Isaac's Blog
January 26, 2006
Kerry Threatens Alito Filibuster
In a move the conservatives couldnt script any better, KERRY threatens a filibuster. talk about holding grudges of a sore loser! When KKKByrd even thnks kerry is crazy, they have issues.
WASHINGTON � Massachusetts Sens. John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, along with a small number of other Senate Democrats, have threatened a filibuster to block the vote for Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, FOX News has learned.
"Judge Alito has consistently made it harder for Americans to have their day in court. He routinely defers to the power of the government, no matter how extreme. And he doesn�t believe women have a right to privacy that�s protected by the Constitution," Kerry said in a statement.
"The president has every right to nominate Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. It�s our right and our responsibility to oppose him vigorously and to fight against this radical upending of the Supreme Court," he added before announcing he would return to Washington early on Friday from Davos, Switzerland, where a Senate delegation was attending the World Economic Forum.
But a senior Democratic leadership aide told FOX News on Thursday that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and a majority of Democrats "do not support this action by Kerry and Kennedy. It is not politically advantageous for us."
The Senate's No. 2 Democrat said earlier in the day that while he opposes Alito, he thought it unlikely that Democrats would try to mount a filibuster.
"Having made a count, I have come to the conclusion that it is highly unlikely that a filibuster would succeed," said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
"There's been adequate time for people to debate," Reid added.
But on the Senate floor late Thursday, Kennedy said support is growing for a filibuster, and Durbin, along with Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Paul Sarbanes of Maryland would back an attempt.
Republicans, however, have already said they'll have the 60 votes needed in the Senate to break a filibuster and end the debate, so such a threat probably won't have an impact.
"When you have the number of senators who have stated their intention to vote for cloture plus the number of senators who stated their intentions to vote for Judge Alito, you come to 60 or more," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa.
A cloture vote, which would end a potential filibuster, is scheduled for Monday at 4:30 p.m. EST; if cloture is approved, the final vote would be scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m EST.
"It is time to establish an end point" in the debate over President Bush's selection, Frist, R-Tenn., said.
If confirmed, Alito will be replacing retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. His swearing-in could come within an hour of confirmation.
Earlier Thursday, Alito picked up two new Democratic supporters, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota. They join Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, along with 52 Republicans, who have so far publicly pledged to vote for the conservative judge.
"His obvious intelligence, his obvious sincerity lead me to believe him to be an honorable man, a man who loves his country, loves his Constitution and man who will give of his best," Byrd said.
January 8, 2006
Vince Young going pro
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Vince Young is headed to the NFL.
The quarterback who led Texas to its first national championship in 36 years announced Sunday he would make himself eligible for the NFL draft.
"I thank God for the opportunity to be in this position," Young said at a news conference. "Hard work has paid off a whole lot."
Young, who led the Longhorns to a 41-38 Rose Bowl win over top-ranked Southern California on Wednesday, could have returned to Texas for his senior season and would have been a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
The versatile quarterback accounted for 467 yards against USC - 200 running and 267 passing - and ran 8 yards for the winning touchdown with 19 seconds left.
Young thanked many people, including his family and coach Mack Brown, who could not attend Sunday's news conference. He specifically thanked Brown for "helping me become a better man."
In a statement, Brown said he met with Young and his family Sunday morning and fully supports Young's decision.
"We love Vince and appreciate all the great things he's done for the University of Texas on and off the field," Brown said. "We'll miss him, but want him to do as well in the NFL as he did in college."
In his eight seasons at Texas, Brown never before has had a player leave early for the NFL.
Young ends his career at Texas with a 30-2 record - the best in school history.
His stellar performance in the Rose Bowl increased speculation that he would leave school early and also started a debate about whether he would be the No. 1 pick in April's draft.
Young is Texas' all-time leader in total offense (9,167 yards), career touchdowns (81) and career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (37).
This season, Young became the only player in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards (3,036) and rush for 1,000 (1,050) in one season. His 4,086 total yards set a school single-season record.
Young won the Davey O'Brien Award for the nation's best quarterback and the Maxwell Award for the top college football player, but came in second behind USC running back Reggie Bush in the Heisman voting.
Though he's leaving a year early, Young emphasized his bond with Texas, saying, "I'll forever be a Longhorn."
January 4, 2006
Texas wins the Rose Bowl
"With the national championship down to a final play, Young scrambled for an 8-yard touchdown on fourth down with 19 seconds left and the No. 2 Longhorns stunned the top-ranked Trojans 41-38 in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday night."
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/5219984
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/ncaa/specials/bowls/2005/01/04/rose.bowl/index.html