PAUL HOGARTH

I cannot over-emphasize how devastating it will be to our country if Samuel Alito gets on the Supreme Court. The precarious balance of power that has upheld affirmative action, abortion rights, environmental protection and worker protections will be thrown out the window if he gets confirmed. It's a truly frightening prospect, and as the mainstream media wants us to believe right now, it's pretty much a done deal.

But thank god for Dick Durbin (my former boss!) This week, Senator Durbin told the Chicago Sun-Times that a filibuster is still possible.

"A week ago, I would have told you it's not likely to happen," Durbin said. "As of [Wednesday], I just can't rule it out. I was surprised by the intensity of feeling of some of my colleagues. It's a matter of counting. We have 45 Democrats, counting [Vermont independent] Jim Jeffords, on our side. We could sustain a filibuster if 41 senators ... are willing to stand and fight."

So don't believe the bullshit you hear. Already, 2 Democrats who voted to confirm John Roberts (Max Baucus and Patrick Leahy) have gone on record saying that they will vote against Alito -- and if the Democrats stick together, we can prevent this catastrophe from happening.

It's not just a question of it being possible ... Given the stakes we're talking about, it's an absolute necessity!

# posted by Paul Hogarth (SF) @ 1:39 PM