Lets face reality here

[BeachBuckeye]

As much as I dread saying it I think we need to face the cold hard facts. There are no more than a handful of Democratic Senators with the stomach for a fight concerning Alito. Yes, Ted Kennedy really means it but the others? They are all trying to make political hay with the base of our Party. They want to look tough without having to BE tough. They will weigh out the political ramifications of backing a filibuster and decide what is good for their own political fortunes, not what is good for America. Therein lies the problem with the Democratic Party. No BALLS! Lets face the fact that our Party is adrift at sea and no one has the spine to right the ship and vote the wishes of the grass-roots Party members. I'm sorry to say it but our Democratic Senators, for the most part, lack the guts to take a controversial position and fight for what is right.

I've never been more disgusted with the leadership of the Democratic Party than I am at this moment. We had an opportunity to put a stop to Bush's running roughshod over the people of this nation. We had an opportunity to see that Bush was forced to appoint someone truly judicial.....someone who would vote on a case by case basis without regard to idealogical philosophy....someone with the best interest of the United States of America in mind instead of sucking up to a worthless bastard like Bush.

Do not fall for the sham being acted out by some of our Democratic Senators. Nearly all of them don't have the political guts to do whats right and filibuster this neo-con zealot Alito. Shame on them and shame on us for electing such men. I only wish Harry Truman could be here now to set these Democratic cowards straight.

[babylonsister]

1. Read this and adjust your thinking:

Text of floor speech from today


You can find it here: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Kerrys_Senate_floor_speech_on_Alito_0127.html

Edit to correct link.

[CountAllVotes]

8. that link does not work

this one does though:

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/North_Dakota_Democrats_expected_to_ensure_0127.html

>> North Dakota Democrats expected to ensure Alito's confirmation

As Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) mounts a longshot bid to filibuster Bush Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, more indications suggest that Democrats will back the nominee to the Supreme Court, despite widespread disaffection in the Democratic caucus.

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire, along with today's Washington Post, signaled that Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) are unlikely to support a filibuster, and may vote to support Alito. <<

Sadly, I have to agree with Guy. When Byrd said he'd vote for Alito, I knew we were SUNK. Spineless bastards they are indeed doing nothing but a lot of political posturing in hopes of assuring being reelected is how I see it. They are fat cats with everything they need.

In the meantime, WE THE PEOPLE are ignored and powerless - that is how I feel at this moment myself. I hoped for a filibuster, I signed Kerry's petition, I wrote to BYRD personally expressing my views, but all of it seems to be nothing but wasted energy.

I feel as though I've been put through the ringer myself and I'm fed up with these lying criminal bastards, both Repubs. & Democrats alike. Is there really any difference I often wonder.

What happened to a government of the people, by the people and for the people? I guess BYRD forgot to read his Constitution before he made up his bought and paid for mind. :grr:

:kick:

[babylonsister]

11. Thanks; fixed. nt

[blm]

2. well I've seen tougher fights than this where few Dems rose to the battle.

this is just one more in a string of a tough battles. Kennedy and Kerry have more Dems standing with them now than Kerry had throughout 5 years of BCCI.

surely you've seen more than this.....I never guessed you as a youngen.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

3. I cringe at the the words "let's face reality," unless it is about proven

accepted facts.

Otherwise it is only opinion.

Facts that are subject to change, ie who will do what later on, aren't a final reality in a case such as this.

But even the temporary facts haven't been THAT bad, IMHO.

PS Giving up mid battle to demean our team hardly helps. All that energy spent in useless ways rather than in making calls, writing, faxing, emailing. What a shame.

[BeachBuckeye]

17. I didn't say I have given up

I'm saying some of our Democratic Senators never intended to fight this as their constituants would have them do. I've been on the phone non-stop but the answers coming from the Senate staffers are not encouraging but, rather, mostly political bullshit.

[FreedomAngel82]

21. At least they're listening

Unlike the GOP they don't listen to anybody.

[ulysses]

4. I think this is the first time

that I've been annoyed at a post that talks about spinelessness among the Dems.

Maybe it won't happen, but the fat lady has taken her seat again.

[H2O Man]

5. "I've never been more disgusted..."

Respectfully, if you have never been more disgusted, than it is worth considering that you are not viewing things in an objective manner. I recognize that you have good reason for feelings of disgust.... but it can blur one's vision.

We are only responsible for our own actions. DUers should not allow emotions such as disgust, fear, or anger to get in their way between now and Tuesday. Stay entirely focused upon the fight.

If you need a break, listen to Peter Tosh & Bob Marley's "Get Up! Stand Up!" Sing along with it. Then get back on the phone.

[Blue Belle]

12. That... or listen to "We're not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister...

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. You "face reality". I'll keep letting my Senators know that my daughter

is important to me. :hi:

[HockeyMom]

9. Exactly

Both my straight AND gay daughters.

Let me count the ways that an ACTIVIST judge can harm BOTH of them.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. I've got their backs too, HockeyMom!

To Moms who care...everywhere. :toast:

[Blue Belle]

15. And to those of us who aren't Mom's yet...

but want our kids to have the power of choice.

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Right on. To anyone who is not willing to jettison off basic Democratic

principles for fear of not getting elected. :toast:

[patrice]

7. They are reactionaries who don't have the proactive Intelligence to

turn a Filibuster into a GOOD thing. A filibuster is unusual; it will make people realize something important is happening, many people who don't usually notice what's going on in Congress will ask questions and talk about the Constitution and the Unitary Executive. That alone is worth the trouble of a filibuster. These passive Democrats appaently don't have the skills to take charge of the discussion and make it do something that will be good for them.

[Lars39]

13. You're already on record as seeing women's right to choose

as being expendable. And it's your reality that quite a few of us women remember.

[BeachBuckeye]

18. I'm afraid you don't know what you are talking about.

Just because I knew the fight against John Roberts was not winnable does not give you the right to say I was ever willing to give up women's rights to choose. At the time Roberts' nomination was being considered my sources in the Senate office buildings assured me that "there isn't a chance in hell of stopping his confirmation".

[CountAllVotes]

24. I heard you say that Guy

and I know that you DO support a woman's right to choose! :loveya: Guy! You are a for real person and certainly not a LIAR! I rise to your defense!

:kick:

[Lars39]

26. I said it and stand by it.

And now you're trying to discourage us from fighting Alito's nomination.
You know the saying...lead, follow or get out of the way.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

14. You know, Guy, it's easy...

...to say "I'm going to vote for a filibuster" when all of the media outlets are carrying headlines saying "NO FILLIBUSTER...5 Democrats have pledged to vote for Alito."

I think Kennedy has balls.

I didn't think Kerry had 'em when he let Karl Rove drive a Swift Boat up his ass in the 2004 election while he remained silent for a MONTH, but I don't question his sincerity in pursuing the Alito filibuster. Maybe history will paint Kerry's actions as "too little, too late," but I prefer to think "better late than never."

But let's make no mistake about it...if Alito ascends to the Supremes, it's because our "united party" got down on all fours and eagerly presented our backsides to Lord Bush II.

I wish people would stop masturbating over potential 2008 presidential tickets and focus on the cancer that's eating away at the party RIGHT NOW in 2006. How the FUCK do we think we're gonna win the midterms if we keep giving Bush EVERYTHING HE WANTS?

[blm]

20. Ever stop to think that

Kerry has had machine guns, bazookas and shoulder rockets pointing at him...barrell rolls planes...faced down Nixon, Reagan and Bush on 3 wars...plays hockey, fer chrissakes....and that his problem was that he didn't WHINE ENOUGH about the swiftliars because they were like a mere swarm of mosquitos to a man like Kerry?

Bush never addressed his detractors - he had an entire RW message machine to do it for him. Blame the DNC, Dem pundits and leftleaning media who could have defined the fight or at least been alot more disciplined. They are the ones on the front lines of the every day communications battle, and they got their asses kicked.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

23. I don't know what Kerry thought...

...if you want to believe the Newsweek article that came out AFTER the election, what he thought was that Mary Beth Cahill should have come up with SOMETHING, and that Kerry expressed his frustration to his daughters and no one else.

IF you want to believe that Newsweek article.

I sent a total of three donations...pretty substantial ones...to Kerry during the campaign, at a time when I had no income coming in. So I'm not bashing Kerry, I'm just addressing Guy's question as to whether his actions were sincere or opportunistic. I believe they were sincere.

I could be wrong.

If Alito gets his seat on the SCOTUS, we were ALL wrong. He's a lying, sycophantic FUCK who should be sent packing, NOT given a lifetime reward.

[blm]

25. I know B-E-B...I just thought I'd take the opportunity of your post to

say something that needed to be said.

But, it really comes down to the Dem spokespeople and pundits who get called up by the networks - they really don't get one message to drill through with any discipline - guess Dems are just incapable of being message bearers. They prefer spontaneous thoughts - usually their own.

[FreedomAngel82]

19. Right now I really don't care

Just anything to support Kerry and get rid of this fascists jerk.

[jsamuel]

22. we are facing reality and are trying to change it, we don't need any more

of these threads, there are already like 20 of them, thank you