Is it just me? Or is anybody else failing to grasp the logic behind LOSING this Quixotic Alito "filibuster?"
If the debate was clear in the public mind, and/or the public was even remotely behind the filibuster movement, this might make sense. But it isn't, and it doesn't. Which is precisely why Reid is rolling his eyes and trying to move people along to the next WINNING battle.
It's a LOSER, people. Especially when you consider who would likely be the NEXT HORRIBLE NOMINEE, and the fact that even should they get the votes to extend debate, Frist could Nuke 'em, and minority Democrats in the Senate WOULD BE LEFT WITH NOTHING except open ended irrelevancy.
Make the strongest case against Alito. Vote no. Get out of the way of the nuclear bomb.
This is a guerrilla war. You don't beat superior firepower by going toe to toe. You win by living to fight another day. Why any far sighted Democrat would be advocating this suicidal tactic at this moment escapes me...
Before the flaming retorts begin, let me say I would not oppose a filibuster "attempt" had the Dems on the Judiciary Committee actually been able to successfully frame the debate coherently, and garnered broad public support. Perhaps by posing questions that let America get a clear picture of the problems with Alito, and the implications for the country. But they didn't. They will look like "losers" as a result. And Joe Sixpack will be left wondering why the Dems "wasted time" LOSING over this, when there are SO MANY other issues he's beginning to agree with them on!
In case some people missed it, Bush got elected President for FOUR WHOLE YEARS. The Senate has a LARGE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY who have the votes, and want EXACTLY this kind of Supreme Court Justice. They have at least two more years to get their guy through. They will.
WHY DOES ANYBODY THINK THE NEXT BUSH NOMINEE WILL BE BETTER???
We've been winning in the court of public opinion because the issues have been clarified over time. Iraq, greedy corruption, domestic spying, religious nuttery, presidents who can't speak complete sentences. The public GETS these things.
It is possible that a skilled questioner on the Judiciary committee could have exposed the real Alito in a way that would have crystalized the threat he represents to our democracy, in the way that Iraq and other issues have become clear to Americans.
But that did not happen.
It's quite clear now that the Republicans will get to appoint their boy to the court. (That was made inevitable in the last election which WE LOST. Elections MATTER. Note to non-voters and Naderites.) The court will shift even more rightward. And all sorts of wacky, horrifying decisions will start coming down from the new Federalist Supreme Court.
The battle will shift to the states where abortion becomes outlawed, and Christian prayers become mandatory in schools.
Republicans will have to defend this shit.
And Americans will start to realize that Republican RELIGIOUS ACTIVISTS on the Supreme Court are BAD for America.
The public will GET IT THEN.
The problems with anti-democratic activist judges will become crystalized in the public mind the way Iraq has been. Even THAT debacle took forever to sink in to thick headed American voters.
Only when the damage to our democracy by Republicans becomes apparent to the public, will we be able to regain control the political agenda. It will be a long, tedious, often depressing struggle. Many of us are obviously not up for it. We want to make quick suicidal charges into the teeth of the enemy.
But we will have to start winning political battles BEFORE it gets to this point, if we want to be the group appointing Supreme Court justices. We will hve to end the Republican stranglehold on government. The long range battle for this country is going to be won by regaining majority public opinion, and WINNING ELECTIONS. Not by picking more short term losing fights like the Alito "filibuster."
The Supreme Court was lost when Bush got re-elected. Er, elected.
Vote no on Alito. Make your best case against him. Live to fight another day.