Patrick Leahy is a traitor who supports spying on Americans

[garybeck]

I've read Leahy's statement on his support for hayden, where he blames Bush and Cheney for NSA spying, and gives Hayden a free pass. (see http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200605/052606a.html). I say it's complete bullshit. Is he really that stupid? Was he listening when Hayden claimed the spying is legal? Or does he just think the WE are stupid?

There is no excuse. Leahy showed his true colors today. He doesn't give a rat's ass about spying on americans. all the rhetoric the last few weeks has been nothing but rhetoric. as a vermonter I am ashamed and I will never vote for this traitor again.

[Greeby]

1. He doesn't have to worry about it for five years

So not much of a threat :eyes:

[shain from kane]

2. What say the Deadheads? Approve of his stance? n/t

[garybeck]

4. crickets.... they're all in jail...

if i can speak for them, the answer is no.

[NJ_Lib]

7. What can we say...?

... How could I defend this..? I can't, but I'm wondering if Weir knew this before he did the benefit last week but then again, they've been friends for 30 years so who know? I do feel the need to say this much, Bob Weir is a good guy who has supported many great caused over the past four decades... I would want to hear from him about this before I condemn the man.

[mdmc]

11. this dead head thinks that he is okay

I mean, this is a fascist country... when in rome...

[shain from kane]

16. Remember the fate of Mussolini? Who was he hanging with? n/t

[mdmc]

22. I don't remember bro, could you remind me

I used to fight for things... for what is right... truth. honor. Who has the energy anymore?

Peace to all you still fighting the good fight!:patriot: GOD BLESS!

[shain from kane]

37. In #11, you said that this is a "fascist country" and "when in Rome".

By all means, I didn't want to start an argument, but Mussolini started fascism in Italy and dominated Italian politics for close to 25 years, until, near the end of World War II, he and others from his entourage were hung in a town square.
Leahy hangs with the Grateful Dead and has had some serious photo-ops with various members over the years to impress his constituents that he is not just another old white man serving in the Senate for corporate interests. My original point, although it may not have been fully revealed, is that by voting to confirm Hayden he should take a sizeable hit on his credibility, even with the Deadheads, and that he has proved himself to be just another old white man serving in the Senate for corporate interests.
Mussolini would have never hung out with members of a hippie band from California. Go ask the Ethiopians.

[mdmc]

39. got it

I actually know a lot of fascist deadheads (honest to God).

Jerry Garcia once said something like, "Deadheads will fuckin tear you to pieces if your not careful." We ain't all good people, I'm afraid.

While I like my dems liberal, I understand that no one will meet my high standards in the Senate, except maybe Kennedy and (God willing) Bernie.

Check out this thread if you get a chance http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=290x676

peace to you

[garybeck]

26. please explain the link between Leahy and "the deadheads?"

I must be missing something

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. He LOVES The Grateful Dead...fans are called, "Deadheads"

and he is a self proclaimed Deadhead.:hi:

I agree with your assessment of him too......TRAITOR.

[garybeck]

31. I live in Vermont. I've been to 200+ dead shows. I've never

heard that Leahy is a deadhead, and I'm not sure I believe it.

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. He was on C-SPAN a few weeks ago and was asked about it. He said he

is a Deadhead.:shrug:

[garybeck]

41. yeah, he also said

he's concerned about spying on americans.

I guess what he "says" doesn't carry much value anymore.

[in_cog_ni_to]

48. Good point, Gary. I'm so sick of the lies flowing out of Congress-people's

mouths. My theory on repukes has always been: whatever they say, the opposite is true. I guess I need to start applying the theory to Dems too.:(

[zulchzulu]

35. If I was in the Dead, we'd be playing "Loser" into "Easy Answers"

..if ya catch my drift...

[shain from kane]

36. Jerry Garcia is roiling the waters of the Ganges right about now. n/t

[zulchzulu]

38. Bob should make a statement....

I'd bar Leahy from any shows...maybe Pat's holding and forgot how to vote...that's really giving him the benefit of a doubt.

[marmar]

3. He's a dyed-in-the-wool, Biden-esque DLCer...

No big surprise there.

[Bake]

20. How did Biden vote?

Silly question -- he voted to confirm. Biden should give up any presidential aspirations he may entertain.

Bake

[garybeck]

5. do these guys look like twins or what?

if not twins, they certainly look like old time buddies.

[Jane Austin]

6. Patrick Leahy is a Patriot

who does the best he can with the congress and committees he's got.

There are plenty of people to pick on who are far, far worse - - -in every way.

[garybeck]

8. what? did you see the vote ?

how is it "doing the best he can" when he voted yes to confirm Hayden?



saying it is the "best he can" implies that he "can't" vote against Hayden.

Last I checked, Senators are allowed to vote Yes or No. There is no one, nothing, no rule against voting NO.

He voted YES. It was his choice. No one made him do it.

It was NOT the best he can do.

Please explain why voting YES on Hayden is "the best he can do". It has nothing to do with Congress or anything else. He voted YES. It was his choice.

[shain from kane]

10. He could have voted "No", even if he approved of the nomination,

when it was apparent tnat Hayden had enough votes for the confirmation. It was a "free" vote, and he could have easily voted "No" to protect his standing with the rest of us.

[garybeck]

24. there is simply no excuse for voting yes

the leahy apologists have absolutely no ground to stand on.

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. I agree...no excuse whatsoever! He could have voted no just as easily as h

voted yes. Rat Bastard.

[Clovis Sangrail]

9. so what?

Leahy supports the man that initiated and implemented the program to monitor YOUR phonecalls, as well as those of the rest of the nation.

Remember this gem from Hayden?
Where Hayden says fourth ammendment has nothing to do with probable cause.
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Countdown-nsa-Hayden.wmv

THIS is who Leahy supports to run the CIA?!?!?!?!?!?!

ANYBODY who supports this nomination should be thrown under the train.

[Ravy]

13. I agree wholeheartedly.

I blame Bush. Put the Dems in a position where they can actually do something about the state of affairs and you will see some real difference. Posts like this original post just help to prevent Dems from getting back to a position of power by lumping them together with the Republicans, because you don't agree with them on a single (or two) issue. There is almost no Republican position I agree with, and there are *lots* of those issues.

[garybeck]

25. excuse me?

are you saying you support Leahy's confirmation of Hayden?

"posts like this" only expose the truth. Over the last few weeks Leahy has taken a stand against the NSA spying, but when he had to vote on it he said yes. he came up with a lame excuse, which was to blame Bush. people have to look at the issues, not just blindly vote for whoever is running in a party, which is what you propose.

"posts like this" are not preventing dems from coming back to power. the only thing that is doing that is the electronic voting machines. wake up.

[Ravy]

44. Have to disagree. Negative posts about democrats who...

you disagree with on an issue are a good part of the problem. You claim it is "truth" that Leahy is a traitor. I think it is your opinion.

BTW, I also don't consider the excuse "lame" at all. Hayden did ask for legal advice, and while you and I think that he got poor advice, he didn't do this without being told to.

And yes, I would support any Democrat over any Republican, if for no other reason than to gain back the leadership in the House and Senate.

[SaveElmer]

30. Absolutely...

The guy has been at the forefront of issues related to civil liberties for decades. If he felt comfortable voting for Hayden, then I am more than willing to admit I do not have a monopoly on wisdom, and perhaps Leahy is better informed on this than I am.

Calling Leahy a traitor is about as juvenile a thing as I have seen around here.

[Hubert Flottz]

12. He must have been to the Pokeher games at the Watergate...

or done something that Bush could hold over his head!

[Rex]

14. Congress doesn't WORK FOR US! They gave that up after 2000.

Didn't make a lot of money that way.

[bowens43]

15. Let's not toss around the 'traitor' word as freely as the freepers.

It's silly.

[acmejack]

17. Gotta admit I was really surprised by Leahy.

Most of the others, not so much.

[AspenRose]

18. Maybe he was threatened with more anthrax.

Seriously.

[Old and In the Way]

21. Kind of makes you wonder....

Given that we now know they were monitoring us before 9/11, why couldn't they find the anthrax perp using their NSA capabilities? Or dtermine who were making the puts on UAL/AA stock?

Maybe the General has some other compromising dirt on Patrick or maybe the original anthrax message was recently reinforced. Whatever, this has been one, too long, strange trip.

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. OR the wiretaps gave the NSA some good garbage on him. n/t

[garybeck]

33. yup.

[dennis4868]

19. So does Leahy....

give a pass to all the NAZIS who murdered 6 million jews because they were simply following the orders of Hitler?

[garybeck]

23. the analogy is chilling, I'm not sure how he would answer.

[zulchzulu]

34. Unless Leahy has dirt on Hayden for later...this is unacceptable

The next time I hear Pat pontificating about how we need to stop Bush's invasion of privacy or the war, I'm going to yawn...unless he knows something about Hayden to bring him down later...which I doubt...

[MrBenchley]

40. Don't let the door hit you in the ass....

Patrick Leahy is a splendid Senator, and a Democratic party leader.

[garybeck]

42. no he's not.

i live in vermont, i'm a lifelong democrat. his voting record has gotten very bad.

he completely gave up his responsibility to serve the people today.

[AuntPatsy]

43. And the truth shall set us all free....

[MrBenchley]

47. Whereas this progressive purity movement

does little except marginalize further the lunatic fringe.

[bread_and_roses]

45. So why did he vote for Hayden? What do the people of Vermont get out

his vote? What does he get out of it? What do the Democrats get out of it? These are real questions, not rhetorical.

I can't see it, myself. The Democrats have amply demonstrated over and over that whatever the Human Rights and Civil Liberties violations or the burdens imposed on the Middle/Working/Poor classes, enough of them will vote for any of Bush's appointees or Legislation to give bi-partisan cover to the criminal Cabal destroying the Constitution, violating International Law, and promoting the interests of Corporations at the expense of the rest of us.

Some opposition Party.

[MrBenchley]

46. Elsewhere you'll find

"progressive purists" expressing outrage at his stated reasons.