Its too late. We win again.

Nader: "Dems are allowing 4-horsemen of radical rightwing philosophy on the Supreme Court for Decades"

Ricky, YOU LOSE...because you mentioned Clinton again as a defense of more GOP corruption, with the Clinton/IRS thing. YOU LOSE AGAIN!!!!!!!

call your senators and all the senators you can think of by using these numbers to reach the Senate switchboard: 888-818-6641
888-355-3588
800-426-8073

Tell them you want them to filibuster.

Links to petitions:

Anti Alito Petition

Congress members email addresses

Your questions to Alito

Another petition

Move on Petition

Impeachment Petition

That should get you all started!

I agree completely. Even if we fail on this, I think we run the risk of potentally losing a lot of moderate votes. I can't figure out why Feinstein is so against it. It does'nt add up. Alito the liar is a joke. Did he ever answer one question without boring the panel to sleep?. What miniscule amount of respect I had for Linsey Graham went right out the window with the bull shit he pulled.

I went down to DC to visit my senator Mikulski in person, but managed to have a sit down with her legal aide since she was not in the office. Had a good long conversation with her. got the impression that Mikulski is concerned from her. But spoke at length about Alito's record. i came armed with the Yale Report on Alito Opinions and Rulings and an article about women prisoners in Abu Ghraib. discussed wire tapping and the Congressional rubber stamp for the president. That he never has to testify under oath, in public or on the record. Expressed my anger that our republic is no longer a democracy, but an Oligarchy, Plutocracy and has descended into fascism.

Sarbanes had a receptionist that was basically a brick wall. No one was there she said no one could talk to me. No aides were available. Write down a message. I was livid. I am SO angry that I cannot in anyway get in touch with Paul Sarbanes i can't even express my anger enough. A staff person supposedly whispered to the people I went down with "I think there might be a filibuster" but i felt it was their wishful thinking

I am SO livid i can't even get any time with my other senator . .and no email responses either. His staff stinks.

I am voting independent to replace him that is for sure. He is leaving senate this year and retiring.

FUCK NO ALITO ! ! ! NO FASCIST's ON THE S. C. ! ! !

Draw the Line in the Sand. Liberal & Proud of it !

HEY WORD UP . . .SORRY FOR SHOUTING THIS IS IMPORTANT:

WHEN you call your senator, ask to speak to an AIDE. YOU will get a receptionist or switchboard operator and they will "take a message". Get in touch with an AIDE, do NOT stop calling until you talk with one and have a SUBSTANTIAL conversation. Do NOT let a receptionist/switchboard operator "just take a message". MAKE sure YOU SPEAK AT LENGTH with a Staffer/Aide. Be armed with Information too. KNOW your subject and give examples of rulings and how Alito is a threat.

I'm ashamed that the minority party, the Democrats, are not protecting America from extreme rightwing judges. They stink, too. They are definitely not doing everything in their power to stop Alito. Therefore, they are just as guilty.

You might all be to late ...
Iran threatens oil crisis in nuclear standoff
It's not the end of the world BUT it might be the end of the world as we know it !
Why the fuck would Iran want to nuke anybody ,their got to be madder than bush to think they could win a nuclear exchange.What with Israel with over 200 nukes ,and the USA with thousands of nukes ,they would be reduced to molten rock ...get fucking real neocon idiots .Kindasleazy Rice is as stupid as bush.

Here's the deal: after the Republicans steal a few more Senate races in 2006 on DIEBOLD and other related electronic voting machines and optical scanners, the Democrats won't even be able to fillibuster. I guess that's what these wimps are waiting for: an excuse beyond their control!

Call all the offices of Feinstein and remind her that her vote on Iraq was wrong and resulted in the deaths of 1000s of innocent people. To allow Alito on the Supreme Court will also be wrong. Her legacy of infamy will extend the power of the Executive branch that will result in more deaths without a counter from a deminished Legislative Branch. You might want to ask her how much money her husband has made from the Iraq War from his investments in the Military Industrial.

For some reason I cannot bring myself to believe that the Democrats will allow the Alito confirmation, whatever it takes. For some reason I feel there is an extremely good chance they have the votes to stop him and it's going to be a big surprise. I don't know what it is. It may simply be the last vestige of my hopeless innocence, but I do not believe Alito will be confirmed, will even be amazed that the need to filibuster will present itself. Dianne Feinstein has angered me quite a few times with her positions or lack of toughness where it counts, but this time I think she's just letting the neocons get very comfortable so as to maximize their shock when their nominee goes down like the Titanic. I don't know why I feel this way, but I can't talk myself out of it.

Brad, maybe Kaine, as a supposed friendly, will be more effective in shutting down the neocon doublespeak than someone they have already begun to discredit. Arianna isn't right.

Kaine is a very credible speaker. He is sincere without being saccerine. He is also a strong defender of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He's a good man who will make a good impression. Remember, VA is chockfull of wingnuts and the majority in the legislature is rethug, the Lt. Gov. and AG are too. He can work them.

But, John Murtha should speak for us on this occaision. He has earned my respect and he has the gravitas that this response demands. It's disgraceful that dems are not out en masse supporting him.

The only thing that is of any value to me whatsoever is if Alito is for presidential executive power or not...From the responses I've seen from senators it appears he is not.

He is not for the unitary law and that hype is "overexaggerated"

Nevertheless, the democrats will suffer if they do not stand up and get him away from the high court. I suggested in very strong terms a long delay.....just let it sit in committee. They seem to be doing that..

A fillibuster would shut down the whole senate...with too many other things to be concerned about, I won't support that. I'd rather see more arrests get made period and the final nail in the voting machines. There's more to do here than keep hooked on "Judges" wars....Most judges are never going to please everybody, and thats the way it is...with Roberts too. Even though Roberts is an idealogue, I don't are so much and he has done some good for the court. Alito is another story.....all it amounts to is where he stands on executive power. I'm going to be shoving my congressmembers against a wall into impeachment, and if that goes ahead and is completed, Alito will need to decide what side of the constitution he can possibly stand on.

Doug E.

Agent99 - If you don't think Kaine is the next one to be discredited by the Wingnuts, you may be as naive as the Dems who are desperately trying to find someone who hasn't already been Cindy Sheehan-ed to represent them. They (the wingnuts) can't win on facts, so they attempt to win by personally discrediting their opposition. It works well. When Dems fail to stand up for their people (like Sheehan, like Murtha, ad nauseam) who are right, and make fear-based decisions as you seem to advocate above, they will get nowhere. Other than to have a still larger "GOP discredited" list of Dems.

Ricky - Nobody wins when our country is divided by the likes of you and your criminal hero in the White House. Apparently, like Bush, you've forgotten that part about "one nation indivisible", along with that part about "uniting not dividing".

You and your party need a real lesson on who "the enemy" is.

Shame on you for disgracing everything that your country stands for (or used to).

The Dems won't fillibust because Alito is very qualified. More qualified than the senators at the hearing.

You left kooks need to just leave the Democrat Party and join the Green Party, or some other nut party. You kooks are ruining the Democrat Party. Someday when they actually get back to the party of the average person, only then will they discount the kooks.

There is nothing in the constitution about filibustering a Supreme Court nominee. If the Dems fillibust, hopefully the Republicans will get a spine and go with the constitution option. 51 to 49 wins!

BUSH WILL GET ONE MORE OR EVEN TWO MORE FOR THE COURT BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE.

But, good luck kooks with that whole fillibust thing!!!!!!

> uniting not dividing

That's a good one!

The left never divides, never hates, never goes after conservative black guys. Never goes after conservatives at all. Never rejoices a conservative who has not even had his day in court. Never calls the president "Hitler."

It is the left and the kooks that divide!

And it all started with Al Gore and his suing three democrat counties coutrolled by democrats and claiming voter fraud. Totally bogus after an investigation!

Change of subject -

A 12 year-old called the David Gold Show tonight and said that Bin Laden sounded like a Democrat today. Smart kid!

> Kindasleazy Rice is as stupid as bush
> your criminal hero in the White House
> our republic is no longer a democracy, but an Oligarchy, Plutocracy and has descended into fascism.

That's not divisive at all

Thanks leftists!

Brad, #17, I didn't mean to imply it would be a fear-based decision to use Kaine. I meant to imply that spreading the strength against the criminality, especially by using someone perceived as a friendly, may be better in terms of turning the wingnuts' attention to the real, in terms of getting the People behind the Democratic bid to save our Constitution.

I certainly could be wrong, and former disappointments sure seem to say that I'm dreaming, but I just can't believe the Democratic Party is going to keep disappointing us now. It isn't just a couple heroes now. Their ranks are growing, and the creeps trying to cover their political asses, like Clinton and Kerry, are being exposed for what they are. There is a movement afoot --- started by Conyers and Murtha AND Dean. Al Gore just shot off the starting cannon. Conyers' hearing is going to be covered. Isn't Howard Dean in charge of things like who responds to what? He had an e-mail to me, asking me to contact Murtha with my support within an hour of Murtha standing up on Iraq. He smacked down Blitzer on the Abramoff thing. The choice of Kaine could be precisely to erase the perception of him outlined by you and Arianna.

I am sick of the Democrat bashing, the constant picking at them for lameness. If they haven't heard us by now, long since, we should all be in their offices banging pots and pans, creating a media circus the size of the planet, not writing opinion pieces.

Feinstein was at Gore's speech. I heard her hollering to Kennedy during the Alito hearings, on tougher questioning while it was his turn. Feingold was a man, clearly, amassing hard evidence and suffering through the stonewalling of the nominee when it was his turn at the microphone. IT SEEMS TO ME, FEELS TO ME, THAT OUR CALLS FOR TOUGHNESS HAVE BEEN HEARD, AND THAT IT IS A CAREFUL UNFOLDING OF IT WE ARE WITNESSING NOW.

I do not advocate fear-based nuthin'. In fact, when I feel fear, I'm more likely to jump into the maw of what I fear before even bothering to gather my resources than anyone you ever met. Its pretty clear Murtha is unsmearable, no matter how much smearing they do. We don't need more of Murtha. We need more Democrats acting like Murtha. MAYBE that's the plan.

I have an idea! You could create a clink for trolls. I volunteer to be your troll patrolwoman. I would just keep going through all the threads and moving all the troll stuff over to a section called "The Clink". Their free speech won't have been thwarted. Their stuff will be right here for anyone to read, just not breaking up the threads this way. I could just cut and paste to my heart's content, maybe leave behind a little "Clink Link" at the scene of the crime.

Whaddaya think?

If not now, when?

Truth Seeker: Exactly.

WHAT exactly are YOU all doing toward preventing Alito?

I see a lot of complaining about how bad things are and about Democrats (which i am NOT a democrat), but I am not hearing about a whole lot of action here as to what you all are doing personally.

(EXCEPTING Brad who backs up his words because he has a RIGHT to complain about Dems because he has busted his behind to do something.)

WHAT are YOU the People GOING TO DO?

jpentz,

dare i say it: there's nothing we CAN do.

Roberts and Alito on the SC for the next twenty years? It's my kids who lose.

jpentz, #26: I've been on the phone and on the emails to my senators, and making myself extremely unpopular, publicly, with anyone who dares suggest an Alito confirmation isn't the end of the world. Dianne Feinstein's fax machine caught fire trying to transmit my letter about how she better NOT be serious about her words on filibuster, that this BETTER be about some covert way to either prevent his appointment, or put back until after hearings on the impeachable offenses.

I've silenced beloved pro-choice sisters and brothers with my rants about the end of America trumping every other concern with this nominee. I've offered to take a bullet for Brad, for Conyers, Murtha, Dean and Gore.

And I WILL be banging pots and pans if, against all reason, they have not heard and continue to let our minority in the legislature keep them from representing us faithfully. I watched every stultifying second of the confirmation hearings, lost two nights' sleep coming up to speed on what was at stake, nearly bled my eyeballs dry trying to get to the bottom of the import of a document purporting to be proof of pre-9/11 wiretapping, so that the argument might not be discredited by its use, continue to support Brad in all his work.

We will know in the next couple weeks if the Democrats are serious enough, have heard us. If not, we have to find a very strong champion to rally behind. Maybe Gore. Maybe Warren Beatty. Maybe Dean will pitch a fit and start another campaign if the party keeps acting like cats being herded on him. It would be optimal to have someone everyone who feels so strongly could rally behind, otherwise we are likely only to get hauled off as nut cases.

And you?

BVAC - Unless you're cold and in the ground, there's always something that you can do. Pick up the phone. Believe me, they hear your calls.

AGENT99 - I agree that Feingold is the man, btw. That said, the rest of 'em need to understand that there is a difference between acting and sounding "tough" and actually taking courage, tough actions. I find nothing less impressive than voting NO for this guy, but not having the balls to FIGHT for that NO vote! (That said, I hope your assessment is correct and mine is not. But I doubt it. How many months/years have you been waiting for that grand Democratic scheme they are going to unfold any second to fight back?)

As to trolls, I'm always happy to see them out themselves for the democracy-hating, America-hating boobs that they are. But I draw the line at personal insults to other commenters and disinformation. To that end...

PAUL - Disinformation is NOT allowed here in comments. Consider this your final warning before your comments are all summarily deleted. This graf is pure disinfo:

And it all started with Al Gore and his suing three democrat counties coutrolled by democrats and claiming voter fraud. Totally bogus after an investigation!

Now here is a link refuting your horseshit above. In turn, either supply a link to credible evidence here to support your claim above, or the next time you make any such claims, the comment will be deleted along with all of your future comments. All of them. I've *really* had it playing Kindergarden teacher with you. Understand?

Actually Agent you really did not read my above first post did you? What does and you mean ? Faxes and letters and emails are just that.

I also run a news website, have gone to DC numerous times to meetings, organizations, testified at my state house, lobbied my local state delegates, and am actively participating in TWO campaigns, one for an Independent for US senate and the other for a local delegate who is a good democrat. AND given speeches at numerous events in my area.

It is past time for writing letters, faxes and emails. Its time people showed up en masse at the Senate Offices and demand to speak with someone of significance OR at the very least demand to speak with significant staff and keep calling until you do.

Its time GROUPS of people start showing up at the Senate office building and camping there , demanding to speak with their Senator.

jpentz: Oh! Sorry! I DID read it, but forgot it was you.

If I had the money to physically get to D.C. I surely would, and I have gotten past receptionists in my calls. In the past I have gotten the Senator's help in certain of my local actions, and so expect that she will personally see my communications.

I think the population of my town, out in the middle of nowhere, is about fifty. They're pretty sick of my speechifying. The Nazi postmaster resigned rather than take any more of my scathing commentary on his enforce-fifty-Patriot-Acts-just-in-case ways.

It did just occur to me that I know someone who may still be able to get Howard Dean on the phone, and maybe I can get her to plead my case.

I hope we're not coming off as a couple of braggarts listing our bona fides to pass the time.

brad: done all that. it's just tough being in a state where both senators will likely vote against him, yet won't filibuster. It's crazy that they were going to filibuster Roberts until the 11th hour, but are hardly even considering it this time when the consequences are dire.

bvac: THAT's what makes me think they're going to swat Alito down. There is really good reason to suspect enough Republicans will vote him down too. Feingold may have the goods on him, and the Democrats are quietly getting the votes together to upset the neocons in a particularly florid way. Or, they will keep saying they won't filibuster, and filibuster with some really damning evidence to help them save the day.

They allowed judges whose rulings will be before the SCOTUS lobbying for Alito's confirmation --- the height of poor ethics. THAT is worse than him giving some indication of future rulings. Won't he have to recuse himself on every single case from all those judges now if he's confirmed? Yes. Would he? No. He was flat out lying about the CAP thing. He was flat out lying about the unitary executive thing. He was caught being coached, drilled, on his performance at the hearings by White House staff, and White House lawyers involved in the wiretapping mess. HOW can he be confirmed to be an impartial judge of the activities and legal positions of people who perpetrate and try to protect impeachable offenses, if they are the ones who coached him for confirmation? There are a BUNCH of areas where one good piece of solid proof could ruin not only Alito, but anyone who supports him. I can't begin to fathom that even the most reticent democratic senator could fail to have noticed these things, or be willing to settle for a no vote without a fight.

its ok Agent I think we are all frustrated.

I think what I was trying to get across, is that when I went into my Senator's office, there was a young girl sitting as a receptionist, switchboard operator. and another beside her, they were the phone answerers.

those are the types of people answering the phone calls.

And the girls said "Senator Mikulski is not here right now."

We said "We want to talk to someone."

the one said "you can talk to me. "

NOT that she was NOT important and i have respect for the job of receptionist, she was NOT a full staffer . .legal aide or assistant.

I told her "I did not travel all the way down here to NOT talk to the Senator or an assistant. I want to speak with an aide or assistant."

Well that got us in the conference room where I got face to face time with someone who actually worked closely with the Senator.

Yes, my senator is not one that jumps up on a soap box and would start a fillibuster, I don't think but she DOES participate and contributes to them.

The Point i am trying to make . . . is we must DEMAND our rights and DEMAND to speak with an close associate if NOT the Senator themselves. Keep calling back and INSIST. Otherwise you are getting a receptionist/switchboard operator.

And KNOW your subject when you do talk with them. Cite facts and cases.

I know my senators will NOT vote Yes Alito, but neither seem to be a leader enough to intiate the filibuster. I TOLD the aide that Mikulski needed to be as feisty and outspoken as I was and to please convey that.

AND I was bold enough to leave my phone number and tell her to have the Senator call me.

An interesting note . . .I mentioned 9/11 and lack of investigation. The Aide seemed very uncomfortable with the subject and very quickly said "Senator Mikulski does not handle matters of homeland security".

I did not wish to open that pandora's box as I was there to discuss Alito. so I backed off the subject.

It was a noticeably interesting reaction I got from her.

:)

COMMENT #20 [link]
...Paul said on 1/19/2006 @ 8:01pm PT...

Change of subject -

A 12 year-old called the David Gold Show tonight and said that Bin Laden sounded like a Democrat today. Smart kid!

yea right, that why America rates so poorly on International Scholastic Assessments.

Feingold wouldn't have a part of a problem leading, and, I saw Kennedy's face when a Circuit Court judge who had been mentored by both JFK and RFK bragged about it as a preamble to his avid endorsement for Alito. It was as if the old fool had stabbed him in the heart. Kennedy would lead it. Biden has declared for '08. He'd lead it. Leahy would lead it. I'd love to see Obama lead it.

Alito won't be confirmed.

I agree with Doug E. The country would be better off if Alito were not on the court, but a filibuster battle will distract the media from even more important matters.

While I agree that a filibuster would be a distraction, there would be some things to be gained: how about unification of the anti-Bush base? That may seem petty, but it's important considering that one of the strongest cards that the Republicans play is unity. They have sought to conquer and divide - let's show them they can't do that anymore. The Democrats are in need of some reform themselves, in the way that they desperately need to show powerful resistance to the strongarm tactics of the neocons.

Biden lead? I don't think so, he's been entirely sycophantic the past two years, using every hearing as an opportunity to showboat and grandstand. For me, Biden has been disappointing and his act is wearing thin, becuase I had expected him to be respectably aggresive towards Gonzales, Roberts, and now Alito. He hasn't been.

I did get an email from TedKennedy.com stating that Kennedy has made the decision to vote No on Alito. I e-mailed him back and said he'd better get on the horn with my Senators and get them to figure out what's what. I have been calling and e-mailing them and all I haven't got to talk to anyone "important" yet, and all the e-mail response I get is the same mindles blather about how importantly they take their jobs in the Senate and how they will weigh all of the evidence in the Alito hearings. Blah, blah, blah. They know by now which way they will vote - or should! - so quit dancing around the subject and unify. Fucking politicians.

What if election reform issues go to the Supreme court and Alito is sitting there? Not good. We've got to have judge who will be objective, and we have a tenuous balance at best right now. Alito puts impartiality out of grasp. Any of these "more important things" that would come before the Supreme bench in the future...well, we can't take that risk.

Big Dan #10

That is a neoCon talking point. When we blame the weak we become victim bashers. The minority party is not the majority party. DUH. The accountability contemplated in the election process of democracy mandates that if we have political parties and they march in lockstep, as the majority party does now, then the party must be punished.

To blame the democrats, the minority party, is the same as blaming a rape victim for being raped, the child for being abused, the protesting citizen for the acts of its rabid government.

It is unjust, unreasonable, and untrue.

RLM #38

"The Constitution says what the Supreme Court says it says" is a famous quote in circles that litigate constitutional issues. And if Alito is who the minorities think he is, they should shudder with fear.

I will say this, risking the obvious, if Alito is who I think he is and he gets on the court, we have had it.

And it looks like we have had it.

It is not the fault of the democrats, independents, or greens. It is the fault of the republicans who were infiltrated by fascists who then took control. They did not see it coming ... like the Germans did not see Hitler coming.

America is quickly becoming a concept for the history books. The blame belongs to the majority party, the republicans.

Stop bashing minorities people ... bash the republican party within whom the virus took root and has now flourished.

Jpentz,
I think it's still imperative that those who cannot get to DC personally should do SOMETHING! Whatever is possible for THEM. Millions of small efforts--letters, emails, faxes, phone calls--can add up to something much larger & have an impact, imho!
You're awesome though, woman, & I love ya.

I posted this on another thread, I think it's relevant here too:

Go here for addresses, phone & fax numbers for tv, radio & newspapers:

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111

Go here for list of email addresses & fax numbers for members of Congress, the Senate & governors:

http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm

*And before you call (or better yet-visit-your rep) PLEASE READ comment #9..important advice!!

"That may seem petty, but it's important considering that one of the strongest cards that the Republicans play is unity. They have sought to conquer and divide - let's show them they can't do that anymore. The Democrats are in need of some reform themselves, in the way that they desperately need to show powerful resistance to the strongarm tactics of the neocons."

Soul Rebel: While I agree, shutting down the whole senate really isn't warranted. Alito is not the executioner that everyone says he is. He's strict about his job. The guy honestly isn't the devil in disguise, that is all I can tell you. They should all unite to vote and not confirm him anyway...but I dont assume filibuster is the answer. Maybe a committee vote.

Doug E.

{ed note: Ricky's obnoxious, unsupported comment/disinformation deleted. Knock it off, Ricky, or you'll be gone as well.}

{ed note: Savanter's post, replying to Ricky, also removed since Ricky's obnoxious comments were deleted.}

The way I see alito is a Cold Calculating Fascist. . . . FUCK NO ALITO ! ! !

Let him on the Supremes and see what happens to any attempt to lock up government perps. See what happens to the checks and balances. See what happens to settled laws protecting civil rights against the executive. See how effective the legislature can be against the executive.

Top Priority: Instant Cure for Electile Dysfunction

Alito confirmation and impeachment of Bush and Cheney are running neck and neck for the photo finish with the Top Priority.

I'm going to do my best to get enough sleep to be up for the Conyers thing in the morning... 8am is the middle of the night for me lately.

G'night friends.

I believe that Senators have received as many negative items of correspondence on the Alito nomination as ever before on any topic. They are now wrestling with the question: How will this affect my future? The good ones are ready to filibuster; the others, maybe not. We wait and hope.

Democratic Senators Not voting for fillibuster
May Be Finished Politically in their home states
to say nothing of any National Office Ambitions.

Let me explain...

This is the 'Extraordinary Circumstance' for Fillibuster.

This is the fight of our lives for we Democrats and all Moderate Republican and Independent Voters. We know what danger Alito is to our Constitution, our freedoms and our way of life.

The enemy is at the approaches to our city and we have just enough Democrats to win.

The Democratic Senator who foolishly dares to vote 'as a Republican'
at this time will go down in Infamy.

Democratic, Moderate Republican and Independent Voters will remember such a Constitutional Traitor
for the rest of their lives.

There will be No Political Hiding place anywhere, ever for such a fool. Primaries will become their political graveyard.

The Republican Senators who vote to confirm will be easy pickings for opponents in the next election.

John Kennedy
Denver

http://StopAlito.hn.org

Dredd, I disagree. The Dems are not united like the Republicans were, when they were in the majority. And they can fillibuster Alito. I am blaming the Dems for being weak and not united for our cause. The Republicans, no matter how much we disagree with them, are always fully united, even when they were in the minority. That is how they got the majority, remember Newt Gingrich and the bogus "Contract for America?" Even though it was a bunch of shit, they were united, and that is powerful.

And your comparison of blaming a rape victim for rape doesn't make sense.

In the mid-90's, the Republican minority showed consistent unity as one voice, against the majority party at the time, the Democrats. Which Dems are in unison with Conyers? He's all by himself!!! On THE most important issue, vote fraud!!! Some unity by the Dems. It's like Conyers is a one-man party!

The Dems have made a catastrophic omission in their questioning Alito.

Though they asked about Roe v. Wade, stare decisis and, even, questions about the theory of a "unitary Executive" branch, they missed the most important point, IMHO.

If GWBush and Co. would rig an election; bully the US to war; loot the Treasury; commit perjury; allow GOP Reps and Senators to accept bribes like maitre'd's for our Congressional committees; and expose our soldiers to our own depleted uranium shells, (and its forever toxic residue) while protecting them with "Mattel Body Armor", is there anything they would *not* do??

Forgive me, but any group that brazen is not acting out of stupidity. Instead, they act as if they will *never* be caught. And, they would not act that way if did not have reason to believe it.

So, what is the reason? And what does Sam Alito have to do with it?

For a very long time I assumed that the GOP were using their control of the electronic voting machine companies as their Ace in the Hole. With horror, last week, I realized I miscalculated!

The Right Wing plot to forever take control of the mechanics of US government was started in the early 1970s, jointly, by the remnants of Nixon's goons and the faux-Christian Dominionists; La Haye, Ahmanson, Robertson, Falwell, etc.

Were it not for their stealth agenda, they would now be known as Elmer Gantry, Ltd., a soul-saving, tax-dodging group of modern day Pharisees, fueled by a form of moral-money "Roid Rage", just waiting to judge you (and I).

That means, however, that the planning stage took place before the Net, the WWW, email, etc. In particular, it puts the timing before the technology was conceived of to "flip" elections an election. So, how were these guys going to avoid the hangman?

That question bring us back to Alito.
The cabal of Young Republicans, church hacks, and other *really* bad types that put that plan together in the 70s knew they would each stretch a rope if they were caught. Therefore, they must have had some pre-computer mechanism they planned to use as escape key.

What was it?
A very simple idea... and so bloody stupid and offensive that no one in their right mind could ever assume it could work... that has usually been thought a sop to the (certifiable) Religious Right. But it was not.

"It" is called the Constitutional Restoration Act. Last session of Congress it was HR3799 and SB 2082 (and easily Googled). What it does, in a nut shell does, is this.

1) In essence, it removes the US from obligations under treaties with foreign entities (unless we wish to oblige).

QUOTE:`Sec. 1370. Matters that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to review

`Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the district court shall not have jurisdiction of a matter if the Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction to review that matter by reason of section 1260 of this title.'.ENDQUOTE

2) It makes "non-reviewable" any actions by any government employee as long as the employee's defense is "God made me to do it".

QUOTE:"`Sec. 1260. Matters not reviewable

`Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Supreme Court shall not have jurisdiction to review, by appeal, writ of certiorari, or otherwise, any matter to the extent that relief is sought against an element of Federal, State, or local government, or against an officer of Federal, State, or local government (whether or not acting in official personal capacity), by reason of that element's or officer's acknowledgement of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government.'. END QUOTE:

Back to Alito.

Obviously the above statute, if ever passed, would quickly come before the Supreme Court (say, if GWB and Dick Cheney personally flog, then Glock, my children because "God told us to do it!"). So, what if Alito, Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and just *one* more decide, "We can't hear this case about this law. Sec. 1260 of that same law prohibits we that!" ?

That would be the end of the Republic, democracy, and any hopes for a non-Orwellian future.

This argument of legal Constitutionality was decided in Marbury v. Madison, in 1803. It is the linchpin of our Republic. The decision states the obvious, that the Supreme Court, and only the Supreme Court, has the right to determine whether any particular law is unConstitutional.

Yet the GOP, consistent with a political war plan laid out by Gary Bauer, Pat Robertson, Grover Norquist, and the other members of the American Taliban during the 1970s, continues to re-introduce this legal Trojan Horse, year after year.

Why? Because passage of this bill, combined with the acquiescense of five RE-Activist judges (four are named above) would cripple the Constitution. It would set the stage for martial law, render all other Federal and state laws moot, and allow Bush to continue thumbing his nose at free Americans while daring us to object.

I think the Democratic Senators need to visit this issue and ask Alito about his views on the CRA; HB#3799 and SB#2062.

No other single case, no other single vote, could mean as much to this nation as any vote Alito might cast in a United States vs. Bush, Cheney and Company case.

The administration has already floated "justification" trial balloons based upon
1) "inherent rights",
2) "war power rights",
3) Article II powers,
and (possibly most ludicrous),
4) the people's expectation that the "President will look out for their safety".

The only *possible* defense of their actions, those actions about which we *already* know, would be akin to claiming a Divine Right to account for their treasonous and criminal disregard for the Constitutional rights of its citizens.

Obviously, the Constitutional Restoration Act must be the "Ace in the Hole" that the Bush counted on. It forces the Supreme Court to give a pass to any "officer of Federal, State, or local government (whether or not acting in official personal capacity)," who, in effect, says "God wanted me to do that".

Without Alito's pledge to recuse in any such case, there should be a deferral of any vote on his confirmation.

FINTAN16: I gather from your comment, then you also believe that 9/11 was "allowed to happen" to accelerate all of this? If what you say is true, then the 9/11 "conspiracies" aren't as far-fetched, either.

From what comment do you gather that?

I am agnostic when it comes to 9-11, have many questions and no encompassing conclusions. So, it is interesting that you mention it.

As best I remember, all of the above was written with no thought of 9-11. Other, perhaps, than as some "starting date". Like A.D. or B.C.E. or something like that.

Can anything be done to stop Alito confirmation or is it all over?

Does anyone think enough phone calls to his office could do the trick? Anyone want to contribute to his opponent in the next primary in Neb? I'm serious about it.

Isn't there still a slim chance to stop Alito?

Comments please?

John Kennedy
Denver CO

Hello John of Denver,

I saw this last night.

http://www.democraticund...;address=364×232842

We still have half of the day.... I am into the low forties in my personal count.

If we all do this, they *will* hear. If they don't, it's because they have their hands ovetr their ears.

If that's the case, those hands should be cuffed until they can be frogmarched down the capitol steps to await the future, IMHO.

"Give 'em, Hell !! "

Why is it so difficult for mainstream Americans to understand the complete farce that is the present day U.S. political system and how their stupidity makes it all so. The "two-party" system is completely corrupt and the only way to fix it is to start thinking outside of "party-lines". Essentially there is only one party and it is for sale to the highest bidder. Both Dems and Republicans obey the same masters so it shouldn't be hard to grasp that blindly backing "party favorites" is how we've arrived at the brink of totalitarianism today! Putting "party picks" in office is tantamount to political suicide since they are already bought and paid for. Once elected they shamelessly act against the nation's best interests.

Bush may certainly be dumb, but since he is only following orders he doesn't have to be smart. He's in the Whitehouse because the people that put him there know he is crazy enough to do exactly what they want him to do. Things like destroying the U.S., and kicking off WWIII are very much within his reach! Alito will be confirmed because at the end of the day, both "Dems" and "Republicans" dutifully follow their orders! Being stupid has serious consequences in politics! Unfortunately "mainstream America" will reap the dismal harvest of their deeply entrenced stupidity!

Hello John of Denver,

I saw this last night.

http://www.democraticund...;address=364×232842

We still have half of the day.... I am into the low forties in my personal count.

If we all do this, they *will* hear. If they don't, it's because they have their hands ovetr their ears.

If that's the case, those hands should be cuffed until they can be frogmarched down the capitol steps to await the future, IMHO.

"Give 'em, Hell !! "

I seriously considered giving Sen. Kerry my vote in 2004. (See here.) He is now working hard to convince us that his "centrist" approach in 2004 had nothing to do with conviction. (See here.)

I have lots of problems with GWB, but at least he believes in something and sticks with it, for better or worse politically. Kerry has confirmed that he is a "finger in the wind" politician who is going to be embarrassed when he runs again in 2008.

The office of the person who received the Democratic nomination for President in 1984 (and lost by historic proportions) is very close to mine, and everyday when I see him I am reminded of my respect for him as a public servant, as well as the class he has exhibited since.

Senator Kerry, I work with Vice President Mondale. (Okay, we take the same elevator to the same floor every morning.) Senator, you're no Walter Mondale. (Or Paul Wellstone.) Your opinion is for sale based on where at a particular point in time you think the votes are, and I can't respect that.

It's time to wake up and smell the coffee...Conservatives ARE mainstream America. We do NOT support Roe V. Wade. It was an incorrect decision. That has nothing to do with Pro-life or Pro-choice. It is pro-constitution. The constitution reserves for the states all powers except those explicitly given to the federal government. I'm no constitutional scholar; but, I don't recall abortion being in the constitution. Put this matter back to the states where it belongs. You refer to Alito as a judicial radical --- as opposed to what we have now --- who will allow a man's home to be taken in order to give it to another man to develop condos or whatever! How does it feel Souter? You demand prayer be taken out of our school yet we must teach our kids about Islam. This country is conservative, based on a foundation in Christianity. Pay close attention Tuesday night as President Bush gives the State of the Union Address. You will see the new Associate Justice Alito take his rightful place in a court of a new day.

Don't like what I'm saying? Win an election and you can make the choices. Face it, you lost this battle in November of 2004.

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