This Week's Cover Girl -- Sen. John Kerry
As cloture was invoked on Sam Alito's nomination today -- it was 72 to 25 -- there's a case to be made that some Dems should whisper their thanks to Sen.John Kerry.
Consider: Sen. Min Leader Harry Reid reportedly cautioned against Kerry's filibuster push because he was worried about the maneuver's unintended impact on Dems in GOP-leaning states. But perhaps Reid wasn't thinking outside that unintended consequences box of his, because Kerry's 11th hour push actually provided the Mark Pryor's of the world with the perfect cover. For Pryor, being able to announce that he's against Alito, but not beholden to liberal interest groups in the same breath (aka against the filibuster) provided him with the ultimate redeemable wherever, no proof of purchase necessary, Get Out of Jail Free card.
The Red state Dems who will endorse Alito now have a "Yes, but I didn't filibuster" to placate their constituents with in '06. And nothing says the perfect moderate man's out like Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) embracing the tactic. After all, Chafee got to have the best of both worlds today, announcing he opposed both Alito and the Dems' efforts at a filibuster. Nicely executed.
Just remember to tell Sens. Mark Pryor (D-AR) , Tim Johnson (D-SD), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Ken Salazar (D-CO) that they should address their thank you cards to John Kerry....that's K-e-r-....[NORA MCALVANAH]
It is worth pointing out, as one of the liberal bloggers has, that while the left's push for a filibuster failed to come to pass, 25 Democrats still voted to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee.
While voting for a filibuster that was never likely to succeed may seem like throwing a bone to the left, voting to filibuster President Bush's SC nominee is great fodder for the Republican message machine. That can't be an easy call.
Sen. Cornyn's example of Alito opponents were ACLU lawyers who would rather defend pedophiles and terrorists than protect police and kids who want to pray in school. Not exactly a characterization you want to read in your morning paper.
Kerry provided cover, but it may also have given some of them a chance to voice some discontent.
John Kerry once again demonstrated how politically tone deaf he was. It gives the GOP another example of the Democrats obstructionism to use in the '06 elections. Polls showed that 2/3 of the country believed that ALito was qualified to serve - the filibuster will give no cover to any red state Dems.
To my Democratic friends, please nominate Kerry in '08. It assures another GOP Presidency!
didn't alito disssent and say it was constitutional for the police to shoot an unarmed fleeing asailant in the back.