Sen. Byrd among those lining up to blast Bush

[davidinalameda]

http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2005012519/

In a daylong debate, Democratic senators are using President Bush's nomination of Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state to rake his Iraq war policy over the coals.

Rice's confirmation as Colin Powell's replacement appears not to be in doubt. Still, Sens. Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Barbara Boxer of California and eight other Democrats are lined up to get their licks in today, even though many of them may wind up in Rice's column when the vote is taken.

Republicans, by contrast, are expected to rally behind Rice -- and President Bush -- with briefer speeches. Nine hours have been set aside for the debate, divided equally between the two parties.

[CountAllVotes]

1. thank you Sen. Byrd!

Keep on speaking the truth.

Thank you!!!

:kick:

[chomskysright]

51. Byrd contact info...http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html

[Supersedeas]

2. a good portion of those 48 Million will finally be heard today

Thanks to those Senators who will speak out today.

We salute you.

[eek]

3. about bloody time . (Byrd excepted)

Now if these limp-wads will get to the "liberal" media.

[genieroze]

4. Give em the bird Byrd. eom

[Angry Girl]

5. Always liked Byrd!

[Bono71]

14. Always? Did you like him in the "early days?" n/t

[Angry Girl]

15. Hmmm, maybe just his speeches. I'm kind of new to politics and

only started reading his stuff when he was against the war.
I'll check up on it. But I do like the way he writes/speaks.

[Bono71]

38. Just messin with ya...fyi he was (past tense) a member of the KKK n/t

[Angry Girl]

53. No kidding! *LMAO* He sure talks purdy tho!

[Tacos al Carbon]

33. I don't even like him today

One of the most virulently homophobic bigots in Congress and an anti-atheist bigot to boot. He was a major driving force behind DOMA and suggested that atheists leave America ... recently. The old hatemonger has just adjusted to more socially acceptable bigotry over the years.

[Bono71]

37. As a minority, I am always wary of ex-KKK. n/t

[sea dee]

58. It is best to ALWAYS keep and eye on them.

It is best to ALWAYS keep and eye on x-klansmen.

[BeHereNow]

6. Can't wait to read a transcript of BYRD today!

What an eloquent and powerful speaker he is.
BHN

[fooj]

7. Blast on, baby...Blast on!!!!!

[BeHereNow]

8. Has he been on yet?

I REALLY want to hear him!
I hope I did not miss it!!!
You KNOW he is going to kick some
SERIOUS ass.
NOBODY can open a can of "whup-ass"
like the Byrd!
BHN

[fooj]

10. He'll be on around 2:15 est...Go, Byrd!!!!!

Byrd and Boxer- back to back! Woo hoo! Those bastards will rue the day they fucked with this country!!! Guaranteed!

[VegasWolf]

9. I'll judge it by how they vote. n/t

[spartan61]

11. I listened to Kennedy, Bayh, Levin, and one other Senator

(name escapes me) and they were powerful with their reasons for not supporting rice for Sec. of State.

[LittleWoman]

45. I think you mean Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota

He spoke the straight truth and called Condi a liar more than once!

[Pam-Moby]

12. I like wise will be observing

how our dems vote on the confirmation of Rice and Gonzalez. It appears that they are just going along with what this administration wants to do which bothers me a lot. Hopefully they start realizing that they are not creating a good following for continued representation of their party by just going with the flow!!! They need to start standing up and saying no to any more evil and illegal decisions by the repugs!!!

edit for spelling

[arikara]

34. That's what I don't understand...

why they would speak out against something - this time Chimpy's wife -then vote yes. What is the point of that?

[TEXASYANKEE]

41. My thoughts exactly.

Watch what they do, not what they say. I can't understand why a single Democrat would be voting "for" Rice. It boggles my mind.

[WildClarySage]

13. Thank you Senator Byrd!

You make me proud!

[opihimoimoi]

16. Those Pub MFKRs are gonna sell Rice all they can but she still is

a FAILURE of the worst kind...she lies for political reasons....

and they want us to support her in the National Interest? BS...she does not perform in the National Interest one nano second, one iota. She is a shill.... prolly a dominatrix as well.

[soup]

17. Up Now 2:40 p.m. eastern time C-SPAN

Here we go.

Advise and Consent

[mudderfudder77]

18. While I Appreciate his Stand

I absolutely, will not, support Senator Byrd. I think we should take a closer look at the Senators past before give him a free pass on this. He is not the type of person that should be representing the Democratic party.

[Mandate My Ass]

19. You go right ahead and withhold your free pass

He's explained himself to the satisfaction of many and he currently is one of the few speaking truth to power.

Go, Senator Byrd.

[mudderfudder77]

20. Well...

I guess I'm just not one to forgive, especially when it comes to forgiving a Klan member.

[Mandate My Ass]

21. You obviously don't have a problem overlooking slavery

and those who profit from it, so the holier-than-thou act is just a bit thin from where I'm standing. :shrug:

[0007]

59. LOL!! Thank you man! and Mr. Byrd.

[Bridget Burke]

22. We've already heard the right wing talking points.....

Byrd got over the Klan many decades ago.

He's hated by the Republicans because he's a vocal, articulate opponent of their unAmerican policies. And I understand he's speaking in the Senate as I write this.

[Mandate My Ass]

23. He's doing wonderfully as usual

Pointing out multiple instances of dishonesty, circumventing checks and balances, secrecy, use of propaganda etc. etc.

I guess because of his distant past, one for which he has expressed remorse, no good he does is enough to compensate according to some people. Sheesh.

[mudderfudder77]

24. Thats not entirely true.

I find it interesting how easy we forgive when it comes to someone who plays on our team.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mudderfudder77]

27. Why?

Because I don't goosestep with everyone else? I would say that I probably only agree with about 50% of the things that are supported here, but I commit my time, my money and my votes to 90% of the democratic candidates.


edit: sp.

[Mandate My Ass]

28. I believe you

really I do. ;)

[mudderfudder77]

30. Let Me Clarify.

While I appreciate what Byrd is doing, I think we should hold back on smothering him in praise and calling him our hero.

[Mandate My Ass]

31. Let *me* clarify

Do whatever you want to do and I'll do the same.

You want a lot of consensus on this issue for someone who says you dislike marching in lockstep.

[CountAllVotes]

32. no you don't

you goosestep with an obvious crowd IMO.

:kick:

[goclark]

50. Agree

Some never see their mistakes, Byrd did and he has made up for them IMO.

[Tomee450]

36. Oh please

I"m African American and I am not concerned about what Byrd did forty years ago. The people who always bring up Byrd's past are usually not African Americans. If Byrd was still supporting racists ideas and policies I would be concerned but he has publicly rejected his racist past and that's enough for me.

[Bono71]

39. Well, I am Cuban, and I can't stand him.

He is no better than Trent Lott in my book, and he can go straight to....

[superconnected]

42. byrd may just be a super honest person

Maybe he was in the KKK because he really believed in it, not say.. oh peer pressure.

Maybe he changed because he really believed it was wrong.

Maybe he's made a whole bunch of bad and good decisions because he follows what he believes in.

Maybe this is why he does stand up to the republicans instead of plaing it safe.

He simply does what he believes in.

Sure you can treat him like he's the person who was in the KKK 40 years ago and act like he can't change. My opinion is he's past, and above most people, because he has the _ability_ to change.

Thank God for Byrd and I hope he continues to do what he believes in.

[Bono71]

43. And I hope he rots...some things are unforgivable in my mind...

if he were a right winger, we'd never forgive him...

I'm not about to let him off the hook simply because he professes to be part of a party that I vote for 99.9% of the time, and that he *changed*. How convenient. He didn't change and neither did Strom Thurman. They are both losers.

F' them both.

[superconnected]

44. oh, didn't realize you were psychic and knew his thoughts.

"He didn't change and neither did Strom Thurman. They are both losers."

"some things are unforgivable in my mind"

Gee, I think you'll find something on everyone.

I don't really understand people that stew in their hatred, so I'll just not speak with you further on this.

Best of wishes dealing with life.

[Bono71]

46. Thanks...and my life is great, fyi. n/t

[Tomee450]

57. Well,

thankfully there are many people who do not share your views. Many black people forgave George Wallace, a man who caused a great deal of pain for African Americans. We cannot know what's in another person's heart. Byrd has stated that he has changed and until I see something to the contrary, I will accept his statement.

[regnaD kciN]

62. In that case...

...do you feel the same about Jimmy Carter? He started off his political career as a segregationist, and first got elected governor with an ad campaign showing pictures of his primary opponent in the company of African-Americans.

Should he go straight to hell, too?

:shrug:

[Tomee450]

56. Well,

I happen to believe people can change.

[0007]

60. The reason your a minornity is because your loving

Fulgencio Batista got his ass run out of Cuba.

[Im with Rosey]

40. I agree with you

How many of us can say we have walked in his shoes, (he must be older than dirt) I heard him talk about what his life was like at during that period of time. I think I can accept his seemingly sincere regret, I am going to think about what he has tried to accomplish since that time. I don't think any of us can truly say we have never made a mistake or have never been wrong. What we do with the rest of our lives is just as important.

[ckramer]

25. Byrd is d man!

[ckramer]

29. Sen. Byrd = Courage + Wisdom

[Tacos al Carbon]

35. +homophobia +religious bigotry

[QC]

49. And yet he spoke out when nice, pure liberals kept silent.

Back during the post-9/11 powergrab and the leadup to the Iraq War, Byrd was one of the very, very few to condemn the regime publicly. In a time like this, we have to take our (very few) allies where we can get them.

If we still have a country when Bu$h is finished with us, then we can debate Byrd's positions on sexuality, race, the environment, and the rest, and I can assure you that I will find them wanting. But in the meantime, I'm glad Byrd is standing up to these radicals.

[Tacos al Carbon]

52. David Duke also spoke out against the war

and the Bush administration. Repeatedly and eloquently. You want bigots for allies? You're wlecome to them.

[QC]

54. No, I don't want bigots for allies,

though I'm sure saying that made you feel all nice and righteous inside. Hey, whatever gets you through the night....

As for David Duke, if he can turn his constituency against Bush, then that's a good thing. Does it mean I want to cuddle up with him. Um, no. But the more people who oppose Bush, the better.

[Tiberius]

47. *yawn*

As much as I liked Byrd's pre-IWR speech, and as much as I liked Senator Boxer's grilling of Rice, there's a very pessimistic corner of me that thinks it's too late.

Because, as we all know, there will be no "Iran War Resolution" vote. Congress is a mere nuisance to Bush, and like the U.N., it will be ignored when it becomes inconvenient.

Both the U.N. and Congress will be drowning in regret when the next war is started and they realize they lost their chance to stop the juggernaut... before Iraq.

[Alizaryn]

48. If I hear the term "back seat drivers" once more as an

half arsed attempt to answer Rice's shakey integrity and lack of honesty questions, i am going to throw up.

[malaise]

55. One by one they're being exposed as Liars

Ray McGovern says it's time to Rein In Cheney

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/reining_in_cheney.php

[0007]

61. Gotta get to Cheney!

More from above link..........The best read on Richard Cheney in a long time.

As long as the Bush administration continues to trot out the bogus claims of Iraq's WMD capacity, we will continue to challenge them. This time, Vice President Dick Cheney is basing his claim that Iran is a threat on Iraq's alleged nuclear capacity before we invaded. McGovern—who spent more than 20 years in the CIA—explains how outraged intelligence analysts are reacting to Cheney's most recent embellishment of the known facts.

British officials, who have had a front-row seat for all this, are worried that Cheney is now driving administration policy on Iran, according to a recent article in The Times of London. Adding to London’s concern is the fact that the Pentagon seems to be relying heavily on “alarmingly inconclusive” satellite imagery of Iranian installations.

(For those of you who missed it, please know that since 1996, analysis of satellite imagery has been performed in the Department of Defense, not by CIA analysts, as had been the case before. As you can imagine, this has made it much easier for the Pentagon to come up with the desired “supporting evidence” than was the case in the days when CIA had that portfolio and imagery analysts were encouraged to “tell it like it is.”)

Complicating the Iranian nuclear issue still more is Israel's hard-nosed attitude. Its defense minister has warned, “Under no circumstances would Israel be able to tolerate nuclear weapons in Iranian possession.”