Happy now, Mr. Byrd?
One thing this tells me is the Pubs are a bit fearful- if this was such a "done deal", there would be no need to run for bipartisan cover.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Saturday quoted Democrats praising Samuel Alito in a bid to deter some in the party who want to block confirmation of the conservative appeals judge to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Alito is virtually certain to be confirmed next week by the full Senate, where Republicans hold 55 of 100 seats, on a largely party-line vote. He could move the country's highest court to the right on abortion and other social issues.
Several prominent Democrats have called for a procedural roadblock called a filibuster to prevent a vote. But Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has said he and fellow Democrats lack the votes to block Alito.
Kerry, who joined fellow Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy in calling for a filibuster, returned from a trip to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to make his case in the Senate on Friday.
Kennedy, in a letter to senators on Saturday explaining his decision to try to filibuster, said Alito's rulings on civil rights cases suggested he would side with "powerful institutions and against average citizens."
He also said he was concerned Alito might permit Bush to overreach in his use of presidential power. "We want a court that will blow the whistle when the president is out of bounds," Kennedy said.
Sixty votes are needed to end debate on Alito and move to a final vote. Republicans seem certain to reach that number with the help of as many as 10 Democrats.
Keep up the pressure. Scuttlebutt has it that voice mail and fax machines are full this weekend- try again tomorrow morning.
Those numbers again- 1-888-355-3588 or 1-888-818-6641 toll free Capitol Switchboard.
Free fax to 13 Senators here. It takes but a second. Go do it to it.