MyDD :: Even The DLC Opposes Alito

Even The DLC Opposes Alito

by Scott Shields, Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 12:40:21 AM EST

Believe it or not, I actually understand the thinking of Democrats who fear being attacked by the GOP for opposing Supreme Court nominee Sam Alito. It doesn't matter how radical Alito is in reality. Republicans will claim that the only people opposing Alito are moonbat lunatic Bush-haters. Of course, I understand this thinking to be small-minded cowardice, but I understand it none the less.

So let's get a few things straight here. Sure, The Washington Post editorial board has come out for Alito's confirmation, but that's about it. The New York Times is opposed, as is the not-so-liberal New Republic. Even 'Gang of 14' member Joe Lieberman has refused to rule out a filibuster.

My point is not that any Democrats should be taking marching orders from the traditional media or the DLC. Rather, with the DLC officially in opposition, even the most conservative of Democrats have the political cover they need to vigorously oppose Alito's confirmation. The DLC's Ed Kilgore echos his organization's position at his New Donkey blog.

The big point is that given a chance to nominate anybody he wanted to the Supreme Court, George W. Bush chose a lifelong movement conservative whose judicial philosophy will tilt the Court to the Right for many years, and will directly threaten the erosion or reversal of constitutional protections that really matter to the American people, beginning with the reproductive rights of women. And Bush did so as a blatant pander to the conservative activists who brought down Harriet Miers, and whom he now needs to defend his wretched record.

Armando already pointed out something important Kilgore had written about the confident support Alito has won from anti-choice activists. If any single factor has the potential to seriously derail Alito's momentum, that's it. But from a larger perspective, Alito's hostility to privacy rights is just one piece of a much larger, quite disturbing picture of his brand of rightist judicial activism.

This is a moment of unity for the Democratic Party. I hope we're able to capitalize on it. There's quite simply no reason for any elected Democrat not to oppose the confirmation of Alito.

Tags: Judges (all tags)

Permalink :: 20 Comments :: Post a Comment

don't worry (3.00 / 1)

someone will still find a way to blame Alito's confirmation on the DLC.

by johnny longtorso on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 12:44:24 AM EST

Filibuster, How to: (none / 0)

While we have to generate the pressure on all Senators, the decision to filibuster (or not) will also be a leadership decision.

Call the Leadership Offices!

Harry Reid, NV Democratic Leader (202) 224-3542

Dick Durbin, IL Assistant Democratic Leader (202) 224-2152

Patrick Leahy, VT Ranking Member Judiciary Committee (202) 224-4242

Senate Democrats refuse to signal whether or not they will filibuster Alito. They appear to have 41 votes, since Ben Nelson (D-NE) is the only one of 44 Democrats who supports Alito. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) should oppose Alito, and 5 Republicans - Lamar Alexander (TN), Lincoln Chafee (RI) Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), and Ted Stevens (AK) - are undecided.
(Call:
1-888-355-3588
or
1-888-818-6641

For extra credit, use the same numbers to call all the 2008 Presidential candidates who are sitting Senators - Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Russ Feingold, and John Kerry - and tell them to either LEAD THE FILIBUSTER or FORGET ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT. You can also send that message to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (202-224-2447) and the Democratic National Committee (202-863-8000).

CALL YOUR SENATORS!

If Repug, tell them "No" to Alito; if Democrat: FILIBUSTER!
If the Washington lines are busy you can also call your Senators' home offices (for info, click here:)< CALL YOUR SENATORS (Click here)

Get the word out about why Alito needs to be filibustered:

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. (Click here)

People for the American Way has collected nearly 65,000 signatures to send to the Senate, please add yours: Save the Court Petition

John Kerry has endorsed this anti-Alito petition, signers' names will be read into the Congressional Record:

http://www.johnkerry.com/...

by judybrowni on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 03:35:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Influence (none / 0)

Who are the Dem senators influenced by these days? Being cynical I doubt if they are swayed as much by constituent letters when compared to their favorite "strategy consultant" or DC conventional wisdom.

Anyone in the know, would you please shed some light?

by ab initio on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 12:46:51 AM EST

DLC gets it right (3.00 / 2)

Moderates of every stripe should be opposed to Alito's confirmation. There's nothing moderate about a nominee who shows utter disdain for civil rights, refuses to recognize a right to privacy, and shows a shocking deference to executive power. Moderates should not only vote against Alito, but should help sustain a filibuster. If the DLC truly speaks for middle America, it must help in the fight to protect our American values.

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America"- Bill Clinton

by bluenc on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 01:10:35 AM EST

Re: Moderates are United in Opposition (none / 0)

I think it is safe to say that Rank & File Moderate Democrats are opposed to Alito's confirmation.

This is united stand by the party.

Our worst fears of the Bush re-election victory is coming. Last year's election has resulted in the SC tilting Right.

Arlen Specter is so full of it. And if those two women from Maine vote yes, this should be a lightning rod for Maine Democrats to unite in challenging these women in the next election.

This is a perfect example of why Pro-Choice Republicans in the Senate almost mean nothing. People like Chafee, Collins, Snowe, and Specter are Pro-Choice due more for Survival than being advocates of choice. Just as Nelson of Nebraska is voting Yes because of survival in one of the most conservative red states in the nation.

But when push comes to shove, Collins, Chafee, Specter & Snowe would still vote with the GOP & would always vote for Frist as Majority Leader.

P.S. I do not agree wtth Casey's position. However, as said by several political analyst this evening closely following the PA race, they believe that its a tactical political move. Learned from lessons in 2000 ( where Santorum cleverly used Life vs. Abortion to divide & conquer conservative Democrats vs. Liberal Democrats while riling up GOP conservatives due to his opponents pro-choice stand), Casey pretty much has Taken out one of the Few Aces remaining in Santorum's arsenal.

As pointed out by one of the local PA Political analyst on News 8, Santorum's campaign was all set & ready to use this vote as the start of his desperate campaign to galvanize the same GOP Conservative Religious coalition, the large Conservative Democrat block in PA, & the pro-life independents of PA to come together as one. Just like what he cleverly did in 2000.

But Casey just took that issue & that strategy away. If indeed accurate, it's a bold & confident move by Casey. It shows that he is confident that he has solidified the Democratic base supporters & is now targeting the moderates, pro-life independents & some Republicans who are open to Casey.

by labanman on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 02:24:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Casey is a Triangulator (none / 0)

It shows me that Casey will triangulate on any issue to further his own career and won't worry about the larger strategic position of the Democratic Party while he does so.

by Curt Matlock on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 09:20:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm Very Confused (none / 0)

You said, "This is a moment of unity for the Democratic Party. I hope we're able to capitalize on it. There's quite simply no reason for any elected Democrat not to oppose the confirmation of Alito. "

But who is this "we" you speak of? I guarantee you that if "we" were in the Senate, we could stop the bastard. But "we" aren't, are we?

by John from Taos on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 02:28:02 AM EST

Bitte Verzeihen Sie Mich (none / 0)

Did not mean to snark you out. You're doing a great job. I just think the black hole of American fascism may be beyond conventional electoral remedy and wish more people would think OUTSIDE the box.

I'd like to see a few hundred thousand people descending on the White House to make a citizens' arrest of the president, for example, but that won't happen in a million years. But something, dammit. What if 20 million voters signed an Internet petition for impeachment? 50 million??? That idea may be crap, but why doesn't somebody leverage the potential of digital communication to do something other than the tiresome old get-out-the-vote stuff? So we elect Democrats, BFD. Looky what we got now, the Gang That Wouldn't Filibuster. We have to stop depending on these people and do something different. I'm just sayin...

Onward.

by John from Taos on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 02:45:18 AM EST

Personally (none / 0)

I don't understand anyone who operates under the influence of fear. I don't understand any politician who does not stop Bush, Republican or Democrat. It's the patriotic thing to do, and my personal freedoms depend upon these worms. FVck them all.

Dare to be free.

by misscee on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 07:25:39 AM EST

Oppose or Filibuster (none / 0)

Opposition is moot. Why not focus on filibuster. This is doable.

by aiko on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 09:12:32 AM EST

Some Dems Do Support Alito (none / 0)

I couldn't help noticing the qualification about which Dems need to work to stop Alito:

There's quite simply no reason for any elected Democrat not to oppose the confirmation of Alito.

Given the anointed Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania supports Alito you would have had to call him out to drop the "elected". But we might as well go ahead and call Bob Casey Jr. out for his very poor judgement in supporting Samuel Alito's ascension to the Supreme Court.

Pennsylvania is a red state. Liberals can't win there.

Casey is inevitable.

Casey is unstoppable.

Casey is our only hope.

None of his opponents can win because they all can't possibly win because only Casey can beat Santorum.

Before Mr. Inevitable takes office let's all take a good luck at what Casey will bring if he is elected Senator. He'd be the one giving cover to the Republicans right now and standing with President Bush. He'd be the one undermining the Democratic Party.

by Curt Matlock on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 09:17:41 AM EST

Absolutely Right (none / 0)

"There's quite simply no reason for any elected Democrat not to oppose the confirmation of Alito."

Which doesn't equate to support for a filibuster. No one has made a convincing argument that any conceivable alternative to Alito would be better on any issue at all, and some of the people on the short list are moon bats indeed.

44 out of 45 Democrats (and Bernie) voting no, with maybe a couple of pro-choice Republicans drawn in makes a statement. If Alito becomes the Scalito most people here assume he will be, he like Clarence Thomas will be a burden for the Republicans. They don't do polls that I have seen on effectiveness of Supreme Court Justices, if they did I suspect the number of people who would choose "Justice Thomas was the most qualified candidate in the country at the time" would be tiny indeed.

Look Bush won't be President forever. Our job is to get a Democrat elected in 2008 whereupon I suspect Scalia, Alito, Thomas and Roberts will rediscover their Libertarian/Balance of Power centers. We should be thinking strategicly and realize that tactically filibustering Alitio and yammering about impeachment doesn't move the ball down the field.

A filibuster would not be sustained. Nor would it be a political winner short term or long term. So saith Bruce.

Feel free to disagree, but if you can find a scenario where the Republicans don't spin this back to say that Democrats don't believe in democracy in the form of majority rule I'll be surprised.

PollKatz: Bush Approval in 15 polls

by Bruce Webb on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 09:25:57 AM EST

Re: Absolutely Right (none / 0)

I disagree.

by aiko on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 09:42:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Absolutely Right (3.00 / 0)

So Democrats should not filibuster because Republicans will call them names?

by antiHyde on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 10:11:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

"First do no harm" (3.00 / 0)

Explain how this helps in the mid-terms. As compared to a near Party line "No" vote.

PollKatz: Bush Approval in 15 polls

by Bruce Webb on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 09:20:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Absolutely Right (3.00 / 0)

"No one has made a convincing argument that any conceivable alternative to Alito would be better on any issue at all"

The case has been made that there would be judges, even conservative judges that Democrats could begrudgingly accept. Michael Luttig for example, is one who wouldn't scare me like Alito does. His name should be thrown back in their faces as an example, as he's hugely popular with the legal right.

PS - Blogging from a Palm TX with no keyboard... no fun.

by Scott Shields on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 11:07:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Luttig scares me (none / 0)

In my mind he is just Scalito hiding behind a Eddie Haskell front. "My don't you look lovely Mrs. Cleaver". And if he was the fall back maybe I would agree, but you just know they would use a successful Alito filibuster to put up Janice Rogers Young. She is a loon but to just about anyone it would appear that Democrats wouldn't support even black women on ideological grounds alone.

If anyone can explain to me why an unsuccessful filibuster gets us anything or why a totally unlikely successful filibuster buys us anything, well I am listening. Explain why Lustig would be the next likely nominee and exactly why he would be an improvement over Alito. This is a site run by political professionals whose goal is to elect Democrats. Make your case why this works to meet that end.

Otherwise urge a "No" vote and move on.

PollKatz: Bush Approval in 15 polls

by Bruce Webb on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 09:31:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Luttig scares me (3.00 / 0)

First of all, at no point did I say that Democrats absolutely had to filibuster. Would I lend my support to Senators who wanted to try it? Yes. Would I advise that they do so? I'm not so sure...

Secondly, I didn't say that Luttig would be Bush's fall back. I said he was one conservative judge "Democrats could begrudgingly accept." In fact, I don't think for a second that he would be the fall back, for the reasons I mentioned in this diary.

But in opposing Alito -- something that encompasses voting "no," by the way -- it would be helpful to have one conservative judge we can point to as someone we'd be more accepting of, such as Luttig. The point is not that we'd actually get Luttig. The point is that they can't credibly accuse us of opposing any conservative that Bush would nominate.

by Scott Shields on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 12:49:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Absolutely Right (3.00 / 0)

Maybe, but even if you're right, I still am disgusted and terrified that we will soon have the theocracy that the conservatives have worked so hard to achieve. Catholics will ultimately interpret the Constitution.

We don't win every battle, but does that mean we shouldn't fight? I think this country would be better off with a gloom and doom party, a party that's negative, and a party doesn't believe in the current democracy (did I leave out a typical Republican attack?)

Call me idealistic, but I think the Republicans are scared shitless that we will oppose them and that the country will stand up and cheer.

Dare to be free.

by misscee on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 11:48:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Even The DLC Opposes Alito (none / 0)

"Call me idealistic, but I think the Republicans are scared shitless that we will oppose them and that the country will stand up and cheer."

How about delusional?

Whenever Al Gore condemns the GOP the entire Democratic establishment wets its pants. The GOP was afraid of Gore and terrified of Dean, but do you really think that Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi are causing the fascists to worry? The right wingers may be laughing themselves shitless, but they are not scared in the least.

by georgewturd on Thu Jan 26, 2006 at 07:39:32 PM EST

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