Filibuster Alito!

Sure John Kerry is full of hot air, but this defect is useful for once. He plans on mounting a filibuster today or tomorrow against Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. While I'm no fan of the only 2004 Presidential candidate to run on the platform of sending more troops to Iraq, I can't help but cheer him on. He will lose this fight, but at least one Senator will exercise his duty to protect the constitution. Alito's record and performance during the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearings show that he is nothing more than a lapdog to absolute power. At a time when President Bush is asserting more power than King George III ever asserted, the Supreme Court may be the only thing standing between our constitutional Republic and the cliff of destruction. Speaking of saving the Republic, Nat Hentoff has a great piece on Bush, Alito and absolute power in today's Washington Times. My take on the issue (from last week) here.

UPDATE: CQ is reporting that Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island has become the first Republican to announce he will vote against Alito. “I am a pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-Bill of Rights Republican, and I will be voting against this nomination,” Chafee said.