Democrats Must Stand Firm Against Gorsuch and His Plutocratic Backers
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Democrats Must Stand Firm Against Gorsuch and His Plutocratic Backers
Gorsuch could not have come this far without the billionaires who have supported his career
by Bill Moyers
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/05/democrats-must-stand-firm-a...
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If you have been watching cable news, you likely have seen a slick ad promoting Gorsuch’s nomination to the court. The sponsor is an outfit called the Judicial Crisis Network (JCN). Although his record prompts some court watchers to place Gorsuch to the right of Justice Samuel Alito Jr. and even, in one ranking, to the right of Clarence Thomas — really way out there — the ad makes Gorsuch sound as if he’s a moderate liberal; an effort, no doubt, to persuade some waffling Democrats to cross over and vote for his nomination.
And what exactly is the Judicial Crisis Network, the group behind the campaign to sell Gorsuch? According to an investigative report by Viveca Novak and Peter Stone, it’s a “secretive, right-wing judicial machine” with lots of money to spend; “dark money,” that is, from hard-to-trace sources.
Launched with the help of a former law clerk to Justice Thomas and a one-time Bush campaign operative, JCN proved crucial in drumming up support for Bush Supreme Court nominees Alito and John Roberts Jr. Last year it spent a reported $2 million on ads to block Barack Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, who didn’t even get a confirmation hearing. Now it’s spending even more to support Gorsuch’s confirmation. When senators pressed Gorsuch to reveal the undisclosed donors “as a matter of respect for the process… so we can evaluate who is behind this effort,” Gorsuch pirouetted away from an answer.
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Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Jeff Merkley, Oregon Senator,
Jeff Merkley, Oregon Senator, did a great job of holding the Senate floor for 15+ hours overnight Tuesday night. I felt well represented.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Back to Back
It's over. McConnell won.
It's over. McConnell won. Dems are fighting the good fight but they have no leverage. Just have to hope conditions are better next time.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Oaksterdam Dan
McConnell will win since he's
McConnell will win since he's a Kentucky Fried POS!
This will also hand the 2018 midterm election control of the senate to the democrats.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
For once the Democrats are
For once the Democrats are being the stupid party. This isn't the important fight, the next one is. And by denying a cloture vote this time around and forcing the Republicans hand they will lose their ability to stop the next nominee. If they're going to fight Gorsuch they'll fight anybody the Republicans nominate. And the idea that the Republicans should consult with the Democrats about a nominee is absurd. As if they would ever give the Republicans this deference if the shoe was on the other foot. But it's obvious that Schumer feels the need to play to his idiotic base instead of doing the politically wise move of holding off until the next nominee so they're going to shoot themselves in the foot and open the possibility of a conservative majority on the court for the next generation. You folks better hope that Ginsberg holds on for at least the next three years or you will lose the only power the left has a prayer of holding (which is why they're freaking out) at all. And if Trump should win re-election (don't laugh, you didn't think he could get elected in the first place) it's all over, you'll have nothing but conservatives on the court for the rest of your lives and longer.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
>For once the Democrats are being the stupid party. This isn't the important fight, the next one is. And by denying a cloture vote this time around and forcing the Republicans hand they will lose their ability to stop the next nominee<
The Democrats can't stop the next nominee any more than they can stop this nominee. The Republicans will either change the rules now, or change them the next time.
This fight is less about Gorsuch, and more about McConnell subverting the Constitution. History will not be kind to senator McConnell.
> And the idea that the Republicans should consult with the Democrats about a nominee is absurd. As if they would ever give the Republicans this deference if the shoe was on the other<
Obama consulted with Republican members of the Senate judiciary committee before nominating Garland.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
>>>>>For once the Democrats
>>>>>For once the Democrats are being the stupid party
I'm glad Thom realizes that the Dems are usually the smart folks in the room.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer
Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer shrugged in 2013 when asked whether they had concerns that Republicans could someday eliminate the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees. “Let’em do it,” Reid said. “Why in the world would we care? … If they want simple majority, fine.”
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner
Welcome to "fine".
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ausonius
Even Mother Jones gets it...
Even Mother Jones gets it...
Given the possibly terrifying likelihood that awaits progressives if they lose the filibuster—not just with Trump’s Supreme Court nominee this time, but also with future fights—what’s the upside?
Some fear there is none, and that the Democratic Party is rushing toward a decision it will likely regret, at the behest of the party’s progressive and increasingly powerful base. A filibuster “prevents a revolt by the base—it’s the base here that’s not being smart,” said a political consultant who asked not to be named because of a client list that includes Democratic senators. The small donor base and activist core of the party “have boxed these folks in to a position that is not the wisest one.”
The decision to oppose Gorsuch, and to let Republicans put an end to the filibuster entirely, the consultant said, is more about survival today than long-term planning.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/04/democrats-mcconnell-filibust...
"The base" would be you.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
If the Ds win back the Senate
If the Ds win back the Senate in 18 the Rs will have to deal with it as well.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
"2" party system is fucked.
"2" party system is fucked.
thom, do you believe the republican refusal to hold hearings for obamma's pick was ok, or constitutional? and by all measures he bent over backwards to nominate a very moderate nominee...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: nebulous nelly
^"The base" would be you.^
>>"The base" would be you.<<
I think it's a bad idea to filibuster the Gorsuch nomination. Under normal circumstances don't believe the Democrats would be filibustering Gorsuch, but the anger over the Republican's abuse of power is winning out.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
Speaking partisanly (is that
Speaking partisanly (is that a word?), I think it's important to give the Rs as much resistance as possible early on.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: smokestack
mcconnell goes nuclear
mcconnell goes nuclear
gop will regret it in a few years when dems have the majority and pass universal health care
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Def. High
Umm, if Turtleman can change
Umm, if Turtleman can change it now, can't any Senate change it again, ad infinitum?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: jonaspond
Gotta love McCain.. What a
Gotta love McCain.. What a spineless turd.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fly
I hope he feels awkward about
I hope he feels awkward about changing the rules to get elected. Cuz, you know, judges like ignoring rules. He did not earn his position.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fountain Jam
Bill Moyers needs to RETIRE.
Bill Moyers needs to RETIRE.
Guy has not been relevant for 20 years.
Even then he was a doofus.
And BTW it the Dems OWN FRIGGIN RULES that the Reps are going BACK to.
Chuckie Schmuckie Cheese Schumer has about as much integrity as cottage cheese.
He wants to be able to pass HIS SHIT with the 51 vote Reconciliation nonsense (Um Can you say OBAMACARE?!?!?!) um helloooooo!!!
but anyone else DARE to do it, and they "Are a threat to Democracy" what an infantile tool.
scum bag more like.
HE has not ONE OUNCE OF VIRTUE, HONOR or INTEGRITY, NOT ONE OUNCE.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fountain Jam
Gorsuch SOMEHOW got a
Gorsuch SOMEHOW got a unanimous vote when he was appointed to the lower courts, all these FRAUDS voted FOR HIM!
The Demoncrat Party has veered so FAR WACKADOODLE LEFT, yea that's RIGHT , I SAID IT!!!! that it makes Abbie Hoffman look like Reagan!
The Dummycrat Party will, as it should be relaegatedt to the dust bin of history for once and for all. Always the Party of Race, from Slavery to Slave masters.
disgusting I know.
AT best it will bw an elitist regional Party very soon, if it is not already.
Sayonara assholes! you have done ENOUGH damage to my country,
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
BTW it the Dems OWN FRIGGIN
BTW it the Dems OWN FRIGGIN RULES that the Reps are going BACK to.<<<
Not for the SUPREME court, Seadoggie, or LEGISLATION either, but that has changed NOW.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cb
BTW it the Dems OWN FRIGGIN
Ooops double
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: ________
Seadog wants to marry Gorsuch
Seadog wants to marry Gorsuch
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Fountain Jam
I do now!!
I do now!!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
VICTORY!
for common sense.
Sorry Chuckie Cheese Schumer is a devil/rat/scum of the lowest order.
fact.