http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Chafee_will_oppose_Alito_0130.html

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Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-RI) announced this morning in Providence that he will vote against the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to the Supreme Court.

In a statement this morning, the Rhode Island senator said he was "greatly concerned" about some of Alito's philosophies, according to the Providence Journal. Chafee is the first Republican to announce a vote against Alito.

The Journal did not say whether the senator would back a filibuster. Liberal Democrats Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) are mounting an eleventh-hour bid to block the nominee.


:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

will sometimes listen to the MAJORITY of the people in this country who want LAWFUL, CONSTITUTIONAL government, and who do not want one hundred years of social progress to be undone. Kudos to Jeffords! It takes courage to oppose a fascist rightwing that dominates the corporate news monopolies way, way out of proportion to its numbers.

it actually means to be a Republican versus being a Neo-con Neo-fascist...

I was raised in a Republican family - Reagan walked on water in my father's eyes and he taught 3 major premises me:

1) Keep Gov't Small
2) Keep Gov't out of your private life
3) Practice fiscal conservatism

There is nothing about this administration and the actions of the GOP that shows that they are any of these. And meanwhile, there are so many things about Alito that should be scaring the shit out of "true Republicans". My father is one of them...he sees the dangers of Alito and he can't understand why the GOP would all lockstep go behind this man.

My father, a conservative wants a filibuster!

Thank you Senator Chafee....you are being true to your conscience and to the memory of the true Republican party.... :patriot:

Well, almost. We need a "No" vote on cloture. Then he rulz!

he's voting for cloture
Chafee sucks! I pray a Dem beats him :puke:

Peace

They oppose Alito, came out with a letter on the 29th. Perhaps he is hearing a few "choice words" from them?

I just tried calling his office to thank him, and encourage him to join in the filibuster. Line is busy. Will try later.

Toll free number for the Senate: 1-888-355-3588

sent an email. Short and sweet: Support a fillibuster, and vote against Alito and an imperial presidency.

There is only one Repub left uncommitted. So that means no supermajority, right? They can't get to 60 this way--as long as no Dem crosses over.

such good news because it opens several possibilities now. There are other pubs wavering too. If the vote can be held over this may have been the hole in the dike that broke the wall.

We really need six more no votes to prevail. (Or at least three more to get to at least 38 if some vote present (6 would have to abstain) and the yes vote stays at 56, example 94 votes cast, 56 is less than 3/5 of 94 if my ciphering is correct.)

There is no honesty in voting yes on cloture and then no on aproving the nomination. If Alito doesn't belong on the court then he should be stopped. Period. Process and substance should be viewed as a whole. The guy should not be allowed to serve.

From democrats.com

12:30 pm: Contrary to earlier reports, Chafee is undecided on the filibuster - keep calling!

Perhaps it's occurred to someone over there just how unprinciple and immoral (therefore politically idiotic) opposing both Alito and filibuster really is.

---
www.january6th.org

:bounce:

:bounce: :yourock: :bounce:

but still good news!

You know, stuck in traffic....they need 60 to get to a vote on the nom, and if he ain't there, he can't vote with his party.

That might be another tack--these folks who say they will vote no on the nomination, but say they will vote to end debate...if they ain't there to vote to end debate, they ain't there....

and just might happen?

Fingers crossed.

concrete they can work with now.

1st Republican to cross em is huge.

today. I wonder if he will manage to vote.

My post about the Repub senator in a traffic accident ended up above your "Yes!" comments, so it looks as though you are "yessing" that post rather than the post about Chaffee voting no.

Everybody knows I'm crazy . . . but not mean!

:hi:

:bounce:

Maybe that will get Snowe and Collins to jump, as well. And, perhaps give some jumping Dems a spine to jump back. One can only hope and keep calling right now. Not over til it's over.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Anything else is just academic.

:patriot:

Chaffee will vote FOR cloture. How he votes on the nomination itself is irrelevant, since the GOPers have more votes than they need to confirm. They are giving Chaffee an out, since he is endorsed by pro-choice groups and will lose for sure in RI this fall if he votes for Alito. This is not great news at all. It is indifferent news at best.

You have to be willing to cast your vote as no before you can support the filibuster. What part of that don't you understand? He's the first Republican to break ranks.

Great attitude.

He knows that his no vote for Alito means squat. He is trying to straddle the fence if he votes Yes on Cloture.

ofnegativeprojection. There is such a thing as momentum.

I'll take your advice and keep up a good attitude!

:D

But this is the first step. It may give the other renegades some cover. And you can bet some Dems are talking to him now.

distrustful of highly managed, maniputed so-called "news" that is clearly aimed at shutting down all people power and defying the will of the true majority in this country.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x268713

to drag this over to at least tomorrow. That extra day may be more than the waivering holdouts can take with the pressure we're mounting.

Well with that attitude you don't have a chance. Buck up leaders!

since he is up for re-election. I wish he would turn away from the Dark Side and join the donkey parade.

He's doing the right thing!

Sonia

This is awesome news.

Lincoln.... :yourock:

TC

He's a pug in one of the bluest states in the US and up for reeelection. He'll do the bidding of his masters by voting for cloture and still get credit for his "NO" vote b/c most people don't know cloture from dick. I hope I'm wrong, but these guys are all about ass-covering.
I'll be the first to apologize to Chafee if he turns out to be the patriot he's behaving as.
Fingers crossed.
:popcorn:

just abstains from cloture vote. That's what I told his office. No one can make it an issue in re-election because they can't chastise him for something he didn't do.

He already made the toughest decision that Republicans will try to make a bring out the vote effort issue against him. I told his office if he has the concerns that Alito should not be on the court, by not allowing the filibuster he will be squeezed with that from both sides.

I ended with, is that what Martin Luther King would have done ?

Office of Legal Counsel to the White House, responsible for passing on the 'constitutionality' of Executive Orders ... some have allowed for the 'suspension of the Constitution'

"From 1985-1987, Alito served in the Office of Legal Counsel as Deputy Assistant Attorney General where he provided constitutional advice for the Executive Branch."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/judicialnominees/alito.html

FEMA
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/pages/fema.html

What role did Alito play in the passage of these Executive Orders and his review of them ?

Make sure to point it out to Ben Nelson, Obama and especially Byrd.