Senate Votes to Condemn MoveOn PAC commercial

[hyphenate]

Source: Senator Kerry and Senator Kennedy's D.C. offices

This hasn't made it to news headlines yet.

No link yet.

---

Just spoke with both of my Senators' offices, and the Senate has passed a motion to condemn the General Petraeus commercial. Neither of the Massachusetts Senators voted for it, but it passed, nonetheless. If someone finds a link to the vote on it, please let us know.

[Debi]

1. I didn't like the ad, but is this REALLY the most pressing business for the United States Senate?

Nothing else to accomplish? :shrug:

[Benhurst]

3. If this is true, the the United States Senate is the World's Greatest

Collection of assclowns.

[Tom Joad]

6. the dems who voted for this ought to have their boots planted in Iraq, defending general buttass's

[2rth2pwr]

21. You mean these guys?

They all voted Aye-

Baucus
Bayh
Cardin
Carper
Casey
Conrad
Dorgan
Feinstein
Johnson
Klobuchar
Kohl
Landrieu
Leahy
Lieberman
Lincoln
McCaskill
Mikulski
Nelson, Ben
Nelson, Bill
Salazar
Tester
Webb

[TommyO]

26. Senator Casey will be getting a nastygram from me

[redirish28]

27. My wife just called his office and let him have it. Said he should just go ahead

and place an R right beside his name and that we will be supporting any and EVERY candidate that runs against him during the next election.

[RamboLiberal]

110. Got one from me as well

While I think Moveon got too cute obscuring their very true message, I emailed nasty comments to Casey for the Senate even wasting time on this and once more letting the Republicans obscure the failure of the Iraq War. Casey is another Dem that needs to grow a spine or is he really Repub lite in too many instances?

[SharonRB]

28. Glad to see Levin and Stabenow are not on the list

[Tyler Durden]

47. You damn skippy RIGHT we are glad...

We TOASTED Stabenow after her yes vote on the torture bill. ("Call congress RIGHT FUCKING NOW!", remember? I did, and she'd already gotten a shitpile of calls.)

[llmart]

94. Me too.

I would be pretty upset if they were.

[Tom Joad]

31. yes. of course i mean them.

[beltanefauve]

39. Caught an error

on that list.

Lieberman is NOT a Democrat!

[hyphenate]

43. Actually

the bastard is. He just recently changed his party affiliation back to D.

[beltanefauve]

114. Since when?

[hyphenate]

44. Thanks for the update! eom

[goodgd_yall]

51. The usual suspects

:grr:

[Tempest]

60. Lieberman is not a Democrat

His vote comes as no surprise.

[Dr Fate]

66. Exactly- he is a member of the DLC's new, conservative, pro-war 3rd party. n/t

n/t

[saigon68]

80. Actually you are 2 KIND to refer to him in that way

He is a Lying, Spineless, Draft Dodger like his Buddy the Chimpanzee

[Zodiak]

64. Just for comparison

here is a list of Dem Senators from the last Congress and their relative progressive voting record.

Harkin (Iowa) 82.75862069
Boxer (California) 82.75862069
Feingold (Wisconsin) 82.75862069
Kennedy (Massacheusetts) 77.5862069
Corzine (New Jersey) now Gov. 76.66666667
Lautenberg (New Jersey) 75.86206897
Durbin (Illinois) 75.86206897
Akaka (Hawaii) 75.86206897
Sarbanes (Maryland) 72.4137931
Kerry (Massacheusetts) DLC 70.68965517
Leahy (Vermont) 70.68965517
Levin (Michigan) 68.96551724
Mikulski (Maryland) 68.96551724
Reed (Rhode Island) 68.96551724
Biden (Deleware) 67.24137931
Dodd (Connecticut) 65.51724138
Wyden (Oregon) 65.51724138
Dayton (Minnesota) 65.51724138
Obama (Illinois) 63.79310345
Bayh (Indiana) DLC 60.34482759
Murray (Washington) 60.34482759
Schumer (New York) DLC 58.62068966
Inouye (Hawaii) DLC 56.89655172
Bingaman (New Mexico) 56.89655172
Dorgan (North Dakota) DLC 55.17241379
Reid (Nevada) 55.17241379
Byrd (West Virginia) 55.17241379
Clinton (New York) DLC 53.44827586
Menendez (New Jersey) DLC 50
Cantwell (Washington) DLC 48.27586207
Stabenow (Michigan) DLC 46.55172414
Kohl (Wisconsin) DLC 44.82758621
Feinstein (California) DLC 44.82758621
Leiberman (Connecticut) DLC 44.82758621
Rockefeller (West Virginia) 41.37931034
Conrad (North Dakota) DLC 41.37931034
Baucus (Montana) DLC 39.65517241
Carper (Deleware) DLC 34.48275862
Johnson (South Dakota) DLC 31.03448276
Lincoln (Arkansas) DLC 31.03448276
Salazar (Colorado) DLC 24.13793103
Pryor (Arkansas) DLC 22.4137931
Nelson (Florida) DLC 20.68965517
Landrieu (Louisianna) DLC 17.24137931
Nelson (Nebraska) DLC 3.448275862

[Dr Fate]

65. Correction- Joe Lieberman ( I) is not a Democrat, no matter what lying DLCers tell you.

And no matter what the RW media tells you either.

You can only have one DEM per primary, and the party chose Ned Lamont (D).

[Zhade]

101. Isn't "lying DLCer" a redundancy?

NT!

[Dr Fate]

121. They are either liars, or the most forgetful bucnch I've ever encountered.

Just accuse them of supporting Joe (I-3rd party) or for origianlly supporting Bush on the war and you will see what I mean.

[superconnected]

81. Thanks, nice to know!

Kerry (Massacheusetts) DLC 70.68965517
Obama (Illinois) 63.79310345
Clinton (New York) DLC 53.44827586

[ohio2007]

87. is there a list of those who "DID NOT VOTE" ?

were all senators accounted for ?

[2rth2pwr]

89. Here

NAYs ---25
Akaka (D-HI)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3
Biden (D-DE)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)

[Zhade]

100. They should be ashamed of their capitulation to rightwing fearmongering by fellow conservatives.

NT!

[Emillereid]

106. Another reminder of why I don't vote for Feinstein anymore.

[JerseygirlCT]

120. Lieberman, gee, yeah, what a surprise... nt

[SharonRB]

122. I'm very confused

Tonight KO had Levin on and he explained why he voted yes. How come he's not on this "aye" list?

[sandyj999]

7. I was wondering the same thing. This is all they have to do? n/t

[saigon68]

10. A shitty little vote for a crappy little war criminal

[jobycom]

42. Hopefull they'll spend less time on it than DU will

At least the Circuit City and the Taser guys will fall to the wayside.

[katmondoo]

2. How quickly a shitty motion can pass

but something beneficial goes down the drain. A pox on all of them

[Mass]

4. Rollcall here

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00344

[Tom Joad]

9. Sen Feinstein comes through for Bush again. Watch her beg for a biscuit.

Nice poodle.

[Baby Snooks]

46. The lapdogs

Who do Feinstein and Pelosi represent? Has California turned Republican?

[Ignis]

52. Themselves only, apparently. (nt)

[paulk]

97. Pelosi is in the Senate now?

imagine that!

IMG]

[Divine Discontent]

112. Apparently, you'd think it's turning Republican based on this, huh?

ya know, for all the talk about people saying we shouldn't be criticizing our Democratic party (although that's not the rule on the site, just that you can't promote non-Dem candidates), there's PLENTY of it! We are SICK and TIRED of all the knee buckling, the capitulation, and the ass kissing.

Do they not understand we are the ones who walk door to door, tell others about the candidate, raise funds, donate, and spend time helping them get elected?

I will NOT be doing anything for Bill Nelson the next time he runs, and I hope a more progressive candidate will rise up to challenge him, but first, I hope a great Democratic candidate who's NOT afraid of speaking their commitment to ALL people will stand up and give us something GOOD to vote for in Florida instead of Mutthead Martinez! The nice lady that lost to him in '04 should run against him again if she's willing!

[goodgd_yall]

53. I'm fed up with her

I wish Cindy would contest HER seat.

[pink-o]

86. Remember when Arianna Huffinton's husband ran against her

..for Senator? Michael Huffington was an in-the-closet gay Republican, and Arianna was a good little GOP wife.

Damn! How things change! Maybe Arianna can contest Feinstein's seat. I'm soooo sick and tired of her letting us down! She let down her base (the gay community of Castro Street) when she was Mayor of San Francisco, and now she just panders to the right so her defense contractor husband Richard Blum can continue to get business.

I say again: Draft Arianna for her seat!!!

[Andromeda]

96. That would be a sure win for Feinstein.

Find a viable candidate to run against Dianne Feinstein.

[Le Taz Hot]

116. She talked about it

and all the party wonks around here screamed bloody murder (she was still a Democrat then) with the "Why try to unseat a sitting Democrat?!" I'm hoping NOW people will see how much of a disappointment she's been since she voted "Yea" on the IWR. Can't piss off anyone upstairs and threaten those war dollar profits she's pulling in. Personally? I think she's more of a piece of shit than Lieberman. The epitome of DINO.

[MurrayDelph]

71. Just sent her an e-mail

(not the first).

I can now expect a form letter expressing how important it is to understand the issues (implying that she does, and we don't).

[cosmicdot]

75. ding

been there, done that, too



her support of Bu$h's agenda kick-off bill (after stealing the 2000 election, reviewing his appointments; and, while Cheney was sitting up his 'energy' plans (petro wars) ..........

the 2001 tax cut

http://feinstein.senate.gov/releases01/tax_cut_reconciliation.html

her support of the estate tax repeal

http://feinstein.senate.gov/releases00/estate_taxes.html

[Tom Joad]

11. It looks like 25 opposed it, the 72 who supported it have no redeeming social or political value.

may they soon see the end of their sorry careers.

[Debi]

19. Thank you Biden and Obama for not wasting time voting either way for this

piece of garbage motion! :applause: (Clinton and Dodd voted Nay)

[Tyler Durden]

58. How can you thank them?

Silence implies acquiescence. Shame on both of them. Obama is inexperienced, but Biden knows better.

BOTH of my Senators had the Mazel to vote no.

[Debi]

76. Because the entire charade is a waste of the Senate's time

that they should be spending on things WAY more important than a stupid MoveOn.org ad.

Glad to see Biden and Obama saw through this.

[Le Taz Hot]

117. Did you say "thank you?"

It's their JOB to be in the Senate and vote. If you think it wasn't planned for them NOT to be there, you might want to think again.

[cyberpj]

20. Here's the list of THE 25 NAY's and 3 Not Voting:

NAYs ---25
Akaka (D-HI)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3
Biden (D-DE)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)

[ohio2007]

90. Not Voting - 3 BIDEN,OBAMA and CANTWELL ?

Not Voting - 3
Biden (D-DE)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)


to busy I guess.

nobody will hold a microphone to them on it

[hyphenate]

45. Much obliged! eom

[IsItJustMe]

91. I am pretty sure that the dems who voted for this measure, is by-in-large, the same group that

helps the rethugs keep this war going. What will it take for people to wake up?

[saigon68]

5. Joementum Limpmann probably voted for it

Oh yes the little weasel did indeed


Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea

[sandyj999]

8. Looks like they just shared a kiss.

Or maybe a secret?

[Ian David]

18. LIEberman also voted for the Boxer Amemndment, because he wanted to trap Dems into voting for it.

If the Boxer Amendment passed, then the Dems would HAVE to vote for the whole bill.

So, LIEberman voted for the Boxer amendment.

[still_one]

12. This isn't about a commercial, IT IS ABOUT FIRST AMMENDMENT RIGHTS

Maybe Congress can start rating commercials, what a crock

I tell you what, maybe Congress can get us out of Iraq before we lose anymore people on all sides

[cyberpj]

15. Abso-f'ing-lutely. And where were they during SWIFTBOATING ADS??? nt

[eagler]

23. Absolutely. Kinda shows us whose still running the show.

Things have to change

[harun]

30. I think they are still running the show in the Senate because they

are more more united (Repugs that is). They may have nasty policy but their people get in line like a bunch of robots every time they need them to.

Not advocating the Dem's should turn into a bunch of bots like them but it is why I think they have the upper hand in the Senate right now.

[still_one]

82. Many democrats are a bunch of robots, voting with republicans all the time /nt

[cyberpj]

13. "Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces" - I guess they're now to be considered

infallible. USA! USA! USA! Our Military can do no wrong! Ever!


snip-
..."deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces"

[uppityperson]

14. They waste their time on this? eom

[Ian David]

17. Very true. With O.J. free on bail, we have much more pressing national matters to attend to. n/t

[uppityperson]

22. housing healthcare occupations loosenukes/iran education "ntl security"

habeas corpus debt egomaniacal "leaders" etc etc etc

[Ian David]

24. And bears. n/t

[Ian David]

16. The Repukes haven't been this riled-up since Murphy Brown.

Fuck the Republickers. I just donated $29.47 to MoveOn.org
I chose the amount of $29.47 in honor of Barbara Boxer's Amendement number 2947 to the Repuke bill.
https://pol.moveon.org/donate/donate.html


See prior thread:

Fuck the Republickers. I just donated $29.47 to MoveOn.org
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1856539

[hunter]

25. OMG. That's pathetic.

What next, a coup d'état by Pee-Wee Herman?



Shame on the Senate.

[Onlooker]

29. Why didn't Obama vote no?

Was he not there?

[hyphenate]

49. Much of the time

Presidential candidates will skip voting on really divisive motions. I suspect that's what happened here.

[goodgd_yall]

54. Credit to Dodd and Clinton for voting no n/t

[Tyler Durden]

63. If he was THERE and he didn't vote for FREE SPEECH, he's a coward.

I hope to throw this back in his face if I ever am given the chance.

[RamboLiberal]

109. He was there

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, another contender for the Democratic nomination, did not vote, although he voted minutes earlier for an alternative resolution by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. That resolution condemned the MoveOn ad as an "unwarranted personal attack," but also condemned political attack ads that questioned the patriotism of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., both Vietnam veterans.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8RPBHO80&show_article=1

Clinton had the guts to vote Nay. And I'm not saying this because I favor Clinton. I'm one of the DU'ers hoping she doesn't get the nomination - but she has been gaining favor with me more and more I must say.

[MidwestTransplant]

32. HOW DOES THIS EVEN GET TO THE FLOOR

[Zodiak]

67. I still have yet to see any answer to this question n/t

[Zhade]

102. Exactly. Just like the funding bills.

They don't have to let any bills forward they don't WANT to come to a vote.

[graywarrior]

33. This is why congress has such a low rating.

They are useless...a bunch of 5th graders fighting over something someone said. Sickening.

[uppityperson]

34. What the HELL happened to Free Speech!?!?!?!?!?!

The more I read on this the more I am angry.
"To express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces."

Which Constitutional Amendment was Freedom of speech? Oh yeah, the First.

[RantinRavin]

36. Seems to me like the Senate

exercised thier First Amendment Rights to express how they felt about something. Or are they not allowed to use thier's ?

[goodgd_yall]

61. You don't understand

The Senate is condemning criticism of Petraeus. That means it is condemning free speech. So, although the Senate is excercising its free speech, it is using it to freeze dissent. It is condemning one of the basic rights of Americans.

[uppityperson]

72. as MoveOn has responded...

And it has one purpose: to intimidate all of us. To send a message that anyone who speaks unpleasant truths about this war will pay. To make everyone—especially politicians—think twice before they accuse the administration of lying.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1859019

[goodgd_yall]

56. I know, when you read it, it even sounds worse n/t

[sniffa]

35. i'm gLad they have nothing better to do

oh, and i thought they didn't do these kinds of votes if i remember aLberto's time.

[whirlygigspin]

37. I vote to condemn this thread, it made me feel 'icky'

oh yeah, they can't pass a law to actually count people's votes but they can 'condemn' opinions they don't like.

fuck that noise

[Roland99]

38. How the hell did this eve make it up for a vote?!?!?!

:wtf:

[keopeli]

74. Because a super-majority supported it. n/t

[yardwork]

40. They voted down the vote on Habeus Corpus but they have time for this?

And where was the Senate when the Swift Boat Liars were slandering one of their own, a decorated U.S. combat veteran, and influencing the outcome of a presidential election with their lying ads? Why weren't the Swift Boat Liars condemned on the floor of the Senate?

[CrispyQ]

41. Disgusting.

:grr:

[CANDO]

48. Make a donation to Moveon in response!

Done it twice in the last week!

[Doremus]

95. That was exactly my response.

And I hope that everyone else who is outraged by this ridiculous waste of time does the same.

We need more ads like this one. We will not be intimidated, dammit!!!!

[goodgd_yall]

50. Disgusting---what is happening to the right of dissent in this country n/t

[Cleita]

55. I guess we musn't question authority now.

The first ammendment has been cancelled as well. They aren't even trying to hide that we are the fourth reich anymore.

[Tempest]

57. This is why Congress' approval rating is at 11%

Throw them all out.

[Tom Joad]

73. why is it that high?

[Nutmegger]

59. Why did Reid let this piece of shit on the floor to begin with?

Why?

Fucking bastards. :mad::grr::mad::grr:

[Debi]

77. I agree, a waste of time!

:bounce:

[The Icon Painter]

62. Move On Condemned by Cowards

I just sent Move On another contribution. The cowards in the Senate will not tell us to be quiet. I will criticize any person I think to be wrong. Fruit salad on the chest is not a defense against the truth. Bah!

[Dr Fate]

68. Could we get the DEMS who voted "yes" on this to censure Bush? LOL!!! Hell no.

Cowards is what they are.

[democratdoc]

69. ad vote

They pass a resolution against an ad that questions how
Patreas will act but do nothing when the swiftboaters dragged
an honorably decorated combat veteran running for president? 
Democrats jumped on board?  We are screwed.

[Le Taz Hot]

118. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[plasticsundance]

70. Too funny

The problem they're having is even when you pronounce General Betrayus' name correctly it still sounds like you're saying General Betrayus. I LMAO hearing and watching the pundits and political officials on radio and TV saying his name, and you just can't get around hearing it as General Betrayus.

The more they talk about the issue, the more they connect General-shill-Betrayus with the word Betrayus.

Since Iraq is still and will remain a clusterfuck, this proves nothing and actually shows how impotent the legislative branch of the US government has become. :rofl:

The chickens have come home to roost poor little senators, and there's not a whole hell of lot any of you can do about it. This is the nature of things. One pays for dumb ass decisions. Whatta a bunch of dumb shits.

[NastyRiffraff]

78. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware this bill was coming up for a vote today.

My bad :( I would have written both my senators (Mikulski and Cardin) about it. However, I certainly DID email them about their vote and told them what I thought of it.

As an aside, among the presidential hopefuls, only Clinton and Dodd got this right. Neither is my first choice, but both have moved up in my estimation.

[hyphenate]

93. Do what I did

I'm on the MoveOn PAC/MoveOn mailing list. They're pretty good about keeping me informed. I have several mailing lists from progressive sites, include ImpeachBush, AlGore, ACLU, AU (Americans United), Democrats, etc. I'm also on numerous animal rights lists, pro-choice groups, etc. I have them go to one specific email address which doesn't completely clog up my regular emails--some people get an email account just for this sort of stuff. Gmail is a good choice, because it gives you some good choices for saving and deleting what you get in your inbox.

[paulk]

98. it wasn't a bill

it was an amendment

[Barrett808]

79. But no condemnation of the Swift Boat ads?

I'm shocked!

[Release The Hounds]

83. ...and Cleland and Hackett and...

[Sequoia]

84. Her vote triggered a sharp statement from Republican Mitt Romney:

"Hillary Clinton had a choice. She could stand with our troop commander in Iraq, or she could stand with the libelous left wing of her party. She chose the latter. The idea that she would be a credible commander-in-chief of our armed forces requires the willing suspension of disbelief."


You, nor your sons volunteered to fight so shut the hell up and get your dog off the car roof. You sounds like an adult speaking to a child: We can do this the easy way, or the hard way.

Mitt....you ain't never going to be president.

[kurth]

85. Where's the Senate condemnation of RW talk radio?

[Blue_Tires]

103. that's my question as well

[HuffleClaw]

88. did they do the same for the swift boat ads? n/t

[antiimperialist]

92. I would donate to Moveon if I wasn't broke

End the war and condemn the liars.

[Zhade]

99. Cowards. Afraid of the truth, and buying into and supporting the rightwing spin.

And they wonder why Congress is so low in the polls.

[Vidar]

104. Glad they've got time for important business like this.

[Emillereid]

105. Totally mum on all the repuke ads -- but moveon's gets dissed.

Had to be some democratic collaboration. What misplaced priorities! Condemn the goddam war for chrissakes -- not an ad.

[ImpeechBush]

107. Maybe some new leadership? Replace Reid and Pelosi with

maybe Russ Feingold and Maxine Waters?
Would this be too disruptive? It's hard to imagine anything worse than the way this whole year has turned out. I'm not ready to say quit the party but wouldn't a more resolute leadership make more sense?

[badgervan]

108. Spineless Cowards

Reid and Pelosi should step down immediately from their "leadership" positions, on the grounds of incompetence, laziness, aid and comfort to the enemy, and for just being such totally ineffective, clueless, vanilla, vapid zombies. And for allowing themselves to be totally outplayed by the most dishonest, underhanded and evil administration in our country's history - right when we need smart, energetic and EFFECTIVE leadership from the dems
No excuses for this. None. They have lost a massive amount of support from dems like myself, who simply can't believe that Pelosi and Reid are still in charge, and have just about given up on DC types, period.
Damn, I am pissed!

[IndianaGreen]

111. Reid should have never allowed this vote to even come up!

Reid should have never allowed this vote to even come up!

Our Congressional leaders are inept and incompetent compared to the Republican leaders. Look at how Newt Gingrich ran the House, and Trent Lott ran the Senate, and you will see how Pelosi and Reid should have controlled the institution's agenda against any GOP proposal. You can't provide the GOP with any sort of platform for them to air their propaganda.

As to Hillary and Dodd, kudos to both of them for standing up to another bullshit GOP proposal.

If you want to support the troops, you should have supported the Webb proposal on military deployments.

Petraeus follows a long line of generals that have lied to protect and defend criminal war policies. Does the name Westmoreland ring a bell?

[Peace Patriot]

113. How can a Senate fulfill its duties under the Constitution when it believes

that a U.S. military general "deserves the full support of the Senate"? Why does he "deserve" this? And why should this shill for Bush be above criticism, and above the honest ridicule of the people?

The "full" support. That is not an appropriate opinion for the Senate to state. Their job is ACCOUNTABILITY, as well as--at least according to the Constitution--determining, with the House, whether or not the country goes to war, and whether or not the President and his/her appointed officials, including military officials, are fulfilling their responsibilities under the Constitution.

They should give their "full support" to NO ONE in the branch of government that they are supposed to be overseeing.

----------------------------------

The situation of our country and our democracy, and the treasonous betrayal of us by our own party leadership, just becomes more appalling every day. 70% of the American people oppose this war and want it ended--up from an already significant majority--56%!--who opposed it from the beginning (Feb. '03), and we have half the Democratic Party office holders pandering to fascists and war criminals in the worst regime in our history.

We have a lot of work to do, my friends, to save this democracy. It is not going to be easy. My own Priority No. 1 is transparent vote counting--getting rid of the "trade secret" voting machines and the rightwing Bushite corporations who control them. I believe this WAS the fascist coup. It occurred in the same month as the Iraq War Resolution (October 2002), and is closely related to it. The IWR Resolution guaranteed unjust war; the "Help America Vote Act" (HAVA) provided the means to shove this unjust war down the throats of the American people, by fast-tracking voting systems all over the country, run on 'TRADE SECRET,' PROPRIETARY programming code, owned and controlled by rightwing Bushite corporations, with virtually no audit/recount controls, in time for the 2004 (s)election.

Virtually none of the members of Congress can prove that they were actually elected. Some seem to be genuine representatives of the people, but most do not. As a whole, they are the exact OPPOSITE of the American people. 70% of the people oppose the war; approximately 60% to 70% of Congress consistently supports it. You do the math. How did we end up with a pro-war Congress, in a country where 70% of the people oppose the war? I just don't think money can buy that, in a system with transparent vote counting. I think the voting systems are being tweaked to shape that pro-war majority in Congress, as they were tweaked to keep Bush and Cheney in power in 2004.

But the hell of it is that, although there is overwhelming circumstantial evidence that this is the case, they have REMOVED THE PROOF AND PLACED IT BEHIND A VEIL OF CORPORATE SECRECY that should be the centerpiece of every election in a democracy: the transparent counting of votes, in public view, so that all know and agree that the vote counting is accurate.

BOTH parties did this, not just the Repukes!

And, by the way, Christopher Dodd was a major architect of this electronic voting fascist coup, so I wouldn't trust a word that man says. I think he is a snake in the grass. He is very smooth with the leftist "talking points," but I don't think they mean shit to him. He colluded on HAVA with the biggest crooks in the Anthrax Congress--Tom Delay and Bob Ney. I oppose Hillary Clinton on the OPEN GROUND of her actual policies. At least you can see who she is. And, for those who don't know it, she and Charles Schumer were the ONLY TWO SENATE VOTES against the "Help America Vote Act"--one of the few good things I know about her. But Dodd is another matter. I think his is one of the most cynical candidacies I have ever seen in my life--and I've seen some doozys. Don't trust that man! Really. Beware!

---------------------------------

THROW DIEBOLD, ES&S AND SEQUOIA ELECTION THEFT MACHINES INTO 'BOSTON HARBOR' NOW!

And take a look at Dan Rather's report "The Trouble with Touchscreens" at www.HD.net. He lays it all out--including the 'trade secret' code that our election system is now infested with, and the voting machine corporations' messing with the hanging chad punchcard ballots in the Democratic areas of Florida in 2000! New information about that! And ES&S's manufacture of defective voting machines in sweatshops ($2.50/hr and less) in the Philippines! It is an amazing report!

You wonder how we can end up with this 11 percenter Congress? It was brought to you by Diebold, ES&S and Sequoia, along with Bush-Cheney's phony "re-election."

And I don't think we can get anywhere, on any issue, until we RESTORE transparent vote counting. That's the bottom line of a democracy. And it's gone!

There is a big election reform movement at the state/local level, getting stronger and more widespread every day. That's where we can, and must, get this changed. If we give no other gift to the future, let it be this: that we restored Americans' right to vote!

[Orsino]

115. Useless waste of space...

...is our modern American Senate. The few good eggs can achieve nothing.

[robcon]

119. Obama's behavior is simple political cowardice. So is Biden's

Obama Betrays Us, Of Course
by: Matt Stoller Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 14:53:56 PM EDT

In Dante's Inferno, the Opportunists were "the people who refused to take sides on the whole good vs. evil thing, but just looked after themselves. As a result, they're doomed to forever run after a banner while being stung by wasps and hornets... These people aren't technically in hell. They're not evil enough to be in hell, so they're in the vestibule of hell."

Obama didn't take a vote on the Moveon condemnation, but an hour earlier he voted for the Boxer amendment.

What a sad spectacle of a politician.

UPDATE: Apparently his public schedule had him traveling to a rally at that time. Whatever. I really appreciated his inspiring leadership this whole episode.

UPDATE AGAIN: Obama had canceled his public schedule to vote in the Senate."

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1469