My Senators from Arkansas have both stated that they will vote NO on the Alito nomination. Sen. Lincoln has not stated (to my knowledge) whether she'll support a continued discussionon the subject of Alito's appointment. Sen. Pryor is a member of the "gang of 14" and inhis press releaase said he would honor his promise to the group. I don't feel he should be bound NOT to block Alito, because he is an activist judge (as Sen. Pryor even points out).
Do you have any suggestions for other arguments to use to persuade Sen. Pryor to do the right thing?
Here's a copy of one of the emails I sent him (mailbox has been full for days):
Honorable Senator Pryor,
I wrote you previously to do what is right to Arkansas, right for America and vote "no" on the nominmation of Judge Alito to the Supreme court. Despite teh coaching by the chair of the judiciary committee, his history demonstrates how he will roll back the rights and priviledges of working class citizens, minorities, and women. More egregiously, he supports an executive privledge that exceeds the checks and balances enshrined in our constitution. We continue to lead daily of the dangers of "trusting" a branch of government to do the right thing, rather than actually knowing about those actions. The latest cover-up of the NSA surveillance and the disregard for the outright illegality of these actions demands accountability. Judge Alito would condone these types of actions.
I applaud your decision to vote "no" on his nomination. Your actions are brave in the harsh light of the partisan media that is keen to give President Bush what he wants without regard to what is best for this nation. I ask you to take the next step and support a filibuster to save what is left of our checks and balances. As a recent poll by the Washington Post and ABC (Dan Balz, January 29, 2006)shows, the majority of Americans share the principles of the Democratic party. Now is the time to show America that Democrats stand by what they believe. Please filibuster Judge Alito.
Sincerely yours in support,
Grover Paul Miller