Monday, January 23, 2006

We moved them to fight

Judiciary Committee Votes Tomorrow on Alito; Filibuster Possible, Says Durbin
Tomorrow, two days after the 33rd anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Samuel Alito, a Supreme Court nominee who in 1985 wrote that the Constitution does not protect a woman's right to an abortion. Women's rights leaders and activists rallied last night at the Supreme Court in support of the landmark Supreme Court ruling.
"Since we last gathered to commemorate Roe v. Wade, two seats have opened up on the Supreme Court, and George W. Bush has used both opportunities to nominate judges whose records show a disdain for privacy rights and individual liberties," said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. "The Senate is poised to vote on confirming Samuel Alito, who would replace Sandra Day O'Connor, a justice whose vote has upheld women's rights for nearly 25 years. How quickly the fate of women's reproductive rights could turn in this nation."
Already, at least nine Senators have come out publicly and strongly against Alito's confirmation, including four who voted in favor of confirming John Roberts as chief justice. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), the Democratic Whip, said that a filibuster was 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."
GET THE INSIDE SCOOPwith The Smeal Report and the New Leif blogs at MsMagazine.com
TAKE ACTIONCall your Senators and urge them to oppose Alito
DONATEMake an emergency contribution to the Feminist Majority's Save Roe Campaign. We must be a strong voice in this crucial fight to save Roe and the Supreme Court for women’s rights.
Media Resources: Feminist Majority; NOW statement 1/22/06; Chicago Sun-Times 1/20/06

The item above is from today's Feminist Wire.

Swiping from Rebecca:

c.i.'s noted it, elaine's noting it, mike's noting it. elaine's trying to be sure we all note it because we need to get the word out. they need to hear from us tomorrow, the senators. they need to hear from us before they vote, while they're voting and after they've voted.

To that add Betty and Cedric and now me. Wally plans to note it tomorrow morning.

Are you tired? Are you exhausted and feel like you've got nothing left to give?

I hear you. I'm about to go to sleep and this is so early for me. But I followed up with the young women I spoke to Saturday to make sure they were contacting their senators. I also hopped in the car and, armed with my cell phone, basically went door to door of every friend and acquaintence I had. Some I visited at work, some I visited at their homes.

So I do understand being tired. I bet your tired too.

Get some rest and then tomorrow, get started again. That's activism. That's how we make a difference.

I wish I had some groovy advice to offer but what do you tell the groovy that they don't already know?

And everyone who's done their part deserves to be congratulated. I think doing our part comes with citizenship and caring about the world around us. But when our senators buckle and we have to be the leaders, that deserves a congratulations.

We've done that. And we need to remember this. Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, this is a victory for us. We've moved the Senate Democrats to fight and that's a miracle in and of itself.

So get some rest. Wake up tomorrow and start back up again.

If you've called already or e-mailed already or faxed, make a point to do it again. Make sure that, Democrat or Republican, your senators know where you stand.

If you're able to visit their local offices or their D.C. offices do so. And look around tomorrow before the vote to make sure that you've reached out to everyone you can.










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