Full Of Sound And Fury, Signifying Nothing
Matt Stoller’s got this interesting bit of context to add to the Kerry filibuster :
Lots of folks are mad that Kerry ‘announced’ his filibuster campaign two hours after 6 Democrats had gone on record voting for cloture.
If Kerry was serious about mounting a filibuster, why didn’t he get Reid on board? Why did he wait until he was in Switzerland to announce it? If you think Alito’s extreme enough to filibuster, why not get the ball rolling earlier in the week?
It’s a scam folks. The Democrats may see the attempts to block Alito as the equivalent of putting a speedbump in front of a runaway train, but even their half-assed opposition is only a facade to ensure that we, the liberal base, stay calm and help deliver the votes in November. They’ll turn this defeat into another fundraising appeal, fretting about the out-of-control Republicans while hoping we all forget how much they’ve folded time and again to the extreme right. If this is the best defense we’ve got against the GOP, then we’re probably better off voting against every Democratic incumbent in the primaries and crossing our fingers. At this point, I’d prefer the uncertainty of a novice Democrat to the well-trained subservience of the complacent beltway minority.
We shouldn’t have to call our Senators to tell them how bad Alito is. If they don’t already know, then they need to seek another line of work.
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Nicely put.
Comment by Joe — January 27, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
Truer words have never been spoken!!!
Comment by Steve — January 27, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
Personally, I think Kerry and Kennedy are speaking up because I told them to. I don’t make a habit of doing that. Neither do they. I assume I’m not that important, so I assume i’m not alone. And unlike many of you who are balking, I live in MA.
At some point silence is tacit approval. I’ve been hearing a lot of crickets from the democratic members of congress, action wise.
The longer it takes, the less they can screw something else up, and it’s not like theres an actual vacancy going unfilled. Bush wants him seated by the 31st, screw him. I want my countries reputation back.
Comment by mdhåtter — January 27, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
Greg, usually we agree, but under the circumstance, anything they do is too little. Must you pile on for their also being too late?
How would you have had them mount a formal protest on the record? does it matter when? or how well staged? a futile fight is sometimes the point, that way you don’t start eating your own.
Comment by mdhåtter — January 27, 2006 @ 3:13 pm
Indeed, it’s a tale told by an idiot, currently in Switzerland. It’s no small wonder that there was traction for http://www.kerryhatersforkerry.com before the last election. Please don’t let him run again.
Comment by Geggy — January 27, 2006 @ 4:52 pm
Stoller is wrong on this and so are you quite frankly. Stoller exibted the fact that he’s still harboring angst over the Kerry campaign not picking him when he lobbied to get involved with campaign in late spring of 03.
As long as some liberal bloggers insist on playing out the 04 primary wars over and over again, which Stoller does every time he launches one of his petty attacks on Kerry, the liberal blogosphere will not accomplish helping to unite and inform the liberal left, it will only keep it divided.
Comment by FilibusterThis — January 27, 2006 @ 11:26 pm
Vintage Matthew Stoller – June 7, 2003:
I am starting this blog because I believe that John Kerry is the best choice for President of the US. The past ten years have witnessed a right-wing takeover of the country’s institutional framework, and I’m tired of thugs running things. John Kerry will end that. Email me if you want to help.
http://www.kerryblog.blogspot.com/2003_06_01_kerryblog_archive.html
Comment by FilibusterThis — January 27, 2006 @ 11:29 pm
Now Cindy Sheehan wants to run against Feinstein. That’s a smooth move. Hand California over to a moderate Republican. Schweet. Idiot.
Maybe she can be Kerry’s VP candidate in ’08.
Comment by Geggy — January 28, 2006 @ 4:03 pm