…who needs Republicans? (Okay, that doeesn’t quite work, because really, who needs Republicans anyway? Nonetheless…)
Courtesy of Salon. a sampling of reasons provided by Senate “Democrats” on why they wouldn’t support a filibuster on the Alito nomination:
Tim Johnson, D-SD: “I am troubled by Judge Alito’s apparent views on matters such as executive power, his past opposition to the principle of one person, one vote, and his narrow interpretation of certain civil rights laws. Even so, I cannot accept an argument that his views are so radical that the Senate is justified in denying his confirmation.” (Okay, so he’s an extremist, but not enough of an extremist?)
Mary Landrieu, D-LA: “It is imperative that we remain focused on creating the tools New Orleans, Louisiana and the Gulf Coast will need to rebuild … We simply cannot afford to bring the Senate to a halt at a time when we need its action the most.” (Right…let’s not keep an eye on the big picture or focus on the future or anything; instead, let’s doom entire generations to a radical right-wing Supreme Court, because that will clearly help the people affected by Hurricane Katrina.)
Joe Biden, D-DE: “I see no reasonable prospect that a filibuster would work.” (Now there’s a self-fulfilling prophecy for you…it won’t work, so I’ll help make absolutely certain that it won’t work. Good reasoning there, Senator.)
Honestly, if the Dems bend backwards any farther to appease the Bushies, they’re going to turn themselves inside out. I guess that would result in their becoming Repugs, which they basically have anyway. I can’t believe I gave the DNC money last year. That won’t be happening again, I tell you what. Not until and unless they suddenly grow a collective spine.
I’m thinking it’s time for a new bumper sticker: “I’m anti-Alito, and I vote.” I just wish I lived in a state where I could vote one of these feeble excuses for Democrats out of office. That would at least go some tiny way toward assuaging the growing sense of political powerlessness that I feel. Not that I’ve ever felt politically powerful, of course, but there was a time, not that long ago, where I could still feel that a majority of Dems stood for the same things I did, or gave lip service to standing for those things. More and more, though, they stand for not ruffling feathers, not making themselves fodder for the wingnut talk-show hosts, and most of all, not risking anything that will engender accusations that they’re liberals. It’s a game that they can’t win, but they’re pretty much all desperate to play it anyway.
More than ever, I miss Paul Wellstone.