Daily Kos

Thank You for Helping To Stop Alito

Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:10:51 PM PDT

At events throughout Martin Luther King Day earlier this month commemorating the great civil rights leader, countless people who care about civil rights today emphasized the major threat that Alito poses to our values of equality and justice if he becomes a member of the Supreme Court, with the power to roll back so much of the extraordinary progress we've made.  I was inspired by their passion and commitment to defend the progress we've made in our country's history.
Those conversations - and the overwhelming calls, letters, and e-mails I've received make it clear that the issue is all-important if our progress is to continue.  The right wing is salivating over the prospect of Justice Alito on the Supreme Court, and the Republican majority in the Senate intends to rubber-stamp the nomination.  The only realistic way to stop this nightmare is to stand up using every tool we have.

Other than voting to send our men and women to war, there is no more important vote in the Senate than our vote on a Supreme Court nominee.  Long after President Bush leaves office, the damage he can do with Supreme Court appointments like this will continue, since Justice Alito would be able to serve for decades in the future because federal judges serve for life.

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings confirmed our worst fears, and we have to take the strongest possible stand against him.

We owe it to this generation and future generations of Americans to oppose any such nominee who will roll back the progress we've made.

The next three days will make all the difference in whether enough Democrats are willing to stand firm against this shameful nomination. Thank you for all of your support, and for all you can do between now and then to help us in this crucial vote.

I will not be able to stay in front of the computer, as I have quite a bit to take care of today.  Crystal will monitor this post, though, and I've asked her to keep me updated with your feedback.

Tags: Samuel Alito, filibuster, Ted Kennedy, Senate, judiciary, Recommended (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 497 comments

  •  Filibuster MUST happen... (4.00 / 24)

    Senator Byrd abandoned liberal West Virginians yesterday. It's up to you, Senator Kennedy, to fight for us now.
    •  Not Just W. Virginians... (4.00 / 42)

      Senator Byrd abandoned liberals across the nation yesterday and I am repulsed by his actions.

      I'm counting on honorable people like Senator Kennedy, Senator Kerry, Senator Reid, Senator Boxer and the like to lead the charge for us.

      This is a hill worth dying on.  To confirm Alito to the Supreme Court is to abandon many of the principles that made this country great.  This cannot happen.

      Fight the good fight, Senator Kennedy.  We're with you.

      No tears to cry. No feelings left. This species has amused itself to death. ~ Roger Waters

      by Kevin in Long Beach on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:19:30 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I think that we should flood Byrd with calls (3.80 / 5)

        As well.

        I am so angry at him. I donated to him when a call went out. If he is going to betray his party, we can make our feelings known. And let him know that we no longer support him financially or otherwise.

        Has a primary challenger for Byrd been found yet?
        I heard that Tomorrow is the filing deadline.

        My thoughts on Byrd:

        Q: Why does Sen Byrd carry the constitution in his breast pocket?
        A: In case the toilet paper runs out in the Senate.

        •  Senator Byrd is a fine, proud Democrat (4.00 / 39)

          who is making a mistake here.  A serious mistake, but we can let him know that without insulting him.  He has been there for us for many years.

          Angie and Bill: Colorado's bright future!

          by ubikkibu on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:32:03 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  Yes (4.00 / 12)

            He's making a very, very big mistake.  But I agree that we need to express our outrage with respect.  And we do need to express it to him.

            Flood his office with calls, faxes and emails.  Let's make our voices heard!!!  This issue is too huge to sit on our hands.

            No tears to cry. No feelings left. This species has amused itself to death. ~ Roger Waters

            by Kevin in Long Beach on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:34:30 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Contact Byrd (4.00 / 5)

              I wrote him 3 e-mails and each time I hit send it asked me to re-submit and I started over.  I'm out of his state so maybe that is why I couldn't get through.

              Fight for Democrats in 2008 or the Republicans will continue to follow us home into our private lives.

              by Gram E on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:46:25 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  Right On (4.00 / 4)

                Keep it up.  We need to make sure that he hears us.

                No tears to cry. No feelings left. This species has amused itself to death. ~ Roger Waters

                by Kevin in Long Beach on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:49:58 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  Federalist #78 (4.00 / 7)

                  http://mydd.com/...

                  The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority; such, for instance, as that it shall pass no bills of attainder, no ex post facto laws, and the like. Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing.

                  Some perplexity respecting the rights of the courts to pronounce legislative acts void, because contrary to the Constitution, has arisen from an imagination that the doctrine would imply a superiority of the judiciary to the legislative power. It is urged that the authority which can declare the acts of another void, must necessarily be superior to the one whose acts may be declared void. As this doctrine is of great importance in all the American constitutions, a brief discussion of the ground on which it rests cannot be unacceptable.

                  There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this, would be to affirm, that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers, may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid.

                  If it be said that the legislative body are themselves the constitutional judges of their own powers, and that the construction they put upon them is conclusive upon the other departments, it may be answered, that this cannot be the natural presumption, where it is not to be collected from any particular provisions in the Constitution. It is not otherwise to be supposed, that the Constitution could intend to enable the representatives of the people to substitute their will to that of their constituents. It is far more rational to suppose, that the courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the legislature, in order, among other things, to keep the latter within the limits assigned to their authority. The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents.

                  Nor does this conclusion by any means suppose a superiority of the judicial to the legislative power. It only supposes that the power of the people is superior to both; and that where the will of the legislature, declared in its statutes, stands in opposition to that of the people, declared in the Constitution, the judges ought to be governed by the latter rather than the former. They ought to regulate their decisions by the fundamental laws, rather than by those which are not fundamental.

                  "Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built upon the ruins of the bowers of paradise." Thomas Paine, Common Sense

                  by Cedwyn on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:07:30 PM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

                  •  Filibuster, How To (only you can make it happen!): (none / 1)

                    First : Call the three Democrats (Mary Landrieu, Ken Salazar, and Dianne Feinstein) who oppose Alito but also said they oppose a filibuster. We must persuade them that a vote against Alito is meaningless if they don't support a filibuster. Senator Salazar (D-CO) 202-224-5852 Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) 202-224-5824 Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 202-224-3841

                    Second : Call your own Democratic Senator: 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641. If you can't get through, look up the Senator's District Office number in your phone book or here: http://capwiz.com/...

                    Third : Unbelievably, three Democrats (Ben Nelson, Tim Johnson and Robert Byrd) support Alito! Tell them to either support filibuster or at least "don't get in the way." Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) 202-224-6551 Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) 202-224-3954 Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) 202-224-5842
                    888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641. If you can't get through, look up the Senator's District Office number in your phone book or here: http://capwiz.com/...

                    Fourth: Call the "Red State" Democrats: (Message same as above -- "No" is meaningless) Tom Carper (DE)
                    Kent Conrad (ND)
                    Byron Dorgan (ND)
                    Blanche Lincoln (AR) Mark Pryor (AR)

                    Fifth : Call these "Blue State" and pro-choice Republicans: (Message: A "Unitary Executive" is dangerous to balance of powers--please do not get in the way of a filibuster.) Lincoln Chafee (RI)
                    Susan Collins (ME)
                    Lisa Murkowsky (AK)
                    Bob Smith (OR)
                    Olympia Snowe (ME)
                    Ted Stevens (AK)

                    For extra credit, call all of the 2008 Presidential candidates who are sitting Senators--Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Russ Feingold, and John Kerry--and tell them to either LEAD THE FILIBUSTER or KISS YOUR SUPPORT GOODBYE. 888-355-3588 or 888-818-6641. If you can't get through, look up the Senator's District Office number in your phone book or here: http://capwiz.com/...

                    You can also send that message to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (202-224-2447) and the Democratic National Committee (202-863-8000).
                    Polls and public opinion are another way to apply pressure -- get word out about why Alito needs to be filibustered:

                    Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. (Click here)

                    People for the American Way has collected nearly 65,000 signatures to send to the Senate, please add yours: Save the Court Petition

                    John Kerry has endorsed this anti-Alito petition, signers' names will be read into the Congressional Record:http://www.johnkerry.com/...

              •  Send him a letter on lined paper. (4.00 / 4)

                He likes those.

                -9.0, -8.3. History is more or less bunk.--Henry Ford
                Henry Ford is more or less bunk.--history

                by SensibleShoes on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:07:29 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

              •  Use the address of his hometown office... (none / 0)

                ...when sending an email. Senators will only accept emails from their own state's citizens. Just use his zip code and send the email. You can also call or fax him.

                300 Virginia Street East, Suite 2630
                Charleston, WV 25301-2523
                Voice: 304-342-5855
                FAX: 304-343-7144

                I think Senator Byrd is thinking ahead to November and realizing he may have some pretty stiff competition for his seat. Perhaps he's worried about Dems taking the Senate in November and doesn't want to jeopardize that.

                I, for one, think some of our Democratic leaders are underestimating the American public. They are so brow-beaten by a 20% screaming radical-right minority and a press that has become the propaganda organ (and I do mean organ) of the Nazi Republican party they don't realize how strong the majority is becoming in its will to unseat these evil bastards.

                I think Senator Byrd is making a HUGE mistake. If he loves the Constitution as he always says he does, he really must rethink this bogus support of George's Judge Alito. He, of all people, needs to stand now and fight this travesty. I'm afraid his Senate seat in 2007 isn't going to mean a whole lot if this confirmation gets rubber stamped.

                I would definitely treat Senator Byrd with great respect when disagreeing with him on this. He has been one of our strongest voices in the Senate and we owe him a debt of gratitude for that.

                (¯`*._(¯`*._(-IMPEACH-)_.*´¯)_.*´¯) It's not too late!

                by nehark on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:53:00 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

            •  I tried calling there this afternoon (4.00 / 4)

              even though he is not my Senator, but his mailbox was full. I hope someone is getting the message to him. I will keep trying.
            •  Ask him to at least not block a filibuster (4.00 / 2)

              ...if he can't bring himself to actually vote "no" on Alito.

              As pointed out earlier, Frist must gather 60 votes to block a filibuster.  We must make sure no Dems help him get there.

              -------------------------------------------

              Someone left the cake out in the rain. - Jimmy Webb

              by eecee on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 09:17:50 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

          •  Mistakes MUST have consequences (4.00 / 2)

            You are wrong about his "mistake", he is just dead wrong.  Be that as it may, wrong or mistaken, they must have the same grim consequences.  He must hear your wrath and FEEL it through a loss of money/donations.  If a challenger appears, fund him/her.  He MUST experience consequences that serve to "instruct him" on the error of his ways.

            No forgiveness.

            Reichstag fire is to Hitler as 9/11 is to Bush

            by praedor on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:25:20 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  I'm guessing, ... (4.00 / 2)

            given Sen. Byrd's love of the Constitution and the Senate, that he was holding his nose when he said he'd vote for Alito.

            He can't do us any good if he's not re-elected and he's facing a serious, wealthy challenger this time around.

            It's no different than what Sen. Nelson has to do.

            "...the basest of all things is to be afraid." William Faulkner

            by flem snopes on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:28:27 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  My fantasy (none / 1)

              is the Byrd announced that he would vote for Alito so that when he votes against cloture it will be with the clear understanding that he did it not to oppose Alito, but to uphold Senate tradition and the right of the minority to filibuster.

              A boy can dream, can't he......

              Just think how proud you'll be to tell your kids how you voted this year.

              by DyspepTex on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:38:45 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  I was actually wondering (none / 1)

                if he might just do that.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but Byrd hasn't said he'd support a filibuster, he just said he'd be voting to confirm.  Just because you're voting to confirm doesn't mean you can't be passive on the cloture vote.

                Ugh...I'm grasping at straws here for some hope.

                Feingold is my hero.

                by Marc in CA on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:06:53 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

            •  NOBODY can do us any good (none / 1)

              if Scalito is confirmed.

              What good will even a Democratic majority do when we have a SCOTUS that decides that the legislative branch is subservient to the executive, and therefore irrelevant?

              Don't let up on Byrd...and Senator Kennedy, you please keep the pressure on him too.

          •  We're going to be here a lot longer (4.00 / 2)

            than he is. He probably won't live long enough to see the destruction Alito et al are going to wreak on what's left of our democracy.

            Byrd has made a tragic mistake -- but we're the ones who are going to suffer from it.

        •  While I Am Not Going To Impugn Sen. Byrd (4.00 / 4)

          I see no reason to donate to him in the future. Still, he's an ally in some endeavors.
          Let's not be too quick to sever bonds formed in the trenches these past years.

          Remember the people ready to abandon Feingold after his, in retrospect not unreasonable, Roberts vote.

          •  i look at alito as... (none / 0)

            ...the final nail in the coffin. if he is confirmed then it won't really matter how hard we work to re-elect a president from the democratic party or try to balance out the power in congress.

            i'm tired of spinning our wheels for nothing. these dems who say they're going to vote for alito's confirmation have no excuse and do not deserve any further respect from us.

            The radical invents views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them. - Mark Twain

            by FemiNazi on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 11:34:54 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

        •  I guess my comment on byrd was disrespectful (4.00 / 2)

          But I'm sorry. Plain and simple I am convinced that Alito plans to shit on the constitutional separation of powers, and will give Bush a pass for breaking the law. I know in the pit of my stomach that this is the reason Bush wants him in, as much as his anti-abortion stance.

          I do not belive Byrd is just a dupe. Therefore I sadly must conclude that he is a shill and a hypocrite.

          But for those of you who think he is just being duped... Well.. fax him those handwritten letters.

          Educate him. while there is still time

        •  byrd (none / 0)

          people on this site are unreasonable in their criticisms of red state democrats. they vote with their party most of the time but on some big issues they cant because it would hurt their reelection chances. this would seem to be a worthwhile tradeoff if youre a democrat, considering the alternative. senator lieberman on the other hand...
          •  so... (none / 0)

            it's reasonable to place your own career first over the fate of 200+ years of democracy??

            The radical invents views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them. - Mark Twain

            by FemiNazi on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 11:36:23 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  If the (none / 0)

              people of West Virgina will vote him out for not voting for Alito, isn't in fact not just an act of political calculation but an act of voting in the interests of his constituents?

              Think about it, really think about.

              Bryd represents a state.  If that state would toss him for voting against Alito doesn't that mean he should in fact vote for Alito in order to be their representative in the Senate?

              •  yes, i agree... (none / 0)

                ....why should we be the ones worrying about all the "good things" he's done for our cause? leave that up to his constituents. he has to answer to them for his track record; he'll have to answer to the rest of the country -- and its history -- for this single vote.

                let us not forget that abe lincoln sacrificed his career and ultimately his life (and i think deep down he knew the risk he was making) to end slavery.

                The radical invents views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them. - Mark Twain

                by FemiNazi on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 08:11:20 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

          •  but blue state repubs (none / 1)

            seem to be able to vote with their party, and not worry about political concerns.
          •  For the 100th time... (4.00 / 2)

            Had Senator Byrd opposed Scalito, he would have still won re-election in November.
      •  His abandonment didn't start and end with liberals (4.00 / 5)

        he abandoned moderates and a majority of Americans.  It is a sad day when an elderly man will put his long and distinguished career on the line for purely political reasons.  
        •  Exactly correct (4.00 / 4)

          From what I've heard about Byrd, supporting Scalito is a bizarre choice: Byrd a big lover of the senate, and a big friend of labor -- Scalito a big opponent of both of those.

          It seems to me that if Byrd gets unelected because of filibuster support, he would cement this reputation as a good guy. On the minus side, he's out of the Senate. But gimme a break: he's practically 90, for chrissakes! What's the difference between being in the Senate for 48 years or 54 years, especially if the last six years are in a Senate neutered by the "unitary executive theory"?

        •  Senator Byrd comes from a time when (4.00 / 6)

          a man's word was his bond. A handshake was all that was required to seal a contract.

          Senator Byrd was, in my opinion, told exactly what he wanted to hear, in his answeres from Alito. Senator Byrd trusts Alito to keep his word, honor existing legal presedent, hold the constitution sacred.  

          My sorrow yesterday, was watching an honorable man, duped by this corrupt administration, fall on the wrong side of an issue so critical to America and our freedoms.

          If only we could return to the days where a mans word was his bond, and doing the right thing was more important than doing the politically correct thing.

          I miss my country. Nations were our friends, my country not scared and fearful, my countrymen  understood that the values which brought us together, was greater than whatever divided us.
             

          "Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen." Mort Sahl

          by maggiemae on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:24:25 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  I think you are so right. (4.00 / 2)

            No matter what anyone says, I think that Senator Byrd is a gentleman.

            The Republicans have a fundamental problem with telling the truth - Howard Dean.

            by NYC Sophia on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 05:14:49 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  I don't believe it (none / 1)

            Sen. Byrd may come from a time of decency, but I can't believe that he actually believes that bullshit. He should know better and I think he does. I'm disgusted.

            My teeth aren't white enough for DailyKos, so adios.

            by DrReason on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 05:42:19 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Maybe Senator Kennedy can ask him (4.00 / 3)

              which is the case.  

              Senator Byrd, was your decision based on trusting Mr. Alito, or is it possible your trust is  misplaced?

              It's hard to reconsile the Senator Byrd we saw holding up his pocket copy of the Constitution, and taking Bill Frist to task, with the decision to support Alito at the expense of our Constitutional freedoms.  

              If he is tired of being the elected Democratic Senator, representing the people of West Virginia, perhaps he should gracefully retire.

              I for one will miss him, when he no longer serves.

              "Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen." Mort Sahl

              by maggiemae on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:52:46 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

              •  It sure is hard to reconcile (4.00 / 4)

                the Senator Byrd with the Constitution book, the Senator Byrd with the state that is home to betrayed miners and broken-hearted families, the Senator Byrd who loves the country and wants to preserve it as the forefathers intended.  

                Shame.

                It's so hard to reconcile that I simply cannot understand it, and I feel duped and let down in a major way, and he's not even my Senator.  Heck, I even bought one of those little red books, because I was so impressed with him.  I've got it right here.  It holds a whole new meaning now.  I know this sounds overly melodramatic but to me he was a compelling and dramatic and honorable man.  How could he do this?  

                I believed in this guy.  I am angry and confused.  I have to wonder about his competency right now.  Whatever the reason, I wish, deeply, that he would change his mind.

                If he is still completely competent, and a man of his word, would not an outpouring from the people sway him?  I would think that it would.

                "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." --Samuel Johnson

                by joanneleon on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:28:40 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

        •  Exactly... (none / 0)

          This was my reaction, too.

          Anyone who won't step up and stop Alito is abandoning not just "liberal" constituents, but in the end, all Americans.

          Alito is not normally inclined to be a friend to the average American in court.  He is not a friend to those accused of crimes by the government; he is not a friend to those who seek civil justice.  Only when the law is crystal clear on the side of the "little guy" will the little guy win.  Give Alito an inch of that sweet ol' "ambiguity" and he'll side with the government, the executive, or the insurance company, or the employer--every time.

          But all some folks can think about when they hear "Alito" are blastocysts, zygotes and fetuses, OH MY!!!  

      •  Senator Byrd - what is "Extraordinary"? (4.00 / 3)

        I just don't get it.  Senator Byrd publicly telling America that he "likes" Judge Alito?  Democratic Senators afraid to step up to filibuster an obviously partial nominee to the highest court in the land.  

        An "activist" radically-right-wing judge who has openly opined for reversing Roe v. Wade; who has openly supported the concept of the "Unitary Executive"; who has admitted in the course of these very nomination hearings that in past job "interviews" he'd been willing to say whatever was most convenient to get the next promotion or to please his boss; a man who has been more than willing to restrict the rights of injured workers, minorities and women?

        If seating this sort of swing vote on highest court in the United States of America for the next several decades does not qualify as an "Extraordinary Circumstance, then pray-tell what would???

        Senator Byrd - that Constitution which you cherish so deeply and carry with you at all times is about to be ripped asunder by the very man you stated you "liked".  And your capitulation on this incredibly important issue will be part of your Senate legacy.

        Please reconsider and Filibuster Alito!

        "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." --Thomas Jefferson

        by frisco on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:37:04 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Byrd (none / 0)

          You need to read Senator Byrd's statement on his website or his floor speech ....there is a clue there

          I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere ~ Thomas Jefferson

          by valadon on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:48:51 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  I read it (4.00 / 3)

            A lot of blustering about the Senate hearings process.  Then some history, and then, this quote:

            I liked that answer, and I liked Judge Alito. He struck me as a man of his word, and I intend to vote for him.
            http://byrd.senate.gov/...

            And this is where I think Senator Byrd, with all due respect, is making a huge mistake.

            He is failing to recognize that Judge Alito is a very ambitious man, and he will say all the right things, in the right situations, for his own personal gain.  Senator Byrd fails to see that Alito's integrity is questionable and when that happens, all the other arguments become irrelevant.

            "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." --Samuel Johnson

            by joanneleon on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:02:06 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Can Byrd be this naive?? (4.00 / 2)

              Given an interview where someone says "I won't steal again", alongside a resume that shows a 30-year history of theft, and a couple of confirmed instances of lying, does anyone in their right mind believe the interviewee?

              Byrd does, apparently. Not me. 'Word is bond'? Give me a break. If Byrd is really this gullible, Southern gentleman or not, he has truly lost his mind.

              And also, on the 'political' move. If Alito gets in and I am a progressive WV Dem (I'm sure there are at least a few), I stay home next election. Whatever his noble past, Byrd appears to be making an error of Biblical scale, and surely some Dems will never vote for him again.

              •  It appears that way (none / 1)

                Seems that all Alito had to do was pass the interview.  I'm sure he was prepped well.

                "The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." --Samuel Johnson

                by joanneleon on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 09:01:18 AM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  And an interview where he dodged most questions (none / 1)

                  I wish my job interviews worked that way.

                  But seriously, one of the issues here is that lifetime nominees to the SC, Dem or Repug, cannot be allow to finesse past all the questions. Doing this should get the same negative result as in a real job interview.

      •  No, Senator Byrd abandoned ALL people (4.00 / 4)

        conservative and liberal and the 'I don't have an opinion on politics' type.

        Because Alito on the Supreme Court is bad for EVERY single citizen in this country.  "Conservatives" may think they want Alito on the supreme bench... but, man, they have no idea what they are asking for.

        Just wanted to qualify that a bit. This is not a partisan issue. It's about what is best for this country -- liberal and conservative.

        Every dollar a for-profit insurance company spends on your care, is a dollar that goes against the coroporate balance sheet. --nyceve

        by letsfight on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 09:50:33 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  Well (none / 1)

      Didn't West Virigina go hard to Bush in 2000 and 2004?
      •  And? (4.00 / 4)

        Byrd is a Democrat, albeit of the conservative variety, but a Democrat nonetheless.  Byrd claims to have a deep and profound love of the Constitution and yet he's going to back a man who all but guarantees the destruction of that Constitution?

        It doesn't jibe and Byrd needs to be made to reconsider his support of Alito.

        No tears to cry. No feelings left. This species has amused itself to death. ~ Roger Waters

        by Kevin in Long Beach on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:35:55 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Maybe it's you (3.00 / 3)

          and yet he's going to back a man who all but guarantees the destruction of that Constitution?
          Ohh come on now.

          That's just absurd.  Let's enter the reality based community.

          Alito is going to tilt the court to the right, at least as much as a Roberts, probably as much as a Thomas, maybe as much as a Scalia.  

          But to suggest he is going to overthrow the government and oust the Constitution is just..

          ..it's not reality.

          Think of it like this.  Bryd has been a servant of the Senate and a really pretty good Senator; almost a stateman at times, over his long career.

          Maybe he's not the one wrong in believe that Alito won't be the end of the Republic.  Maybe it's you.

          •  Oh? (4.00 / 7)

            With Alito on the Court, we will see a shift hard right... absolutely.

            But the Constitution separates powers equally between the three branches of government.  Alito espouses a theory that vests all power into the Executive branch while watering down the power of the Legislative.  And the Court, with a hard right majority, will rubber stamping the atrocities this Administration will continue to commit.  Wiretapping?  Guess what, it'll be legal.  Rounding up political dissenters?  Legal.

            So tell me, if the Court validates the Administration's push to weaken the Legislative branch while strengthening the Executive, how is that not destroying the Constitution?

            You may be right, it may just be me overreacting.  But then again, maybe you simply aren't paying close enough attention or taking the threat seriously enough.

            No tears to cry. No feelings left. This species has amused itself to death. ~ Roger Waters

            by Kevin in Long Beach on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:48:46 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Scalito are different. (4.00 / 6)

              Thomas is ornery and narrow.

              Scalia and Alito have profoundly dangerous opinions about the Constitution.

              The best hope (small) is that Roberts turns out to be not so bad.

              Fascism is indistinguishable from any parody thereof.

              by mbkennel on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:51:55 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

            •  all power in the executive? (none / 1)

              Where in Alito's statements or writings has he ever said that?  Let's keep the discussion factual.
              •  Are You Serious? (4.00 / 2)

                Where were you during the discussion about the theory of the Unitary Executive Alito subscribes to?  

                Seriously, pull your head out and pay attention.

                No tears to cry. No feelings left. This species has amused itself to death. ~ Roger Waters

                by Kevin in Long Beach on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:10:42 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  Check his posting history (4.00 / 2)

                  Ought to clear things up for you.

                  When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. -Benjamin Franklin

                  by MissAnneThrope on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:16:44 PM PDT

                  [ Parent ]

                  •  nice comment (none / 0)

                    I am willing to bet you can't source a single comment or writing of Alito where he has ever said the executive should assume the power of the legislative.  

                    I like to keep my political discussion based in fact and not wide-eyed hyperbole.  But that's just me.  

                    •  Calling 'em like I see them (4.00 / 12)

                      He advocates for usurpation of power by the executive with his "signing statements" suggestion during Reagan's reign.

                      Article 1 of the Constitution states: "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States." According to the Washington Post, Alito, ignoring the plain meaning of "all legislative powers," argued in a 1986 memo written for the Reagan Administration that the President should "routinely issue statements about the meaning of statutes when he signs them into law" to grant the President "the last word" in order to "increase the power of the Executive to shape the law."

                      You may dispute that it's a statement intending for the President to assume that power, but many people would disagree.

                      When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. -Benjamin Franklin

                      by MissAnneThrope on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:40:55 PM PDT

                      [ Parent ]

                    •  you can't source a single comment (4.00 / 4)

                      How would you interpret:

                      At a Federalist Society symposium in 2001, Alito recalled that when he was in the Office of Legal Counsel in Ronald Reagan's White House, "we were strong proponents of the theory of the unitary executive, that all federal executive power is vested by the Constitution in the President."

                      Without Voter-Owned Clean Elections, we have no democracy! Be A Citizen Co-Sponsor

                      by gabriella on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:04:28 PM PDT

                      [ Parent ]

                  •  You're Right (none / 0)

                    It does clear things up for me.  

                    No tears to cry. No feelings left. This species has amused itself to death. ~ Roger Waters

                    by Kevin in Long Beach on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 10:44:37 AM PDT

                    [ Parent ]

          •  Constitution (4.00 / 11)

            Alito has made it clear that he will let Bush violate the Constitution and not stop him, because he believes in the Unitary President.  This is a very serious situation!
          •  heresy (none / 1)

            You should know it's heresy on kos to believe that a man who has seen half a century of political battles -- seen Presidents, justices, nations, life or death isues etc. come and go -- somehow shouldn't believe that the issue de jour will spell the end of the Republic.  Heresy.
            •  he is also a man who supported racist views (none / 1)

              until he saw the light, so he's not above reproach for being on the wrong side of history.
              •  Maybe he relates to Alito's past (none / 1)

                Bigotry and misogyny? Not to impugn Byrd's reputation, because at least he was involved in that kind of group when it was less controversial than today. Not like, say, putting it on his resume in the 80's.

                When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. -Benjamin Franklin

                by MissAnneThrope on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:45:26 PM PDT

                [ Parent ]

                •  I don't get into that- and we don't need to go the (none / 0)

                  way of the worst parts of the other side and put him down. I simply think his decision is run, and he needs to be convinced of it. that was my point- that he is just wrong on this issue, and anyone asking us to shut up simply because he's older misses the point that he has not always been wiser. as my great grandmother says- you can be a fool when you are both young and old. and thats what I think needs to be understood here
            •  Byrd and us (none / 0)

              I think you're kind of on the point here:  Robert Byrd has a very long life in public service, and it seems like a few of us think he's one of "us" because of a few relatively recent (compared to a 50+ year career) speeches castigating Dubya & Dubettes.  

              He may be disappointing us, but I think he'd have to be more one of us to betray us.

              "What is a political regime, when devoid of justice, but organized crime?" (Augustine, DCD)

              by Allen on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:45:26 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

          •  Pay Attention (4.00 / 3)

            to the POWER already claimed and used by the President and consider your position if YOU disagreed with whoever was in power.  OH, come on now.  You are not paying attention to facts. Byrd wants to think that Alito is a good guy and probably he is but his ideas have a dangerous consequence.  Alito's wife cried for Alito.  I am crying for my country.

            Fight for Democrats in 2008 or the Republicans will continue to follow us home into our private lives.

            by Gram E on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:00:38 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Sweet irony......... (4.00 / 5)

              Oh that the pendulum swings and the Dems come to power and ascend to the throne, with the very tools being shaped and hammered today on the anvil of greed and lust for power. Then shall we see the gnashing of teeth and the pitiful cries of the FOX pundits at the injustice of it all.

              But by then it may be too late. Because we trade our freedom for safety from imagined and manufactured dragons. In the quest of winning we lost our balance; and in the balance was the taming of powerful forces.

              And as every apprentice of power knows, once the bottle is opened, the genie has his own agenda.

              Woe to those who deign to tamper with these forces and trade away the future for the expediency of the moment.

              Get the money out of elections-it's our only shot. -8.88 -8.05

              by brent for truth on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:33:07 PM PDT

              [ Parent ]

          •  Bush has already shredded the Constitution (none / 0)

            Now who's going to tape it back together?

            Who's going to stop the U.S. from torturing people with impunity? Who's going to stand up for your right to privacy? Who's going to win back the right of Congress, not the President, to make law in this country?

            You'd have to have been in a coma the last six years to be as optimistic as you are.

            •  It's reality (none / 0)

              You know, it's not optimism, it's reality.

              The reality is that America has been titled far right by incompetent leadership.

              Everyone wants to pretend this is as bad it gets, the republic is dead, etc.

              It's because most people here have no sense of scale of whats going on.

              Bush is bad.  He is destructive and destroys almost everything he touches.

              But the country will do just fine.  We've survived far, far, far worse and come through better than ever.  

              Just pick out any example.  The depression; either of the great wars, Vietnam, Watergate, the Civil War, the Boxer Rebellion, Whiskey Rebellion, the Red Scare, the missle crisis, etc.  

              Who's going to stop the U.S. from torturing people with impunity?
              I'll you fucking who.  How about this.  The people, you dunce.  First, through the Congress.  2006 is coming up.  If that fails, the Constitution was designed to be amended.

              Who's going to stand up for your right to privacy? Who's going to win back the right of Congress, not the President, to make law in this country?
              The answer, you dunce.  We have one party rule you moron.  That's why Congress is passing over it's power. But that's why we have Bush doing what he wants - he fears not a Congress that is hostile to him.  Already you can see the gears turning against him - '06 looms large and these bozos want to stay in office.  That's why you have a steady tide of GOP defectors.  

              I don't mean to be rude, but this whole conversation just reaks of political inexperience.  Or just general newness.  Everyone around here thinks that whatever latest misdeed by Bush is the end of the Republic.

              It's time for everyone to take a dose of reality.  Bush is the worst president in generations; he'll be gone by 2008.  The GOP is incapable of being a majority part.  They can be gone from office in a matter of months.

              And that's that.  The Republic will survive.  Our institutions survive.

          •  I will hold you to your comforting fantasy. (none / 0)

            I will call for you when the going gets tough and Roe v. Wade is dust and the wiretaps are upheld as executive power.

            Have a great night. (Can you pass that joint over here?)

            "As long as space abides, so too shall I abide, relieving the suffering of sentient beings." Santideva

            by Percheronwoman on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 05:24:37 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  So what (none / 0)

              Roe v Wade is overturned.

              Does that make abortion illegal, or remove the penumbra of privacy created by Griswold or enforced by Roe and Casey?

              Hardly.  It means a new fight, and a new move.  It's time to go to the states.

              And if the courts rule wiretapping legal, so what.  It's time to go back to Congress.  They can ban it.  If they can't, then it's time to amendmend the Constitution.

              This is reality, and the reality is, you face adversity and admit the true scope of the problem.

              The situation is that Bush is a desperate failure, whose policies and plans are begging to be thrown out.  And that's going to happen, one way or another, by 2008.

          •  Danheskett (none / 0)

            Now you are being absurd.  Alito believes in a unilateral executive power.  You need to read up on what that means.
            •  That's a fucking (none / 0)

              lie and you know it.

              He believes the Constitution and the law envisions a more powerful executive, and that's how his rulings read.

              You can live in the fake world, or you can live in reality.

              The reality is not that Bush had a master grand plan to nominate Meirs, wait for her to be destoryed, and then nominate Alito to the bench, all in case his secret 4 year spying program was revealed at just the wrong time and he needed someone to crown him King.

              Get real.  Alito is a conservative, somewhere beteween Scalia and Thomas, or maybe on the same level as Scalia.

              Have the moved the court right?  Yes, absolutely.  Did they installed Bush as literal monarch as people around here claim?

              No.  

          •  Differences of opinion on kos (none / 0)

            are one thing...

            but that comment is way out of the mainstream.

            "Absurd" to believe that Scalito wishes to overturn 217 years of constitutional protections? No, it's exactly what he's proven throughout his career.

            •  It's (none / 0)

              absurd to believe he is literally the end of the Republic.

              As if his whole plan has been to slowly rise through the judical branch to someday, somehow, defeat the Republic.

              It's garbage.

              He's a right-wing judge with a track record of supporting the government and excluding Congress from it's traditional role.

              Yes, a bad man for the court.

              But the end of the court?  The end of the Republic?

              Come now.

      •  I bet those families of the miners (4.00 / 5)

        killed there recently are having second thoughts about basing their votes on things like gay marriage and more on issues that might help themselves.

        The Republican Party: The Bridge to Nowhere

        by flounder on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:56:31 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Then... (none / 1)

          Why would those families support Byrd who voted to confirm a nominee who consistently rules in favor of corporations including coal mining companies?
        •  Exactly the point (4.00 / 2)

          This is what Senators Kennedy and Kerry need to take up with Senator Byrd, assuming he is voting YES to confirm Judge Alito for political survival.

          First, his opponent may have the money of the Repugs behind him, but the man has already said he was running on a pro-business platform and would encourage LESS regulation.  That will not help the miners or any other workers in the state of West Virginia; for this reason he should be differentiating himself from his opponent by standing up for the rights of workers.

          Second, if he was worried about money and trying to offset a difficult and expensive campaign by compromising for swing votes, we need to know this so that we can step up and fill the financial gap.

          Lastly, Senator Byrd needs to remember that it's not about him or his political career, or even to some extent his constituents; it's about the Constitution and the threat to it that unchecked Presidential power will pose, either through the SCOTUS interpretation of a unitary/unilateral executive or through the abuse of signing statements.  This is the very nature of Advise and Consent -- being the co-equal check and balance on the power of other branches.  Even in Senator Byrd's lengthy career there have been few times that a firm check has been required, but this is one of those times.  We need him to stand firm with us.

          •  Forgot about a specific case (4.00 / 3)

            There was a case where Judge Alito dissented, interpreting differently the role of a mine worker.  Because the miner worked with coal above ground, Alito did not believe that regulations protecting miners applied to this particular person.

            Coal dust is just as flammable above ground as below.  Coal mining and related earth moving equipment is just as dangerous above ground as below.  Miners below ground require counterparts above ground; that is the nature of mining.

            A justice who did not grasp this will not be in the best interest of the working men and women of the state of West Virginia, let alone any other state.  The miner in question was fortunate that Alito was in the minority; we may not be so blessed should Alito be confirmed.

    •  Since your aide will be reading responses (4.00 / 8)

      I had to share this, I found it at DU.

      Election activist spied on for protesting the stolen eletion:

      The government spied on me because I was protesting the stolen election
      The Bush administration tapped my phone and intercepted my emails. They tried to spy on my constitutional efforts to expose and protest the stolen 2004 election. From December 8 2004 until the day after the presidential inauguration, my telephone was tapped and my emails intercepted. The telltale echo on the phone and email "bounce-backs" persisted without interruption until the tap was pulled on January 19th at which time my phone immediately became unusable due to excessive static on the line. On that same day I lost the need to send emails twice to ensure they were received. When the telephone company technician came down from the pole after restoring service, he informed my son that the ends of our phone wires had been stripped which, left exposed, caused the excessive static.

      On December 10th, we received an inquiry from a "volunteer" who expressed keen interest in where we lived and details of our lives not normally a part of our election reform effort. This "volunteer" persisted in personal questions, raising our suspicions. With the help of some "white hat" hackers, this volunteer's email was traced back to a server in Atlanta which contained directions for hacking into servers of various types and security protocols. The server's name was "Fed One".

      I am not a terror threat. However, I might well be considered a political threat given my efforts to expose and protest the stolen 2004 election (SEE http://www.51capitalmarch.com )

      Whether I was spied on by the NSA, Defense Intelligence Agency, Rumsfeld's secret spying organization, or the FBI is irrelevant. What is relevant is this administration is violating our civil rights and our Constitution by using the resources of the Federal Government for purely political reasons.

      Kip Humphrey

      _____________

      Since democrats in congress seem to want to stick their fingers in their ears and scream LA LA LA when ever Diebold come up, I just wanted to inform you of this post.

      It's not about stopping terrorism, it's about stopping dissent, please Senator Kennedy speak out on this person's behalf.

      •  The echo (4.00 / 2)

        Is that really a sign? I've had it on my phone for the past year, as well as sudden call interruptions. I'll be on the phone with someone and we'll hear someone else hang up, or the phone will just beep and then go dead. Great, now I can start getting paranoid! :)

        When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. -Benjamin Franklin

        by MissAnneThrope on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:14:19 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  25 years of telephone experience here (none / 1)

          I have been repairing telephone and data networks for 25 years. Echo on the line does not mean that your phone is being tapped. In fact, it is a fairly common telephone problem.

          There are two major sources for most echo problems on a phone line. These are Hybrid Echo and Acoustic Echo.

          Hybrid Echo is caused by the fact that your home phone line is a two-wire connection but this connection is converted to four-wire in order to transport your call through the phone network to the person you are calling. The reason it is converted is to be able to provide amplification for the signal in both the send and recieve directions. The device used to convert your two-wire home phone line to a four-wire connection is called a hybrid. When one of these hybrid devices goes bad it can allow the send side of the call to bleed over on to the recieve side, thus creating an echo.

          Acoustic Echo is a little easier to understand. This is caused by actual acoustical feedback between the speaker and the microphone in your telephone's handset. Many inexpensive telephones do not have good acoustical decoupling between the speaker and the microphone, thus the echo.

          These are not a reason to believe that your phone is being tapped or that anyone is listening to your calls. As a matter of fact, if someone was listening to your calls there is no way for you to know it. The taps themselves do not cause echo. Telephone technicians tap into phone lines all the time in order to conduct maintenance and testing, although these tests are conducted when no one is using the line.

          Also, if you are using dial-up for your internet connections you are sharing the same line that you use to talk. If there are any problems, including echo problems, these can cause trouble with your e-mail and internet surfing as well.

          If you are having echo problems, I suggest you call your phone company to get the problem repaired.

          •  Recording causes echo (none / 0)

            As a former investigator, we routinely recorded phone calls (legal? illegal? I have no idea what Ohio's standards are). Anyway, there was a distinct echo once the record button was pressed.

            BUT -- thanks so much for the explanation. I don't truly think my calls are worth monitoring or that I'm on the governments Do Spy list.

            What about the third party hangup sound that sometimes causes the entire line to disconnect and sometimes doesn't? It's not someone picking up in another room at either house. I always wondered what caused that - crossed lines?

            Thanks again!  

            When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. -Benjamin Franklin

            by MissAnneThrope on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 08:21:04 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

        •  Don't know (none / 0)

          There could be a number of simple, mechanical or electrical reasons you phones misbehave.  An exposed wire, due to mice or wear, in your house can cause a lot of problems for you, though not an echo (I've had the mouse problem).  The simple electrical problem of bared and grounding phone wires will cause static, sudden loss of connectivity.

          As for echo...is your phone service standard, old fashioned phone service or have you gone to Vonage or Skype or the like?  Internet phone service can have a number of issues, including echo, that you don't get with normal phone service...but also, internet phone service is VERY easily buggable and IS bugged by default if the NSA is, in fact, vacuuming up internet traffic and doing datamining on it.  You cannot control (or know) where your IP packages are going even if you make a call inside the country.  The packets can route out of the country before coming back, which would fall under one of the stated (illegal) wiretapping/spying conditions that are "OK" according to the Prez.


          Be that all as it may, if you want to be certain that you are not being bugged, whether at home or at work (some companies listen in as a matter of course), for between $100 and $400 you can acquire bug and tap detectors online.  The upper priced units are a bit elaborate while $200-300 units are often handheld or mountable on a belt like a pager, and can be used to either check you current phone OR scan the room for bugs.  Thus, and especially for those of you who are involved in protest activities, that are deemed a "big danger" (like Quakers, for instance), if you spend just a couple hundred you could go a long way to making sure your immediate environs are not bugged or phones tapped. You can do a google search and find them but as an example, check: http://spyville.com/...

          Reichstag fire is to Hitler as 9/11 is to Bush

          by praedor on Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 04:00:16 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Senator Kennedy (none / 1)

      Fall River, MA, born here!!! I've got your back!!!

      Save our Constitution Save our country!!!

      I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere ~ Thomas Jefferson

      by valadon on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:38:14 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Me too! (none / 1)

        West Springfield, Mass. Born and raised in Mass.
        We're mobilized on Alito!

        "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction." --Blaise Pascal

        by lyvwyr101 on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:08:02 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Born in Waterbury, CT (none / 0)

        But a 17-year resident of MA since then.

        Senator, I'll repeat here what I sent in my email to your office earlier today:

        Senator Kennedy -
        Because of the leadership you have shown on this issue, together with Senator Kerry, I have never been more proud to be from the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts!

        Please let the voice of the American citizenry be heard on this attempted emasculation of the judicial branch to serve the executive's wishes!  Please save our civil liberties from unconstitutional intrusion and our freedom from government oppression.  Without the filibuster, I am afraid Judge Alito's notion of the "Unitary Executive" will result in America once again falling under the dominion of "King George".

        I have forwarded Senator Kerry's "DailyKos" call for support on this issue far and wide, and have sent faxes in support of the filibuster to the offices of Senators Reid, Obama, Dodd, Lieberman, Biden, Durban, Bayh, Snowe, Collins, Leahy, Jeffords, Schumer, Clinton, Chafee and Feingold.  Keep up the good fight, Senator!  We have your back.

        Godspeed, Senator.  Fight on!

        "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." --Thomas Jefferson

        by frisco on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 06:03:05 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  This is not Just W. Virg., nor is it just liberals (4.00 / 5)

      The thrust of this nomination is an imperial presidency. We will live in a country where there will no longer be any checks and balances .

      Imagine one person with a drivers licence who has been told that they don't have to obey any traffic laws at all and then imagine the carnage that that single driver could wreak upon our nation's highway.

      It comes down to a bloodbath!

      In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. -- Thomas Jefferson

      by borisworf on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:10:44 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Our soldiers overseas deserve better! (4.00 / 4)

        The biggest morale problem in Iraq and Afghanistan for our soldiers is seeing the corruption and neglect of KBR, Haliburton, and their lack of repairs and help to them and the Iraqis and Afghanis.  Where is the independent OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE for this travesty?  Where is our money going?  Instead of worrying about himself, this is my Staff Sgt. son in Afghanistans biggest concern.
  •  Thank you Senator (4.00 / 20)

    For fighting the good fight.  
  •  Thank you (4.00 / 5)

    Thank you for your service and dedication to the country.  

    Although I disagree with you on a solid many issues big and small, I agree with you on Alito's membership to the court and the direction that President Bush has led the country.

    Keep up the good work.

  •  Thank you Senator (4.00 / 13)

    History will remember you kindly.

    Shill, Shill, Shill.

    by Paleo on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:13:50 PM PDT

  •  Im a constituent of yours so I didnt have to call, (4.00 / 8)

    since I knew you'd do the right thing anyway. Thanks for saving me a dime!

    It's a neighborly day in this beautywood. Relentless!

    by ablington on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:13:54 PM PDT

  •  Way to go Senator Kennedy! (4.00 / 16)

    Please don't stop fighting!

    We need you!!!

  •  Thank You (4.00 / 17)

    for not listening to the echochamber news media and doing what was right no matter what anybody says about it.

    "Arguments are extremely vulgar, for everyone in good society holds exactly the same opinion." - Oscar Wilde

    by LeftHandedMan on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:14:44 PM PDT

  •  Is this really Sen Kennedy? (4.00 / 8)

    Because if it is... wow.  

    You rock Senator.  We knew we could count on you.

    You can't fool all the people all of the time, but if you fool the right ones the rest will fall in line.

    by ElMateo on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 03:14:58 PM PDT

    </