I don’t even know what to say in the wake of the passage of the Cornyn Amendment to censure MoveOn.
It became apparent yesterday when the Democrats allowed the competing McCain/Warner Amendment onto the floor (which gave Republicans cover for “supporting our troops”) that they had absolutely no intention of letting the Webb Amendment pass. It was a complete fantasy to think that they would ever implement anything like the Kleiman strategy — they do not want to be responsible for forcing troop reductions that could end the war. Because…why? Because the Republicans might be mean to them? Because they’d lose it as a campaign issue for 2008? Because they’re so in the tank for all the monied industries feeding at the taxpayer trough due to the war that they just won’t go there?
Just like the FISA bill, it was all a charade. And then today, they join with the Republicans in their little moment of mock outrage over MoveOn so we all just don’t talk about how badly the war is going. The Democrats have the majority, and THIS is what they let happen?
Bush put Petraeus up there hoping that he could hide behind a uniform he was never willing to wear himself and claim that anyone who wasn’t supporting his pet project was being “anti-military.” It doesn’t matter who it was or what they said, ANYONE who questioned the word of A Man Called Petraeus was going to be pilloried for it. Nothing less than the complete silence of a domesticated animal would have satisfied them.
And that’s what this vote regarding MoveOn means, make no mistake about it. It’s not just MoveOn that is having their wrists slapped, it’s all of us. All of us who stood together and had the temerity to fight their precious comrade in comity, Joe Lieberman. Those of us who want to push them into doing something on Iraq, which they really don’t want to do. It is now the “Sense of the Senate” that the “uncivil” left are not entitled to free speech, especially if we’re trying to exercise it to make their lives difficult.
MoveOn said what needed to be said, that the emperor has no clothes. Just like he didn’t in 2002 when Bush hid behind Colin Powell and the country accepted his word and his credibility and allowed this godforsaken war to start in the first place. If anybody thought that anyone was going to lift anything more than a symbolic finger to end it ought to be disabusing themselves of that notion right now. Not only are the Democrats not going to criticize the President’s brilliant war stratagem, they’re going to come together in a Terry Schaivo moment and tell anyone who does to just shut the hell up.
The only one who got this right was Hillary Clinton. She’s been on the receiving end of mock right wing outrage before, she knows how it works and she didn’t get played by the typical GOP charade that even THEY aren’t sincere about. Every word coming out of their mouths on the floor of the Senate this morning was pure santcimonious hypocrisy, dancing on the head of a pin as they tried to distinguish between this and the outrageous things it was perfectly okay to say about Abizaid or Kerry or Max Clelland. But thanks to the willingness of human Gumby dolls like Bill Richardson, Barack Obama and John Edwards who thought it best to bow down before the right wing when it gets its bluster on, the PR blitz nobody would have otherwise cared about kept gaining momentum until it reached this shocking abrogation of free speech with the help of 25 Democrats.
I should actually qualify that — it wasn’t Edwards who bagged MoveOn, he had his wife do it. I suppose that’s better somehow. Maybe not as good as Barack “I never met a fight I couldn’t duck” Obama who was there to vote on the Boxer Amendment, but couldn’t be bothered to stick around and vote against Cornyn. But close.
Well, part of the joy of being a right wing bully is standing up there and knowing you’re full of shit, and everyone listening knows you’re full of shit, and STILL you force the Democrats to their knees. And it works every time. No doubt they appreciate the Democrats doing their part in this “bipartisan” effort.
The bottom line is that the Democrats would rather just play along with that little kabuki than mount a meaningful fight on just about anything, but particularly ending the war, and they’re pretty angry at us for insisting that they do otherwise. Today they got to tell us so.
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yesss
quick, Mitch, before anyone gets here, get all of your baseball comments out of your system.
singles
Hello Jane…
Go Jane!
Vote Republican and let Congress (with the help of the DemocRATS)
finish Newt Gingrich’s Contract ON America.
Right On, Jane!
I’ll consider my wrist slapped.
But, it doesn’t hurt.
And, I won’t stop.
it really seems hopeless, doesn’t it?
I hope the troops in Iraq appreciate the effort the GOP put out to protect the reputation of their commander. Too bad they couldn’t do anything for the troops themselves.
gurgle gurgle.
May be they knew this (Saudi’s abandon the dollar) and are just eager to get home and cash out their dollar accounts…
Is is just me or is everybody depressed?
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has let her state down again. First she rolled over on the FISA thing (and is still trying to justify her vote), now she uses the power of government to condemn speech. I wonder if she’s even read the ad herself? It’s so pedestrian it boggles the mind that it’s an issue.
What’s particularly offensive about Klobuchar’s vote is her father is a well-known journalist. You’d think she’d have a better sense of free speech issues.
I did my worthless, yet obligatory phone calls to my CA senators.
I even followed up on the FDL suggestion to call the DSSC, where I might have put some fear-of-people’s wrath into the wonk I spoke with (mentioning a planned Dump the Dems Day).
Still the roll to fascism continues…..
Now I’m pushing for a blog and poster campaign to undermine the profits of the global corporations, especially over the holidays. It’s called ‘Spend Your Holidays with Mom and Pop’. Graphics – with which I could use help – show shoppers foregoing Walmart and corporate chain stores to patronize and spend at their community’s local Mom and Pop stores.
Ideas?
i’m disgusted by this faux show of patriotic fervor against Moveon.org’s statement of the Iraq war and Bush’s surge.
the disappointment is difficult to push past and continue working for real resolve to return this nation to its formidable values of freedoms of, by, and for the people.
Well, we just have to keep pushing for what we want. We’re the voters. Might take us a little while, but ultimately, barring outright vote fraud, we’re the ones who can put them there or send them packing. Past time to remind ‘em all of that.
Feingold up. they are going to try this amendment again. And, I hope, over and over
Jane:
Very interesting take on what happened — the Dems let this go through as a lesson to all of us who are less than enchanted with their performance over these past few years.
Is that in fact what The Word is on the Cornyn resolution? The Beltway Dems teaching the rest of us a lesson? If so, that puts them at the third of Ghandi’s four stages — “then they fight you”.
We will vote for the nominee of our party for president in 2008. And perhaps it will be the last time we do so.
snowbird42 @ 17
Wait, which one?
EPU’d from an earlier thread:
selise @ 338
I am disappointed in my senator, Amy Klobuchar. And I’m really surprised about Leahy. I mean WTF?
As I said also in an earlier thread: There’s something seriously wrong in this country if the US Senate can vote against the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
Who were the 25 DINOs?
They complain that the populace is ignorant and we educate our selves, now we are far left
WTF?….EVEN WEBB VOTED WITH THEM
marymccurnin @ 12
That’s hardly the word – outrage just about does it. We have really taken some blows in the last two days and I’m disgusted. I intend to contact every single one of the Dems who voted in favor of this piece of crap and tell them what I think. They won’t care but I will feel better – somewhat.
Thank you, Jane for voicing my disgust so well.
I am depressed.
MoveOn got its first contribution from me.
Di Fi will never get a penny, ever.
We need more AND BETTER Dems in 2008.
Is it possible that HRC did the right thing AND that it was politically smart? The Republicans are sure to over-play their hand on this one. Can you imagine if they had a commercial on the air, criticizing her for voting against condemning Move-on.org and she replied, thus:
Too bad, someone better than HRC didn’t see this opportunity.
Is it time for primary challenges? Should we give them one more chance, where should we draw the line? Or is it to late for serious widespread primary chalenges, should we wait until next year?
Biodun @ 21
While I’m equally depressed at this resolution, it’s simply condemning it, right? It’s not prohibiting it. So technically that’s their freedom of speech, to condemn it.
I’m depressed that they don’t see it for what it was, though, that they chose to see it as whatever they’ve read into it.
Very interesting Clinton voted against it. I’ve got a theory that until the smear machine’s been cranked up against you, you really don’t know what the republican base can do. Clinton absolutely knows that.
The major parties are two heads on the same fat maggot, gnawing on the bloated corpse of democracy. Regardless of which head is currently positioned to take larger bites, the prognosis remains grim.
fbg46 @ 18
What are the four steps?
I donated to MoveOn. Made me feel better.
Mike Stark has a diary over at kos about starting a site called NotOneRedCent to defund these 25 Dems
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/20/104634/134
punaise @ 8
Yep. Yep. Yep. I mean: What gives? Quelle connerie…
I know it’s heresy to say on a political blog, but I’m ready to start checking out of politics altogether. For my own sanity. Day after humiliating day of watching our ‘leaders’ behave like clowns (Dems) and thugs (Rethugs). Dems took over Congress nine months ago and nothing has changed, except they’ve held a few hearings, all of which resulted in NOTHING. No accountability. There’s a dictator in the white house, and all they can do is bow and scrape to him while making a few noises to suggest their displeasure. I’m losing it really.
Hide it under a bushel?
No! I’m gonna let it shine.
*
Why waste your breath,
Yelling at the crowds.
Nothing can be done to stop the shouting.
If every voice were stilled,
The noise would still continue.
The rocks and stones themselves,
Would start to sing!
We can take comfort in this. Congress is way behind the public on so many things. Way behind! Cowards….
Is there a viable alternative to the Dems for those of us who are out of patience with ‘keeping our powder dry’ for some purpose that never seems to arrive? Because I’m not sure that those who voted yes on Cornyn are even Dems at this point.
(DiFi, I’d like to recall my votes for you, back to the first one. I’d rather vote Green; at least they’re straight-up useless to vote for.)
I got a begging letter from Leahy today, and just had to write to him to express my disgust at his vote to condemn MoveOn. He’ll probably never see it.
Thanks for speaking the truth, Jane. Edwards and Obama really disappoint me with their ball-less stances on this. Until recently, Hillary was at the bottom of my preferred Democratic candidates list. She’s moved up a couple of big notches in the last few days.
Hey, good luck with your fight with “The Big C.” I’m a survivor of boatloads of chemo, radiation, and two stem-cell transplants. Clear almost five years now. Life is good. Good vibes and hugs are being sent your way from Portland, ME right this instant!
Get this. Senator Gordon Smith (R)is quoted as saying that two factors kept the Rethugs from breaking with the President yesterday. One was the supposed credibility of Petraeus. The other was disgust at the MoveOn ad. So, we are suppose to believe that if MoveOn had remained silent, the war would be winding down right now. What a humongous crock of shit.
And I am stunned to see that Feingold voted for this amendment. He of all people should understand the role of the outlier.
I guess we can be betrayed by both sides.
I say MoveOn should respond by becoming more strident than ever. Speak truth to power, That it makes them squirm, only proves that you are hitting the right target.
peanutbutter @ 20
Withdrawal of troops in 90 days
This WHOLE outrage thing is nothing but a rightwing TACTIC people. Every time the Dems fight back the republicans use this Rovian tactic to beat the battered wife Dems back into submission.
I’m done with these spineless mock democrats.
Larry @ 24
I guess I have to say it every fucking time his name is mentioned and we still don’t get it. He is a fucking Navy Academy Marine Corps infantry officer who believes EXACTLY what the Swiftboat Vets for Truth believe.
Thanks Jane.
You speak for a lot of us. I just can’t find the words any more, but I will somehow.
Capitol Hill seems like one long drawn-out food-fight.
Or witch burning?
You think Moveon members will have to wear a big red letter on their sweaters from now on?
Gee, Bayh voted for this?
To quote Gomer Pyle, “Surprise, Surprise, SURPRISE!”
Okay, not much of a surprise for this corporate shill, but still disappointing.
What’s the point of working to get Democrats in office if they’re just going to vote like Republicans?
Where’s my torch and pitchfork?
peanutbutter @ 30
No, it is an official act by the government. Freedom of speech is when each senator states his or her opinion. When the Senate as a body starts dictating standards for speech, that’s censorship. This time they haven’t banned anything, but this is the first step down a path along those lines. Now that the GOP has successfully gotten government action against speech, next time they just may put up a bill that actually does call for a ban. And the precedent is in place to make it that much easier to vote for something like that.
At this point, since Bush vows to veto everything, and there are not enough votes to get anything meaningful passed, I think the Dems should just stop everything. Just stop. Bring nothing forward, just show up with their favorite book and wait until they and the Repubs get thoroughly voted out of office for their stupidity and cowardice. I’ve had it with all of them. We need to clean house. They are all morons and idiots. I say “all”, because not one of them just gets up there, protests, and takes the floor until something changes.
Look at it this way, the Senate vote is way good free publicity for MOVEON and for the ACLU. These clowns are so stupid. Look what happened when they “bleeped” Sally Fields, it got played on the nightly news on every station.
I think MOVEON or the dems have to point out that the repubs are stalling on the vote for the Webb amendment because they want to get past the elections. That means at least 500 people are going to die in Iraq because they are too chicken shit to vote on it now.
I’m mad and depressed at the same time … probably not from the same cause. But this sort of thing doesn’t help the depression one f*cking bit. I’m seeing complete collapse coming, and the people in Congress ignoring it – they have deck chairs on the Titanic, and we’re the folks in third-class. With sonar, FWIW.
Bring HRC back for questions and answers. I promise to be polite.
Man, this just makes me want to puke.
Jane! You said it perfectly!!! We should all mail her post to those whimps who voted Aye on the MoveOn Resolution.
I am proud to say that I called Stabenow and Levin this morning and I see that they voted nay.
Thank you Michigan Senators. More power to you.
And us!
P J Evans @ 50
If a big collapse does occur, they have much further to fall.
Dianne in DC @ 49
A very good point.
Lots of people will hear this.
Maybe some will even wonder at this slap at the first amendment.
Hillary is the only Dem running for Pres. who isn’t afraid of the “vast right wing conspiracy”. The rest of the front runners are wimps. If she becomes President, I am counting on the Dem Congress to push the social agenda and Hillary to gut the Republicans. Both she and Bill have long memories and carry grudges.
My message to Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski:
Senator,
I am acutely disappointed by your vote in favor the Cornyn Amendment. Be advised that as a result of the passage of this amendment I have contributed $50 to MoveOn. I will continue to support them. Consider this my personal condemnation of the body in which you serve, of its priorities, and of you, Sir [Madam].
Maybe MoveOn should run another ad called “Senator Betray Us” with a list of those 25 Democratic Senators.
I had left this on the Gary Hart thread, but seems more appropiate here.
bonkers @ 308
epu’ed from several threads ago (boy am i behind today):
ok. it’s worse than i thought… the boxer amendment condemned moveon too – it just also condemned the swiftboating of kerry and what happened to max cleland.
so any senator who voted for the boxer amendment voted to condemn moveon. roll call vote.
and only one D senator voted against this – Senator Russ Feingold.
quoting pach:
It’s important to understand, folks: this is not just an attack on MoveOn.
we have one ally in the senate. one.
i just called my senators’ offices to ask why they voted to condemn moveon. no answer at senator kennedy’s office. at senator kerry’s office, i was read a statement that just makes me sick.
marymccurnin @ 12
No, this week has got me looking for a sample of Z*l*ft buried somewhere in my medicine cabinet. I actually think the professional Dems secretly loved Cornyn’s stunt. We – like MoveOn, get in their way, get in their face and actually insist that they do their jobs. Oh, they may show up to do a little soft shoe at Yearly Kos or come over here looking for a handout come election time, but our elected Dems hate us just as much as the Repugs.
I think we got had in 06.
~~~ModNote: Edited for content to clear filters.~~~
raven @ 44
Courage comes in different forms and packages, I suppose. He still seems like a good fella, basically, but I’m surprised he was backed so solidly as a progressive. Nuh uh. Don’t think so… There have been several puzzling votes from him.
Look again, I think you’ve got that wrong.
I hope Moveon takes a full page out every week telling the truth and calling them all out. Call them every name in the book, then they can have a stupid sense of the congress amendment to mess with every week. Screw them all.
EPU’d from prior thread:
I will not vote for “that woman.”
She wants our troops to stay in Iraq. Her health plan is as bad or worse than the current mis-mash we’re blessed with… She is a Republican in sheep’s clothing.
Angry, by Goddess, yes I’m angry! Pity we can’t light a fire under this do-nothing Congress. (Democrat or Republican, if you won’t damn well lead, then get the hell out of the way.)
puppethead @ 47
Did they stop it? Did they prohibit its being aired on TV? Did they fine MoveOn for putting it together? I should think legally these actions and what they did (”Eew, we don’t like it, waaaah, waaaah, waaaaaaaah”) are two quite separate things.
The first amendment starts out, “Congress shall make no law…”
Was this a law? I don’t think it was.
Believe me, I don’t think they should have done this at all because I think it starts a slippery slope. It creates the appearance of regulation. But on basic legal grounds, I don’t think they’ve crossed that line.
IANAL, and all that, but that’s how I’m looking at it.
SufiLizard @ 58
Great suggestion.
AND, like TRex said the other night, the left has money too.
If money starts going to folks like MoveOn instead of betraying senators, That should get their attention.
Wow… Jane you’re hot. What an essay. You go girl.
Depressing isn’t it.
DIRECT ACTION NOW
i just called my senators’ offices to ask why they voted to condemn moveon. no answer at senator kennedy’s office. at senator kerry’s office, i was read a statement that just makes me sick.
Kennedy and Kerry voted NAY.
I’ve been saying it for a while. Almost every single Democrat currently holding office MUST GO. I want a completely clean slate, preferably filled with Consitutional experts who are also truly progressive. Wipe them ALL out. It’ll never happen, but it’s the only hope we have. That or moving out of the country, which I am also seriously considering. If Hillary gets to shove her health insurance lover down my throat pelvis first after 2008, that will definately happen.
Jane, I think you’re over-reacting and the residual chemo might be blunting your normally brilliant strategic instincts. Here;s why:
1.) Most of our guys voted for the Boxer resolution. Most of their guys didn’t. That makes them look even more partisan and hypocritical.
2.) So they voted for the Cornyn resolution. That affects us how? They shook their tiny fingers at MoveOn and said “naughty, no more beets for you.” If MoveOn doesn’t shrink and continues to hit them, what will the resolution have accomplished?
3.) I’ll tell you what it accomplished: It made the Republicans keep the betrayal theme in the news for longer than if they had just ignored the ad in the first place. Petraeus = betray us = under Bush’s orders (’cause he’s a good soldier) = betrayal on reasons for getting into Iraq = betrayal on reasons for staying there. It’s actually a brilliant move by MoveOn. They set the bait and the GOP fell for it hook, line and sinker. The more the word “betrayal” is out there and associated with the surge, the less credibility the Administration’s rhetoric will have. The thought that they aren’t completely honest will continue to resonate in voters’ minds.
Yeah, some of the Democrats are craven cowards but they can’t get very far without someone in the Republican side breaking ranks. I’d prefer to keep the spotlight on the GOP and make them squeak like gremlins.
Adie @ 61
arrrrghhhhh, and Pirate day is over
Just why they could not back the Repubs down and force them to compromise the Boxer amendment…I don’t understand.
Wonder if MoveOn will turn the heat up even higher?
Reps “betrayed” the troops by voting down the Webb amendment!
The Democrats may crap their pants if the Repubs ever pick up the Impeachment issue and trump them completely!
I give up. Just shoot me. All those years of history lessons about what a great country this is down the drain. What a waste.
Peace, please?
Beyond the outrage, what worries me is the Dems’ lack of brains. Why on earth are they crippling their allies?
I’m still skeptical about Hillary. One thing though: I have to acknowledge her political acumen (this latter in all its meanings and connotations).
demi @ 66
Anyone have any pull with MoveOn? I’ll actually find a few bucks to send their way for this one. As a father of three young kids I don’t have a LOT of money to spare, but I’ll find some for this.
Feingold Amendment presently going down in flames.
jayt @ 79
What amendment is that?
Remember all those billions recently reported sunk into put options?? Well, the “date” is tomorrow, 9/21. I wonder if it has anything to do with the Saudi money…
Right now, the Dow is down 64…even though they had that big rally after the Feds dropped the interest rate.
Steve-AR @ 57
She’s my senator and I can tell you that Hillary has a whole closet full of “greenstamps” that she has been saving. She is NOT nice …and I bet she has a very big set of teeth to bite with — but I really do feel that “not nice” with “big teeth” is what we need right now. Hillary has not gotten where she is today by trusting to the goodwill of the GOP.
The majority will not force a filibuster because it would preclude the very important work that must be done.
The Congress can’t impeach, as it would suck all the time away from the people’s work.
Then they spend time on this nonsense.
The senate is simply lost until ‘09. Let’s face it.
Turning up the heat…letting them know just how serious folks continue to be.
https://pol.moveon.org/donate/mcconnell.html
Sen. McConnell: A Betrayal of Trust on Iraq
Yesterday, Senate Republicans blocked a real opportunity to support our troops—a bipartisan bill to make sure our troops have the downtime they need. We’re launching an ad to highlight that in the Republican leader’s home state, but we need your help to get it on the air. Can you chip in?
OT, But where can someone read about Israel bombing Syria? I only know about this because David Bleeping Gregory asked the prez about it this morning. David “Karl, come up and dance, dance I say, and I will see you on the Today Show when we talk about Stockings: Are they worth it” Gregory brings it up, and it is NOWHERE in the press, including the NYT. Someone please advise.
portia.vz @ 72
I’m fine after the chemo. Thanks for asking.
Senators are proud they like their power and somehow think that like Pharrisses of old they deserve it. We need to start stringing together a compeling history of how this war kept going with the help of weak and or corupt democrats.
How this war in Iraq keeps going while Ossama runs free. While Ossama is trying to take over Pakistan a country that already has nukes.
The economy is tanking because Congress is so fasicanated by the war they can’t even be bothered to figure out how to pay for the war.
I’m sure that this Senate if asked by Bush would turn over their wives to the DC madame to earn money for the war like Cailigula had the Roman Senate do!
Move On should wear this as a badge of honor that they are now so feared that the Senate has to censure them. Pretty heady stuff. It’s just a catch-all organization for people who don’t have anyone else to lobby on their behalf. I’m a member. What else am I going to join? I’m glad that Move On scares the big bad congresspeople. I’m glad it scares the big bad corporate money people. Move on should push back even harder. Make them own this piece of douche-baggery. The democratic party needs a house cleaning. The old way of doing “bidness” needs to end.
WTF does a censure of a political ad mean?
Any teeth, or just finger wagging?
And thank God they have gotten this most devastatingly urgent matter concluded.
Idiots.
SufiLizard @ 58
Yes, I agree. MoveOn shoudl put out more ads.
I like this one: They’ve voted out Habeas Corpus. What’s next? The First Amendment? You can have the text floating in the background or something as the senators who voted for it are highlighted or something.
Whatever — This ist he perfect time for MoveOn to come out with a flurry of related ads.
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 79
Requires withdrawal of US troops to begin w/in 90 days of enactment, and cuts off all funding in June 2008.
I have to say I am becoming so dissilusioned I have just about lost any prayer
here we have the most lawless administration anyone could have ever imagined and the democrats think impeachment should be off the table
here we have democrats allowing bills on the floor that are intended to undermine the real bills we need passed
here we have democrats that refuse to do what they were clearly elected to do
here we have democrats that don’t force actual filibuster when they are called to protect our constitution
my heart has been very heavy these past two days and I have just about lost hope
portia.vz @ 71
Interesting perspective
Get Tough @ 83
Go to Google news and put in, Israel Syria – it will come up with a lot of articles.
Biodun @ 35
bande de laches
What?!!!!
I thought this would be a non-issue…My Bad.
Embarrassed by both of my senators Biden and Carper. My ‘08 vote is moving closer and closer to Hillary. OMG! Somebody check them for cherry mustaches cuz they been in the cool-aid.
peanutbutter @ 90
http://www.moveon.org/
Toby Wollin @ 80
Despite all my misgivings about HRC, I do think this is true. Her election would not be a good thing for Republicans, particularly those individuals who were there in her husband’s tenure.
That’s why I’ll vote for her if she’s our Dem candidate. But till then, I’ve got preferred candidates :-)
Edwards ‘08!!
Hillary punks Obama, yet again…
Jane Hamsher @ 86
You brought it up with the detox post. But I am glad that you’re feeling better.
selise @ 61
:
So basically then Clinton and Obama voted to condemn the MoveOn.org ad? Linky to the wording of Boxer Amendment?
Never quit. Never back down. What goes around comes around, and one day, they’ll be on the receiving end, every last f*cking, craven one of them.
Those big DC brains in Congress who voted to attack Iraq have much blood on their hands. And those DLC Team Leaders have no shame about the DLC’s strong advocation of the Iraq horror.
obama – aye
tester – no
levin – no
rockefeller – aye
Hillary – aye
Wonder if the Dems will come back with another amendment similar to the one Boxer put forth today?
Steve-AR @ 57
This is my one hope if she becomes president.
toby martin @ 42
feingold voted against it. in fact, he voted against the boxer amendment too.
he is the ONLY D senator who voted against comdemning moveon BOTH times it came up for a vote.
Man I need a scorecard for all the amendments. Too many!
Eugene Debs ran for president from prison. And I believe that year was his best showing of all his runs.
Eugene never won the White House, but a few years later FDR did, and though he was very much a “moderate” he was pushed by the wave of progressivism helped along by Debs in a very good direction.
On a day that seems so hopeless, maybe we should consider the censure of MoveOn as a Eugene Debs imprisonment moment.
Maybe our seemingly futile efforts today will be part of a political tsunami that will eventually force some lame, DINO into a progressive force for good in the very near future.
….okay that’s all the optimism I can muster right now. Someone else please pick up the ball.
Oh, and Obama just lost my vote. And Webb and Tester just lost my respect.
Get Tough @ 85
This particular speculation depressed me earlier today:
Strange Case of Israeli Attack on Non-existant Syrian Nuclear Thing
Brisingamen @ 66
Hillary goes which way the wind blows. I would not be at all surprised if her position on staying there begins to shift as well. She can see how the country feels about Iraq, and will capitalize on that.
Solution? Become the biggest wind. If she has no principles but takes her marching orders from whoever makes the most fuss, then make the most fuss. Become the wind.
Kathleen @ 84
Just sent them some money.
Have any Reps put forward any re start the draft legislation?
I’m outraged about the Cornyn amendment too, Jane, so thank you for giving us the space to share your outrage.
I noticed also what a rush job this was– and I bet I know why: They didn’t want to provide any time for the netroots to mobilize and pummel their Senators with e-mail and phone calls. No “due deliberation” here!
Ugh.
Bob in HI
LS @ 93
Thanks, LS, but I am more concerned that the MSM is not reporting this. I am for TRUTHFULL pre-emptive strikes against nuclear facilities, but the fact that it is not in the MSM, and Brian Williams and David Gregory are the only ones talking about it concerns me. Bush brushed off the question. Bombing Syria, unless reported otherwise, is going after Hezbollah in my book. Hezzbolah is Iran’s militant wing in that part of the Middle East. Nice little pretext developing.
i’m having these feelings, doctor. every time the senate has a critical vote, my cyclical depression degenerates to a near catatonic state.
what’s that, you say? it’s because i get my hopes up? quit reading blogs? and above all quit fantasizing about the dems making the repugs actually filibuster, or even sending the pres a war funding bill he doesn’t like? yes, doctor, i know that would be uncivil, partisan, immoderate. how childish of me. thank goodness our country is in the hands of thoughtful, mature, and responsible people like yourself, the davids, and the dick.
but doctor, may i please send a check to MoveON? please, please just a little one?
Well, I really can’t afford it, but I went ahead and sent MoveOn some money.
One thing I’m thankful for, my real Senator (Sherrod Brown) voted against censure.
$100 to MoveOn.
One rather pointed letter to DiFi. On the fence about an “attagirl” letter to BarBox.
Don’t know what else to do. Any suggestions?
jayt @ 91
I knew that had no chance at passing, sadly. Still too many Democrats happy with on going war.
peanutbutter @ 89
Heh. You might get more reaction with “What’s next? The Second Amendment?” If you’re going to poke them, poke them in their balls.
Jane at 85…. you are so classy.
Just donated to the NotOneCent campaign at ActBlue and bounced another bit to Moveon. It is depressing, but in the immortal words of Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr. “Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”
Dianne in DC @ 70
they both voted YES on the boxer amendment – which ALSO condemned moveon.
seriously, i got read a statement from kerry’s office explaining how he doesn’t think anyone who’s served in the military should be condemned [for lying to american people - doesn’t matter if it’s true or not]. actually made me cry.
One thing’s for sure. Hillary wants to be prez.
28-70, Feingold Amendment fails.
Late to the news, late to the thread, and shaking my head in disbelief.
Jane @ 86:
707!
For what it’s worth, my take on it is Hillary for President and a donation to Move On so they can do it again.
Art Clokey’s grandson likes to cut the end of his tongue with paper.
True story.
alwayslate @ 88
What else to join? ACLU and Sierra Club, for starters.
Jane Hamsher @ 86
I’m fine after the chemo. Thanks for asking.
Sorry, Jane, I didn’t mean to seem flip. My Dad went through extensive chemo and sometimes he used to get ‘intense’ over things that normally wouldn’t bother him. Like the time I once served him cauliflower. I had no idea it was the one thing in the world he really hated and he took it as a personal insult that I expected him to eat it. Of course, this vote may be more important than a disagreement over vegetables but it seemed pretty important to him at the time. I don’t know if it is typical behavior but your post did seem very familiar.
sunsin @ 119
Heh!
Jane Hamsher @ 86
Portia-I think it is really BAD NEWS that you would lay this on “chemicals.” I agree with Jane on this. Plus for me it just goes to show how DUMB too many of our Dems are to all themselves to get caught up in this. No way this should have come to the floor. No way should this have been framed as it was.
Levin-Reed Amendment to be debated this afternoon- voted upon tomorrow. – no more votes today.
Just sent this to my Senator (Webb):
“Senator Webb,
I am absolutely appalled that you voted to censure MoveOn. I contributed to your campaign in the hopes that you would have the backbone necessary to stand up to the Republican minority. Apparently, I was mistaken. I can assure you that I will no longer contribute to your campaign, or any other democratic campaign. I am ashamed of calling myself a member of a party that enables attacks on our First Amendment rights. The Democrats, my party, has allowed an unjustified war of atrocities and human rights violations. They have allowed the totalitarian-esque control of the population. They have allowed record deficits, the use of torture, the destruction of the free press, blatant lies and criminal actions from the administration, and numerous despicable affronts to our identity as a free nation. I am ashamed, Senator Webb. Isn’t it about time you listened to your constituency; no, the entire country? Do your part, please, or there will be nothing left of this once great nation to fight for.”
MoveOn should just ignore this bullshit utter waste of time by those in Congress who have obviously no other fucking idea what to do except to rename even more post offices and courthouses while our sons and daughters continue to get blown apart by roadside bombs in a country they have absolutely no business in.
MoveOn: PLEASE flood the market with ads like that.
SufiLizard @ 109
There is always hope. Just look at San Diego today. Did you hear about the mayor there? The problem is, we have lots more work to do. In the end, there is only one solution, voting the bastards out of office.
Here are the “no” votes (WTF is with Leahy?)
NAYs —25
Akaka (D-HI)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Levin (D-MI)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Murray (D-WA)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
Not Voting – 3
Biden (D-DE)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
I corrected the “The democrats, my party, HAVE ….” before I sent it!
Politicians cannot be trusted, but the military can? Smacks of a junta to me.
uniquely_tim @ 128
No way will I vote for Pro-war, pro-corporation, pro wal-mart, pro-Murdoch Hillary. She is being politically expedient on this one, but it makes n differenc.e
So does moveon.org get an official copy of the resolution? Because I’d totally bid for that on ebay. Of course, if I were the President of moveon.org, I’d want it framed and hung up in my office.
dov12348 @ 136
They gamed this out, seems like. Won’t be long, either.
I’ve a cousin serving in Fallujah. His mother, my aunt, thinks he’s in Kuwait; she doesn’t know that because the family is keeping it from her so she doesn’t worry. I’m sure there are thousands of similar stories to be told around the country.
I called up McConnel’s office and asked if he had just orchestrated his caucus to prevent the Webb amendment for military families like mine, in order to debate a newspaper ad. The poor staff girl just got tongue-tied. I asked her if the Senator thought military families were too stupid to see what he was doing. She gagged a little bit on that. I hope I brought down staffer morale just a little bit.
Remember, the Dems are spineless, but it’s the GOP who need to be fought more.
And just for the historical record of depraved and pitiless “public service” by this Congress:
The Feingold/Reid amendment now being voted on will require 60 votes (and therefore certain defeat – and in fact fell far short of even a majority) – again without a filibuster, as with the Webb amendment yesterday – because of another Unanimous Consent Request agreed to earlier today, by every single United States Senator.
Furthermore, when queried by John McCain today on the floor as to whether Carl Levin agreed that 60 votes for all remaining “Iraq-related amendments” to this Defense Authorization Bill should be required as part of their Unanimous Consent Requests as to time agreements for debate, etc. (again, in lieu of any actual filibuster), Levin promptly concurred that the “hope” – which Levin quickly corrected to the “expectation” – of the Senate Democrats was just as McCain suggested, to require 60 votes for passage for all Iraq-related bills.
All in the name of “disposing” as soon as possible of one of the only remaining pieces of serious leverage the Democrats have left to make a filibuster hurt, make a veto harder, and inconvenience everyone who wants to stand in the reflected “glory” of the pay raises, “wounded warrior” provisions, and general military largesse authorized by this bill, instead of using its obvious leverage to start ending our violent colonization and forced fragmentation of Iraq.
Carl Levin and Harry Reid can’t wait to accommodate John McCain and Mitch McConnell and Jeff Sessions by rushing this unencumbered-by-any-Iraq-amendment Military-Industrial-Complex-feeding bill into law.
Humanity to their fellow man, the plight of our volunteer Armed Forces desperate for relief, international law, the will of the American people, the Constitutional powers of the Legislative Branch, and the cries for mercy of the Iraqi citizens, all be damned.
Steve-AR @ 138
Dear Senator Obama,
Failing to vote was no better than voting “yes.” The only appropriate course of action was to vote “no.” You blew it, sir. We won’t forget.
selise @ 123
It seems mighty strange coming from someone who protested the Vietnam War. Seems to me that Petraeus is just a latter day Westmoreland. But maybe Sen. Kerry has forgotten about the generals, their lack of credibility and Vietnam. That was so then.
*sigh*
Well my stance has changed a little because of this issue. Hillary is still my VERY LAST choice for the Democratic primary, but now I think I will voter for her if she’s the nominee. I was going to vote third party rather than cast a vote for another Clinton.
Ironically she seems to be the only candidate with any cajones, and I like the comment about being the wind above (sunsis at 109)
Ms Rice, who yesterday met the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, said the US was trying to help both sides reach “common understanding”, but did not say whether the meeting would address the hardest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Care to comment first front runner for the Democratic nomination for president?
Get Tough @ 116
And who removed the “no Iran bombing” language from the legislation recently? Our own dual Isr*ael-US “citizen” Rahm Emmanuel. The Dem leadership is in bed with AIP*C and the military-industrial complex.
burnspbesq @ 146
Sanders AND Leahy!
Frank Probst @ 142
and a picture with the leader.
I have been a contributor to some of these Senators and to the presidential aspirants but no more. I will contribute to Move On, truth out, FDL, DFA, and those who are willing to go toe to toe.
I assume that most of us on this thread make contributions to the campaigns, If we all stop giving maybe they will get the message.
That Perry-funded Cornyn had the hypocrisy to propose this is sickening enough. That he will be wading in Bob Perry Swift Boat cash for his re-election adds to it. But for so many Dems to vote for it? For fuck’s sake. Webb, McCaskill and Klobuchar won’t face another election till 2012.
This vote will be used to beat MoveOn every time they do something from now till the election. Every Senator who voted for this amendment will be put on call to repudiate every subsequent campaign. Every story on MoveOn will lead with ‘condemned by the Senate’.
Let’s be honest: ever since YKos, the Senate Dem caucus has pissed on the heads of the netroots.
Well, fuck this shit. It’s learned helplessness, and I’ve reached the point at thinking that the Democrats in the World’s Greatest Self-Congratulatory Body actually enjoy being pwn3d by shitscrapes like Cornyn.
Professor Foland @ 144
Great work there Prof!
browncoat @ 133
Anybody believe me yet?
Is it me, or is 3.2 million people approximately one percent of this country’s population? That’s a pretty large interest group, right?
Is there an official version why D’s voted for this?
KO will be back tonight AND…with a Special Comment ; )
Anyone know offhand when Feinstein’s term runs out?
How many think President Clinton will work tirelessly for evenhanded peace in the Middle East?
Biodun @ 101
yes.
thomas doesn’t have the text of the boxer amendment posted yet (it will be here, i think), i am going off of what was said on the senate floor…. condemnation of moveon was explicitly stated. it usually takes a day or so before the congressional record is posted, so i can’t quote it to you yet.
here’s the statement of purpose of the boxer amendment (which already has been posted):
So, no good deed goes unpunished, does it? Thanks for all you do, Jane.
Frankly I think what this vote means in the end is more independence for Move-On to do what they do best, and add more heat to it. If the Dems condemn them for a straightforward and truthful ad, they will not do much worse for something which is really bold. Also, I think we can think much more seriously about moving outside the Democratic party to support candidates who will be more atuned to the wishes of voters.
selise @ 107
My bold. People who are still praising Hillary do not realize that she voted Yea one of those two times to condemn the MoveOn.org ad. People also miss the import of your 61. Obama also voted once to condemn MoveOn, and then left Dodge for the other one.
Cowards, spineless cowards all. There is no fight in these democrats. I’m as disgusted as I’ve ever been. Throw them out….throw them all out.
portia.vz @ 131
I do appreciate your concern, Portia. But I am fine.
Did they put the bill up to embarrass Feingold and Reid?
I disagreed with the moveon headline and I said so here more than once. I thought it was stupid high school bullshit. I just sent them $50.
pseudonymous in nc @ 155
What we need now are buttons and bumper-stickers that say “Proud Member of MoveOn.org” or something similar. I would wear that button with pride, right next to my old “Card-Carrying Member of the ACLU” and “McGovern/Shriver ‘72″ buttons.
Hugh @ 146
He didn’t forget. He asked Petraeus about Westmoreland at the hearings last week.
Will Move-on become our party?
Enough power and money and who knows
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 156
Yes and no. Depends on the nature of the group. I can point to plenty of 1-5% groups that are completely ignored.
snowbird42 @ 169
Russ, yes.
Harry needs no help there.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 150
This is typical Rice. She is talking about getting the sides together to talk about moving to talk about some of the issues. She has been doing this since she came to State and the result is what you would expect, nothing.
toby at 42-And I am stunned to see that Feingold voted for this amendment. He of all people should understand the role of the outlier.
==========
i think you confused feinstein with feingold.
My darlings! At last! Being condemned by the Bush administration! We’ve entered the Big Leagues!
Bring it on.
Go read Naomi and Naomi:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/…..57,00.html
http://www.democracynow.org/ar…..17/1411235
i’ve come to the conclusion that the deep divide isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, but between Washingtonians and the rest of the country. We have government by lobbyists for the big money interests, and until there is some kind of revolt out in the hinterland, it’s going to stay that way. I’m sure that in their heart of hearts, most of our Democratic part reps are with us; someone sent them a message. This happened with FISA, Habeas corpus, the Webb amendment and obviously and continuing the enforcing of Congressional subpoenas.
Two conjectures. The first is that the big money dominates and expects to dominate policy, which means a continuance of the disastrous group-think that is gutting this nation’s domestic and international security. The second is blackmail.
Take your choice. Or maybe both, as they are not mutually exclusive.
Dear Senator Obama,
Failing to vote was no better than voting “yes.” The only appropriate course of action was to vote “no.” You blew it, sir. We won’t forget.
The only donations I will make from now on are to FDL, Blue America, MoveOn, and any candidate FDL may endorse.
(And since Sherrod Brown IS voting the way I would, he’ll get some money from me the next time he has to campaign.)
portia.vz @ 131:
I don’t see how Jane’s post above is different from what she’s been posting since I started coming to the Lake (since June 2006).
Kathleen @ 74
Good one, Kathleen! I think you’re right. But I think an ‘independent’ like Bloomberg might run on an ‘impeach them all’ ticket, and maybe win.
SufiLizard @ 109
so long as jane sees so clearly – right through the bullshit. and so long as she’s writing about it and calling them on their BS…. i have hope. we’re not alone here.
Money talks. I just sent $25 to MoveOn. Not anything that will make or break them, but I wanted to send a tangible message of support.
burnspbesq @ 171
Yep, I’m hoping to find a teeshirt that says, “I’m proud to be a member of MoveOn.org” on one side and something appropriately snarky or offensive on the other side.
How long did it take Bush to condemn the Swiftboaters? He never did.
Why didn’t Cheney ever apologize for saying that the insurgency is in its last throws?
P.S. to vz at 131
MY Dad went thru chemo, and was fine. Your Dad was probably upset that, after all the years of being “so close” to him, you didn’t even know he hated califlower!
raven @ 169
Really? Really? Such an obvious thing. What if it said “General Petraeus Will You Betray Us?” Does that make it more acceptable? As I said earlier, the actual ad (PDF) is so normal it doesn’t deserve any of this attention.
What really gets to people, I think, is that the ad is damned effective in delivering a message. The stickiness of rhyming “Petraeus” and “betray us” is powerful, which is why the GOP got so worked up. They are masters of emotional manipulation through language, after all, and recognized stellar work product. It’s called effective advertising.
183
Goddamit, Noriega is on the Act Blue site that is linked to Blue America. This shit needs to be straightened out!
Bush may be the foolish, stuttering Emperor Claudias Reborn. But Bush would not be able to do what he does unless our Senate was as weak and as corrupt as the Roman Senate was!
pow wow @ 145
As a reminder, the agreement to the unanimous consent decree is why there could be no filibuster of the MCA last year. And also why there was no actual filibuster involved with the GOP blocking Webb amendment.
The UCD’s are agreed to long before the actual legislative vote-struggling counts. A single Senator can shut it down. But Dem senators aren’t doing so. We’re losing these fights before they even start.
I spent about an hour tussling with Kerry and Kennedy’s offices this morning, trying to get them to admit that they did not object. (The first four or five in each office had no idea what a UCD was; finally I’d get to someone who did, who’d try to explain cloture to me until the point where I asked if the Senator objected to the UCD–where they generally said something like “well, there is some interpretation in that”. No, there’s not. They objected and the objection was stripped from the record, or else, they didn’t object. It was, of course, the latter.)
Ask your Senators to object to unanimous consent decrees that allow Republicans to block legislation without actually filibustering.
(Or, as I said to them: “If the Republicans are willing to lay down on the tracks to protect this unpopular president and this unpopular war, why aren’t you guys willing to run the train over them?”)
Mike Stark said it best at the Yearly Kos.
“Democrats DO NOT SUPPORT their activists.” !!!!!
siri@legtigov.org
http://www.legitgov.org
Does anyone know if Reid had the power to stop this from even being presented?
Biodun @ 166
Actually that makes me feel a little better about Obama and a little less so about Hillary.
For the Democrats NOT to filibuster (oh, yeah, no one uses that word now that it’s the GOP tool of choice) is sad, pathetic, weak, and cowardly. But to actually vote for this is patently insane.
So men and women in uniform don’t deserve time at home, but Patreus deserves to be shielded from ads as long as Cheney’s hand is so far up his ass you can see his fingers wiggling every time he opens his mouth.
It’s moves like this that has Congressional approval so low. Reid is a coward or a fool, I’m not sure which.
puppethead @ 191
It’s what I think. I don’t care what you think (I mean I care but it doesn’t change my mind) or what moveon thinks but I’ll support them in this. What do you want me to do, lie and asy I don’t think it was stupid?
carmen @ 172
Which makes it all the more egregious.
So let’s see how many times have the Democrats caved to the Republicans?
The first Iraq resolutions
Lieberman’s Iran amendment
The Iraq war supplemental
Removing language for congressional approval before an attack on Iran from it
FISA
MoveOn
The lack of enforcing filibusters
Contempt citations
There are probably many more.
Is it really fair to criticize John Edwards for a remark that his wife made? As far as I can tell, Edwards has made it quite clear that Elizabeth has her own opinions and that he and she don’t always see eye to eye (think gay marriage: she openly supports, he’s only comfortable with civil unions).
And Rove is retired, right? The Republicans betrayed our troops yesterday and the attention is on the Moveon ad. Maybe retired, but not gone.
I’m reminded of the old Problem of Evil, and Epicurius can be applied here:
The folks at MoveOn are merely taking full advantage of the opportunities afforded them by the Senate today. http://pol.moveon.org/fightback/
“The U.S. Senate just told you to sit down and be quiet. They passed a resolution condemning MoveOn.org and it has one purpose: to intimidate all of us who care about responsibly ending this war. They wanted to send a message that anyone who speaks unpleasant truths about this war will pay. To make everyone–especially politicians–think twice before they accuse the administration of lying.”
I just signed the petition.
J.R. @ 187
I sent a chunk last week. I bet they are doing well by this. Excellent!
My mom had a motto “*uck em all and leave six for pallbearers” my feelings about today’s vote exactly. What a bunch of ussypays.
Does anyone know if MoveOn even has bumper stickers, buttons or T-Shirts?
I looked at their website, but couldn’t find any…
raven @ 157
yes. you convinced me to change my mind some time ago.
I just joined MoveOn and donated $25. I suggested they run their ad in USA today.
grayslady @ 200
Yes it is appropriate unless he said something to contradict her. She and he disagreed on gay marriage. Did he say anything to contradict her here? If not, then he supports what she said.
I’m done. I’m no longer a democrat and I will never vote for a democrat again (and I have never voted for a republican). But I will vote. I just contacted Leahy’s office to express my opinion and to remove my name from his mailing list. My Senator, Bayh, tends to vote more like a republican than a democrat, but he has surprised me a few times. Not today. So, I’m done. The monies I have to contribute for political and progressive purposes will go to moveon and to this blog as I can.
So our dollar is tanking, our president is seriously out of touch, and all this stupid congress can do is take swipes at the first amendment – and for some of them, bite those that have supported them. To hell with them.
I may get over this, but I don’t think so.
raven @ 198:
707!
As in: Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. We’re still talking about the First Amendment. Excellent example of simulacrum.
toby martin @ 42,
Feingold voted against this.
http://www.senate.gov/legislat…..vote=00344
Oklahoma kiddo @ 162
707
raven @ 197
I’m just surprised so many people are worked up by it. But as I said, it’s good advertising and getting people such as yourself annoyed by it shows it’s effective. It means more people are likely to talk about it. I’d say dollar-for-dollar it’s probably one of the smartest things MoveOn’s ever done.
Biodun @ 211
What’s that, infant formula?
carmen @ 172
he’s allowed to do it.
we’re supposed to be quiet and not get uppity.
Hugh @ 176
Can we stop the pretense that any Secretary of State in this administration, much less Rice, is the one making any decisions? When Cheney and Co. haven’t ignored them, they’ve publicly humiliated and mocked them, ever since Powell’s 2002 shuttle diplomacy during Israel’s invasion of the West Bank.
Siegman piece is good on our supposed diplomacy piece in these matters: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n16/sieg01_.html
Diane @ 205
That sums up my mood exactly. And I really like that saying.
Ok, now I’m going outside and taking out my bad mood on my yard. Lots of dead wood and overgrown crap to be removed.
Rep. Peter King “Too many mosques in this country”
http://www.informationclearing…..e18421.htm
Just sent you $100 via paypal Jane, and $100 to moveon.
We’re making progress, but goddam it’s painful sometimes.
sometimes even the bombast of Emerson, Lake and Palmer make sense:
Prof Foland @ 194
Highball!!
(which, for people who haven’t been around trains, is equivalent to ‘Let ‘er roll!’)
I wonder if the Democrats by failing constantly are trying to make voters uninterested in politics again? Are they trying to convince us that voting is useless because even if your guy wins running on your issue, he will change his mind as soon as he gets into office?
So the Senate thinks it’s OK for Bush to wrap himself up in the flag and stand behind his sockpuppet general? And we are not supposed to notice or criticize it because do-nothing Senators think that would be rude? Personally, I find keeping soldiers in a quagmire where they can get killed or terribly mutilated for no good reason is also rather rude, but that’s just me.
Signed the petition and kicked in $25. Was hoping for more of a cathartic kick.
puppethead @ 214
The Senate Dems couldn’t even treat a bullshit amendment by a bullshit senator with the contempt it deserved. Comity prevents them from noting just how much money Cornyn has taken from the Swift Boat smear merchant funder.
I wouldn’t have minded if none of the caucus had voted, or voted ‘present’. Shit like that doesn’t deserve a vote. But Reid and Durbin apparently can’t even herd the cats to do that.
And now it makes one of the dumbest, slimiest members of that august body look clever. That really pisses me off. If it had been Saint John McCain proposing it, it would have stung less. But coming from yet another fucking chickenhawk dumbfuck self-satisfied pontificating GOP shitstain actually hurts.
America’s Hegemonic Status Slipping Away
By Paul Craig Roberts
09/19/07
http://www.informationclearing…..e18424.htm
Bush’s wars are about American hegemony, not oil. The oil companies did not write the neoconservatives’ “Project for a New American Century,” which calls for US/Israeli hegemony over the entire Middle East, a hegemony that would conveniently remove obstacles to Israeli territorial expansion.
Just sent $50 to MoveOn.
Hugh @ 224
Bush will probably put on a Generals uniform with a bunch of medals on it next!
I’m not voting next year. I cannot in good conscience vote for this Democratic party which has proven itself unfit to defend the constitution. They’re just like the Repuglicans, only different. I mean it. We all voted last November for change, and nothing – NOTHING – has happened. The Democrats have ENABLED Bush. Even the new guys, Webb, Tester, have failed us (Webb voted for the atrocious FISA bill last month). I can’t support this party. I just can’t.
It’s amazing – the Democrats have proved Nader right. There really is no difference between the two parties.
TheOtherWA @ 218
Bush’s theme throughout his speech today was that the Democrats were afraid: afraid of standing up to the “far left”; afraid of combating terrorists; afraid of their shadows…and the democrats fell for it. It probably is uncouth to refer to your blogger handle, but my handle is what it is because of votes like this. Moderates on both side of the aisle, and I am one of them, will take democrats seriously. Stand up and fight the good fight for your supporters. Pathetic.
P J Evans @ 222
can I get the eponymous cocktail to go with that?
Kathleen @ 219
Me: too many puffed-up former IRA sympathisers in the House of Representatives.
Called Casey & told staff I was disgusted by the fact that his vote played into the theatrics of Cornyn’s amendment, what an embarrassment.
Knut Wicksell @ 181
We’ve seen a lot of stupefaction at the fact that Republicans will “follow Bush over the cliff” and will even give up their seats for him. I think money explains it all: the holding of office is a temp job, a degrading one at that — it’s the sinecure that comes after that counts.
burnspbesq @ 130
I agree. I stopped donating to political candidates (used to donate to Emily’s List) — now it’s mostly Move-On, for their dogged, “poke them in the ribs with a stick” guerilla theater, and the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Two groups that are trying to hold back the tide of fascism and the continued assault on women. I also donate to church, work (volunteer) in a food pantry/food bank, and make private anonymous donations to people who I know need a little “help”. I am not wealthy — far from it, but I try to vote with a little cash from time to time because for change to come, it must come from the ground up. That would be us. The top down model is crumbling and corrupt. Maybe “David and Goliath” is a true story after all…
retirin’ in five @ 225
Me too. I think Move On will show a demonstrable spike in membership. They will also be viewed as prophets in six months.
The Democrats on Thursday failed to pass their resolution. It included a condemnation of the “unwarranted personal attack” on Petraeus, but also condemned “personal attacks” that happened in 2002 against then-Democratic Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia and attacks in 2004 against Sen. John Kerry. The vote was 51-46, but 60 votes were needed to proceed.
Precisely, Professor Foland @ 194. Thank you for calling them out on this feint.
Momentarily in the Senate, I imagine, the next round of UCs will be offered, without objection, which may pre-determine the outcome for all remaining Iraq amendments to be offered on this FY 2008 defense policy bill (with votes apparently to be held tomorrow).
[Solai @ 196 - Again, one Senator could’ve objected. Cornyn asked for unanimous consent to bring up his amendment - in addition, Harry Reid (with the co-manager of the bill on the floor, which is Carl Levin in this case) has the ability to stop things in their tracks, if he so chooses and will enforce party discipline. Dick Durbin actually objected long enough when Cornyn asked for UC yesterday to point out that the Democrats - contrary to usual practice - had not even received a copy of Cornyn’s proposed amendment before he brought it up on the floor with his UC request (which Durbin then allowed to proceed unhindered.]
They way I look at this, Move-On and the progressives now have a list of 25 Senators to target in the Primaries.
Hugh @ 224
You are awesome, dude. You do good work.
Looks to me like Move-on is going to get a nice return on it’s original outlay.
That deluge may not be “apres”, after all.
http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/
This will end the war sooner than the Democrats.
What is disspiriting about the Democrats is that no matter how many times they get played by the Republicans they are always ready to be played again. The Republicans are the party of Lucy and the football and the Democrats remain very much the sore *ssed Charlie Brown.
Kathleen @ 227
Why are we losing if all these smart NeoCon guys planned this war for so long. I’m thinking that Americans would not care about this war or losing their civil liberties if we were winning the war.
Maybe I doubt human nature to much but I fear that the only thing stopping us from being Nazi Germany is that Bush is losing while Hitler won his wars.
If I were making a list of reasons to vote for HRC, this would certainly be on it.
I gave $25 to MoveOn.oeg – one dollar for every apineless, cowardly Democrat who voted to gut the First Amendment with the Cornyn Amendment. I know it’s a lot more than those shitstains are worth, but I thought it made a nice symbolic statement.
**Sinking back into lurkerdom…**
pow wow @ 239
Yep. The perfect chance to not get bullied, and he fainted dead away.
Just got e-mails from Kennedy and McMahon (DNC), wantign money/support. Unsubscribed instead, and gave them this as the reason (thank, Prof Foland, for that wonderful imagery!):
J.R. @ 187
I also. sent them $25 just now. I hope they get a big surge in donations for this GOP hackery.
Michael @ 155
I just gave a bit to MoveOn.
Ain’t it grand to have the majority in the House and the Senate? grrr….
Diane @ 234
What did his staff say?
raven @ 192
My understanding is that Act Blue is the clearinghouse for Dem candidates and is not in any way controllable by the folks here. The umbrella represented here is Blue America.
Of course, as always, I may be an id10t.
Hugh @ 244
We’re Charlie Brown. The Democrats are Lucy.
Say it again and say it loud!
People got to find out that Obama is a spineless wonder before the ill informed Oprah watchers put this blow-light into the white house.
Hugh @ 244
That is profound on so many different levels.
Move On needs to awaken Cornyn’s constituents about what he is doing against the military. I don’t think they have any idea.
Brisingamen @ 206
Mr. L got one as a gift about three years ago. MoveOn logo, says “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”
He’s been wearing it a lot this past couple of weeks.
So they *did* exist, don’t know where to get one now.
Forgive me if I missed it, but is there a link to the vote record?
I called Cornyn’s office and expressed my disappointment–the young man was very polite, and took my zip code, said he would pass it on to the Senator.
NOw, I need to call Hutchison, and I’m pretty sure of how she voted, but I’d like to confirm before I speak. I may have skimmed too fast, but don’t see a link, and I need to go back out pretty quick.
From Jane – “I’m fine after the chemo. Thanks for asking.”
That’s great. I’m always a little afraid to ask…
dakine01 @ 253
I think you are right but what the hell are we supposed to do?
thingscomeundone @245:
Um….
Uh, George W. Bush actually DID wear the uniform- he was a commissioned officer in the Air National Guard flying F-104 Starfighters..
tejanarusa @ 259
Also, this was just a bullshit deal, I mean it wasn’t any kind of law or anything, right?
Gee, sure glad I wasted time and $$ calling Feinstein today. She doesn’t listen. She needs to go.
tam1MI @ 247
Just as someone wrote “You can never go home again” nor can one ever de-lurk again. Welcome from another MI-gander.
Please bear with me while I empty some of the chaff floating around in my reptilian brain.
AND, feel free to pick it to pieces.
MoveOn has always been edgy. It is strong, high-profile, well financed, and in-your-face aggressive.
plus
(in no particular order)
1)Congresscritters (Cc.)have an inate terror of being cornered by any one segment of their constituency.
2)Cc. normally have big egos, and quite commonly are vain creatures.
3)Cc. are touchy & sensitive.
4)Cc. are likely to be highly conscious of their all-important image, thus constantly juggling the balance tw’ how they are perceived by their constituency versus what they actually accomplish in office.
5)Cc., much as they say they seek your input, nevertheless DETEST being told what they must do. (In their minds, they were elected to act in your behalf, not do your bidding. Big Difference.)
6)Cc. fear/anger is triggered at light-speed by any concerted effort to embarrass or mock them, or expose any perceived weakness to public scrutiny.
7)Cc., if they see a colleague or other high-profile person humiliated in public, are likely to have at least a twinge of reaction closely related to that described in #6.
8)Cc. tend to become acclimated to, and appreciate the various perks of holding office.
9)Cc. like to be comfortable.
equals
We are surprised at the vote to smack MoveOn upside the ad-hoc? Really???
*adjusts brim on foil hat*
They’re only human.
All the more reason to thank those who are open minded and truly doing the people’s business day in and day out. – ahem – issue by issue… no blanket pardons…
tam1MI @ 247
Good on ya tam1MI. But now that you’re out, please stick around and join the fun at the lake. The discussions can get a little heated at times but different views are most always welcome.
JAF @ 262
You’re not going to pretend that he legitimately served, are you?
Yep – only heard the back end of it, but another Unanimous Consent Request has just passed the Senate – and under it the Levin/Reed amendment is next up for debate, with the vote tomorrow requiring, I assume, another 60-vote threshold for passage, that won’t be met.
But that’s okay – the Senators won’t have to interrupt their weekend plans, so all’s right with the world – right?
Buck up people. I can’t believe I just heard Norah McDonnell of MSNBC say that she thinks the Senate should be debating more important things than the MoveOn ad. To paraphrase, she said
– I’m just putting my two cents in here but, the Senate should be debating policies that will help our troops, not some ad. -
Yes, the vote was idiotic and hurtful, but it will not stop us from discussing how General Betrayus is a political tool. IN fact – I agree that this faux Republican outrage will backfire.
What ticks me off is – why couldn’t the Dems block this?
Excuse me while I go visit the moveon.org site to donate some $$$ money…
I just wrote a huge f*cking check to MoveOn.Org and a nice little letter to Edwards, letting him know what a craven little coward he is and he won’t be getting my vote (or my money) after all.
Punk.
Should have said re-lurk methinks upon further reflection.
Sally @ 257
See my post at 259.
Plenty of us know, but too many just don’t care.
JAF @ 263
Prove it.
retirin’ in five @ 273
We need your voice of sanity up-in-here.
Why do some on here keep saying that “the troops called him Betrayus first?” I am one of his troops- and I have NEVER heard that before the Moveon ad.
Could some of you post a link to where other military personnel called their Corps commander a traitor? Thanks..
IrishJim @ 275
And no funny Air Force comments!
tejanarusa @ 259
boxer amendment: S.Amdt. 2947
cornyn amendment: S.Amdt. 2934
One thing is for sure: the Repunks and the Democrats who love them just made MoveOn a whole lot richer and a whole lot MORE militant and loudmouthed.
It just shows that we need to take a firehose to DC – the sooner, the better.
Remember, there aren’t enough tazers to shut us all up.
thanks Jane for giving us a place to vent about this insult to the 1st amendment, the 3.5 million MoveOn.org members and countless millions who want this freakin’ war to end.
This thing blew up faster than the thunderstorm that woke me up before dawn, bringing in the first true chilly September morning in the Sangres.
(I went off on a long rant here, which I cut)…
I’m beginning to look at Chris Dodd as a candidate to support in the primary, he seems to have a grasp on some fundamentals about our Constitution (and this bloody war) that some of the front-runners lack.
Sen. Clinton does get a ‘thumbs-up’ from me today.
I’m mostly disgusted, ticked off, and wanting to go kick somebody in the shins really hard. Instead, I’m going to print out the list of Senators who voted for this insult, and think very hard if I want to ever give them money or advocate for their re-election, let alone give them my vote, ever again. Then I’m going to re-arrange the budget so I can increase the contributions I make to Blue AmericaPAC and a few other PACs and candidates I can trust. Sure hope some innocent telemarketer for the DSCC doesn’t call me anytime soon.
Radhika @ 14
I’m EPU’d, but this is a great idea. I used to own a retail store. It’s a good thing to shop where you may know something about the owners and where they’re spending the money they earn when you shop with them.
Here’s an idea, and I’m happy to participate on my blog — there are people who have no idea what kind of shopping treasures abound in their area. Even just a few words about a business (www.annabellehandbags.com, for instance,) can steer someone who’d like to buy a gift to a merchant who’s more than happy to help them do that.
You’ll also have the great benefit of knowing that the toys you’re purchasing aren’t painted with lead-based paint, for one teeny-tiny little example.
-S
IrishJim @ 275
Photo-ops don’t count. And if you can prove it, send the proof to CBS–they will need it in their suit against a real patriot, Dan Rather.
JAF @ 263
Bush flew F 102s for TANG. Before he lost his flight status and went AWOL.
retirin’ in five @ 273
experiencing some real irk today.
the fixin’ doesn’t start with the elimination of republicans. That is necessary, but mostly just to stop digging at the bottom of the hole. To really start fixing things requires half the democrats to also be gone, starting with Pelosi and Reid.
.
Is there anyone here who got a physical mailing address out of MoveOn vs. donating on-line?
If so, I’d like to have it, please.
From Time
Wac–they don’t publish it on line. You have to go to the MoveOn site and click around til you find the link that will get an e-mail from them to you with the addy.
Here’s what John Cornyn said when Dick Durbin asked him if he would amend his little resolution to include the Swift Boat Liars – funded by Texans Bob Perry and T. Boone Pickens:
“I am not willing to amend my resolution … He [Durbin] keeps emphasizing that this [Swift Boat Veterans] is a Texas based group… I have no idea whether it is or it is not …”
Lies. John Cornyn knows exactly who Bob Perry is. In fact, he took $5900.00 in campaign donations from old Bob just this last March.
PROOF
selise @ 279
punaise @ 283
Getting jerked about by Congress will do that to ya.
This video was posted in January 07, I don’t know if that is when it was made, but watch it (Petraeus Betrayus):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G5EZlSnJnU
And Cornyn’s SOOO proud of what he accomplished that it’s plastered all over the front page of his offishul(intentionally misspelled) web page. Not gonna link to that weasel’s page and give him any more than my one hit.
I was wavering about whether or not to get involved in Noriega’s campaign. I’m not wavering any longer. Cornyn has GOT to go.
blogslut @ 290
Don’t forget FDL darling Rick Noriega, he’s on the take from this pig too.
Just tuning in after out doing errands.
MoveOn just got $100. from me. I haven’t given to them in a long time but this just sent me over the edge. And as for pols asking for money—they will have to pass doner tests from me from now on. They have to vote the right way or no money. period.
raven @ 198
Whether we think it stupid or not, they have a voice, and at least you have the right idea, unlike our democratic brethren behind the beltway you see the wisdom in helping them get their freak on so to speak. The voices that we have on our side of the fence need to be nurtured to full bloom, and the louder we are the better. Our country will still be here after the likes of people like cornyn and the rest of the imbeciles are gone, and it is worth every effort we expend to set it right.
Maybe I am speaking out of turn but I think it is so obvious that what you just did in sending them money was essentially contributing to the greater good and I wish that our elected punks would exhibit those same qualities.
New Jane thread upstairs!
I have never disrespected a group of people more. As much as I deplore the GOP, I am not sure I can bring myself to vote for anyone of these cowards anymore. They act like a bunch of abused wives that keep going back for more. We vote for them because we want to believe they will represent us, but they never do. So, in turn, we become the abused wives. When are we going to say, “enough,” take our lumps and build a new party from the ground up? How about a party called the Americans, where we actually elect people that represent the interests of Americans.
Regarding Edwards – We have 2 possibilities here. Either, as Jane says in her post, John Edwards tells his wife what to say so his campaign doesn’t have to make tough decisions (he’s against gay marriage and she’s for it, he’s mum on Moveon’s ad but she condemns it) OR he’s actually not a sexist and she speaks her own mind, which would be a wonderful new direction in the world of American politics, wouldn’t it? As disheartened as I am after the last few days/months/years, as disheartened as I was after years of protest over Viet Nam, I still have to have hope so I really, really hope Elizabeth Edwards simply speaks her own mind and not solely the mind of the Edwards campaign.
hackworth @ 234
It’s like in Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court where such simple knowledge to the protagonist seems “magical” to the people of the Middle Ages.
Washington insiders keep gasping, “who could have predicted.” While We The People stay so far out in front we can barely see them from here.
IrishJim @ 275
Funny thing about Dan Rather’s lawsuit against CBS et alia surfacing just now. I’ve got the craziest feeling, that Mr. Rather’s got the original documents that show that the Criminal-in-Chief did desert his ANG unit up his sleeve.
I’m told Mr. Rather is a very good p*ker player…
~~~ModNote: Edited for content to clear filters.~~~
A couple of weeks from now I will be going to the polls along with my neighbors to elect a provincial government. I will have the opportunity in my riding to vote for one of seven candidates, from the Family Coalition Party to the Communist Party of Canada (Ontario). This is normal not only in Canada and Europe, but it used to be normal in the United States. The lack of breadth in your political dialogue astonishes me. I can see here how it works – some other group dares to rear its head and the Repulicrat party wields the sword of disapproval to beat it back into silence. Those of you who believe in democracy and freedom of speech must defend these brave souls who dare confront the political monolith. Stand up for Moveon by sending them money, joining their cause, or at least writing your local press. I see no reason to write the Cretins in the Senate who passed this thoughtless bill.
I will vote on October 10th for a Soc*alist candidate (NDP) who is the incumbent in my riding. I have that choice, and I believe his work as an MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament) has earned him the right to continue representing me. His party has little chance this election of forming the Government, but his dissident voice is needed in office.
You will not have such a wide choice, and from the perspective of the rest of the world, your choice is growing ever narrower. Is it a democracy if you can vote, but there is only one party?
~~~ModNote: Edited for content to clear filters.~~~
IrishJim @ 275
Thank you. First time I laughed today.
Badwater @ 269
He flew the F-102 Delta Dagger. Service? Who knows what he really did.
Get Tough @ 256
I mentioned this earlier upthread, but why is it so improbable to think that many of the Dems are there specifically to undermine the Party from within? Up until last last year, Holy Joe LieberME! was still considered a Dem “leader” (and still is in some media reports), but isn’t it clear that advancing a Liberal agenda is the last thing on his mind?
I think there are several others, many in “leadership” positions since they’ve been hanging around so many years.
I remember first thinking this during the 90s with Clinton and friends, where they are purposely throwing enough bones to us Liberals, the majority of the electorate, to pacify enough so that we keep voting them in. It’s all about making sure the 50s and 60s upheavals don’t happen again.
The last few years has made me believe this even more, and when you look at the last couple of days, I’m almost convinced now.
So wonder no more why they seem so spineless.
Ruby Tuesday @ 281
You are right–I’ve been too busy to get on line since Tue., and just found out about it – too late to do anything but complain about what was already done. Not that Cornyn would have withdrawn his amendment because of one measly constituent. And Lord knows, I never have voted for him.
What you said, Ruby Tuesday!
… is there anything left to say?
Time to get some challengers up for the next election for EVERY Senator, ‘Democrat’ or otherwise
JAF @ 263
Flying them where? To the local bar?
I want to split the save Israel group from the GOP we need to point out that the NeoCons plan is actually making Israel less safe. Their Bismackian real politics without morality is counter productive and ignores the danger of Osama running free in Pakistan.
Military aid to corrupt Pakistan only fans the Al Quieda and legitamete resitance to our puppet there by throwing them both together against our puppet.
Supporting corrupt regimes in the middle east only only strengthens Al Quieda by making there resitance the alternative.
When democracy fails people turn to fundementalist religions read Persepolis to see what happened in Iran under the CIA supported Shah. Bush is repeating that mistake all over the middle east.
pow wow @ 270
Is this the amendment that Levin said (yesterday? day before?)he’d be willing to make NON-BINDING if that would help it pass?
AZ Matt @ 303
Uh. I think he leaned on a jet once. Didn’t he strike a pose too, squinting John Wayne-ish and put his foot up on the wheel ur sumthin’.
pk @ 306
please rethink the baby-out-with-the-bathwater approach. Are you saying you want Feingold out? etc.
raven @ 295
I am not happy about Mr. Noriega taking money from Bob Perry. I would hope that he would return the money and hold a big press conference telling the people why. Just the same, I would rather vote for Noriega than Watts and I most certainly would rather vote for either DEM over lying John Cornyn.
How dare that man lie on the Senate floor about SBVT? He knows very well who was behind that smear campaign.
Waccamaw @ 287Is there anyone here who got a physical mailing address out of MoveOn vs. donating on-line?
If so, I’d like to have it, please.
Here is a link to donate by Check which will generate a form to print along with mailing instructions:MoveOn Link
portia.vz @ 131
Portia, can you please just stop? You’re digging a deeper whole with every additional post you make. It’s just uncalled for to bring Jane’s illness into this.
Just. Stop. Please.
tejanarusa @ 274, Creepy Cornyn was recently on TV taking a bow for helping the wounded military and their families with something like the Fisher House. I “remoted” him so missed most of it but fumed, “Thanks to you, we’ll need a lot more places like that.”
Radhika @ 14
Glad you asked. The Dems, for whatever reason, will not stand up for anything. That’s been proven again and again. No point beating a dead horse. The question we should be discussing is what, if anything, can we do.
Unfortunately I am technologically challenged so I can’t do this myself. My town’s (Fairfield,CT) check books are on excel. They will give me a copy. How about a web site we call COPE (Citizen Oversight of Public Expenditure) to publish the check books on line. There would be a place for chat, comparison with other towns across the state and nation, and whatever aspect of politics interests anyone. The web site template would be available for other towns. The same template has the advantage of no learning curve. If you can around one, you get around them all.
If enough towns get involved, the sites can be turned into a network. It also would provide local organizations to field local as well as national candidates. The sites can be leveraged into anything people want them to be. I doubt there’s time for 2008, but we can have something going by say 2010.
We need to use the internet to organize in a meaningful way across the country. I’m open to other ideas, but I think you may agree blogs can’t do it. They preach to the choir. We need something that involves lots more people who we perhaps can persuade to join us in trying something new.
bg @ 289
Know that……….was hoping someone planned to write a check and thus got such an e-mail which contained an address.
the democrats in DC have proved themselves to be backstabbers and opportunists. I’m not giving them money ever again. I will not knock on one single door.
state democrats, yes. national dems. no way.
fuck ‘em
Where was the closure vote when it was needed.Guess just a Republician tool dems can’t figure out how to use.The only way out I see is Gore runs as a Green Grabs 34% of the vote and finally a adult in charge.I can still dream can’t I..
Dear Senator Reid, (just sent)
Insult to injury. Insult to injury. My contribution to the Dems now goes to Move On. I can barely express my outrage at how poorly managed the Senate is. The Republicans are filibustering endlessly and pay no price – why is that? Are your messaging skills still as weak as ever?
Our circus ploy falls flat on its face – so it’s OK to call John Kerry a liar who fabricated his wounds. OK for Ann Coulter to slander 9/11 widows. OK for Republican hate speech to fill the airwaves.
And we get a motion against an honest hard-hitting ad. Petrayus dis betray us. He bent facts like pretzels to continue to justify this disaster. And wow did you guys take him on! Wow did those votes blow away the electorate and the media (who no longer calls out the filibustering since your message control is SO LOUSY).
As an opposition I’d say your party is failing. Watch your polls sink even further until someone finally wakes up to the fact that the country has had it with Washington.
Well, end of rant. See you in Tehran…
So it’s “Be Polite to Generals Week”?
What a buncha stupid shit—let’s have a vote on bein polite to cops and little old Ladies too..
These fuckers don’t have enough to do.
Dems aren’t going to get a damn thing passed that limits the duration or troop commitment to the war…Wish they’d just quit- tryin to prove that they’re “STILL TRYING” is getting tedious- the votes aren’t there- they won’t be there- let’s “move on”.
I can appreciate that the armed forces have a difficult duty, but they sure as heck don’t get a pass on being corrupt or immoral in my book if they act in such a manner just because of their prior service. I don’t like this trend I’m seeing lately of overglorification of the military. I’ve even heard things like “fulfilling their sacred duty”…it could be patriotic in certain circumstances, but it is NOT SACRED to go into impoverished countries with big guns and kill brown people in an unjust war (something our country seems to be making a habit of).
selise @ 123
The amendment was worded in a way to take any Senator to the cleaners for being unpatriotic in some fashion….
To express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.
Vote
I think the “on the honor and integrity of…all members of the United States Armed Forces.”
SInce Kerry was a member of the armed forces… This was in some ways a vote against swiftboating for him, I would suspect…
Nonetheless, last I checked, I elected my officials and they took an oath to protect, preserve and uphold the Constitution. To pass an amendment against the words from an organization of citizens and their opinion piece published is a failure of each “no vote” Senator’s oath of office. A waste of time and resources as well. MoveOn go to it. It your time to bleed free speech. More NYT full page ads please!
So, what can we do now? The Dems are chickenpoops and don’t want to listen to concerned citizens that happen to think quite enough people have died in this Iraq fiasco. How can we get through to them? How can they just blow us off like that? Can we ignore them? I am so disgusted by the behavior of these lame Dems; getting more and more cynical by the second. Beginning to understand friends of mine that say that’s why they don’t bother to vote any more. What can we do????
Biodun @ 21
As am I. Called Sen Obama’s office and got some lame BS from a staffer that he “couldn’t vote against the resolution because he was late for a meeting.”
I promptly sent an e-mail in response to Obama’s latest solicitation for a campaign contribution to let him know that this latest act of cowardice was the last straw for me. Cross me off his list of supporters.
brendancalling @
P.S. I’m with brendancalling: fuck’em.
320
Mellifluous @ 180
The democracynow.org Klein excerpt gave me shivers like I haven’t experienced since I first read the PNAC manifesto. Ignore at our peril?
Biodun @ 184
yers,i gave a curious side ways look.
Look, I know I tend to drop by the party late if at all, and drop a bunch of f-bombs, but hey, I have to say what has to be said:
Dear Seventy-two Senators, especially the ones who make up about half of the Democratic caucus:
You. Stupid. Gutless. Troop-killing. Bush-enabling. Motherfuckers.
You’re lucky you’re not in a bathroom stall next to David Petraeus, or you’d get busted for trying to blow him, and he’d get kicked out of the military for being the subject of some DADT-related rumors.
Thankfully, that’s not the case, and he’s got a green light to continue lying for Bush, and you’ve got a green light to keep letting him and Bush fuck everything up.
Jane(s) don’t be foolish!!!
Three liberal Supreme Court Justices are set to retire. This election is TOO DAMN IMPORTANT to back a polarizing ‘brood’ mare or Obama, the unknown horse.
THINK SMART!
Bill Richardson is the only horse in this race that can save those three liberal seats, perhaps fill more to save Roe v Wade; AND, he bring our troops home (H and O won’t).
Come on, ladies, be REAL Paula Reveres here! See the light, and spread the e-word!
The other Bill (Richardson) is who we all need to place our bets on to WIN!
Defamation of character is wrong. But that the Republicans who supported this amendment could not come up with a fair division between free speech and defamation of character was enough reason not to vote for it.
freakin insane and stinkin wrong. yet these traitors applaud and support such know liars, bigots, murders and haters of Democracy as Bush, Cheney, Anne Coulter, Bill o’Riley, Rush Limburg, etc….
all Move On did was acknowledge the truth!
Bravo Move On!!!!!!!
Professor Foland @ 194
Question for u prof: what are the rules for adding amendments? e.g Couldn’t barbox also have offerred an amendment condemning the swiftboaters for their Kerry ad? That would have sunk Cornyn’s resolution.
Another delurker – btw I’ve got one of those old moveon t’s – Democracy is not a spectator sport, and I just chipped in another $100.
This is it — the end. No more money to ANY Democrat — no voting Democrat in 2008. And yes, I do vote — every presidential election since 1972 (against Nixon).
I am sick to death of their BS. They always go back and forth — first EDWARDS takes the good guy stand, while Hillary doesn’t. Then Obama takes the good guy stand while Richardson doesn’t. Anyone with an IQ over 70 can see what is going on — and I’m through playing.
I gave it a shot this time, because of the blogs and their hard work. But the time has come.
In 2008, I will write in who hasn’t done this. (Is there anyone? If not, I will write in my cat.) Or — I just won’t bother to vote. And if you wonder why so many Americans don’t vote — you can see why some don’t. It’s worthless. A W.O.T.
I know most who read this will say, “Keep fighting! It isn’t that bad!” I say BULLSHIT. You probably also think everything was great before Bush stole the office in 2000, too. It wasn’t.
I have had enough.
From now on General petraeus is the general pet of the republican juggernaut.
Obama released a statement:
“The focus of the United States Senate should be on ending this war, not on criticizing newspaper advertisements. This amendment was a stunt designed only to score cheap political points while what we should be doing is focusing on the deadly serious challenge we face in Iraq. It’s precisely this kind of political game-playing that makes most Americans cynical about Washington’s ability to solve America’s problems. By not casting a vote, I registered my protest against this empty politics. I registered my views on the ad itself the day it appeared.”
The Repbulicans figured out a way how to divide Democrats and Democrats feeling confident about ‘08 joined with Repbulicans in unleashing criticism against it’s progressive base.
The very base that provides the shovel when they are in the pits, the very base that spirals them to a majority in ‘06… short memory there. If they continue to let Repbulicans bait them into going against their base…they will sure loose the White House in ‘08.
John Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards are two separate persons. Elizabeth doesn’t need his permission to speak her mind – or emotions. He’s on the Ed Schultz show tomorrow so call or email and ask him to state his position on today’s resolution against the freedom speech and print of MoveOn. Elizabeth was wrong and look where it leads! JRE could say that or say that he disagrees with her, if he does, if he thinks that resolution was a cowardly unconstituional piece of work.
I’m not surprised that Feinstein voted for the Cornyn it, but not Boxer. I don’t know how to respond to that vote. I feel tremendous frustration. Hillary’s vote impressed me because she’s gotten the most crap from the Republicans. So how will the blogs respond? I hope all left of center blogs never again write “Betrayus” and never again Petraeus. That will nullify the Cornyn amendment.
How do I find a list of all the Senators that voted for this and against MoveOn.org? I want to know exactly which Democrats voted with the Republicans. I’m totally pissed.
Anyone know where to get the roll call on that?
marymccurnin @ 12
I think things have been somewhat confusing and at times depressing since the August break. It appears DLCers have been triangulating again and minimizing the effect of Spkr. Pelosi and now they’re showing their colors in the Senate, joining with Repubs to end free speech along with some other Constitutional unalienable rights.
This is, I suppose, what we can expect from another Clinton presidency.
If you want to end war ya gotta yell LOUDER!
Jpale @ 339
Whatever you say, Obama. Whatever you say.
Mr. Larry @ 36
We have managed to get rid of some administration people and some have left for other reasons. There’s a list (somewhere) of something like 400 of the pugs who’ve been convicted, evicted, and otherwise diminished.
All is not lost…yet.
remrebound @ 41
I can’t imagine Elizabeth Edwards, military brat, NOT saying something. But, remember, she isn’t a senator, so hers is just another free speech voice like yours or mine. Hers is just hers and doesn’t represent hundreds of thousands or millions of voters.
Dunno the story on Obama.
Toby Wollin @ 82
Considering her policy positions and speeches I have to wonder just what’s in it for us if we help elect her. She doesn’t seem to stand for much that I want.
Getting elected is important and one way to do it is to promise to do things your electorate want. She isn’t doing that. Bye Hill.
Hello John.
Fascist.
jimbo @ 159
I think they voted as individuals and forgot they are Senators who represent states and the interests of all America, not just Americans.
In doing so they showed their feelings and forgot to uphold the Constitutionally mentioned Right of Free Speech. They were weak.
Not much new in that, unfortunately.
Professor Foland @ 194
Hey, does this mean that FDL is going to stop pimping for the Dems as our saviors?
Just asking.
We will probably see Senate resolutions condemning Jane Hamsher and Duncan Black before too long.