This statement was out of left field and apropos of nothing that had gone before. It attracts attention and sounds sort of ominous. Because of that I thought, surely this isn't what it appears to be, a coded message between conspirators, perhaps a warning? Nah...couldn't be. But then I thought, OK, then, what else could it be? I'm still thinking about that and haven't come up with anything.

Any good progressive ought to know that on September 24 there were about 300,000 protesters marching and demonstrating. I was there. I am used to estimating the size of crowds, I took photos and pulled others off the www to make the estimate. It agrees with several other independent estimates.

"Tens of thousands" is a right-wing lie that appeared several places. Let's not help them falsify hitory.

Walter Shapiro writes:

"Personally, I would be militantly in favor of these don't-stop-talking-until-tomorrow obstruction tactics if someone could explain the difference between the Senate voting to confirm Alito on Monday afternoon (without a filibuster) or Tuesday morning (after more than 60 senators vote to shut off debate)."

Let me explain it to you. You see, it's a matter of principle. I know you Washington types don't remember much about principles, but that's what's wrong with America today. The Alito nomination is another stone in the wall that Republicans are building around the Constitution so that they can do whatever they want without fear that they'll be stopped by principled people.

We have enough Democrats in the Senate to stop the most destructive individual ever to be proposed for appointment to the Supreme Court from ascending to the bench through the highest and best use of the filibuster that ever there was. It is, very likely, our last chance to save Constitutional government. And you say you'd be for it if there was any hope of success?

If this attitude of yours stems from fear of the nuclear option, then you are like a weakling who forever cowers in front of bullies instead of standing up for himself. Damn the Republicans and their nuclear option. With people like you opposing them they'll never need to do anything but threaten.

It is do-or-die time. If there is no filibuster, then those Democrat Senators who refuse to support a filibuster are not Democrats and are no better than the traitors who support George Bush.

You Washington types have permitted fascists to turn the Constitution on its head one small precedent-setting step at a time. This may well be the last gasp of the founders' dream.

I can't count the number of times I've seen this kind of reaction to one of our countless undignified, unnecessary losses in recent years. And this is just the latest example.

Did it ever occur to any of you braggarts that history teaches us that there is always a point of no return? Usually it is not a catastrophic collapse, but, like T. S. Eliot said, "This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper." And you idiots will be celebrating a big win right after the last whimper of the Constitution.

I've read all the earlier posts, and I agree with one aspect that seems common to all: This is the most audacious and unjustifiable act that Bush has perpetrated yet. However, it is not a silly idea, nor is it an ill-conceived one. It is part and parcel of a plan to eliminate all controls anywhere that corporations think are impeding their freedom to make money.

No one yet has suggested that perhaps the Carlyle Group has their tentacles in this issue. Does that seem far-fetched? Why does Alberto Gonzales defend this obvious treasonous act? Could it be that his old law firm, Vinson & Elkins, L. L. P. Houston, Texas, (James Baker et al) is involved in this deal? Might they be members of the group that Bush says has studied this transaction?

I am sick and tired of messages that suggest that somehow Bush is wacko or dumb. This is deliberate treason for the sake of corporate profits.

This will not stop until we all drop our other activities, pick up our pitchforks or other tools of our trade, march on Washington, put the place in gridlock, and camp on the mall until the treasonous and the gutless wonders up there do what we demand be done to put an end to this wanton destruction of our nation.