Any neutral observer who ignores the conservative corporate media's conventional wisdom can see serious problems with this nomination. There are several scandals that can be declared smoking guns.
The moment is ours for the seizing. I implore all of you at daily kos, please just don't give up before Alito is blocked or confirmed ok? Isn't holding confirmation until we have hearings on the FISA scandal a politically reasonable and realistic option. Hell it's a compromise.
Filibustering Alito - The Next Steps on the flip
1. Ignore the haters, the doubters, the naysayers and the people who love to lose. Ignore the conventional wisdom of the conservative corporate media. It is the same CW machine that made Howard Dean out to be a screaming madman. It only works if you buy into it.
2. Spread this idea through the blogosphere:
a) The GOP rushed us into war, we wont rush Sammy "Unitary Executive" onto a lifetime appointment. The senate must first hold hearings on FISA scandal. The base knows we can win, we are confident.
b) The "Smoking Gun": The FISA NSA Warrant-less wiretap scandal + Unitary Executive theory = smoking gun for people who care about living in a constitutional republic. For people concerned about choice the smoking gun is the memo stating "The constitution does not protect a right to an abortion.
c) The Confirmation Hearing "Gaffe": Alito'o evasivness and contradictory statements.
d) Alito's credibility: Told senate he would recuse in Vanguard - did not recuse. Simple as that.
3. From the blogosphere to the Traditional media to the senators, that is the plan. We need to call C-SPAN, talk radio, write letters to editor and hammer our senators. Rally outside their offices, freewayblogging - whatever it takes. Make video clips and send them to filibusterscalito.com. FilibusterScalito.com will have more details on the organized coordinated campaign to delay confirmation.
It is completely reasonable and likely to buy time here, I believe the senators have SERIOUS problems with Alito. Nothing that has happened so far rules out a filibuster, in fact the senators have set up the conditions for one perfectly. Delaying a vote until after the FISA hearings, that is our goal, our concrete demand. Maybe the GOP will go along with delaying the vote until we know all the facts, probably not - that is why we filibuster until the hearings. This president does not deserve this nominee
I am going to respectfully ask anyone who thinks this is not worth the effort to PLEASE KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF, right now they are not helpful. I will not argue with anyone about that right now, I do not have the time. I will be happy to get into long-winded discussions on Alito after the dust settles and the outcome is decided. We had months to discuss Alito, now is the time to fight.
It would be nice to get our idea that we will win a filibuster onto the front page.
Let's think back to 2000 in Florida, Gore won the votes - that didn't stop the Republicans from winning the presidency. They banged down the door in that office and it was a famous video clip. Remember only the conservative corporate media's conventional wisdom says a filibuster is unlikely. Ignore those shills and you can see a filibuster is likely.
When I wrote my diary on Biden on CNN I was despondent, I felt America was lost. After the amazing resposne to my call to arms I have a mission, and I feel empowered and excited, and I think we can win. Stop doubting and join us, you'll feel much better than just giving up.
FilibusterScalito.com will be the place where we organize.
UPDATE
Go to FilibusterScalito.com
Take a group of blogs on the list and contact them, leave comments and e-mail authors. Leave a comment on filibusterscalito.com as to what group of blogs your taking and your name.
The idea is each group gets taken by at least 2 people. This way we get the idea out to the blogosphere, and from there it will permeate into the traditional media, and when the public realizes there a groundswell of grassroots support the senators will pay attention. Once the senators put up a fight all this shoe in talk will be replaced by a debate where there penchant for balance will force them to cover the story in depth instead of glancing over it. We will win this debate.
Also call up C-SPAN and Air America.
Could someone make a banner for our campaign? It would be good to get these same blogs to display the banner as a symbol of their support, either a banner or a ribbon will do.
Once we figure out the proper way to accept funds ( I dont know the laws on that) you can also donate money.
Also you can make a 30-60 second ad on the filibustering of Alito. When you are done post a link to the web site.
You can also help by helping out on the web site- we need a page made up that is permanent that displays our mission statement, our case.
It would be great to have a permanent Filibuster Alito Post on the front page!
We can do this everyone!