So, Peterr, I’m just wondering if there are any stats on other Rethug conventions that Senators have blown off in favor of politicing in their own state.

We have to get these people out of office this time. Have to.

(bows) Konnichiwa, Peterr

What’s wrong with McCain, Liddy?

I’m drawing a blank on any circumstances that rival this. I’m sure there have been the occasional absence due to illness or family issues, but nothing like this.

These conventions, after all, are where Senators are treated like royalty. Their state delegations fawn all over them, of course, but so do people from other states, as do lobbyists, job-seekers (seeking recommendations in a future administration), media folks seeking interviews and comments from “respected party leaders,” etc. The cocktail weenie vendors bring out all their best wares, and the beverages flow copiously.

For senators to pass on an event like this is not business as usual. Not in the least.

Hmm. My iTunes as I read this played “Divine Hammer” by the Breeders, followed immediately by “I Can See Clearly Now” from Johnny Nash. Gee, I hope that’s some kind of omen.

Hmmmm . . . the post was bumped off the page by a breaking story about the rightwing connections of the Knoxville shooter.

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that this broke as my post went up earlier. But if this guy also had Liddy Dole bumperstickers on his car, I’m going to be mighty suspicious.

Sen. Suzie-Q Collins of Maine isn’t going to the Republic Convention either. Why? Well, let’s just say there are some people in our state who thinks she’s a moderate, who have no idea she’s working for McCain’s campaign, and how she’s backed 85% of George Bush’s policies over the last eight years. By not showing up to the Convention, the knuckledraggers of my state will think she’s snubbing her nose at Bush and possibly McCain. What a deceiver she is!

She’s got lots of people to do.

I read that many Repubs who are running for state-wide offices are not attending the convention. Guess they are scared the plague will rub off.

We really need to create a list of these folks. We wouldn’t want them to feel overshadowed by Dole, Stevens, Collins, and the rest of the Senate big-shots.

If anyone has any specific names and links to stories about other non-attendees, please put them up!

Great post peterr!!

Are you sure she’s not having her knee caps transplanted to give her eyelids some leeway…

On a less serious note…maybe threatening to boycott the convention will get the GOP to “yank” their fake winning candidate…you know the one…the one that is beating Obama as of today.

Perhaps she’s reaching out to the Jesse Helms branch of the party while she’s back home:

Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole wants to rename the international AIDS legislation after the now-dead arch-conservative, gay-hating racist Jesse Helms. Yes, Helms, who was more than happy to let gay people with AIDS die during the 80s and 90s, did finally embrace the international AIDS cause, in so far as the “victims” that interested him were “innocent children.” But that’s the only reason Helms got on board, because kids were involved and they were innocent “victims,” as compared to the rest of those with AIDS who, according to Helms, deserved what they got. . . .

Click through for more on this from John Aravosis. But put down any sharp objects or hot beverages first — John’s not terribly happy in this post.

Digg

Love the children’s book concept!

Is Liddy Dole still alive? Couda fooled me.

you mean like Julia Roberts in “Erin Brokovitch”?

So… Have they scheduled W’s major address at the convention? Somewhere along the lines of 2:30 AM? Or will he have “scheduling problems” that can’t be solved?

For senators to pass on an event like this is not business as usual. Not in the least.

[adjusting tin foil hat] Is there anything at all that they could hope to accomplish in the Senate while all eyes are directed elsewhere?

Way OT – Georgie got to sign off on an execution today. Granted, this looks like a very bad man, and if you believe in executions, he seems to fit the bill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..02249.html

good thing Georgie didn’t find about this execution-by-the-president thing earlier – we’d never get him out of office.

“Hey Laura-Belle – I’m gettin’ mah groove back!”

From The Hill, we see that it’s not just Liddy’s recess plans that have been changing lately:

Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), a top target for Democrats this year, has broken with her party far more than she did in 2007, according to an analysis of her voting record.

With about six weeks left in the legislative session, Dole has voted with a majority of Democrats — and against a majority of her party — 25.5 percent of the time. That compares to 6.6 percent of the time in 2007.

And it represents a shift since Dole was first elected to the Senate in 2002. In the 109th Congress, she voted with Democrats and against her party 6.4 percent of the time, compared with 4.3 percent in the 108th Congress.The Hill examined the number of times Dole and other GOP senators voted with a majority of Democrats, instead of a majority of Republicans, and excluded both missed votes and times that the majorities of both parties voted the same way. In the past two years, the majorities in both parties were at odds on about half the votes taken.

Of the most endangered Republicans facing reelection, Dole’s voting shift is the most significant.

I’m sure that Dole’s spokesperson will tell us that it’s all just a coincidence.

No.

But do keep the tinfoil handy — they’ll be up to their usual mischief once they return.

Bush, OTOH, might want to slip in some recess appointments, gut a couple of international treaties, and eliminate another one or two parts of the Bill of Rights. You know, kind of an homage to his presidency that they could put up on the big screen in the convention hall.

But will the MSM comment on the dearth of senators when they cover the Repug convention? I think not.

Good gawd. It’s worse than we thought:

http://www.wataugawatch.net/up…..777698.jpg

Liddy Dole partying.

Spew…you owe me a monitor Kay!!!

Mrs. Frog

Sorry! I owe myself a new monitor now too ya know! LOL ;-)

On that note, I’m going to bed. Nite nite. ;-)

Ugh!!

Ribbitt!!

Ummmm. W. loves him some executions…set a record down here I think. Good practice for when he got to Irak I guess.

Maybe Liddy isn’t going because she’s afraid someone will point out that she’s a month OLDER than McCain.

First of all, Mrs. Robert “Bob” Dole is not really a North Carolinian – sure, she was born here, but she hasn’t lived here for more than 40 years. During her current and last term in the Senate, she may have been “”"home”"” for a day or two in six years, but SHE LIVES IN THE WATERGATE! She doesn’t live here, and her husband can’t vote for her. Not a North Carolinian, not a representative of the people of North Carolina.