Oklahoma kiddo @ 156

And what about the General Election. Do we require that our candidate must conform to our own positions on all points? Or do we contrast the candidates positions, pinch or nose, and pray that the person we are voting for is amenable to conversion?

Not always – there are positions for which compromise is not an option. Judge Musk.a.y’s position (or lack there of) on the constitutionality of waterboarding and his statements regarding the rule of law rendered him – in my mind – beyond the pale and not suitable for the job at hand.

Most of the dems on the Judiciary Committee agreed. My Senator – Schumer – did not. I have informed Senator Schumer that I will no longer support him. That is my right and my duty.

There was a protest of about 50 people in front of his Brooklyn home tonight. This will haunt him for awhile in these parts. Chuck could have done the right thing and be elevated to a statesman and leader. He didn’t and showed that he is nothing more then a Brooklyn politico.

ps – The Voice article paints the picture of why he might have signed on.

IF you support HRC it must follow that you support the Senator’s views on Iraq, Iran and the DLC.

Would the same be true of an Edwards supporter? I was surprised by his comments at the Herzliya Conference in Israel where he gave his vision of the Middle East and Iran in regards to Israel. He could have almost have been a Neo-Con (almost, not quite)

Throughout his career and public service Sharon has shown courage, including his historic decision to evacuate Gaza. More than anyone else, Sharon has, in my judgment, believed that a strong Israel is a safe Israel and that Israel needs to defend itself against security threats.

… One source of strength is the bond between Israel and the United States, which is a bond that will never be broken. For more than half a century both countries have benefited from this alliance. We share common values such as freedom and democracy. I was in Israel in 2001 and I’ll never forget just as I was ending my visit, a Hamas suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt blew up the Sbarro pizzeria. It made an impact on me to see the extraordinary sacrifice made by the Israeli people everyday. They continue to make sacrifices to ensure your security and achieve peace. I saw firsthand the threats you face every day. I feel that I understand on a very personal level those threats. The challenges in your own backyard – rise of Islamic radicalism, use of terrorism, and the spread of nuclear technology and weapons of mass destruction – represent an unprecedented threat to the world and Israel.

At the top of these threats is Iran. Iran threatens the security of Israel and the entire world. Let me be clear: Under no circumstances can Iran be allowed to have nuclear weapons. For years, the US hasn’t done enough to deal with what I have seen as a threat from Iran. As my country stayed on the sidelines, these problems got worse. To a large extent, the US abdicated its responsibility to the Europeans. This was a mistake. The Iranian president’s statements such as his description of the Holocaust as a myth and his goals to wipe Israel off the map indicate that Iran is serious about its threats.

Once Iran goes nuclear, other countries in the Middle East will go nuclear, making Israel’s neighborhood much more volatile.

Iran must know that the world won’t back down. The recent UN resolution ordering Iran to halt the enrichment of uranium was not enough. We need meaningful political and economic sanctions. We have muddled along for far too long. To ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons, we need to keep ALL options on the table, Let me reiterate – ALL options must remain on the table.

The war in Lebanon had Iranian fingerprints all over it. I was in Israel in June, and I took a helicopter trip over the Lebanese border. I saw the Hezbollah rockets, and the havoc wreaked by the extremism on Israel’s border. Hezbollah is an instrument of the Iranian government, and Iranian rockets allowed Hezbollah to attack and wage war against Israel.

I cannot talk about the war last summer without referring to the Syrian role in destabilizing area. Syria needs to be held accountable. Syria has recently called for peace talks with Israel. Talk is cheap. Syria needs to go long way to prove it is ready for peace. It can start by not harboring terrorists and ending its nefarious relationship with Iran.

While Iran is the greatest threat now, but just as alarming is the one on your doorstep. Hamas, with Iranian support, doesn’t make any mistake of its intentions to wipe out Israel, and repeatedly makes calls to raise the banner of Allah over all of Israel.

Israel made many concessions. Many settlers gave up there land in order to advance peace. Israel can take more steps to advance peace like bolstering Abbas against Hamas. ,b>While Israel is willing to go back to negotiating table, little has been seen on the Palestinian side. We instead have seen chaos and violence on the street, and no revocation of violence against Israel.

For peace, Israel needs a partner. Absent this partnership, Israel not only has the right to defend itself, it has an obligation to defend itself. This means continuing to ensure Israel’s military strength, diplomatically and economically. The hurdles are clear.

For too long, the current US administration’s commitment to this issue has been halfhearted. Now, on the backdrop of Iraq, they have tried to bring the two sides together. This is especially significant since they have squandered America’s moral authority in the Middle East and around the world.

We should be finding ways to upgrade Israel’s relationship with NATO. This could even some day mean membership. NATO’s mission now goes far beyond just Europe. Therefore, it is only natural that NATO seeks to include Israel.

Your challenges are our challenges. Your future is our future. The US will continue to stand by you. God bless you.

And what about the General Election. Do we require that our candidate must conform to our own positions on all points? Or do we contrast the candidates positions, pinch or nose, and pray that the person we are voting for is amenable to conversion?

At least it’s nice to know Hillary isn’t a chickenhawk.

Big Bill gives us ‘the word’:

Barack Obama said Tuesday that former President Clinton is making a leap to compare treatment of his wife in the presidential race to the “swift boat” criticism of John Kerry in 2004.

OK Kiddo…can you tell what are Edwards’ and Obama’s positions on Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants? Do they believe that they should receive them if they pass a driving test? If not what options do they have?

My understanding is that Hillary is agreeable in general to Spitzer’s plan, and that decision is the Governor’s perogative…not he Presidents.

CTuttle @ 127

Aargh, ya just have to rain on our parade, eh? ;-)

Seems a lot of people trying to do that recently. Seems they want to discourage our EFFORTS. But not offering any other reasonable alternatives.

My problem is that I just haven’t seen a whole lot of evidence that the Democrats are willing to play hardball – at least not against Republicans.

I think all the strategies we’ve talked about in this thread sound great. I despair of the Democrats actually trying them, but by God I wish they would.

Loo Hoo. @ 212

What are those positions?

You don’t know?

No, explicky?

Eli @ 123

Only if the Democrats make them.

Aargh, ya just have to rain on our parade, eh? ;-)

Seems a lot of people trying to do that recently. Seems they want to discourage our EFFORTS. But not offering any other reasonable alternatives.

Loo Hoo. @ 212

What are those positions?

You don’t know?

smoke, grease smeared across the eyeball, cries before dawn, thundering hooves, etc…

cinnamonape @ 129

A resolution that is the Sense of Senate cannot be vetoed and doesn’t require the signature of the President. Thus there can be no signing statement. The laws are already on the books. He can’t make a signing statement for already existant law.

You are assuming bush give a flying fuck about the law. He doesn’t!

tbsa @ 133

cinnamonape @ 129

A resolution that is the Sense of Senate cannot be vetoed and doesn’t require the signature of the President. Thus there can be no signing statement. The laws are already on the books. He can’t make a signing statement for already existant law.

You are assuming bush give a flying fuck about the law. He doesn’t!

And your suggestion is? Go whimpering off in defeat? Bush can’t make a signing statement on laws he hasn’t been presented with. If he violates the laws its an impeachable offense.

Of course he could refuse to step down from office even if convicted of impeachable offenses or even criminal acts in the regular courts. He could declare martial law (illegally), suspend the Constitution, cancel the elections, and shut down Congress. He could begin arresting opponents. Does that mean we should cower and not try to defend the Constitution and our laws?

I hate to say it but there seems to be a LOT of individuals here who are simply determined to be so cynical about any efforts to challenge Bush that I begin to wonder if they are… well…trolls… or Republican moles to make everyone on the progressive blogs to throw up their hands in defeated frustration.

But I will tell these individuals, however they are, I WILL NOT BACK DOWN. I will continue to fight for the CONSTITUTION and the rule of law. I’m gonna continue to verbally hammer at these politicians who sell out our freedoms until they are sick of hearing any more of me. Then I’ll do it some more.

I’m not gonna Shut Up simply because Bush will play Musharraf.

Thanks, Loo Hoo for your commentary on Russert debating (or trying to) Hillary. I also noticed a smile, maybe smirk, on his face. He knew he was being a bully and enjoyed it.

We have another year plus three months to live through this shitty dictatorship.

Alas, the people who run our media have lifetime appointments.