page of the New York Times - a large group of Senate Democrats remains utterly clueless about how to vote on a filibuster. Click on each name for the latest links from Google News.
Mark Dayton (MN)
- 1/27: "We know in advance that we do not have those votes this time, which makes it an exercise in futility," Dayton told reporters on a conference call. "And I question the value of doing so, especially on something of this significance." He added he would support a filibuster if it had a chance of succeeding.
Hey Mark - it has a GREAT chance of succeeding if you VOTE for it!
Tom Harkin (IA)
- 1/28: "If we had 40 people, I would be a part of that, but there's not. I’m just against wasting time and doing useless things."
Hey Tom - you'd take a big step towards 40 votes if you added your vote to the list!
Barbara Mikulski (MD)
- 1/28: Pontificator at Political Cortex reminds Sen. Mikulski of what she said when Sandra Day O'Connor announced her resignation: "In choosing a nominee, I urge the President to consult with the Senate to find a moderate, consensus nominee, just like President Ronald Reagan did in choosing Justice O'Connor." Well, he did the opposite. So filibuster!
- 1/27: Democratic officials said Mikulski had said during this week's closed-door caucus that the 2006 and 2008 elections were more important than a symbolic last stand that would fail to prevent Alito's confirmation.
Hey Barbara: why will Democratic voters elect more Democrats in 2006 and 2008 if the ones we elect don't do shit for us after we elect them?
Barack Obama (IL)
1/28: "It’s pretty clear the votes are not there for a filibuster."
Hey Barack - the votes would be there if you added your vote to the list!
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mark dayton
hi on the local news here in minneapolis they reported M.Dayton have decided to support the filibuster
Dayton
I sure hope that is true. The more the merrier.
not worth it
I waste my time a lot voting for spineless corporate-funded officials. Hmm while being %$#&(@ should I scream "no" or not? Let me see what the other 44 are doing...
Kerry may have been in the Alps but at least Abramoff didn't pay for the trip...
Most offensive reponse while calling senators-aide from Senator Lincoln's office "no comment" -what? did she mistake herself for Sam Alito? At least give me a "hasn't released an official statement yet" line. Geez.
Barak
Has anyone confirmed Obama's support for the filibuster? Last I heard, he was onboard for it.
Excellent Resource
Here is the very best resource for senators names, including DC and district offices. Everything is here, phone, fax, email, even their bio.
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/dbq/officials/?lvl=C
Another source for Sunday action
While the voice-mails are full, keep on hammering. Use this EASY access to web-mail:
http://www.senate.gov
click SENATORS, click a link, fill out form.
Keep your message short, senators will not have time to read but, hopefully, staff will compile raw numbers. Remember, only # of votes for cloture matters. Repubs need 100% of theirs plus 5 crossovers. Tell them:
Vote NO on cloture, or DON'T VOTE. Democrats who vote for cloture will NOT be forgotten!
Get some sleep tonight, and call them all Monday morning. Tell them we are all watching them.
Broaden The Filibuster---Give The Senators More Reasons
With Judge Samuel Alito seemingly on the verge of confirmation to the Supreme Court, it is disturbing that some of the most important issues relating to his nomination have barely been noted. This is not to say that Roe v. Wade or questions about unfettered executive power are unimportant--but most people who have followed this story could be forgiven for thinking these were the only real points of argument. In fact, the most important result of a Court remade by Alito's presence could be the dismantling of federal environmental protections on a breathtaking scale.
Given Alito's apparent position on the Commerce Clause, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, etc., could all fall, to say nothing of reasonable regulation of machine guns (the subject of the case Alito dissented from on the Commerce Clause issue). I've done a more thorough write-up of this issue at http://www.etymos.com . There is simply too much at stake here--the very ability of Congress to pass essential legislation is in danger--and the danger is more imminent than the threat to Roe. This issue has received SO LITTLE ATTENTION, it is an outrage. We need to refresh some memories about what is really at stake here.
Harkin will abstain
Just spoke with staff member at Sen. Harkin's D.C. office who said Senator Harkin plans to abstain on cloture vote which, the staffer pointed out, is as good as a NO vote.
Keep the calls coming. All D.C. operators and staff have been very polite and understanding. Tomorrow, we should thank them.