Filibuster? Make My Day

Yesterday all the tin hats were putting their hopes in Robert Byrd for a filibuster on the Alito nomination. Byrd, who is up for reelection this year has read the tea leaves, stuck his finger in the air and fond that Alito is not such a bad guy once you get to know him. So their champion John Kerry has stepped up to the plate by calling from Switzerland to encourage his fellow travelers to do the deed.

Sen. George Allen (R.-Va.), who like Kerry is frequently mentioned as presidential candidate in 2008, ripped his Democratic colleague for making the suggestion—from Davos, Switzerland, nonetheless.

"Well, hearing this news today, Senator Kerry must be feeling lucky because he wants to make my day. If Senate Democrats follow his advice, then I say we must pull the trigger on the Constitutional option. Senators should vote on this nomination and not hide behind partisan political processes to deny this exemplary nominee the fairness of a vote. Senators can vote 'yes' or vote 'no', but it is our responsibility to vote," said Allen.

Allen rightly observes that a filibuster will cement the perception of the Democrats as leftist kooks. If the best hopes of the left is to complain in the extreme (which is all the filibuster is) then the handwriting is on the wall. If only there was an party that was firm in its convictions to reduce government taxing and spending that could take advantage of the void.