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Kerry on Alito filibuster
In the opening move of the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, John Kerry announced (on Kos) that he supported a filibuster of the Alito confirmation, which he argues will mark a "radical ideological shift" in the Supreme Court. Here's another article on his call.
Kerry's statement that Alito was nominated because "Under fire from his conservative base for nominating Harriet Miers--a woman whose judicial philosophy they mercilessly attacked--President Bush broke to extreme right-wing demands," puts me in mind of the remark that all the Left had to do to keep Alito off the Court, 100% certain, was to endorse Miers. Instead -- how many times did we hear (and with justice) the term "cronyism" invoked?
The comments on Kos are interesting, too. If the intent was to position Kerry for an appeal to the Left, without actually having to risk a fillibuster, it may not work out as planned. Kos's readers are pumped up on the idea. On the other hand, the idea may be to make a gesture, accept a quick cloture vote to end the fillibuster, and roll over. Kerry gets publicity and appeal to the Left, the Demo senators looking at re-election in Bush-leaning states get to vote against the filibuster and seem more conservative, and both go away happy.
[UPDATE: the question was how Hilary Clinton would go. Back Kerry in an appeal to the Left (at the cost of appearing to follow your likely rival) or oppose as part of her moves to try to sound less Left. She's chosen the former.
Here's Gore trying to re-invent himself (and history) again. Gore cites the Supreme court as a necessary component in getting disadvantaged Americans their "day in court". The land mark civil rights legislation decreed by the Court in the sixties was necessary because the Democrats led by his father, Sen Al Gore Sr. fought civil rights in their role as the party of Jim Crow. With the successful appointment of Justice Alito, fair minded Americans will insure that the party of Jim Crow.(Democrats) do not take us back to times of their being in power. Oh, cry me a river, Mr. Vice President! And, plus, I suspect he regrets inventing the internet, as well!