Samuel Alito Watch: Filibuster Likely?
Sen. John Warner , R-Va, right, greets Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito prior to their meeting on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2006.
Robert Novak: Filibuster Alito?
Pressure from liberal activists to oppose confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court has been so intense that Democratic senators may be trapped into a filibuster that they do not want to wage.
Despite the consensus that Alito performed well in his confirmation hearings, leaders of liberal organizations opposing him — Ralph Neas, Nan Aron and Wade Henderson — demand that Democrats vote against him. Consequently, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is the only Democrat at this writing who has announced in Alito’s favor.
That means the number of senators voting “no” will be well over the 41 needed to prevent cloture. Pressure groups then could ask why no filibuster had been launched. But Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid may not want to risk causing Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist to set a precedent by using the “nuclear” option: to end a filibuster by simple majority vote.
The liberal special interests may indeed be pushing Reid to call a filibuster. But, will he call one if he does not have to votes to deny cloture? What would be the point and it would isolate those Senators breaking caucus ranks.
But, stranger strategy has prevailed from the left. A filibuster will be called if Reid has the votes to deny clotureand Flap thinks that he does.
Medford News: Oregon’s Wyden To Oppose Nomination Of Judge Samuel Alito To U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today announcing that he will vote against the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court when it comes to the floor of the Senate…
California Yankee has Wyden story here: Wyden Makes Nine Senate Democrats That Oppose Alito
Oregon’s Senator Wyden announced that he will vote against the confirmation of Judge Alito. The Senate Democrats that have announced they will vote against confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court now numbers now numbers nine:
Baucus (MT), Durbin (IL), Feinstein (CA), Harkin, (IA), Kennedy (MA), Leahy (VT), Mikulski (MD), Salazar (CO) and Wyden (OR).
The California Yankee has a running tally on the Alito confirmation here.
Flap handicaps a filibuster likely with Bill Frist moving for a change of the U.S. Senate rules (Nuclear option).
The fanaticism of the Moonbat LEFT will require Democrat solidarity (except Ben Nelson).
The Republicans minus Chafee will NUKE the rules, confirm Alito by a party-line vote (with Nelson for and Chafee against).
Flap’s Handicap vote:
Senate Judiciary Committee
10 Yes (All Republicans)
8 No (All Democrats)
Filibuster with NO Cloture
Cloture Vote
55 Yes (All Republicans except Chafee and Nelson voting for)
45 No (All Democrats and Chafee)
Confirmation Vote
55 Yes (All Republicans except Chafee and Nelson voting for)
45 No (All Democrats and Chafee)
A partisan vote will allow Karl Rove and the RNC to run ads citing the unprecedented partisan obstruction (filibuster) of a well qualified appeals court judge.
Stay tuned…….
Previous:
Samuel Alito Watch: Leahy Will Vote NO on confirmation
Samuel Alito Watch: Democrat Senator WILL Vote for Confirmation
Michael Ramirez on Samuel Alito Confirmation Hearings
Samuel Alito Watch: Democrats Force One Week Delay in Senate Judiciary Committee Vote
Samuel Alito Watch: Senator Dianne Feinstein Warns Against Filibuster
Technorati Tags: SamuelAlito, PatrickLeahy, SupremeCourt, RonWyden
6 Comments
LolaLA
If the Democratic party uses the filibuster method on Judge Alito, they are only proving they are incapable of ignoring partisan pressure to support a well-qualified judicial nominee. But, they appear desperate to hold on to anything to push their liberal agenda. Pushing a filibuster will only set a dangerous precedence and I hope Senator Frist will use the “nuclear option” of forcing a majority vote and ending this wasteful tactic.
andreww
I agree that the filibuster is just unwarranted in Alito’s confirmation. There is nothing in his record to show that he meets the gang of 14’s level of “extraordinary circumstances.” With such a highly qualified nominee like Alito, the Senate Dems would obviously be trying to gain political points. I think the American people will see beyond the liberal rhetoric and support the nuclear option if needed so that Alito can get an up or down vote.
Louise
It doesn’t look like the Dems will even attempt a filibuster. They know they don’t have public support and they don’t have any evidence to back up “extraordinary circumstances.” I hope that after the vote on the Senate floor we will see more moderate Dems from red states push aside partisan politics and endorse this deserving nominee.
Lawfan
I don’t think the Dems can filibuster, although they can pull out a few last stops to delay the inevitable and the righteous thing. I agree with Louise, the public support isn’t there and it’s puzzling to me how many are willing to go down with a sinking ship because while they may think they can use this as a campaign issue, that strategy will backfire. Americans see Judge Alito as a family, a community man, an exemplary legal scholar, a restrained judge, and a highly qualified nominee.
andreww
Its hard to really say that Democrats won’t filibuster because of the public support for Alito. After their performance in the hearings, the Democrats could really pull anything. However, I am glad to hear that many of the gang of 14 will vote to stop the filibuster if it occurs. I cannot see how the majority of the Senate could not support such a highly qualified nominee.
Louise
I am proud that my Senator agreed not to filibuster. Now we just have to work on her to confirm this obviously qualified nominee! The public overwhelmingly supports Alito, there is no reason why my Senator shouldn’t!