It has been the nature of Blue America to get to know challengers rather than incumbents, the only exceptions having been Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), a blog devotee, and then-Rep. Sherrod Brown, who was running for the U.S. Senate.
Today we are welcoming our very first sitting senator, Chris Dodd. And we're welcoming him, too as a challenger– for the office of president, also a first for Firedoglake. Senator Dodd, born in 1944, has been the Democratic senator from Connecticut since 1981. Before that he served in the U.S. Army and the Peace Corps (in the Dominican Republic; he is actually fluent in Spanish, not a faker like Bush). He was an attorney and a congressman before being elected to the Senate.
This community has been especially interested in Senator Dodd's firm stand against the Bush/McCain escalation plans in Iraq and in his alternative (S. 308) to the nonbinding symbolic resolutions that Bush has already announced he will ignore. But Senator Dodd has a long history of exemplary public service very much in line with the ideals of our community. One of his proudest achievements in the Senate was the long drawn-out passage of the Family Medical Leaves Act (1993).
* for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee;
* for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care;
* to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
* to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.
And now Senator Dodd is announcing the re-introduction of the Effective Terrorist Prosecution Act. I'm going to let him explain that one himself. It seems like an excellent place to start an on-going conversation between Chris Dodd and Blue America.
Related posts:
- Dodd: Reprimanding Lieberman is “Ridiculous”
- Joe the Plumber Wonders Why Chris Dodd Hasn’t Been Lynched, Praises Founding Fathers’ Anti-Communism
- Florida State Senator Al Lawson, 2010 Primary Challenger to Blue Dog Alan Boyd
- Blue America Launches New TV Initiative in Arkansas — And We Need You
- Health Care: HELP Bill Released During Public Option Call With Sens. Dodd, Brown and Whitehouse
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Welcome to the Lake, Senator Dodd!
Hello Senator Dodd. My condolences about Mr. Lamont’s defeat. I hope he will run again.
Welcome, Senator. I’ve been listening as you start to make your case, and like what you have to say. I also want to thank you for helping Selden Spencer in Iowa 4. Not very many did.
Welcome Senator Dodd,
I was pleased to meet you during the Lamont campaign and grateful for your support of Ned. I’m sorry for us all that things didn’t work out differently.
Your support for habeas corpus and the rule of law in the face of this mal administration has been appreciated as well.
Senator Dodd, we’re really proud to welcome you to Firedoglake. Thanks for taking the time. I can imagine between the Senate, the presidential campaign and some crazy speech Bush is making tonite, you’re probably a busy guy. Did Cheney resign yet?
Welcome Senator Dodd!
I had to honor of speaking to your father about the Vietname War when I was in high school and it’s great to see you here and equally open to discussing the issues of the day with constituents!
I’m particularly looking forward to information on your new legistlation – could you fill us in?
Hi everyone. I’m with Senator Dodd’s campiagn. He’ll be joining us momentarily. I do want to let you all know that Majority Leader Reid just scheduled a vote for 4:45pm. He’ll try and get to as many questions as possible before he heads back to the Senate chamber to vote.
Tim, what’s the vote on?
Welcome Senator!
This has turned out to be a very busy news day. Thank you for joining us for however long you can.
Welcome Senator Dodd, it’s an honor to have you here with us at FDL today.
Tim – thanks for the headsup on the vote – we appreciate whatever time the Senator can give us!
Tim, please thank Senator Dodd for me; the FMLA was incredibly helpful following the births of both of my children, made it possible for me to spend important quality time with them during the weeks immediately after they were born, when getting into a rhythm with babies is critical. There must be so many families who’ve benefited from this legislation; it’s real family values at work.
I am looking forward to hearing about his latest efforts on Effective Terrorist Prosecution, and hope that it will be as successful as FMLA has been.
Hope the Senator doesn’t mind the competition with the other threads, though; FireDogLake is certainly the place to be today!
Senator Dodd, What are the chances of getting a binding resolution on Iraq funding passed in the Senate? Thanks
1970cs @
13
And more to the point, passed with a veto-proof majority?
Good afternoon everyone. Thanks for inviting me to this conversation. First of all, I’d like to wish Jane best well as she recovers from her surgery.
The vote on the MCA that rolled back years of accumulated effort to lead the world and was one of my the saddest days in the Senate.
Rolling back habeus corpus, letting the president define torture, and stepping back from the Geneva convention was wrong.
We should be prosecuting real terrorists. The president’s policies will make it far more difficult to prosecute real terrorists who are trying to do us real harm
Torture doesn’t work. It is morally offensive. It yields bad information.
Thirdly, it places our armed forces at risk of being subjected to torture.
Lastly, in order to build international cooperation on every other issue, our departure from the Geneva Convention makes us further isolated in the world.
My bill reverses all of that.
Efforts to stop the use of Torture are so important – I’m really pleased we have someone speaking for us on that!
Senator Dodd, thank you so much for the FMLA. It made it so that I could work for several more years than I otherwise would have been able to.
It’s something that I point out to people who say, “Politics don’t matter, my vote doesn’t matter.”
Hello? FMLA!
Senator – are there ways we can help on the torture issue? like asking our Senators to sign on?
Senator Dodd, do you think your proposed bill has a decent chance of passing, and if so, do you think it will be veto’d?
Welcome, Senator – a CT constituent here, wondering how you’ll use your platform as a presidential candidate and sitting Senator to bring Americans back around to the human rights traditions we’ve been so proud of historically.
I understand that you’re in favor of the ICC and of restoring habeus corpus as an inalienable right, but it seems like a huge task to shift public debate on these matters, and I’d like to know what you’ll do to raise these issues and change minds over the next year or two.
Senator Dodd- thank you for this very important summation: “Torture doesn’t work. It is morally offensive. It yields bad information. Thirdly, it places our armed forces at risk of being subjected to torture.” It needs to be repeated, over and over.
Senator Dodd –
Thanks for joining us today. As a senator and presidential candidate, we understand that your time is limited so I appreciate you taking the time out to talk with us today.
1970cs–
Tomorrow the Senate Foreign Relations committee will vote on a non-binding resolution expressing Senators’ opinions
on the Iraq escalation.
This is not the time for senators to simply declare our individual opposition; this is the time and it is our obligation to take meaningful action to stop it.
That is why I be offering legislation tomorrow requiring a new authorization before any more of our brave men and women can be sent to police a civil war in Iraq so that we can focus on beginning a phased redeployment within and out of Iraq.
Welcome to FDL Senator Dodd,
I’m curious if there is any update on the Dubai Ports World controversy?
It seems as though this issue has gone stealth.
Thanks for you time.
-Monk
Chris Dodd @ 23
I saw you had Senators Kennedy and Boxer as co-sponsors. Are there any other senators you have lined up to back this REAL response to Bush’s insane aggression?
“new authorization” – Thank you!
And you are right about the need for unified effort to stop this madness!
Senator Dodd,
With additional troops already over in Iraq, what can the Congress really do to halt the escalation? I realize that no one in the Congress wants to be caught holding the hot potato of “war management”, since that is Bush’s job, but if the appropriations aren’t forthcoming for additional troops, won’t Bush truly have to manage the war differently?
Senator, between the new bankruptcy laws, predatory lending, and the large number of adjustable-rate mortgages, a lot of families are in peril, and you might have a unique platform on the banking committee to promote an alternative vision for American financial security. Will this be a priority for you, and what should be expect in the 110th congress on this front?
I’ll certainly call my Senators and ask them to support (Durbin and Obama)
There has been a lack of transparency with this administration, to say the least.
Investigations seem our only hope to find out vital information this adminstration should be sharing with the american people.
Can you give us any hint as to possible investigations upcoming by the new Democratic senate?
I am very proud of my effort to pass the family medical leave act. Since President Clinton signed it into law in 1993, over 50 million Americans have taken advantage of that law’s provisions.
But we need to go further. We need paid leave for parents of newborns. Too many people can’t afford to take unpaid leave in such situations. Therefore I am exploring paid leave for parents of newborns, at the very least. We need an FMLA for the 21st century.
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for returning our nation’s values.
I was born in 1960: my father volunteered for pilot training in WWII.
I grew up proud that our nation had defeated two fascist empires.
I grew up hearing that we would blow up the world rather than surrender our values to the Soviet empire, with their secret police, torture, and prison camps.
Now – as an American citizen – I live in the empire with torture, prison camps, and the “disappeared” in our sordid gulags.
Thank you, Senator Dodd, for starting America on a path away from the sickness and depravity unleashed upon our nation by Bush, Cheney, and their willing servants on both sides of the aisle.
Thanks for starting us on the road to recovery.
It seems apparent that the administration is preparing to attack Iran, or to facilitate Israel attacking Iran. In some ways it is more of a threat to our security than the Iraq war. What can or will the Congress do to stop it?
Welcome, Senator Dodd.
I noticed you posted a brief comment on your Senate website deploring the initial military commission rules. I fully support your efforts to get the administration and the military to comply with the rule of law in those matters.
The military is also guilty of gross abuse of a US citizen held in their custody – Jose Padilla.
Per a recent NPR story:
I suggest that someone contact Nina Totenberg, find out who that “high-ranking official” was, and invite them up for a chat, under oath, to find out why the US Government is employing its military to function like a Soviet police state and mentally destroy people it takes into custody.
That, on top of the overarching Constitutional issues….
Welcome, Senator Dodd. I was wondering what other Senators, Democrat or Republican, have been willing to work with you regarding your bill? Leahy? Spector? More importantly, who is working against you in your efforts? Where does McCain stand on this today?
No question here at the moment, Senator. I just want to say that you do good work. Please keep it up.
I’m pleased to see your inclusion of rolling back the elimination of habeas corpus. It’s ironic that the nation that is giving the former Chief of Staff to the Vice President as open and fair a trial as one could imagine is the same nation that engages in extraordinary rendition and declines to give alleged terrorists a day in court.
Two sets of rules – one for the powerful and well-connected, another for the weak and marginal – is no way to run a country.
Howie–
We are talking to all the members of the committee and we urge you to help in that effort by contacting your members and urging their support for my legislation.
Senator Dodd, As chair of the banking committee, do you think there have been too many bank mergers? Have too few bank become too large? Thanks
A new authorization? Good for you. Thanks Senator Dodd!
I saw you on one of the Florida Spanish-language stations and I was very impressed with your Spanish fluency.
Senator Dodd,
As constituents of yours in Connecticut and with a son serving in Iraq, my husband and I want you to know that we entirely object to our military involvement there. While preventing an escalation is a worthy cause, I believe there is substantial support across the country to end our military activity completely. We hope you will take a position of leadership toward this objective.
Thank you for your stands on habeas corpus and on torture. We appreciate having at least one senator who represents the interests of the majority of citizens of Connecticut.
Susan
Hello and thank you so much for addressing the torture issue and demanding reauthorization.
The torture issue is one that simply tears me up on a gut level. The idea that it’s being accomplished anywhere in our name is horrifying.
Anything I can do to help get this bill passed will be done.
Bless you sir.
The vote on the MCA that rolled back years of accumulated effort to lead the world and was one of my the saddest days in the Senate.
Rolling back habeus corpus, letting the president define torture, and stepping back from the Geneva convention was wrong
I’m so glad to hear you say that, Senator. Thank you.
Senator Dodd, your willingness to speak out against torture — oh, God, have we come to the point of having this conversation in America? — makes you a hero in my heart.
I am very sorry for you that you have Joe Lieberman as a “fellow” Senator from your state. It must be awkward, but I wouldn’t blame you if you secretly felt nothing but disgust and loathing for that WATB little creep. Pardon my French.
Now, about you: I am one of the people who really in my heart of hearts wants Al Gore for president in 2008, and after that John Edwards. And yet I always think of you with admiration. I like the way you don’t take crap when you’re on the talk shows.
I really like it that you support Labor. I believe this is the most important issue of our time, the one that informs all others. When Labor is strong, the middle class is strong. When the middle class is strong, the United States tends to avoid psychotic episodes like the one we are in now.
All of our current problems — war profiteering, global climate change, the loss of the world’s respect, the destruction of the true American Way of Life (economic security for all) — are the result of unchecked corporatism and the obliteration of the power of working people.
The candidate who can restore the economic security of working people in this country and who has the BALLS to stand up and say the general welfare of American citizens is more important than corporate welfare will be the next president, I think.
Hello senator Dodd,
I lived in Connecticut from 91-93, and I remember your work for the state.
Taking off from your work on the family medical leave act, I’ve been hearing reports from reproductive rights activists in CT that the Catholic Church is threatening to deny any care at all to rape victims if the “Compassinate care” bill, which mandates that all hospitals provide emergency contraception to rape victims, passes. while i realize you deal more with national issues than state, I was wondering if you’d heard about this and your take on the matter? Further, how do you propose dealing with this potential refusal to provide care?
thanks!
brendan skwire
Why a NONBINDING resolution, Senator Dodd?
Senator,
Do you support the hydrocarbon law for big oil in Iraq?
Welcome Sen. Dodd
I was wondering how you felt about electronic voting machines and their general lack of a paper trail.
The core of Democracy is honest elections.
Sen. Dodd,
I find it shocking that so many Repubs, the party of faux family values, actively worked against the Family Leave Act.
I guess their in thrall to big business…?
Senator, for the last six years, the word “oversight” seems to have been eliminated from the vocabulary of the Legislative Branch as run by the GOP. Of all the areas that cry out for accountability – war profiteering, Katrina cleanup and reconstruction, secret energy policy planning, improper lobbying, torture allegations in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq, Presidential signing statements, etc. – where will your energies be directed? On which issues will you be working hardest to hold the Bush Administration accountable?
(And I recognize that due to the division of labor via committee assignments, your focusing on one issue does not mean it is the absolutely most pressing of the bunch!)
Senator, as a Connecticut blogger I’d like to say how much I appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions today. Thank you for your efforts in restoring our Constitutional protections.
Matt @28–
You bet. I am holding hearings this Thursday on credit card abuse and we have plans for hearings on predatory lending, money wiring and payday loan operations.
All of these rip off the more than 10m Americans who lack access to banks, credit unions or thrifts. This will be a priority on the committee.
OK, I have to vote now (check CSPAN-2 in a few minutes). Thanks so much for your warm welcome and your informed questions. I hope to be back soon.
Welcome to the Lake Senator Dodd !
a genuine honor and pleasure to have you join us -
Senator,
I was shaken by the news of an unprecendented attack and killing of 5 US Service people in Karbala on Saturday – the killers drove US vehicles, had US ID’s, and stormed in to a room where the 5 Americans were discussing security plans for an upcoming holiday with their Iraqi counterparts – even I, just a citizen can see this is an op that took time and planning –
without compromising any briefings Senator, can you assure us all that those in Congress are being given accurate, reality based briefings on what the situation really is and just how vulnerable US service people are on a daily basis ?
Senator, last year Russ Feingold suggested that the Senate censure the President for a number of reasons, not the least of which was that this administration appears to be trying to take our current form of government apart piece by piece, is trashing the Constitution, and disregarding and disrespecting the peoples representatives in Congress (Contempt of Congress, in my book.) I thought the least the Senate could do was to support the censure, but they didn’t. What was your position, why, and have you changed your mind?
Don’t forget to wave at us!
Greetings, Senator Dodd. I was wondering if you could tell us your view of President Bush’s so-called “signing statements.” Are these a serious threat to the separation of powers, one that Congress needs to somehow affirmatively address? Should Congress hold oversight hearings to bring officials from various federal agencies before a committee and grill them on the extent to which they may be breaking or ignoring laws because of a Bush signing statement? Or are they in your opinion meaningless?
Chris Dodd @ 52
Thanks for coming by. I just told Tim Tagaris on your staff that we want you to know that you have an open invitation to join us any time. And we’re here 24/7/365 and our Late Night host is amazing.
Senator.Thank You for making time for people to ask you some questions.My Question is(drum roll)…Did You Vote to Go into Iraq?
Roddy McCorley @ 36
I’ll second that.
Hello FDL–
Let me echo Senator Dodd in thanking you for your kind welcome. Also, thanks for your understanding about the Senator’s schedule–we’re not in control of when votes are scheduled, and sometimes they come up at the last minute.
I’ll be monitoring this thread, and will pass along your comments to the Senator to read this evening.
Additionally, let me invite you all to ChrisDodd.com, where you and the Senator can continue the conversation over the course of the coming days, weeks and months.
If you submit questions via video (using youtube) to the campaign, Senator Dodd will respond to them from time to time over the course of the campaign.
Best,
Tim Cullen
Tim Cullen,
thanks for your time today, per Howie above, please stop by and join us anytime
Howie Klein -
thank you so very much !
Damn that Harry Reid for scheduling a last minute vote in the middle of our chat! I wonder if he’s working for Edwards or Obama
This is genius.
Chris Dodd @ 38
I will certainly contact Sen. Webb about it.
LindaR @
63
Tim, is the Senator going to respond on YouTube, or on his Web site?
Thank you for forwarding these comments and questions, Tim. Shame about the schedule, though. :)
Come back anytime!
Chris Dodd @
31
Senator Dodd – I am one of those 50 million Americans. Two years ago I was able to take care of my father while he was dying – because of the FMLA. Thank you for that.
Howie Klein @ 61
Jealous! Probably just upset he didn’t get an invitation, Howie.
neurophius @65–
When the Senator responds, it will be on both our YouTube channel and on our website (most likely on the front page and inside the blog).
Senator. Would you care to comment on this from MSNBC?
WASHINGTON – Top White House officials tried to blame vice presidential aide “Scooter” Libby for the 2003 leak of a CIA operative’s identity to protect President Bush’s political strategist, Karl Rove, Libby’s defense attorney said Tuesday as his perjury trial began and the first witness took the stand.
Audrey @ 68
If he gets over that symbolic, nonbinding bullshit, he’ll get an invitation too!
Howie Klein @ 61
There’s always the perennial “I Blame Clinton” to fall back on, if it’s not Edwards or Obama.
;)
But Howie, symbolic non-binding bullshit is America’s favorite kind of bullshit!
Senator Dodd,
I am so glad to see so many well qualified democrats jumping in the race. Like in 2004, we had many people running who would have undoubtedly done a much better job running the country than GWB. What will you do to see that our votes are backed up with a paper trail, and that criminals are not allowed in any position when it comes to our voting process? As it stands now, we have lost our democracy, and I want to know what you plan to do to ensure that we never again have such idiots/criminals take over our government again. Will you vote to impeach? Thankyou~ Dana B. Florida
Tim Cullen @ 68
Bookmarked! Thanks. :)
Dodd on Hardball next
Howie Klein @ 57
Howie – is Tim working for Senator Dodd now?
cleter @ 73
The Old Line Democrats are offering symbolism and then we have Warner, Coleman, Collins, Nelson and a whole gaggle of wingnuts offering abstraction! Dodd, Kennedy, Murtha, Woolsey have it right– Congress has to JUST SAY NO TO BUSH.
Does Chris Matthews tape Hardball ahead of show time, anyone? (Sen. Dodd now being interviewed)
Howie Klein @ 70
Heh! I bet we’d even promise to be nice if he did that! (Heck, I’d bake him a fruitcake.) What a refreshing difference that would make.
Welcome Senator (and Tim Cullen). Long time Stamford resident here (and volunteer at stamford hq).
Thanks Howie for pulling this together.
neurophius @ 79
it says it’s live
Okay, what’s the deal? I’m watching Senator Dodd on Hardball right now!
selise @ 77
Yes, Tim Tagaris is on Senator Dodd’s campaign staff. He made sure the decision makers around the senator knew that FDL would be a good environment for the senator. I wish Edwards had someone like Tim on his staff!!
Ann in AZ @ 83
It’s a multimedia experience.
Or have we been punked?
As one of Senator Dodd’s constituents, I can attest that the Senator responds to questions with thought out and detailed answers, not canned responses.
selise @ 77
Curious also. Great grab for the Senator if true.
Tim; please convey my thanks to Senator Dodd along with a couple of questions. What is the Senator’s position on the current approach to the situation in Afghanistan? How about the continued failure to deal with Pakistan’s ongoing support of the Taliban?
Thanks from a former constituent.
Sen. Dodd making sense on alternative fuels and global warming on MSNBC
Ann in AZ @
86
nah, he was here. he had to leave for a vote: see here
Howie Klein @ 84
that’s great! – great for Tim, for the Senator and for us. yeah!
Howie Klein @ 84
Wow. Honestly, I have had really mixed feelings about volunteering for Senator Dodd following the Lamont campaign. Knowing Tim is on board is good enough for me, I really like/respect him.
Hi Senator Dodd. What a surprise. My son said to say hello.
sorry to go off topic senator, but this is really important;
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2….._0123.html
mah man feingold is exploring congresses options to end war
feingold is teh fuhriggin man
Chris Dodd @
52
He went to vote.
I wonder where Joe Lie will be sitting tonite.
What is being done to provide direct help to New Orleans & the rest of Louisiana? They needed help over a year ago. The insurance companies are screwing the people left & right, the city’s infrastructure needs massive rebuilding, crime is rampant, and people are desperate. The city is dying from neglect, and the people of New Orleans truly thought that the new Congress would act right away to help them. But none has come. Again, and New Orleans wants to know, what is being done to provide direct help to New Orleans & its people?
You looked very Presidential, and you make sense. What a nice change of pace. :)
PS: Whoever tagged Chris Mathews with the name “Tweety” sure hit that nail on the head! LOL
urban pirate @ 97
On Cheney’s lap
urban pirate @ 97
Let’s all hold hands and light candles and incense and peppermint and PRAY he jumps up and gives Bush a big wet one when he marches down the aisle again.
Senator Dodd, it’s a pleasure to have you here.
My question deals with what Attorney General Gonzalez said before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week:
“…the Constitution doesn’t say that every individual in the United States or every citizen has or is assured the right of habeas corpus. It doesn’t say that. It simply says that the right of habeas corpus shall not be suspended.”
First of all, I assume by your outspoken criticism of the MCA passed last year that you’re as outraged at that statement as I am. What was your reaction upon hearing it and have any of your colleagues spoken to you about it?
I asked Tim about the “Hardball” appearance and here’s the answer. Rings true to me:
he’s got a crazily busy schedule. they tape in D.C. … he went from FDL to vote, to hardball. bang bang bang.
Howie Klein @
101
did you all see the General’s advice to Lieberman on this matter?
Howie Klein @ 103
Gets around quick!
Howie Klein @ 101
Nah, they’re past the kissing part. If Bush gets within two feet of him, Joe will leap out and dry-hump Bush’s leg.
hey firedogs i just got home in time for sen dodd – but hes on hardball- is he still in the lake?
Howie Klein @ 102
I understand about the crazy schedule, but I took his comments @ 51 to be “I’m ducking out to vote, but I’ll come back as soon as I’ve done that.”
If he had to go do Hardball, I wish he had said as much. On a day like this, things change fast and I would understand. As it is, it feels like a drive by to me.
montag @ 106
I wonder if that would be worthy of a recall vote.
Howie Klein @ 101
I’m still shell shocked that Joe Lie was able to hoodwink so many CT voters. I wonder how the vote would come down if it was held today.
I wonder if the CT establishment that supported him behind the scenes regret that. The OpEd’s have been somewhat critical from what I’ve seen.
The whole thing has made me so cynical. Joe reverted to his “escalation is good” routine the day after the election, just like we all said.
Tim Cullen, can you shed any light on that if you’re still here? As you know, this community sank our heart and soul into that campaign and feel very snubbed.
Tim, do you know whether Sen. Dodd was planning to come back on FDL after Hardball?
I just went to the Dodd’s blog and signed up for his newsletter. Maybe he’ll let us know when the answers are up…but it’ll be good to keep track of the campaign in any event.
Watergate not-burglar E. Howard Hunt dead at 88.
apparently John Warner, Evan Bayh and a few others delivered some smackdowns to Holy Joe today, in discreet Senatorspeak, of course, after Himself tried to draw a distinction between those who oppose Escalation and those who support the troops.
Hardball says John McCain made critical remarks about Cheney’s advice to Bush on the war.
Howie Klein @ 109
Connecticut won’t recall him, but it would be a real hit on YouTube. :)
montag @ 106
That’s a good one! In serio, Lieberman won’t kiss or embrace Dubya in any way tonite. Its back to a handshake (albeit a hardy, loving handshake). Joe’s got to hedge his bets – no more kissing for Droopy Dawg. That cost him his party affiliation (sort of, the MSM still gives it to him when he wants it).
actually, I’m hoping absent Liebushman, the Chimp will become overly friendly with One of these Blue Dog quislings
howz ’bout some Chimpy Kiss-O-Death action,
yeah, how you like me now ?!?!?
Why did Dodd even bother accepting the FDL invitation if he didn’t mean to stay and answer questions? Even without the vote, he was scheduled for Hardball within the time frame.
cbl @ 118
Yeah. Harman is up to her old tricks again. Marcy Winograd told me on the phone that if Harman steps out of line she’ll start a primary campaign again. And she’ll win this time because now everyone knows there’s a war and that some people want to stop it and some– like Harman and Bush and Lieberhound– don’t.
beth meacham @ 119
His staff alotted us 45 minutes. The vote cut into that. We’ll have him back. His answers to our questions were good
For general information, Dodd votes on selected issues:
Voted against the infamous Military Commissions Act Sept. 28, 2006
Voted for the Levin Amendment for withdrawal from Iraq without a firm timetable June 22, 2006
This was the weaker anti-war amendment
Voted against the Kerry Amendment for withdrawal from Iraq with timetable June 22, 2006
This was the stronger anti-war amendment
Voted for extension of the Patriot Act March 2, 2006
Voted against cloture on the Alito Supreme Court nomination Jan. 30, 2006
The “no” vote here was the meaningful vote against Alito
Voted for confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts May 9, 2005
Voted against the pro-corporate Grassley Bankruptcy Bill March 10, 2005
Voted for AUMF against Iraq Oct. 11, 2002
Voted for Patriot Act Oct. 25, 2001
Voted for AUMF against 911 attackers (Afghanistan) Sept. 14, 2001
CNN Alert: E. Howard Hunt, who helped organize the Watergate break-in that led to the downfall of Richard Nixon’s presidency, has died age 88, The Associated Press reports.
Another reminder of the criminal tendencies in the Republican Party, right before the SOTU. Woo hoo, Mr. Bush, it sucks to be you.
TeddySanFran @ 113
There’s one of em they can’t recycle again.
=============
WHO’S NEXT
=============
South Orange County Democrat @ 123
Let’s hope he left some tell-all notes in a secure place
Howie Klein @ 120
IIRC, Howie originally said he had a tight schedule. Sucks that the vote cut into our time and I don’t think he was happy that time was cut short because of it. OTOH, at least one Senator from Connecticut takes the votes seriously.
Howie Klein @ 124
No, I think it would be Liddy who would be the one to leave a bunch of “open in the event of my demise” letters around.
It was an awfully short visit and I was late. I do hope he will come back.
Howie, You rock in a cool blue jazzy way!
I am out of the loop with the wonderful trial threads going on and my tivo is out. Does anyone know if Dodds bill will be up before Senator Russ?
Sometimes it occurs that there are politicians who do not take ‘blog-power’ seriously. Perhaps I’m wrong on this.
Is this still technically a “be on your best behavior, we have guests” thread, or has it devolved into a more-or-less open thread where we can feel free to mock Nixonian criminals?
Are we finally getting to the nub of things?
Libby: White House sacrificed him for Rove
Fitzgerald says Libby lied about Cheney; first witness takes stand
MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
WASHINGTON – Top White House officials tried to blame vice presidential aide “Scooter” Libby for the 2003 leak of a CIA operative’s identity to protect President Bush’s political strategist, Karl Rove, Libby’s defense attorney said Tuesday as his perjury trial began and the first witness took the stand.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16770023/
cleter @ 130
Yes, everyone can go back to being themselves now
Hi All–
I understand your concerns about this being a drive-by. Just to clarify, the Senator had originally planned for about ~40-45′ minutes of liveblogging, after which he would appear on Hardball–this schedule was set a few days ago.
The vote came up suddenly this afternoon and was set for a really inopportune time as you can see.
I’ll be summarizing the remaining questions, getting answers from the Senator and will try and work out with Howie (who has been very gracious and accommodating every step of the way) the best way to post them here.
Tim’s a good man to convince the Senator to show at all.
he had good answers while he was here and Tim is going to recap this thrread with him.
Hopefully he will find some time to come back and answer some more questions.
BTW, One thing I’m positive of, when we do get high profile peeps in here, the questions fly so fast, I’m sure they are a bit overwhelmed.
( Good on us!)
Thanks Tim. That’s cool
cleter @ 130
my guess is we still have to be good…
Tim Cullen @
60
no, you only have to behave when a candidate is around; their staff members are just like you
The Prez has a plan. Says Norah O’ on Tucker. To cut gasoline consumption. Give me a f’ing break!
Thanks Tim, Could you find out if Senator Dodd regrets his vote for the Patriot Act? If so what plans does he have to reverse it and when?
Thanks again
Eureka Springs, AR @ 127
Ahhhh!!! That reminds me! If you want to track any bill at any time go here. You can even start/join groups:
http://www.billhop.com/
Don’t know if it’s been posted before but it’s one worth bookmarking, IMO.
Tim Cullen @ 132
Glad to hear it, Tim. No one had said anything about him having only 45 minutes or so. You might suggest to him that if he knows he’s pressed for time, he should say so up top, so we’re not surprised when instead of returning here after the vote, we see him show up on Hardball.
beth meacham @
119
Our comments and questions will still be here for him, and his staff can collect them too. He had planned to spend more time with us — the call to vote was unexpected — and he did say he intends to come back another time.
I think that’s pretty great!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 138
Oh gawd. So do the cylons.
Howie Klein @ 137
i didn’t use bad words, and i even typed with capital letters… unlike my normal skippyesque shiftkeyless typing.
Tim Cullen @ 132
Well, I did a driveby and left a comment on your blog in return. Not that it will bring any extra traffic your way though. ;)
BTW: Nice to see you allow comments. Some don’t.
Audrey @ 140
Thanks! (includes states, very nice)
end zig
Take a swing by Crooks and Liars and read the comments on the Frank Luntz page.
Looks like we aint gonna play nice with Toupee’ Boy Luntz even though he wants to make happy now that he’s the loser.
-GSD
OT – Cheney will be on with Blitzer tomorrow afternoon/eve. they plan the SOTU damage control early.
LindaR @ 143
Cylons? Will that be the big threat in this year’s SOTU? Last year it was Manimals. Thank Jebus the Deciderer’s bold decideration eliminated the dangerous threat of the man-animal hybrids. Now, if he’d only do something about General Zod and his gang of thugs from the Phantom Zone…
Sen. Dodd,
It seems to me that the Democratic party must address a very key issue that no one seems to be talking about right now – at least not publicly – that will be central to whether the Democratic Party will ultimately be successful in ‘08. The main issue in the long term is not what responsibility the Congress has with respect to oversight of the war, although that is the hot topic of the day. The ultimate issue is going to be one of philosophy.
We have Democrats running in two distinct directions. You have those who voted for the war and take the position that they were lied to about WMD’s and/or that the war would have gone fine if run competently. On the other hand you have those who say that the war should never have been fought even based on the information as propounded by the Administration.
Those in the former group, I am afraid, will ultimately lead the Democrats to defeat if they do not clearly and unequivically apologize for there initial vote, not on the grounds of ‘if we knew then what we know now’ etc, etc…, but on the grounds that invading a soveriegn nation without either a UN sanction or hostile action against the US or its interests is a mistake. In other words, we must uniformly stand up and state that the Doctrine of Preemption is immoral and un-American.
My great fear is that the pro-Iraq war crowd within the Democratic Party will play directly into the hands of the opposition by eliminating what would otherwise be a winning strategy. If the Democratic Party took the position that the war was wrong and should have never been fought then we can tie George Bush around the neck of any Republican opponent. Whereas if we simply say that Bush is incompetent then what is the difference between the pro-war Democrats and John McCain? There isn’t any, at least as it relates to the defining issue of the election. The Republicans will act as if Bush was some sort of idiot anomaly and insist that they are still the party to be trusted in wartime. If, on the other hand, the Democrats are saying that McCain, or any other Republican, is just another Bush, then we win in a landslide.
We should be tying every Republican to this moron as possible rather that trying to say that we can run this ill-concieved war better that he can.
Thank you for your time.
. . . it’s switchgrass bitches !!!
I am anxious to hear what Webb tells us tonight. I’m hoping for Iraq, Iran and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Tall order I know. But I think most Americans thirst for truth.
twolf1 @ 148
He’ll probably repeat again that al Qaeda met with Iraqi agents in Prague. A good lie never goes out of style.
cbl @ 151
Switchgrass Bitches would be a good name for a band.
So, Tim Cullen or anyone who knows, can you tell me what Senator Dodd’s position on Feingold’s censure resolution was?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 152
I hope he at least mentions NOLA and Katrina disaster. CNN reported this afternoon that Chimpy would not be mentioning it in the SOTU… big surprise
I just want to thank Howie and Sen Dodd for the chat today. It’s a very busy day in DC and I think it’s pretty amazing that we got even a short chance to visit. The Senator did vote right after his visit with us (we were watching on Cspan). I think it’s a great start to more visits with a variety of candidates and others who care enough to take time to answer our questions – and to hear our voices.
I’ve been working with press today on Marcy’s book and I know that everyone in DC was really jumping today with all that’s going on … but I also heard a lot of “we’re all reading FDL” – so what a great day for our little community.
Let’s not get so demanding that we miss the signs of respect and interest folks like Sen Dodd are showing.
I’ve had serious problems with Dodd in the past but I am very excited about his anti-torture legislation and his willingness to grab some time for us.
Eureka Springs, AR @ 145
I’m on some mailing lists for Texas Dems and there were bills listed I hadn’t heard of from my groups…just sayin’
Hugh @ 153
Blitzer needs to ask him if the 59 US troops dead this month are still part of the ‘last throes’.
SOTU spoiler:
The British government has learned that Iran recently tried to purchase large quantities of uranium from Barack Obama.
-GSD
First, my generation had to worry about the tyrants Nikita Khruschev and Mao. Now we have to worry about George. I’m so sick of it.
twolf1 @ 156
Me too.
While we have a slight lull in the action… good time to clear your browser cache of cookies and Temp Internet Files, to help your puter hum along faster and cleaner for tonights impending Page II coverage.
:)
My only complaint with Chris Dodd, as someone who emails him a lot, is that he does not get back to you in a timely manner. Sometimes you get a letter explaining his view on an issue a month after it has been voted on.
…stock up on popcorn too
I wonder what JH will think about the Bush-bull on for tonight?
Weren’t we promised a surprise by Christy this morning? I didn’t have a chance to read every word on every post and from every comment, so, did we already get our surprise tonight and if so, what was it, or is it yet to come?
Bergs @ 164
He must use the same response-software DiFi does.
I am pretty sure James Webb aint taking any advice from Frank Luntz.
Put on your boxing gloves Mr. Webb and show them no quarter.
-GSD
Is Cheney going to the fall by getting a heart attack and a pardon?
Oklahoma kiddo @
152
I only wish the Dems would take my advice from last year’s SOTU and present their speech from a theater or hall filled with a couple thousand enthusiastic supporters.
Bush has had five years of getting Republican cheers for every one of his lame-brained remarks, and the Dems get to recite their thoughts in an airless studio. Let’s start holding these things in crowded rooms to help punctuate the high points.
But they never listen to me…
Oklahoma kiddo @ 165
I miss Jane. Hope she is doing well.
OKKiddo,
I’ve been thinking about you. Everytime I read your posts re the Palestine/Israeli confict offline I want to send you this:
http://www.cactus48.com/truth.html
Of course, I can’t send it when I’m offline, so I’m glad to see you here. :)
Hope you like it.
So whats the concensus
twolf1 @ 159
It took me a few minutes to find it but:
Whack job Liz Cheney, the other Cheney daughter, had an op-ed in the WaPo today showing that paranoia and delusional thinking seem to run in the family.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01103.html
Strangest headline of the day.
-GSD
Anne: I was just thinking about the surprise too. Maybe some words from the hampster?
Libby trial ‘discussion’ on MSNBC
I do not think that DiFi as been a positive force in helping in a settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli ’situation’. And I voted for this Senator several times while living in “the City” (SF).
My vote for strangest headline:
Tijuana Police Officers Defend Themselves With Slingshots.
Connecticut Bob @ 171
I listen to you. Many of us, perhaps most of us do. I think. But I understand what you’re telling us. ;)
GSD, Bwahahahahaaaaaa!
And here I’ve been chuckling at an IE/AOL headline flashing today:
“Surprising New Uses for Aluminum Foil”
Charlie Rangel on Lou Dobbs calls “guest worker” programs what they are: slavery.
Hugh @ 174
“The first-degree biological relatives of individuals with schizophrenia have a risk for schizophrenia that is about 10 times greater than that of the general population.”
(DSM-IV TR, paper, p 309)
Despite Shooter and Pig Oil’s best efforts to destroy the living world, nature really does bat last.
Hugh @ 174
I started reading that this AM and couldn’t get through it.
Senator Dodd- Do you think Dov Zakheim should have at least been written up for having $2.3 trillion go “unaccounted for” while pentagon comptroller?
twolf1 @ 184
Liz Cheney is quite the military mind. What is her reason for not serving in Iraq?
Hugh @
174
It’s even worse. You should take a look at what her role has been and who she is surrounded by. (b/w)
Connecticut Bob @ 171
Perhaps Siun has a point of view on this. I think of her as the expert on these matters.
Audrey @ 172
;0) ;o) ;)
With the CBS poll showing Bush with a JAR of 28%, are we at the Keyes Limit of 27%?
Note: Alan Keyes was recruited late to the Senate race against Obama after the Republican Jack Ryan nominee pulled out when info about a messy divorce with actress Jeri Ryan came out. Keyes a nutcase conservative who lived in Maryland managed to garner 27% of the vote anyway and this figure has been used as an estimate of the portion of voters who are fact-free and batshit crazy.
Is Liz Cheney brilliant? Or what?
Hugh- looks like there’s a lull here. I remember your posts on English as our national language. Obviously you have a good ear- but save the English series, I don’t see your sense of the absurd (in humor) trotted out too much. Care to take a stab at your version of what CF will say this eve?
Charlie Black is quite the wingnut Republican apologist (on MSNBC now) Has his talking points down pat.
Christy’s got a new thread upstairs.
Hugh @ 174
Let us not forget the Cheney daughter who works at the department of homeland security with a seventy-five million dollar budget dedicated to regime change in Iran and Syria.
RBG @ 194
Hugh, never mind! No lull, I guess!
Dover Bitch @ 187
Thank you for the informative link.
Webb will be on Lou Dobbs tomorrow night
EPUtube: Senator Chris Dodd on Hardball
Okay, a question or two for Sen. Dodd, based on three premises:
1. Military spending is no longer a reflection of the actual needs for the defense of the nation. This spending is increasingly used to supply a foreign legion operating offshore to seize and hold markets for risk-averse multinational corporations.
2. Tax cuts for the wealthy and for said corporations, in combination with item 1, have produced cumulative debt which has expanded the interest on the debt to the point where that interest, along with defense spending of all types, has the potential to choke off other government spending on the discretionary side of the budget.
3. National energy policy has, and continues to be, written by corporations for corporate interests. The 2005 energy act remains the most egregious example of that trend.
How do we fund, over the long term, the coming national necessities of energy independence (in a real, rather than token, way) in an age of declining petroleum reserves and sharply increasing demand, and the inevitable additional costs associated with effects of climate change and cooperation with world demands for carbon reductions, without addressing the three points above?
To my mind, these items are all interrelated and inseparable from one another. If energy policy is written in a way that protects the effective monopoly of a few large corporations, that will very likely create new problems, especially if effective solutions (conservation, foremost among them, decentralization, another) are at odds with corporate profitability.
Increasing debt, via annual interest payments, hinders the ability of the government to seriously fund new technology and the start-up companies developing that technology for commercialization.
Further, military spending concentrates talent in areas the research of which is hidden from commercial exploitation. There’s an old adage in R&D: talent follows the money. The more we spend on defense research, the more we intellectually impoverish the programs necessary for addressing energy problems.
There’s much more to this, in detail, but, I think it important to say, plainly, that the general trends mentioned above actually harm our security, rather than enhance it. The very long-term view must, of necessity, then be to reverse those trends in order to free up the resources necessary to solve, rather than postpone, the problems inexorably advancing upon us.
I think, right now, that anyone wanting to be President at this time in history is going to have to address all those problems, and is going to have to convince the public of the necessity to change the way we think about defense, security, debt and corporate influence on government.
GSD @
160
…And he wants to steal Bush’s Illudium Q-36 space modulator, too
;>)
montag @ 200
excellent questions! i hope Senator Dodd will address these related issues seriously.
Senator Dodd,
I don’t know if you are reading through the thread after the fact, but I’m a constituent and wanted to thank you for standing up against the “torture” bill last year and against a troop increase in Iraq this year.
I am part of the progressive community who supported Ned Lamont, and wanted you to know you have a lot of support among the grassroots.
Excuse my cynical nature but I have several subjects.
The North American Union and the Nascocorridor.
Treason by any other name is still treason.
Next is the Democrats endorsing an endless global war on terror by passing HR 1, a bill which supports an endless global war on terror.
Last up is a real investigation of 911.
Comments on political boards may number in the hundreds while gaming and trivial computer blogs number in the thousands. Politics just is no longer “popular” in this society.
When will we get the constitution back? Nothing else matters now. The first baby step in that direction is to impeach and indict the President. When we see how that turns out, the country can deal with the administration’s Congressional accomplices, Republican and Democratic. Finally we have to reverse the abusive and authoritarian climate that has suffused the culture so that every rent-a-cop fancies himself a militarized homeland security hero.
Thanks to Howie, Sen. Dodd, and Tim for putting this together. It’s nice to know that readers can swing by to catch up at leisure, even if — as was my case — we’re stuck in traffic or otherwise unable to participate while a particular guest is actually online.