The Democrats have given up on stopping Alito’s confirmation without
a fight. Their weak line of questions prompted one news commentator to
remark “the Democrats need to find a lawyer.” It seems as though the
ability to ask the tough questions and get to the truth is often lost
on the Democrats when it comes to exposing and stopping the Bush regime
(Iraq, Katrina, stolen and fraudulent elections, just to name a few examples).
As the hearings draw to a close, the Democrats publicly admitted
that a filibuster to stop Alito is highly unlikely. In part, this is do
to the “lose-lose” deal made in the Senate last summer when Republicans
threatened to change the rules concerning filibusters. The Democrats
agreed not to filibuster three of Bush’s most far Right judges so they
could keep the right to filibuster only in “extraordinary
circumstances.” Apparently a Supreme Court Justice determined to end
the right to abortion, extend unchecked presidential powers, and roll
back the clock on civil rights doesn’t qualify as such. What good is
this right to filibuster when you agree not to use it while the future
is in the balance?
If we are going to stop Alito, and the whole package he is a part
of, it will take millions of people in the streets demanding “Bush step
down, and take your program with you.” As it says in the Call for The
World Can’t Wait – Drive Out the Bush Regime: “There is not going to be
some savior from the Democratic Party. This
whole idea of putting our hopes and energies into “leaders” who tell us
to seek common ground with fascists and religious fanatics is proving
every day to be a disaster, and actually serves to demobilize people.”
If you can’t stomach watching these confirmation hearings allow Alito to
get through, then you need to be out protesting during Bush’s State of
the Union address on Jan. 31, and Feb. 4 in DC.
(source: “After Alito’s Testimony, Democrats Still Dislike Him but Can’t Stop Him,” NY Times, 1/13)