10-8 party line vote sets up Senate vote on Alito

Via the Washington Post:

Democrats all but conceded the Supreme Court confirmation of Samuel A. Alito Jr. yesterday but signaled they will use the Senate debate that begins today to focus on President Bush’s domestic spying program and their predictions that Alito will be too pliant in supporting it.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10 to 8 along party lines to recommend Alito’s confirmation, depriving him of the bipartisan support enjoyed by most current justices and setting the stage for a sharply partisan Senate debate this week. The vote, which was anticipated, occurred after stinging criticisms by Democrats, including the three who supported Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. last fall.

Democratic leaders indicated they will attack Alito’s record as an appellate judge in the floor debate expected to extend to Friday or later. But they strongly hinted there will be no filibuster, a parliamentary tactic that conceivably could enable Democrats to block the confirmation in a 100-member chamber in which Republicans hold 55 seats.

Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) told reporters that each senator’s decision on Alito is “a vote of conscience,” a term used when the leadership does not press for party solidarity. Reid would not rule a filibuster in or out, but top Democratic staff aides said they saw little chance of one.

Keep your eye on CSPAN next week as no doubt they will be carrying the Senate debates on Alito as they happen. I have a feeling that Democratic Sens. Ted Kennedy and Harry Reid’s speeches will be real scorchers (in order to throw out some red meat to their core supporters), but my prediction is that in the end Alito will be confirmed in a very close vote.

More on this can be read at All Things Beautiful, Suitably Flip, PunditGuy, Stop the ACLU, Polipundit, Professor Bainbridge

16 Responses to "10-8 party line vote sets up Senate vote on Alito"

omapian says:

January 25, 2006 at 12:23 am

Both Alito’s supporters and critics can agree on one thing: he has a history of following the Constitution. That is more than enough for conservatives to support him and for liberals to reject him.
Baklava says:

January 25, 2006 at 2:28 am

Amen to ornapian !
camojack says:

January 25, 2006 at 3:58 am

The Alito appointment is a “done deal”, IM(NS)HO…
All Things Beautiful says:

January 25, 2006 at 6:51 am

It’s ‘Hatched’

More @ Sister Toldjah, Political Pitbull, The Strataspere, Ace of Spades HQ, Althouse, Stop The ACLU, and Lawyers, Guns and Money for the dems view.
Jim M says:

January 25, 2006 at 7:07 am

Liberal Democrats are upset because it will make it harder for them to push their liberal agenda through the Supreme Court. With more Justices that will follow the Constitution in their rulings instead of legislating from the bench.
tommy in nyc says:

January 25, 2006 at 7:36 am

It’s a damn shame that coat-hangers are now going to become the most used instrument in terminating unwanted pregencies in the contenential U.S.A. Sorry ST you can’t spin this one to the American public.
PCD says:

January 25, 2006 at 8:15 am

tommy, spoken like a true believer who must have their religious eucharest at anytime, and I am saying that your eucharest is an abortion.
Severian says:

January 25, 2006 at 8:29 am

Regardless of whether or not Roe Vs. Wade will ever be overturned, it’s totally insane to base your entire world view of what’s important in appointing a judge to one single narrowly focused issue. Alito shows every sign of being an outstanding jurist, honest, ethical, thoughtful, and with a strong understanding of the Constitution.

But hey, who cares if the court says it’s OK to take your property (ala Kelo) or it’s OK for the government to perform some other attrocity against the public, as long as a woman can still get a cheap, legal abortion!
J Rob says:

January 25, 2006 at 8:47 am

What what tommy in nyc either ignores, or deliberately overlooks (as demagogs often do) is that an SC juctice cannot just revisit a case because s/he wants to.
By the way, it is no more safe now than it was when it was illegal.
steve says:

January 25, 2006 at 11:32 am

If the Democrats had any cojones, they would fillibuster this Alito, Opus Dei person. Peace
Louise says:

January 25, 2006 at 11:33 am

I agree with Camojack. I’m a little nervous about getting ahead of myself. But, I’m much more confident this week that Alito–a deserving nominee–will be appointed to the US SC. I think the Dems realized they did not have public support to filibuster. My hope now is that moderate Dems from red states will break away from partisan politcs (realizing he is going to get confirmed with/without their vote) and vote to confirm Alito.
PCD says:

January 25, 2006 at 1:31 pm

I hope the Democrats DO filibuster Alito. Frist will have to invoke the Constitutional option and destroy these Democrats forever.
tommy in nyc says:

January 25, 2006 at 1:40 pm

Shoot PCD are you off your meds homeboy? We are a political oppistion party not Al-Queda and you want to destroy us? So much for bi-partisanship. Besides your G.O.P. is going to LOSE seats in the Congress btw.
PCD says:

January 25, 2006 at 2:06 pm

tommy, the BS is you whining about bi-partisanship. You only want caving in by the GOP to satisfy your idea of bi-partisanship. The Democrats make no bones about destroying the GOP to cement the donkeys in power permanently. So get real yourself.

I don’t think the GOP will lose seats. I know you and other Bush haters will lose your minds totally when that happesn.
Jack Deth says:

January 25, 2006 at 3:39 pm

Tommy:

Alito’s a Shoo-In.

Wait until Stevens or Ginsburg decides to retire for the real fun to begin. I figure Stevens will want to bail before Christmas of this year.

November, 2006 will be another bitch slappin’ for the Dems. Keep your eye on Steele in Maryland.

Jack.
Lawfan says:

January 25, 2006 at 11:37 pm

What is the point of this useless obstructionism? Do Dems really think mainstream America, who support Alito by a large majority, will be impressed with their posturing? Alito’s confirmation is well-deserved, inevitable, and will cost the Dems in 2006 & 2008.

Comments are closed.