Obama to be at town hall meeting in sub. Illinois tomorrow--

[coffeenap]

I will try to go. Your input for questions is welcome!

[benburch]

1. Where?

Also ask him, please, "You say that we need to convince the American People rather than use procedural maneuvers. What have YOU done to convince them?"

[coffeenap]

2. Wheeling, Jack London Middle School, 1001 Dundee Rd.

Just got an email from EDDI . It is at 10:30 am, open q and a according to EDDI.

Here is my first thought for a question:

Senator Obama. Thank you for pledging to vote against the Alito nomination and supporting a no vote on cloture. I would like to know why the Democratic Senators will not stand together on this and other key issues facing our country. Out here, outside of Washington, it is becoming obvious to millions of people that we need new leadership to save our democracy. If you and your colleagues would stand up together, your constituants from Maine to New Mexico would know we have a real alternative to the current corrupt administration.

[BigYawn]

19. Oh great! That is repug country!!

[coffeenap]

20. Yep, I live in the middle of repug country. But, there are many of

"us" dotting the landscape, and many repugs who have had it with *. We used to see 40 or 50 pro-admin bumper stickers on every drive around the area-now it is one or two.

[Mossadeq]

22. That is not true.

Cook county went to Kerry, 70% Bush 29% Bush http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/IL/P/00/county.000.html#17031

[BigYawn]

24. I was talking about Wheeling, not Cook county...

Wheeling is by far GOP stronghold in presidential
elections.

[madrchsod]

3. post in the illinois forum after the meeting

otherwise it will get lost..thanks

[coffeenap]

5. If I can get there, I will. If I cannot, I will try to get a report from

EDDI. Thanks.

[jsamuel]

4. Ask, "You either want Alito on the court or you don't. How does it make

any sense for someone to vote NO and not support a filibuster when one is possible?"

[coffeenap]

7. I thought the final word was that he was "reluctantly" supporting it.

No?

[jsamuel]

9. your right, however, I am stressing the point for others

and for himself initially

[coffeenap]

10. OK, thanks, I get your point. nt

[oregonindy]

6. ask him if he feels a recall law is needed for federal officials.

[coffeenap]

8. Good idea, thanks. nt

[Paulie]

11. Is he going to speak out for us?

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.

[coffeenap]

12. Wonderful--thanks. I think of this often too. nt

[American liberal]

13. how about special counsel for illegal wiretapping?

ACLU lawsuit about illegal wiretapping? and the letter from legal scholars and former FBI director Sessions re: illegal wiretapping? Congressional investigation is not enough! What can we do to ensure a special counsel is appointed to look into illegal wiretapping?

[coffeenap]

14. Good one, thanks. nt

[radio4progressives]

18. Call It Domestic Spying, Not "illegal or warrantless wire tapping"

It's Domestic Spying that's the issue.

don't let the reich bot boot lickers succeed in covering up the real issue with an Orwellian Double Think/News Speak on this!

please this is about our Constitutional Rights gawwddammm it!

[coffeenap]

21. Yep--that's how I would couch it too! nt

[unkachuck]

15. am I missing something?....

....doesn't he need to be in Washington supporting a filibuster?....

[beaconess]

16. No - he doesn't need to to vote

A cloture vote isn't like other votes in the Senate where the number of votes against are counted. Those trying to get cloture must get 60 yes votes, regardless how many no votes there are. If they get fewer than 60 votes, it doesn't matter how many no votes there are, cloture cannot be invoked and the filibuster continues.

The critical thing in this vote is that we don't care whether our guys vote no or don't vote at all. The important thing is for them to not vote yes. Of course, a no vote has symbolic meaning, but it has no impact on the outcome.

Hope that makes sense.

CLARIFICATION on Edit: It's not quite right to say we don't care how many no votes there are - while the number of no votes doesn't affect the outcome, the more no votes, the stronger our position appears from a public relations standpoint. A cloture vote of 61-39 looks much better for us than 80-20 or 61-10. The more no votes, the more daunting our opposition appears.

Of course, if the Republicans get fewer than 60, votes, I don't CARE how many no votes there are!

[unkachuck]

17. thank you....

....I didn't know that....

[Inuca]

23. The vote...

... is not until 4:30 ET, I am sure he has time to get back to Washington if he wants to. Remember how fast Kerry got back from Switzerland? Unfortunately, I am sure that McCain and the rest of the crowd that was in Switzerland will also by back in DC by the afternoon...