C-span is keeping a running tally of Senators’ declared intentions on the Alito nomination. Looks like Chafee and Snowe — the Republican wing of the Republican party — haven’t yet made up their minds. I’m sure with a little arm-twisting from the minions of the ghost of Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoof, they’ll fall into line.
Meanwhile on the jellyfish Democratic side of the aisle, Byrd (discussed earlier), Johnson of South Dakota, and Nelson of Nebraska have left their slime trail on Alito’s “yes” card. Bayh, Cantwell and Murray of Washington, Conrad and Dorgan of North Dakota, Landrieu, Lautenberg and Menendez of New Jersey, Pryor and Rockefeller are playing their cards close to the vest.
As far as the filibuster goes, there’s rumors that golden boy Barack Obama is opposing the filibuster along with my supposedly-liberal Senator Barbara Mikulski. And why would they oppose a filibuster against a man that virtually all reasonable Democrats (Byrd excepted) agree stands against everything the party — and the Constitution — stand for? Well, according to the AP, Minority Leader Reid and DSCC coordinator Schumer believe a filibuster would leave an “impression of political weakness” and have a negative “potential” impact on candidates on the 2006 ballot in Republican-leaning states. And demonstrating typical Democratic hand-wringing and paralysis will convey strength? On what planet?
Meanwhile, the Republicans are laughing and rejoicing in their imminent complete takeover of the US government, and the trashing of the Constitution. Nice work, Dems.
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