Please see part 1 of the diary: Want to send an emissary to DC to insist on a Filibuster?
http://www.dailykos.com/...
There appears to be a lot of interest in sending emissares to DC to insist that Dean and Reid insitute a filibuster against the confirmation of Alito as US Supreme Court Justice.
Please think about unrecommending the first diary and recommending this one. This diary will set up the donations part of the mission.
More after the flip...
UPDATE, 1:40pm EST Okay, there are just a few people who appear to be trying to disrupt the flow of this mission. There are 845 votes and counting on diary 1 saying YES, send emissaries. That's good enough for me and I assume others. I urge interested parties to not let this be derailed and to not buy into the circular debate that leads no where (ie send/don't send and no, don't send X person!). A note to those who don't like this emissary idea: don't go, don't contribute, but do something you think will thwart the nomination, but please, stop trying to insist that your one vote on this combined with just a few others who vote no on this is STANDING to thwart our mission. In essence, we would never get 100% backing for any idea on anything. Welcome to the world of humans. Just as it should be. Also, would sending an emissary actually HURT anything?
It also appears that there is tremendous support for sending Armando, Hunter and MaryScottOconnor. What a trio! Armando mentioned that if asked to serve and if it seemed the right thing to do, he would be happy to go. I sent an email to Hunter but have not heard back from him on his willingness. I don't know how to contact MaryScott, so anyone who knows how, could you please direct her to these diaries?
We also have the good news that our Dem Leader, Harry Reid, is working to extend the confirmation vote for a week.
Democrats argue that the former Reagan administration lawyer is likely to tip the court's balance to the right in replacing centrist Sandra Day O'Connor. But with little success so far peeling away Alito's support to be the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice, the Democrats were noncommittal about trying to mount a filibuster on the Senate floor.
Instead, they are seeking to slow Alito's ascension by demanding that the Judiciary Committee's chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., delay the panel's vote a week.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid "is urging all Democrats to refrain from committing to a vote either for or against confirmation prior to the caucus next Wednesday," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said.
http://news.yahoo.com/...
(Thanks for the link, Cory Bantic!) This is a refreshing move. Wonder what kind of work he wants to accomplish behind the scenes? It could be a move to give us more time to illuminate what Alito is really about (narrow, radical state and special (religious!) interests trumping individuals) OR it might be to get some traction for a fully supported filibuster. Either way, the time request is refreshing.
But, I think we should conduct our timing in accordance with the original vote schedule, and send emissaries to DC like on Tuesday.
SUGGESTIONS
There are tons of incredible suggestions in the first thread on this. For example:
- Send a call out to other liberal blogs asking them to also send emissaries so that we can create a blogosphere briggade.
- Video this excursion.
- Call upon all the senators and representatives who have used this site to further their agendas to GREASE the wheels for our emissaries to get on the inside. They owe us; just as we owe them our loyalty for working for the people as they do.
- John Edwards has a very successful petition campaign running right now to fight the Alito confirmation. We could call upon him, as well, to help us get heard.
- My idea of our emissaries wearing the Orange color of Kos is pretty much shot down. Yes, I think it's true, nice mainstream suits would be best. We can save the orange for the prison suits that many of bush's people will be wearing before the year is out.
- Another stellar idea from civil society on other thread:
This would be a great opportunity to connect the "netroots" to traditional policy and political advocacy and media.Almost guarantee that it would be MSM newsworthy, if for this reason alone.
So, I chllenge you'all to do the traditonal DC rag - get a room, issue a press advisory, hold a press conference or panel discussion. Do all the legwork to see that folks show up and it gets media attention. Work in the Coaltion to defeat Alito. Real world.
After the event, go to the Hill to lobby. Might be fun, and dispel myths that "netroots" are a bunch of pajama wearing anti-social types.
by civil society on Fri Jan 13, 2006 at 09:20:32 AM PST
There are many more ideas that have been put forth. The best idea is that we seem downright spirited about not giving up. There's a lot of power with that.
THE MONEY/DONATIONS PART
- We need to solicit donations. I have said many times that we need someone or several people who are well known on this site. And that isn't me for sures. Volunteers?
- I believe it should be understood that the money collected will be used for all reasonable expenses, which could include things such as child care expenses for an emissary who goes. This should not cost the emissary money out of pocket, imo. Speak now by commenting about such things below.
- If we have additional funds leftover, we should allow all donors to vote on what to do with that money. That could be to give it to the yearly kos event or to Markos for maintenance of this site. But a vote would have to ensue on behalf of the donors. Internet fundraising can get sticky, and we should be clear as day on what the money is used for.
EMISSARIES TO GO
Well, Armando gave a tentative yes. As far as I know, neither Hunter nor MaryScott have any idea that they are being called up! I sure hope they forgive me (and others) for nominating them!