To more effectively oppose Supreme Court nominees in the future, Democrats need to convince the public "their values are at stake" rather than use stalling tactics to try to thwart the president, said a senator who opposes Samuel Alito's confirmation.Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., predicted on Sunday that an effort to try to block a final vote on Alito would fail on Monday. That would clear the way for Senate approval Tuesday of the federal appeals court judge picked to succeed the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Apparently for Obama, putting their money where their mouths are by pushing for filibuster doesn't count as an effort to convince the public that their values are at stake. I just don't see why the Democrats can't argue that they support the filibuster because of the values issue. Maybe it won't be successful. But if Obama believes that convincing is needed, then pissing on this effort as a tactic, rather than promoting it as a values-driven last-ditch effort, is pure politics and no values at all. What is the point of devaluing the fight before it happens? It's the "I told you we were gonna lose" told-ya-so gambit.
Well, too late. Senate Democrats lose, period, whether they wuss out or lose after a fight with a filibuster. They lose. It's a question of fighting or surrendering.
BTW, nice job, Obama, pissing on the concept of filibuster in the future. For anything. Way to walk into the Republicans hands on this. Any other small procedural tools of use to the minority Democrats you care to crap on? If so... please keep it to yourself.