Senator Robert Byrd, my state Senator, has announced his support for Ned Lamont (h/t Bob Geiger), the Democratic nominee for Senate from the great state of Connecticut. Why is this big news, you ask? Because he is the only member of the "Gang of Fourteen" to do so thus far.
Sen. Byrd has been my state Senator for my entire lifetime. He’s an old lion of the Senate, and quite good at maneuvering through the political ins and outs. He recently lost his wife of sixty years, so it’s been a tough summer for him, as he’s working on his re-election campaign. He did not need to step out and endorse Ned Lamont — it’s not a race that is on many radar screens here in West Virginia – but he has always been a big proponent of both Senate rules and decorum, and strong party allegiance to the Democratic Party.
Byrd’s endorsement now gives the other wavering neutrals and iffy Lieberman supporters steady cover for heading over to the Lamont camp. (As if they needed it, but several ninnies have been hiding out in the "neutral" position on this, and that’s simply unacceptable.)
This is very well timed. And I can’t help wondering what Sen. Byrd has worked out in the background on this with some of the other Gang of Fourteen members — and whether we’ll see a few more of them stepping out to support Lamont in the days ahead.
One thing that Sen. Byrd has prized through the years is Democratic loyalty. Joe Lieberman taking his campaign cues from Dick Cheney and Karl Rove had to have pissed Byrd off the last few days. If anything had to do with him taking a stand on this particular issue — other than my repeated calls to his office, of course (*g*) — it was de facto Republican nominee Joe Lieberman’s own piss poor behavior.
No one likes a turncoat, Joe.
As Bob says, Sen. Byrd’s press secretary characterized the endorsement as follows:
"Senator Byrd is supporting the Democratic nominee in Connecticut," was the word we got from Tom Gavin, Byrd’s press secretary. "But what the Senator is most focused on right now is his own election."
Sen. Byrd is facing a well-funded, hand-picked by Karl Rove, multi-millionaire GOP opponent in this fall’s election. It is a big deal that he publicly stood up for Ned Lamont, and I would appreciate it if everyone would consider sending him a thank you. You can do so here. (And, if you are so inclined, you can make a campaign contribution to Sen. Byrd here, although do browse through his issue positions — he’s not the typical progressive candidate, and I don’t want everyone to think that they are getting a "Blue America" kind of vote by donating to Sen. Byrd. I wouldn’t want you to donate if some of his positions do not sit comfortably with you. He’s certainly more conservative than I am on a number of social issues, but he has steadfastly stood up for WV’s residents through the years [and gave me a college scholarship], so his re-election has some real meaning for me and for folks in my state.)
Bob Geiger has put together the full list of Senators who have gone on the record on a Connecticut endorsement — if your Senator has endorsed Ned, please remember to thank them. If your Senator has not, or hasn’t gone on the record at all, please continue to call the office and voice your feelings on that issue as well. You can call toll free at 1-888-355-3588 to the Capitol switchboard.
This is a fundamental issue of principle: the Democratic voters of Connecticut have spoken. Either you are for democracy or for incumbant cronyism and back-stabbing party disloyalty. I am proud to say that both my West Virginia Senators stand firmly on the side of democracy. Where do yours stand?
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Byrd!
Investigate Lieberman’s “foundation”. It could be he has grown to resemble Republicans in how he treats money for “charity.”
Robert KKK Byrd will get no support from me.
Thank goodness.
Great post Christy, some lovely intelligence to drift off with here…
See and read y’all on the dateline flip…
Surcam at 3 — That’s one of the reasons I said look at his background for everyone. He’s done an enormous amount of good for WV through the years, and I know the state’s NAACP chapter folks have worked very well with him — but he’s not a candidate that everyone can get behind.
ninnies
Ah, Christy, I thank you for that perfect word-choice. Even though it immediately brought to my Beautiful Mind a picture of Beel Nelson.
Ptui.
I am proud to say that both my West Virginia Senators stand firmly on the side of democracy. Where do yours stand?
I am hoping to be able to say the same, but what the hey I am from CT and according to the GOP our votes don’t count.
Christy, Hooray!!! I thanked Byrd and asked him to bring more into the fold with him. Thanks for keeping those of us who lurk more than comment up to date.
Byrd’s biggest plus, in my book, is his devotion to the perogatives of the Senate vis-a-vis the executive branch. When the Dems retake control of the Senate and oversight hearings on the overreach of the executive branch are held, watch for the Distinguished Gentleman from West Virginia. No one can hold a candle to him when he gets going on one branch of government holding another accountable. No one.
“Where do yours stand?”
Both are GOP Bush enablers, I’m afraid.
Kind of a bummer really.
Surcam,
Nice of you to use Sean Hannity’s negative framing of Sen. Byrd.
Byrd has said out loud and in public that his support for the Klan 60 years ago was wrong, shameful and has asked for forgiveness. God has given him that courtesy, but not phony Christians like Sean Hannity and Rush Limp-balls.
The same people who are outraged about any scrutiny of Republican past errors always use matters that are decades old to slur the likes of Byrd and Ted Kennedy.
Take that crap to Redstate.
-GSD
Peterr @ 10, yes indeedy, whatever his other failings may be, you can always count on Senator Byrd to lead the charge to defend the constitution (at times, a charge of one).
Let me see:
McConnell is for Schlesinger I believe.
Bunning’s reponse was “I used to play baseball.”
OT.
EPU’D.
I still think the most telling aspect of the George Felix “Frenchie” Allen Jr.(R-Appomattox) is the fact that he preceded his cruel, bullying, nativist attack on a 20 year old student volunteer with the words: “We are going to run a positive campaign”.
-GSD
P.S.
Coming to an inflamed region near you:
The Blow Of Zolfaghar
http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl…..975477.htm
-GSD
EPU’d:
lotus @ 147
And then there are my senators, DiFi and Boxer.
Sigh.
They try, and they have their moments. But Boxer spouting off that “Joe supports women’s rights” is a real low point for me. She’s backed off on supporting Joe, but unless/until I see her physically campaigning for the Democratic Party’s candidate for the US Senate in Connecticut, I won’t be too happy.
The one-way emails from Boxer’s PAC don’t help either. Yes, you wrote me and acknowledged my existence (and asked for my $$) – but what about responding to what I sent you?
Byrd supports Lamont.
West Virginians walk a little taller than usual, today.
This, makes this Oklahoman proud to be a Democrat. And pleased to call Senator Byrd one of our own.
Mary @ 14
Mary, is Bunning managing to keep it together in public these days? Some? Any?
Hooray for Byrd! Sadly, I’m stuck with Warner and Allen, and neither of their endorsements would be good for Lamont. But come January, I’ll be able to join you all in these actions! Go Webb!
(btw, according to MyDD, Allen couldn’t even fill half a room for a “Veterans for Allen” event on Wednesday with John McCain!)
I was pretty upset with Byrd over the gang of 14 and Alito, but he is an interesting guy and can be such a wonderful speaker. I remember him awhile back giving a lovely speech that included references to the founding fathers, Cicero, Plato, etc. Speaking immediately after him was either Sessions or Inhofe. Nuff said.
Another OT.
Bush is now outsourcing the “war on terror” to the French.
Please share with your Francophobic winger friends.
http://www.canada.com/topics/n…..mp;k=71318
Aye, tabernac!
-GSD
Christy,
What I’ve most admired about Senator Byrd was his courageous stand against the pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. And he did it on constitutional grounds. As you know, he was smeared by the NeoCons for his patriotic stand.
I am not surprised by his support of Ned Lamont. He is very conservative on some of the social issues but in my book he is one of the most patriotic Americans ever to serve in the United States Senate.
I hope he wins re-election
The joke written with Jim Bunning in mind.
Why do politicans have one more brain cell than horses?
So they don’t shit in parades.
-GSD
One of the things I find interesting about your countries politics is that there isn’t a lot of party loyalty. It seems to me that if the voters nominate a candidate for public from the party of their choice it occurs to me that those politicians whom belong to that party should then support the voters choice.
Mods, greasy stain at 18, needs some bubbles
‘nite Firedoggies…
lotus – the most “public” that they have let him be that I can remember is his photo op with Alito.
It’s a pretty sad situation. OTOH, he seems well qualified to serve as Attorney General if anything happens to Gonzales.
Always an aluminum foil lining somewhere.
Surcam – In June 2005, Byrd Co-Sponsored a resolution apologizing to the victims of lynching and the descendants of those victims for the failure of the Senate to enact anti-lynching legislation.
There were 89 co-sponsors, and in the interest of full disclosure, George Felix Allen was also one of them.
I would never defend anyone’s participation in the KKK, but some historical and social context of racial issues in the Nation during WWII can help one better understand where they would currently place it on the atrocious spectrum.
I’m sure glad no one hold’s the decisions I made when I was 24 over my head like a sledgehammer.
Niters, you beautiful big-eyed medaka, you.
I’m so glad that Byrd has announced his support. OTOH, this tactic of “[fill in blank] supports the Democratic candidate” or the variant -even worse- “[fill in blank] supports the Democratic process in CT” makes me want to pull my hair out.
I understand the difficulty of campaigning against a friend/colleague and/or someone who might be retaining their seat, albeit for another party. But, damn, it really feels like folks are hedging their bets and people who want to WIN IT ALL, do not hedge their bets, at least in my experience. (And it’s not as if Vichy Joe is pulling any punches in return.)
Senator Byrd is my favorite Senator. To me, there is nothing like a rainy day home from work listening to Byrd give one of his impressive speeches. He was one of the only Senators to express his views on the floor before Iraq. And he gave it to them good.
Of all the other Dems in the Gang of 14, (E. Benjamin Nelson, Nebraska; Mary Landrieu, Louisiana; Daniel Inouye, Hawaii; Mark Pryor, Arkansas; Ken Salazar, Colorado), the one that I see as being most likely to agree with Byrd is Inouye of Hawaii. I don’t know how likely he is to get stirred up enough to make it public.
Any ideas, O Hawaiians?
lotus from previous thread:
It’s a term from gaming. See here.
See also l33t.
afterthought @
11
Me toooo
- Kyl – 97% Bush Rubberstamp
- McCain – Doubletalk express leader!
So… My money goes to Ned & Jon Tester
What I love about Senator Byrd is when he starts waving his little book of the constitution around. We need more of our congresscritters carrying around a copy, maybe even reading it occasionally.
And no one should forget Byrd’s incredible and courageous voice agains the Iraq war. His speech was sent around the internets back then, if anyone has the link, a great read.
I recall that Byrd was one of the holdouts on the Thomas vote. . .maybe it was his KKK history that sent his vote to Thomas, despite his other sometimes better instincts.
Interesting that Bingaman has used the “concentrating on my campaign” line but has not been able to use Byrd’s “supporting Democrats” concept. Not. Yet.
Kenji Mishima @ 26
Well, yes, Kenji M, that occurs to us too. As to SOME of our politicians, however, this seems to be an open question. Those, we will speak to in language they understand.
Stay tuned . . .
lotus – did you ever get an explanation of “pwn3d”?
lotus @
16
linky no worky……I’m in suspense!
And don’t forget it was also former KKK member Justice Hugo Black that helped to create the unanimous decision on Brown vs: Board of Education.
Don’t feel bad, I’m very much stuck with DOLE, BURR, and (even worse, Charles Taylor). We miss John Edwards!
SEN. BYRD is a man of conviction and principles. Most of us have made mistakes as young men and women that we later come to regret.
GSD @ 12
Ditto!
Thanks, Kurt!
he’s one byrd who soars above them all.
those six who are backing ho hum joe hum may be auditioning as the replacement mole.
look for diminished eye size, twitching snouts and silken peltlike growths of gray fur in unexpected places.
Where do my senators stand?
Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein both endorsed Lieberman. Even after the pissant declared he stood prepared to stab the democratic party in the back, they stuck by his sorry ass.
Boxer, of course, campaigned for him.
They now pay lip service to the nominee. Still (and to repeat myself), they understood perfectly well that Lieberman was prepared to betray the democratic party if defeated in the primary.
So you’ll have to tell me: just where do my senators stand?
Try this, meta:
http://www.courant.com/news/po…..s-breaking
Redshift @ 20
…and Sen. McCa-ca-cain regaled the audience with a monkey joke! Also of note is Paul Galanti’s attendance at the “Swift Boat Veterans Against Jim Webb” event. I sure feel bad for McCain’s Bangladeshi born daughter; first he makes friends with the people who called her a bastard; now he runs out to support Senator racist.
Josh Marshall is throwing cold water on Ned’s campaign. Bums me out.
Yes’m. astralp, I did (but it wasn’t nearly as much fun as Bettie’s Snow Day)!
Well Byrd doesn’t exactly have the best progressive credentials (!), but at this stage in his life, he appears to have become somewhat more fearless in taking political stands. I find his elder-statesman’s stubborn honesty strangely refreshing.
Yesterday I did just what xyz suggested today–
took a little action.
I sent an email to our State Dem. Chairman, Jerry Meek, NC, to request that he support the petition at the Chicago DNC meeting which calls for Lieberman to drop out and which supports the candidicy of Lamont. I read about this on FDL.
Today I received a response from Jerry–
“I’m actually in Chicago right now, during a break. It is my understanding that a resolution calling upon Lieberman to drop out will in fact be introduced. (I know this because I contacted one of the national officers to indicate my interest in proposing such a resolution and was told that another State Chair is already planning to introduce one). So, certainly I’ll be supporting it.”
Jerry Meek was a strong DFA supporter and became our State Party Chairman after a spirited campaign against the traditional old timey candidate supported by the Dem Governor.
Meek has done a great job in motivating the Democrats in North Carolina.
I’ll be more active from now on. Thanks FDL!
Time for another fax to Babs, imploring her to make amends for supporting Lieberman in the primary by actively supporting the Democratic nominee, who happens not to be Joe Lieberman. Feinstein? She’ll get cc’d.
tfitznc @ 41
You need to hit the CT bloggers info from his trp to campaign for Lamont (if you haven’t already)
I have a list of pros and cons with Edwards (as with all the possiblities) but he’s smart and well spoken and cares about the poor and working class and from what I have seen, he can pull some of the “Bayh” type support in IN & Ky, without being anything like Bayh.
Most of us have made mistakes as young men and women that we later come to regret.
For bolded word, insert any other you might require . . .
Byrd garners my respect, but I have detected a hint of him cultivating the cult of “Byrd, the icon” recently, Sorry, no specific examples.
Thanks!
Josh Marshall is throwing cold water on Ned’s campaign. Bums me out.
Let’s not blame the messenger.
Magarete – Thanks!
That is exactly what I’m talking about.
For my part, I’ve called my home state senators and Senators Byrd, Pryor and Reid regarding Lamont.
It literally takes 30 seconds to make the calls, and it feels damn good when you know that the message will get through to our elected officials. This is collectively making a huge difference.
punaise altho reading josh marshalls words were uncomfortable for me, i think he has a point. it does seem that joe has had a good week in the media while ned took some well seserved time off. it’s still early and we have work to do. i still like the picture of trends favoring ned more than incumbancy favors joe. time for another LTE.
Josh Marshall is damned annoying these days.
lotus @ 45
Oooh, my favorite paragraph from this:
lotus – I thank you and Bettie thanks you! (well, she is napping now, but would if she were awake).
must. go. to. work.
argh.
Thanks, Lotey. A lovely chart indeed. And then there’s the doublespeak on behalf of Reid and his minion. I swear, all this craven fawning of Lieberman just makes me sick. What happened to the truth?
Hi firepups
Thanks for the post Christy and Jane (and Peanut and Kobi, respectively). ‘Hearing’ your voices here brings me great comfort. I’m glad Senator Byrd has signed on to the winning team.
Just back from the hospital. I’m sitting in a cafe full of Air Force ground support staff drinking beer and talking about fishing. They seem so disconnected from anything we talk about here at the lake. I feel more separate from humanity than I have experienced in a while.
Today at the hospital was difficult. I still have a lump in my throat. I spent the day just talking to the soldiers who are conscious. Many aren’t. They are intubated and heavily drugged. Guys without a leg or an arm or both. The insurgents latest tactic involve waiting for a soldier to raise his arms while stretching and they shoot at the underarm area which has no body armor. Or big guys that the armor doesnt fully cover. It’s tragic. I hope to have more tomorrow. Take care.
Love, HopeSAT
Yes, two Republican Senators in Ohio.
Christy, have there been any polls on your Senator’s re-election? He’s not in any serious trouble from the GOPRovebot, is he? Sure hope not. I sent my thanks to Byrd’s Senate office on the contact link you provided, but my fundage this year is reserved for progressive Blue America candidates.
I sure appreciate Byrd’s leadership on this, though, something he did NOT have to do, especially facing a campaign this fall himself. I also asked him to prevail on his fellow Democratic Seven (one-half the GoF) to come over to the Lamont side. Perhaps he’ll use his influence to make an impact on the other Six. We’ll see…..
On the one hand, Tom Harkin spoke out for Lamont early after the primary. On the other, I have (rolls eyes) Chuck Grassley, who has yet to break ranks on anything big. The support is split from Iowa.
I paid a visit to ActBlue this am & made a contribution. Giving to individual candidates who seem closet to my idea of a real dem is what makes me feel most comfortable.
OT but just read that ANOTHER laptop containing employee soc sec #’s was stolen. This one was stolen from an employee of an accounting firm for Chevron. I have lost track of how many stolen laptops this makes now. Who is allowing this to happen? How long before EVERY american’s soc sec # is taken? What the hell is going on & who is behind it? Where is the wingnut outrage about this?
punaise @ 8:38
Well according to Josh, Maxine Waters isn’t “his kind of Democrat”. Apparently Neocon Joe is though. He can stick a trout in his arse for all I care :)
Hi HSaT! Doing the work of the angels….
Hope SAT i love your name. my heart felt quite heavy reading your post. my thoughts and prayers are with you
HopeSpringsATurtle @ 63
Miss you, HopeSAT. Bless you for the time you’re spending with the soldier-kids.
Did trout wraparound from Late Nite all the way into this thread, punaise?
Sonoma @ 44
According to rabbi gellman they stand with with all good Jews next to LIEberman
Kurt @ 68
Careful, Kurt. Remember that it was piscine rumors that destroyed Troy McClure’s career.
al-Scooter and Pete: I’m not saying Josh is wrong. As a centrist, he previously leaned Lieberman before seemingly reaching a “no turning back” level of disgust with him recently. It just seems that he’s a bit eager to spin it Joe’s way.
(oh, and al-Scoot? Dodgers are coming to town, and the Giants, coming off a four-game sweeps of the Pads, are looking to atone for that hideous weekend series in L.A. and maybe claw their way back into the race…)
Good show, Margarete!
Salazar is endorsing Lieberman…..But, Ritter may run well for governor and Paccione has a good shot at Musgrave. There a reasons to hope!
TeddySanFran @ 73
I was late to the trout-fest last night. The pond was well-stocked. But you know the gig: what goes on in Late Nite stays in Late Nite….
(although, I did hear that Jason Leopold just got hired by Trout-tooth.org.)
((((((((((HOPIE & DOC)))))))))))
((((((((((PATIENTS AT LANDSTUHL)))))))))))
RE: The Peter Costello diatribe
No mention of the people who were already there and had a culture a couple hundred years ago. Typical.
Dang, My trout comment has legs!
Bustednuckles @ 82
It’s a Darwin trout!
What lotus said @ 8:59!
punaise @
54
he’s certainly larger than 32 x 32 pixels . . .
Punaise @47
I’m also bummed out at Josh Marshall but I think I understand where he is coming from. Like most of the liberal “hawks,” Marshall hasn’t come out and admitted that the decision to invade Iraq was a colossal foreign policy blunder.
As we saw before the Connecticut primary, most of these liberal “hawks” wanted Lieberman to win. That hasn’t changed.
One more thing. I’m sick of these pundits declaring that Lamont has lost because he took a few days to recoup after the primary election. After a few months of brutal campaigning the man needed to take time to reflect and recuperate.
Apoligies is already mentioned (no time to read the whole thread).
Did anyone see where John McCain made a “monkey joke” at a fundraiser for George Allen. WTF?! Please got his senate.gov page and right him a note about this. I suppose you should address it to John McCaca since he seems to think the work is “funny”. This guy disgraces my state of AZ again and again.
klyde@73
I like David Sirota’s comments on Gellman:
First and foremost, Gellman’s notion that Jews should automatically vote for a member of their own minority regardless of their positions on issues is disgusting. It implies that if, say, George W. Bush or Tom DeLay was Jewish, all Jews regardless of party or political ideology should vote for them. Again, disgusting.
Second, as a rabbi, Gellman’s implication that Jews shouldn’t care about the war is beyond disgusting – it is truly depressing that a religious leader of any religion could say that, and I am embarrassed that a rabbi would go on record saying as such. Rest assured, as polls show, most Jews in America don’t think “so what” when it comes to the Iraq War – they are strongly opposed to it.
Finally, the further implication made by Lieberman’s campaign and other pundits that you are against your own religious/ethnic minority because you vote against someone of your own religious or ethnic minority based on their positions is more than disgusting – it’s slander.
EvilDrPuma @ 75
I’m goin’ to SEAWORLD!!!
And for the California pups, I don’t know what’s more frustrating. Progressive Boxer’s unprincipled support of the Lieberliar, or DiFi’s rude dismissal of “uninformed bloggers.” God, I really wish Cindy Sheehan had run against the DiFi!
I wonder what the Aborigonies of Australia would like to say.
Key Kurt, is that a NEW dismissal on DiFi’s part?
Good for Byrd! I am another one who admires his speeches. I love it when he pulls out that well-worn copy of the constitution from his pocket – and then proceeds to give us all a history lesson!
My Repub senator is Norm Coleman, a hopeless tool – but the Dem Senator, Mark Dayton has endorsed Lamont. However, Dayton is retiring this fall, and Amy Klobuchar has a big fight on her hands for his seat against Bush-kisser Mark Kennedy. If you can – send her some luv!
sandlin @ 91
One gets you ten you’ll never hear about it from Peter Costello.
sandlin — I deleted that previous comment from you — it was a lengthy racist, anti-immigrant screed — I was astounded you posted it.
TeddySanFran @
90
Not really, she’s been openly hostile to those of us opposed to the Cocktail Weenie Welfare State for quite a while. People calling her office recently about her lack of Ned endorsement have been reporting hearing it a lot, however. And as charged as the CT race has become, it’s a lot more noticeable now.
*ilson46201 @ 95
Maybe I misunderstood the Australian letter. I was just thinking about how the white British took over the land from the Aborig. And saying it’s now the white man’s Christian land and they get to say again who can be there. If it sounded racist that is not who I am. And I misstated my comment.
i don’t know about the KKK thing. i did hear that he was invloved in some way but never got the story. but if Karl is backing somebody against him i am going to be for him. if the NAACP has made peace with Byrd that’s good enough for me.
what i do remember about Byrd is how he stood up against the Bush Administration over going to war in Iraq. he did it when few others were doing it. he railed against it for quite a while on the senate floor. and for that i respect and appreciate him. and now i appreciate him for standing with Lamont. he may not be perfect but who is?
HSAT – you and yours and ours and theirs – all in my prayers.
********
I like Josh and TPM and love the Muckracker. JMM doesn’t pretend to be a devoted cheerleader and IMO it won’t hurt Lamont’s crew to include the info from people like him in putting together strategy. He may be right, he may be wrong, he may just be beside or above or below the point; but he’s not spouting talking points for cookies. He’s offering up what he really thinks after actually thinking some.
He’s probably a good profile of a certain segment of the swing/swingable Lieberman support that basically wants to be sold on Lamont so they have a good excuse to leave Lieberman. IMO, he’s wrong to worry and throw so much cold water, bc there is a lot that Lamont, as a first timer in a very odd situation vis a vis the party, has had to deal with behind closed doors, but I still think it’s an input worth having.
Lamont is going to have some tough choices. Really going after Lieberman may end up being necessary, and that is going to be hurtful to the local party. There have probably been some people trying to see if there is any other way things can be cobbled together – but Lieberman has been too stubborn to work with some of it. I don’t think Lamont loses much by keeping a bit of a lower profile through this DNC meeting to see what shakes loose.
Plus- the WSJ article piece was VERY good and the Edwards campaigning was a positive event too.
sandlin @ 91
I am sorry that it sounded that way.
“But I think Lieberman had a pretty decent week.”
If having a “pretty decent week” after losing the primary is the best Josh can say about Lieberman, then I wouldn’t put a whole lot of stock in that post. Ned had a better week when he WON the primary.
Better that Joe have a good week right after the primary than just before the general…
Now, will this story have legs?
“Judge Rules Against Wiretaps
NSA Program Called Unconstitutional”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..00650.html
Josh Marshall has done as much as anyone in the blogosphere (OK, one-way blogosphere – he doesn’t post more than a pitiful handful of carefully chosen comments) to tag the corruption and hypocracy of the far right. And he doesn’t let up on that. The country owes Marshall a debt for that.
His hesitation re Lamont probably has more to do with his shared strong support for Israel with Lieberman than with Josh’s oscillating centrism. Marshall has written sincerely and almost wrenchingly about what he’s been going through these past six weeks on the issue of 21st century Zionism. Even though I disagree with much of what he has had to say about the rape of Lebanon, he has spoken honestly about these issues.
Well I blame Sen. Byrd and Mary (”Byrd will quote you Cicero”) for compelling me to buy a book titled “Cicero, The Life and Times of Rome’s Greatest Politician” that silently nags at me to be read every night from the bedside table. Like my reading list isn’t already long enough with FDL and all it’s links… *s*
Truly, I have a soft spot for Byrd, and am glad to hear he is backing the Democratic candidate from CT-yay!
I also think these two stories are worth mentioning a second time, and together:
Cracks Appear in NASCAR Voters’ Republican Loyalty
and, Republicans Losing the Security Moms
sandlin @ 95
I could see in your second comment that you probably weren’t posting that screed because you agreed with it…but unfortunately one really couldn’t tell from the first post.
mui —
I think that while “identity politics” (Gellman’s, national NARAL’s, HRC’s etc.) may start as necessary and good, they inevitably rot from the head.
Was it Matt Hamlin-Brown (I’m pretty sure, but did I screw up his name again?) who mused the other day that there’s got to be a better way than single-issue activism? Well, he’s right, and thank goodness we’re on the hunt for it.
Kurt @ 96
It’s a little bit like they are sizing Ned up for entree into their country club. They don’t want him to knock over the crystal or the wax figures with the rubber stamps.
Well done Senator Byrd!
I just had a call from the DSCC hitting me up for a donation. The young man making the call seemed to be stunned to learn that there are members of the DSCC who were NOT supporting the Democratic candidate from CT. In fact, he thanked me for the information. He also said that he would pass on my remarks to his boss (we’ll see).
Any way, they get no money from me until there is complete support for Ned.
I guess I just don’t get the Josh-bashing:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.c…..php#009461
Pointing out a couple of coincident facts that aren’t necessarily 110% positive for the Lamont campaign right now doen’t make somebody evil or disloyal. Defining reality usually is a good thing. And the reality is, if one believes the Q-poll, that the Nedster has his work cut out for him.
Just sayin’.
years ago, the great singer Paul Robeson gave concerts in Australia — he dedicated several songs to “my dusky-skinned brothers, the original inhabitants of Australia”
Lamont has an uphill battle- and dems need to support him now. I didn’t favor the challenge to Lieberman in the first place- but at this point- the bear is wounded and needs to be put down. It will be an uphill battle.
In the meantime- we have the main events- the eight or so senate races that will determine whether or not there will be a dem majority on the judiciary committee when GW Clusterfuck’s next supreme court nominee comes down the pike. Hope no one forgets what’s at stake.
lotus @ 103
Sadly, politics like Gellman’s are difficult to distinguish from mere self-stereotyping. “All good (insert self-identified group) must vote this way” is both rhetorically fallacious and generally pretty obnoxious.
In response to my fpost (#44) klyde replied: “According to rabbi gellman [Boxer and Feinstein] stand with with all good Jews next to LIEberman”.
Tiresome as it is, I feel obliged to disavow any suggestion that the religious faith of California’s senators has anything to do with my implicit criticism of their political calculations.
Oh, shit! I go to scout for something resembling breakfast and I return to see that I missed HopeSpringsaTurtle!
HOPEY. We miss you.
*xyz @ 60
Josh Marshall is far from my cup of tea politically, but I give him credit for how he has extended his blog; notably, TPM Muckraker is invaluable. He has also doggedly pursued on such issues as shutting down Social Security “reform.”
“But I think Lieberman had a pretty decent week.”
Yeah, not bad for an egotistocal war-mongering divisive whining trout carrying traitor. Pffffft.
I am proud to say that both my West Virginia Senators stand firmly on the side of democracy. Where do yours stand?
Here in Maryland, I’m sorry to report that our two Senators, Mikulski and Sarbanes, are MIA on this issue. I’m not too happy with Mikulski’s stance on a number of issues such as her unwavering support for Michael Hayden as CIA Director. She also appears to be in big telecom’s pocket wrt net neutrality. She’s looking more and more like a Lieberman Democrat.
Punaise, it should be a revealing weekend at
PacBellSBCAT&T Park. I’ll prolly miss most of it due to other commitments, but I’ll be checking the scores as I can.Rabid trout-armed lambs, the horror!
Haven’t read the comments yet, but I love Senator Byrd, for all his faults. I just love the guy who stood up and said “I believe Anita Hill” at the Clarence Thomas hearings – and his voice was shaky and wavering even then. Yeah, he’s disappointed me plenty these past few years but on balance he’s a great American.
EvilDrPuma @
66
Grassley is Republican, isn’t he? I used to live in Cedar Falls. I met his brother once. A totally different kind of guy. you would never imagine he had a brother in Congress.
epu’d. To Angry Old Broad. Please see end of thread below for my suggestion for your troll and a little empathy for your need to weed.
*ilson @ 107
Folk musician John McCutcheon does an annual tour of Australia, and brought back a story about Robeson after one such tour. John had done a series of concerts in one area, and this one old guy kept showing up and sitting in the front row. After this kept happening, John went out during intermission to chat with the guy, who requested a particular song from him. John said “I know the song, but I’ve never performed it. How about something else?” The guy said “No” and told John a story.
The fan was an old electrician, and worked on building the Sydney opera house. One day, up to the site pulls a limo and out gets Paul Robeson. He wanted to be the first to do a concert on the site of the new opera house, and did so for the whole construction crew, all perched on their equipment and the half-finished hall. He ended the concert with “Joe Hill,” and the old electrician said “We all started singing along with him like we were in church. All these tough old guys, with tears running down our cheeks.”
That was the song the fan requested, and that was the song John sang.
Gotta go put some Robeson on the CD player . . .
Mary @ 97
Are you “old” Mary? Mary for Now? or just Mary.
I’m confused.
Dilireus @ 117
Well, THAT news comes as a major disappointment, if true.
I don’t think anybody’s trying to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Josh has a great site and does great work. I don’t necessarily agree with his attitude about Lieberman. Especially early on when he didn’t appear to have much disagreement with Joe’s agenda.
fahrender @ 118
Yes, Grassley is GOP. He’s done a couple of worthwhile budget-busting things, but for the most part you can count on him to toe the party line. Ditto for my Congressman, Jim Leach (whose campaign ads a number of years ago routinely prefixed his name with the adjective “Republican.” What better way to say “Hi, I’m a straight party-line hack?”).
Hi, HopeSAT, thanks for checking in; been thinking about you. Give Dr. T a big hug from me and a special thanks for the tough work he does.
rwcole @ 108
Interestingly, Byrd was the only member of the Gang of 14 to come out with his (late) endorsement of Lamont. All of the others are pro-Joe. I think removing those traitors from the Senate should be a high priority.
The notion that Reid and Schumer et al have been tepid with their Lamont support, because they want Neocon Joe to caucus with them is just idiotic. He’s getting most of his funding now from Republicans. Joe caved on every issue of import before he was being bankrolled by Goopers. There’s no way in hell he’s not going to be supporting Republicans after this. Dems need to wake up and support Lamont, or they court disaster if Lieberliar wins.
Peterr (120):
It’s embarrassing when I read posts like that at work and tears start welling up in MY eyes….
Thanks for the great comment.
mui @
87
This kind of thing happens with some regularity however. Jews who question hawkish policy in Israel are labeled “Self-Hating Jews”. for example, Noam Chomsky is often castigated with this label.
DJR @ 105
For me it’s going to have to be enthusiastic support for Ned.
They have a lot to make up for.
Peterr-120 9:31,
Thanks.
Dilireus mentioning Hayden made me think of this – but the contractor charged in connection with the beatings that preceeded the death of the Afghani “detainee” was convicted on some of the charges. Not the more serious ones, but some. Hayden then took credit for the CIA referral of the matter for investigation – releasing emails even. From back in 2003 or 04 – I guess if you overhear, you can take credit for?
He does his uniform so proud.
He doesn’t seem to want to release, though the info the defense requested: materials indicating the CIA support for and authorizations of rendition, kidnapping, torture, etc. As a matter of fact, I’m sure he’ll be much more hesitant to release things when the Arar and el-Masri appeals go forward. Amazing how that “state secrets” thing works when YOU are the guy involved in breaking the law, eh?
i thanked byrd for supporting ned & for taking a stand against our going into iraq
hillary & schumer don’t want to hear my views, although hillary makes believe she does, which makes her smarter than chuck
josh gets no sympathy from me but i can’t say here what i think of him because it will be deleted — as a taxpayer i’m only allowed to support our sending money to the country that commands his affection & i’m certainly not allowed to question our foreign policy — just look at how our congress votes: juan cole just commented on polling information showing that most americans want an evenhanded policy in the middle east, but juan’s massive knowledge & expertise are why lieberman was instrumental in getting yale to blackball juan
I don’t care how long ago it was. I have no love for any supporter of the KKK, past, present, or future.
What is funny is, if Byrd was on the other team, you’d have no problem at all bringing up his KKK past. But since he’s one of your boys, we shouldn’t talk about it because it’s a Republican talking point.
We liberals have to keep it real, and that’s what I’m doing. I wonder what changed Byrd’s mind about the KKK. I’m sure it had nothing to do with political expedience and everything to do with a personal revelation.
You believe that, I’ll believe the truth.
and your little dog…
*g* All me. Two diff computers so I need to make them the same. I was just so happy when my laptop started working that I was scared to change anything.
I think the key is that my wireless card signal goes down so lo at times that anything I post then is lost. So far (knock on wood) it seems that if I wait and check the signal before I post and it is strong, they go through.
Hugs, HopeSAT. I’ve been wondering how you were.
Here’s something from Balkinization
regarding the decision yesterday.
i find josh marshall’s commentary this morning to be an excellent clarion call.
lamont’s kerry-esque “where’d he go in August 2004?” vacation schedule has caused a stumble that is difficult to ignore.
meanwhile, lieberman is running around and screaming at the top of his lungs – perhaps looking ridiculous, but certainly getting more media than he deserved.
he’s not out of this race, and no amount of tepid “we support the democratic nominee” newflashes is going to change that.
it’s time to wake up. i don’t understand why democrats handle elections like wrap parties at the end of a production, but they do. and it causes them to place their momentum in jeopardy.
this site played a huge role in getting lamont over the top the first time.
it’s in our interest to ask questions about this lamont momentum lapse and get to the bottom of its cause right now – so that he can overtake lieberman and become the next senator from CT, and we can get that pious scold lieberman out of public office and into the cushy consulting job he really wants, anyway.
little dog:
This is the most frustrating issue for me. Handing out a press release or mumbling support for the Democratic Primary Winner (I like this better than saying Ned Lamont) under their breath just means nearly nothing at this point.
The reason it’s important for the party to come out strongly against Lieberman NOW and make it CRYSTAL CLEAR if he wins the general he will not have seniority, could have real impact with on-the-fence voters who think Lieberman will bring home the bacon and the state can’t afford to lose him because of this, even if they’re not particularly fond of him.
It’s critical to show he will not be a power-broker, any more than Ned, if he goes back to the Senate!
New thread
Surcam @ 134
So, Surcam, where are you on the forgiveness issue? And have you noticed Senator Byrd doing or saying anything racist in the past, say, 30 years?
Mary @ 134
Well, glad to read you whatever your handle.
Have you thought of being The Real Mary?
Surcam -
Byrd was a teenager when he joined the KKK. If you look it up I think his membership was very brief. This kind of talk is really disingenuous.
I’m off to have breakfast with RevDeb and her mom! :)
Joe Conason in today’s Salon writes about how in recent years Joe Lieberman pandered to Louis Farrakhan (and also to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton when it suited him.)
http://www.salon.com/opinion/c…..lieberman/
Lieberman may have had a good week. OK, he did have a good week. Lamont is back on the road again though and i think he’s gong about it the way he went about it before the primary. he’s going to towns in connecticut and talking to people. it’s still a grass roots campaign. methodical. steady. connecticut isn’t a big state, and despite the nation-wide interest and implications. pressing the flesh and networking is probably the way to go. nine weeks to go. Go Ned!
Don’t you mean, “Kudos Kudos Kudos”?
I’m ashamed to have a “former” Klansman in the party. As if it should be forgotten and forgiven!
Lamont should reject this endorsement.
Jenny from the Blog @
141
What??? Who cares when he “joined”. He rose to the position of Grand Kleigel, for goodness sakes!
Jenny from the Blog @
141
Yeah, and he quit the Klan and changed his mind while he was still a teenager. Oh wait, no he didn’t.
From Wikipedia:
Please stop with this teenager/kid garbage. You forgive him, that’s fine, But don’t sugarcoat it.
Senator Byrd, based on his record has convinced me. I grew up in the south (a lot later than Byrd did), and I know I’ve changed a LOT since I was a teenager in the South, it’s a real change, I saw the errors in my thinking (never was overtly racists or took overt racist actions) and I think he has seen the errors in his thinking and actions too. I have a lot of respect for reformed racists. When you grow up where racism is the dominate culture it is so ingrained that it is a very easy path to go down. Much respect for Byrd fro rising above the ignorance that was no doubt ingrained in him from close family and friends.
If we can’t forgive someone for (granted heinous) past transgressions then we are not “progressives” in any sense of the word. Racism is learned behavior and it can be very hard to unlearn. I understand that from were many of sit today its hard to understand how someone like Byrd could have been in the KKK and now reformed. Given the time and place that he grew up in I can forgive him. Now if anyone joined the Klan I would be harder to forgive because society has progressed, he grew up in a different era, he was born into a time and place that racism was way more prevalent and overt. He rose above it. Much respect.
Well I’ve gotta admit, it’s hard for me to just get over the KKK thing, or to applaud the man simply for recovering from violent white supremacy… I can’t let it go quite so easily, but to some degree I’m trying to look beyond it, by focusing on what he’s saying as an old man who’s seen a lot in his years. Sadly, if I had to guess, I’d say a majority of the old white men in Congress probably have some degree of overt or covert racism not only in their pasts, but in the present…
Yeah, i could smell the ”Byrd’s was a klansman” bit coming from a mile away.
Got to love the lieberman republicans and all of the other various neo-cornholes trying to have it both ways on this:
1. Raise a stink over the presence of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton at Lamont campaign events to arouse the ire of latent and overt racists
2. Raise a stink over Lamont’s endorsement by ostensibly-reformed former racist Robert Byrd by way of dragging up his past affiliation with the klan
Unlike Reagan, who couldn’t stomach the Democratic Party’s embrace of the Civil Rights movement and switched his party affiliation, Byrd stayed with the party and seems to have proven over the last few DECADES that he no longer clings to those more vicious underpinnings of what is so frequently called ”the Southern Heritage”
it must take quite the pair of dancing shoes over at the GOP and the Lieberman campaign to simultaneously try to pander to and repudiate the racist elements of the electorate.
Christy, Senator Byrd is a tireless defender of our Constitution and as you know spoken out against this Administration’s assault on the congress as a co-equal branch of government. He has my thanks.
Here’s a good you tube video of a speech by Byrd. Watch it to the end. 2:38
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
I don’t understand why people are acting like the Byrd/KKK issue is new. I’ve know about it forever (and struggled w/ it too). Unless he has some recent racist relapses (maybe he does?)that I don’t know about I can forgive him.
Hell, I could forgive Mel Gibson in due time too, racism is easy way, and its much easier when you are born into a overtly racist household. It takes a real man or woman to rise above it. I was raised around subtler racism and it wasn’t until I was older and had moved that I realized I had racist thoughts that I wasn’t even aware of.
I grew up near Rush Limbaugh, he is an example of what Byrd would of turned into if he had followed the easiest path to what his family and peers around him would reinforce in him at every turn. Limbaugh was never in the KKK but he’s a lot younger. BUT, in the year 2006 Limbaugh is still fanning the fires of division and Byrd isn’t. Byrd rose above it Limbaugh didn’t.
Keep in mind the Byrd clip linke above is from 2003 on the eve of war (If i’m not mistaken). That speaks volumes.
Someone said a few posts up that if Byrd was a repub then we’d be all over his past Klan affiliation.
That may be true, but that’s because ever since the “Southern Strategy” the GOP welcomed the rest of the old racist “Dixie-crats” of that era with open arms and has been kissing up to that percentage of the population who still haven’t gotten over General Lee’s Surrender at Appomatox ever since.
What Lotus at 53 said.
Done and done – wishes of support for his campaign , and for his public support of Ned Lamont sent.
West Virginians and all monutaineers might like the Appalachian Voices blog. I just put a poll up today on the Byrd race showing him up 56%-31%.
One of the other things we’ve been covering is a grandfather named Ed Wiley who is walking 455 miles to DC to talk with Senator Byrd because his daughter is being poisoned by coal dust AT her school, which sits right under a 2.8 billion gallon sludge pond.
Congratulations Senator! And a big thank you!
Good thing Ned is male….otherwise Byrd would never have endorsed him.
Byrd has a pretty bad record when voting on women’s issues. It’s like he’s pissed he can’t be a good ol’ boy racist anymore so he really enjoys putting women in their place. And it seems everyone just lets him off the hook because he’s older than dirt….’I can understand his voting that way against women….after all, he’s from a different generation.’ Yeah, the KKK generation.
He bugs me.
It’s funny. I emailed Byrd, who is one of my Senators, about this yesterday and two hours later he came out in support of Ned Lamont. Almost makes one feel as if their representatives are listening. Of course, I’ve emailed daily about net neutrality and never heard jackshit from Sen. Byrd, so I’m not getting my hopes up.
It means a lot to see this post as I am also a resident of West Virginia. I live in the very southern part of the state on the border with Virginia. I contacted Senator Byrd’s office about Ned Lamont and wrote him regarding a endorsement much as Christy did, and I am sure many others. He has been my Senator for 16 years, and I am really glad we still have him and will do all I can to get him reelected. What follows is a story from our local paper The Bluefield Daily Telegraph written by Bill Archer, a local reporter and historian, concerning Byrd being invited to be the Keynote speaker at the Niagra Movement Centenniel Commeration at Harpers Ferry. Considering many of the comments regarding Senator Byrd and the KKK I believe it is appropriate to quote the article here. I know the folks quoted in the article including our Mayor Gary Moore and believe the comments they as well as Byrd made are heartfelt and honest. Judge for yourselves
Published: August 18, 2006 09:42 pm
NAACP members hear ‘touching’ message from Sen. Byrd
By Bill Archer
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
HARPERS FERRY — People attending the opening sessions of the NAACP’s Niagara Movement Centennial Commemoration at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park received an unexpected albeit sincere apology from West Virginia’s senior statesman, U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.
Byrd “apologized three or four times for belonging to the Ku Klux Klan,” Bluefield attorney J. Franklin Long said. Long is also second vice president of the West Virginia Conference of Branches of the NAACP. “He said he grew up in southern West Virginia and in a southern culture. He complied with the things that were required of him as someone who grew up in that culture,” Long said.
“I know it’s an election year and that Senator Byrd is running for office, but I don’t think his remarks had anything to do with that,” Long said. He really put a lot of feeling into his remarks, and by the comments I heard afterward, the people attending the program thought he was being truly sincere. It was so touching.”
Long said that George Rutherford, president of the Jefferson County Branch of the NAACP, invited Byrd to serve as keynote speaker at a program Thursday evening. “Senator Byrd related a very personal story of how his grandson died in 1982, and of how that experience caused him to think about how terrible it would have been if he would have been denied access to services.
“He said it was a life changing experience,” Long said. “Before that, he hadn’t thought much about belonging to the Ku Klux Klan. He said he did not realize the negative effect racism might have on another person. You could hear the grief in his voice and see it in his body language. I think that event was an awakening for him.”
Long said Byrd referred to himself as “the prodigal son,” and remarked that the “NAACP was so forgiving” by inviting him to serve as keynote speaker. “I recall his words. ‘You invited me. You invited me. You invited me,’ he said,” Long quoted Byrd. “It was a very moving moment.”
Bluefield Mayor Garry Moore said the historic gathering should be a time to reflect on history in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
“It’s something we need to do as human beings,” Moore said. “We need to reflect on the historic background that brought people to Harpers Ferry in 1906 for the second meeting of the Niagara Movement, and we need to hope to God that injustice like that never happens again.”
Moore, pastor of Bluefield’s Scott Street Baptist Church attended the Friday morning session of the event that marks the 100th anniversary of a meeting in August of 1906 involving W.E.B. Du Bois and several African American leaders of the era who wanted to put an end to widespread lynching in the South as well as federally sanctioned segregation and Jim Crow laws that maintained an American apartheid from the late 19th Century through the first half of the 20th Century.
Moore said he was most impressed by the racial unity he observed at the Friday meeting. “It’s really positive to see so many people working together in the struggle for racial equality,” Moore said. “It wasn’t just black people who were in the struggle. White and black people worked together to move the civil rights cause forward.
“We are making progress in Bluefield,” Moore said. “When I first came here 16 years ago, I saw a city that was divided by the railroad tracks that separated the haves from the have nots,” he said. “I believe the city has changed. Back then, I would often here white people say: ‘Some of my best friends are black.’ Now, I only here people refer to their friends without making reference to their race.”
Byrd issued a press release early in the day on Thursday noting that the Niagara Movement “changed the course of history,” and that the organizers of the movement resolved to demand their rights, overcame overwhelming odds and found that through commitment and determination: “Mountains can be moved. Prejudice can be overcome and the course of history can be changed.”
The Niagara Movement was an essential predecessor to the formation of the NAACP. Byrd provided $300,000 in federal funding legislation to help cover some of the costs of the event. Park officials estimate as many as 20,000 people will attend the centennial observance.
— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com
I hope this article will help others to fell as many of us in West Virginia do about supporting Senator Byrd.
I think it was last May when I heard a forceful kick-ass speech from Sen. Byrd on C span on the Senate floor denouncing the war in Iraq and the administration in no uncertain terms. This was an incredibly powerful, eloquent speech in the manner of a professional statesman, damn near moved me to tears. I’ve been a “friend of Sen. Byrd” ever since and contribute to them periodically. He is a national treasure and should be taking names and giving lessons.
My Senators have finally come into the fold endorsing Ned (Boxer and DiFi) but it was not immediate and it took a lot of calls and letters (especially DiFi – just announced her endorsement last Friday).
This is one of the first pro-Byrd threads I’ve seen so I decided to come out of the closet for my first post! Love the site.