John Kerry to the rescue!
UPDATE BELOW
I say it all the time, do I not? Just when you think the GOP is down for the count, some Democrat rides to the rescue:
Sen. John Kerry has decided to support a filibuster to block the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, CNN’s Congressional Correspondent Ed Henry reported Thursday.
Kerry, in Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum, was marshaling support in phone calls during the day, Henry said.
He announced his decision Wednesday to a group of Democratic senators, urging they join him, Henry said. Kerry also has the support of his fellow Massachusetts senator, Democrat Edward Kennedy.
This will drive a wedge between Democrats — already Tim Johnson and Robert Bryd have joined Ben Nelson in breaking ranks — as it puts tremendous pressure on vulnerable Democratic senators in the red states; it will energize the GOP’s base while doing wonders for Republican fundraising; and it will prove futile, thus dispiriting rank and file liberals with a reminder of their powerlessness.
Sweet.
UPDATE —
Crap. It appears the Republican leadership plans to choke it off:
Republicans have already said they’ll have the 60 votes needed in the Senate to break a filibuster and end the debate, so such a threat probably won’t have an impact.
[…]
A cloture vote, which would end a potential filibuster, is scheduled for Monday at 4:30 p.m. EST; if cloture is approved, the final vote would be scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m EST.
Gawd damn it, guys. Give John Kerry at least a week’s worth of rope. I know we’re all anxious to have this over, but let the man filibuster for some days! And I mean, make him do it right. None of this, “Oh, we’ll table the matter until we’re ready to invoke cloture.” No, no. Keep the Senate in session around the clock. Have Kerry in the well at 2 a.m. ranting and raving and get it on tape.
You can reach Bill Frist, majority leader, at (202) 224-3344. Tell him this is a gift and you don’t think it’s very gracious to reject it out of hand.
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