I had a few jitters because I hadn't ever gotten up in front of a crowd like that to speak on political issues, but I've done plenty of community theater and have a big, loud voice that carries like anything. Here are the notes I printed out before heading over there to make sure I didn't blank out and forget what I wanted to say:
"Right now, radical Republicans in the Senate are trying to get absolute power over our courts so they can nominate judges who will strike down environmental laws, the minimum wage, even our right to privacy. These signs show what they're trying to do: seize our courts, and lock out the interests of ordinary Americans."
( that's one of the comments suggested by moveon on their attendee guide )
Anyone who disagrees with them in any way is "obstructionist" and standing in the way of "tradition."
Their idea of compromise is "You give us what we want, and we promise later we'll give you what you want."
Frist has link on homepage: "Restoring Constitutional Balance and Preserving America's Founding Principles: Ending the Unprecedented Filibuster Against Judicial Nominees."
Frist said, in a speech to The Federalist Society on November 12, 2004: "The Senate now faces a choice: either we accept a new and destructive practice, or we act to restore constitutional balance."
Sen Bob Smith (R NH), along with 13 other Republicans, filibustered Richard Paez, a Clinton nominee for the Ninth Court. Smith, defending his right to filibuster, said March 7th of 2000: "But don't pontificate on the floor of the Senate and tell me that somehow I am violating the Constitution of the United States of America by blocking a judge or filibustering a judge that I don't think deserves to be on the circuit court because I am going to continue to do it at every opportunity I believe a judge should not be on that court. That is my responsibility. That is my advise and consent role, and I intend to exercise it. I don't appreciate being told that somehow I am violating the Constitution of the United States. I swore to uphold that Constitution, and I am doing it now by standing up and saying what I am saying."
Frist voted to continue Smith's filibuster.
They were FOR the filibuster of judicial nominees before they were AGAINST it.
In a Senate debate earlier today, Elizabeth Dole said:
- judicial filibuster is a "liberal extremist litmus test"
- MoveOn.org is a "liberal extremist group"
GOP Leadership doesn't want to play by the rules, they want to ignore them.
If they can't ignore them, they want to change them.
Bush Administration wants to operate with no oversight, no responsibility, no accountability, no debate and no dissent.
It's their way or the highway.
If you're not with them, you're against them.
No Rules, Just Right ( Wing )
People seemed to like what I had to say, and I have to thank Daily Kos for being one of the best sources of information to prep me for this. If I hadn't been doing so much reading here and watching CSPAN lately, I wouldn't have been nearly as prepared as I was.
The mood of our group was really good. People were driving by in their cars and several honked in support of our signs. One guy honked and flipped us off, but I just gave him a jaunty wave and a big grin. Some other guy driving by yelled "Screw the filibuster, you jackasses!" and someone shouted back "Have a nice day!" I added "Thanks for your opinion! Isn't it nice that you can give it?"
I feel like I might be losing my voice a little bit, but at the end there when we were in the courtyard in front of the courthouse the echoes were so nice I had to keep shouting with the rest of the crowd just for the fun of joining in. All in all, a positive experience, and I definitely plan on doing this again.
Did you go to one of these today? There were evidently 192 of them in all 50 states, according to MoveOn's follow-up email; I'd love to hear how other rallies went.
