Well, from what I can see, it's actually possible that a vote for cloture will fail on Monday. Still not likely, but possible.
That's with Minority Leader Harry Reid taking a I won't call for a filibuster but I'll go along with one if it happens approach.
Well, Harry, time to give your own caucus hell. You're the Leader and I think you should put it on the line over this.
The statement I'd like from Reid:
We call ourselves the "Democratic" party and it isn't just a name. Samuel Alito represents a threat to American Democracy itself, through his views on a superior Executive branch. On that basis, he must be opposed. Further, a majority of my caucus colleagues, led by Senators Kennedy and Kerry, are calling for a filibuster of Samuel Alito. Thus, I bow to the majority will of my caucus and throw my full support behind filibustering this nominee. He is wrong for America, and I expect the full support of every Democrat. If we lose the vote on Cloture, I will resign as Minority Leader.
It's quite simple:
- Harry Reid warned Bush against nominating Alito. So if he fails to make trouble for this nomination, what worth should Bush give Reid's advice in future?
- Reid didn't start the calls for a filibuster. The 2 senators from MA did so. Kerry and Kennedy are electorally indestructable. Now it is time for Reid to "submit to the majority will of his caucus and throw his full support behind a filibuster"
- Reid is the leader. With his leadership on the issue, other democrats can hide behind that. They can at least abstain from voting for Cloture at the behest of their leader. Do the Red-State democrats really want to throw the dice on a new minority leader in an election year? Do they want to explain to their constituents how they helped take down another Senate Democratic leader?
This is the kind of Leadership that will turn Reid into a Majority leader. It would also push the Alito opposition stance into the front pages of every paper. Democrats would be flooded with calls to appear on every news show, and could flood the airwaves with Alito's
on the record views for Presidential supremacy.
Give US Hell, Harry.