Democrats should not fear the "nuclear option"....

[kentuck]

Either Alito has the votes or he does not. The Republicans need sixty votes to stop debate on a filibuster. If the Democrats can unite, and that's no small "if", then they may force the Republicans to resort to an "up or down" vote with their threatened nuclear option. Let them. Dare them. If Alito is going to pass anyway, why take the way of least resistance and give them the appointment without a fight? Democrats should see if the "gang of 14" is good at their word. Let them go with the "nuclear option". That will be unprecedented and not something the Repubs would want to rush into, in my opinion. Let's get ready to rumble!

[BlueManDude]

1. they have nothing to lose

of course there will be those dems from "red" states that will be subject to the gop/bush pressure machine but after 5 years of this i would hope they'd have the balls to stand up to it.

[rateyes]

2. I'm with you there...

and if the gang of 14 doesn't hold together, and they use it...

Reid should stick to his promise to "shut down the Senate." Filibuster every other piece of legislation brought by the Repigs...

shut it down....do not bluff on this....shut it down, NOTHING but help to people of Katrina, etc....no energy bills, no transportation bills, no spending bills, no Social Security votes, N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

[Democrats_win]

6. Shut down the Senate: The American people will win then.

For once. Oh I hope they do shut the gravy train for corporate America down. Please, please please do it!

[kentuck]

9. They won't shut it down literally...

But, they can force the 500 page bills to be read word for word, no unanimous consent agreements...

[rateyes]

11. If they stick together, they can filibuster every bill...

amendment, etc. that comes up...this "nuclear option" only deals with nominations of judges. You gotta have 60 votes to break the filibuster....Now, if we can get 41 Dems to agree, they can bring the whole freaking government to a halt. 41 Democratic Senators standing together on principle...only question is, will they have the "intestinal fortitude" to do it?

[kentuck]

14. Yes, they want the "nuclear option" only to apply to judges...

But we should let them know right up front that they are setting a precedent..This is not a pick and choose process. When that precedent is set, it can also be used for other purposes and will be used by the Democrats if and when we regain power. We will over-ride the Bush taxcuts, we will pass a healthcare system for all our people, we will undo a lot of damage that has been done by the Republican Party and we will do it with an up or down vote. Let them be warned. If they want to play with fire, they will get burned.

[rateyes]

16. Let it be so! nt

[ewagner]

3. The Repubs lose either way

If they are successful in invoking the "Nuclear Option" then the public will see it as "over-reaching" or a "power-grab". They'll lose support either way, and, with a little bit of luck, it will happen in time for the '06 elections. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[kentuck]

5. The Democrats should let it be known this is a precedent....

Not just for "judges" but for healthcare, tax increases, etc., if the Democrats regain power. We will use the same majority rules to pass the legislation that we want and the Republican filibusters will also be ignored.

[Walt Starr]

4. FORCE THE FUCKERS TO NUKE US!

Plain and simple, no filibuster and I walk. There will be no reason to ever vote Democratic again if they do not filibuster Alito.

NONE!

This far and no further.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

13. Amen!I want a show down. I want a battle to end all battles. I want

the nuclear bomb to be lobbed right back at these guys. The Dems have the reputation of being soft and not willing to stand up for principle ON ANYTHING. Well, now is the time to grow a backbone, kick dirt in the bullies' faces, stand firm and TAKE NO MORE SHIT FROM THESE GUYS. If we lose, we lose, but at least we can go down fighting. If this guy is confirmed through the use of the nuclear option then seal up every piece of legislation between now and the 2008 elections. Really. Hard times for the country, you bet, but we can't depend on our elected officials to remember the Constitution, Bill or Rights or basic human decency then they need to be stopped from harming this country further by any means available. They just need to sit down, be quiet and kill time until time to go home because this isn't democracy.

And the repugs are spoiling for a fight - they want this fight, demand this fight, savor the thought of this fight and are willing to ruin a country for this fight. I say, BRING IT ON.

The nomination today was nothing more than drawing the religious whack jobs back in line for next year's elections. The way Chimpy and Rove see it, if Alito is confirmed, goody. But if not... then the Faux Religious Idiots can take comfort in their leader's attempts to save this country from the Liberal Devils when it comes time to vote in 2006. This nomination is just a CYA event for the repugs up for re-election next year.

Right now I am so discouraged. All my life I have truly believed that honor will always triumph over the most despicable events. I believed that there is more good in this world than bad and that Americans - most Americans - would never let corruption, evil politics and hate to flourish for long. I took comfort knowing that our Constitution and Bill of Rights guaranteed the ability to self-correct when needed. Apparently I was wrong.

I don't care if we disagree on who to support in the next election cycle, I don't care if you don't like the way a Dem voted for the war, tax cuts, or any other issue. Now is the time for the Dems (and the few moderate repugs that are left) to take this administration down. If the Democrats don't stand up our beloved country is doomed.

Everyone, call the DNC, the state and local Dem parties, your representatives, the Congressional switchboard, every talk show - let there be no doubt there will be NO support for anyone who doesn't stand up to these thugs.

[Tower]

7. It could also kick the Lieberman-types right in the face.

And I think we need alot more of that. Put up a fight on this nominee. If some Dems defect, it'll point out who's side they're actually on.

[The Magistrate]

8. Well Said, Sir

"Sometimes the cards ain't worth a damn if you don't lay them down."

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[gratuitous]

10. Now would be a good time to remind our distinguished Senators

That Mr. Bush does not exactly have real long coattails (if your Senators are Republicans), and the fact that that pesky 19th Amendment gives women the right to vote.

[stevietheman]

12. Independents would be upset with a "nuclear option".

Based on my knowledge of Independents and their thinking, they would tend to be upset at parliamentary rules being "changed in the middle of a game".

And given that Independents have already largely turned against Bush (the polls proving that), the Democrats may well indeed decide that the best way to approach this nomination is to force the GOP to push through the nuclear option. This may all but guarantee that Bush's poll numbers will never go back up.

[Strawman]

15. you're right kentuck

If they disregard the rules to impose their political will, that just means that we have to do the same thing in 2009. Win back the Senate and the Presidency, then pack the court with liberals using the nuclear option ourselves. If there is no hope of consensus, centrist nominees, we just have to adjust to that political reality

If the far right wing of the Republican party runs this process now and they don't want to compromise, we have nothing to lose. We have less leverage by just going along with Alito.

Still, I am worried. I think they may prevail and there will be seriously harmful consequences if that happens. But you're right, we need to at least press them to deliver the votes necessary to ram through a hard line conservative nominee.