Is Fillibuster In The Works?

Just a few moments ago, on the Randi Rhodes Air America show, it was stated that it is possible that a fillibuster may be in the works headed by none other than Senator John Kerry. When Ralph Nease, the President of PFAW was asked about it, he stated that Kerry's office is saying an announcement may be made later today. Hopefully, this is not just a rumour but a fact. If the Democrats knuckle under to this nomination, what the hell are they in office as a Demoratic member for? This is a pivotal time in the United States. If Alito get's on the SCOTU you can kiss your rights goodbye, and welcome an imperial Presidency unseen since the Richard Nixon era. Actually George Bush makes the Nixon era look like nothing more than a mild mannered blip in history by comparison. This is no longer just a matter of repodutive choice for women. This goes far beyond that! This goes right to the the workings of the Presidency itself, and whether or not he (or any President) has the right to total unchecked power. This is about all privacy rights and the very Constitution itself. Don't forget it is Alito himself who first put forth the theory of a Unitary Executive. Even if you're a real Republican, how in the world can you possibly stay silent for this outrageous appointment? Think for one moment, and answer this. If '08 brings another President Clinton, do you want her to have outright power to do anything she pleases? I think not. For heavens sake, even the New York Times, no friend to Democrats, has called for a fillibuster of Alito. Judge Samuel Alito Jr., whose entire history suggests that he holds extreme views about the expansive powers of the presidency and the limited role of Congress, will almost certainly be a Supreme Court justice soon. His elevation will come courtesy of a president whose grandiose vision of his own powers threatens to undermine the nation's basic philosophy of government — and a Senate that seems eager to cooperate by rolling over and playing dead. It is hard to imagine a moment when it would be more appropriate for senators to fight for a principle. Even a losing battle would draw the public's attention to the import of this nomination. ***** But portraying the Alito nomination as just another volley in the culture wars vastly underestimates its significance. The judge's record strongly suggests that he is an eager lieutenant in the ranks of the conservative theorists who ignore our system of checks and balances, elevating the presidency over everything else. He has expressed little enthusiasm for restrictions on presidential power and has espoused the peculiar argument that a president's intent in signing a bill is just as important as the intent of Congress in writing it. This would be worrisome at any time, but it takes on far more significance now, when the Bush administration seems determined to use the cover of the "war on terror" and presidential privilege to ignore every restraint, from the Constitution to Congressional demands for information. ***** A filibuster is a radical tool. It's easy to see why Democrats are frightened of it. But from our perspective, there are some things far more frightening. One of them is Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court. If any citizen of the Unites States stays silent on this outright attack on their rights, then you are contributing to a true constitutional crises the likes of which will be chilling. This vote will show just which members of the United States Congress stands for true oversight. It would be wise to contact your congressional representatives and remind them that they work for you and to conduct themselves accordingly.