According to Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) so many senators “intensely oppose” Alito for Supreme Court the Democrats may have enough votes to sustain a filibuster.
Dubin has declared that he’s voting no, and you can practically hear Durbin’s own distain for Alito:
“In case after case, he has voted — often as the lone dissenter on his court — against the dispossessed, the poor and the powerless who finally made their way to his court,” Durbin said […]
As the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, it’s Durbin’s job to count votes for and against Alito. He said he won’t know until Tuesday if there are enough strong opponents to filibuster Alito’s nomination.
“A week ago, I would have told you it’s not likely to happen,” Durbin said. “As of [Wednesday], I just can’t rule it out. I was surprised by the intensity of feeling of some of my colleagues. It’s a matter of counting. We have 45 Democrats, counting [Vermont independent] Jim Jeffords, on our side. We could sustain a filibuster if 41 senators … are willing to stand and fight.”
Apparently, even Chafee is leaning no.
But Durbin needs 41, or the filibuster is off, so:
KEEP THE PRESSURE UP, CALL YOUR SENATORS!
If Repug, tell them “No” to Alito; if Democrat: FILIBUSTER!
(The phones are ringing off the hook in Washington; you might want to try your senators’ local office, contact info below:)
CALL YOUR SENATORS (Click here)
Phone, fax, and email addresses for the Judiciary Committee.
Frist is denying Democrats time to speak on the floor. We need to get the word out about why Alito needs to be filibustered:
Write a letter to the editor of your local news paper.
John Edwards has endorsed this petition for FILIBUSTER!
People for the American Way has collected nearly 65,000 signatures to send to the Senate, please add yours: Save the Court Petition
Move On.org’s Stop Alito petition
Democratic Party’s Reject Alito Petition
Stop the NRA’s Oppose Alito Petiton
And while you’re at it, please sign: Planned Parenthood Petition
Urge Congress to support Plan B
UPDATE:
MORE NEW ACTIONS AND PETITIONS:
National Coalition for Disability Rights
National Council of Jewish Women
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women and Families
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice