The detainee bill is as much about voter suppression as it is torture

[brentspeak]

The bill was timed by Karl Rove to coincide with election season: put the Democrats on the defensive and in a pickle, get a portion of the Democratic rank-and-file to snipe at their own candidates, and this portion will either advocate voting 3rd party or just staying home.

It's our job as the rank-and-file to a) not be suckered in by Karl Rove's machinations; and b} work to vote out the Republican majority in Congress which enables these kind of bills in the first place.

If enough effort is put in by all of us to ensure a Democratic majority, then the Democrats will have the power to weaken the law considerably, if not repeal it. (Provided it's not struck down by SCOTUS first).

So, if you really do hate this bill -- and are not a quitter -- you'll do the right thing, and help get our people into office and Republicans out of office.

[AX10]

1. I'm pissed at the Dems who voted for this.

But I will still vote the party line this November. Once we get back into the majority we must hold not just Bush's feet to the fire, but those Democrats who vote for shit like this pro-torture bill.

[brentspeak]

2. Agreed

I'd like to hear Rob Andrews' reason for why he voted 'yea' on this. Whatever the reason, it would have to be pretty lame. (He's a congressman from NJ).

[AX10]

7. I do not want him to rise to anything more than a House backbencher.

He does not deserve any higher position.

[AX10]

11. Once we are in the majority, our committee chairs will handle these bills.

These Democrats who vote for these GOP bills will keep their mouths shut and let the chairs handle them.

[Thickasabrick]

3. Finally, an encouraging post about this. Thank you.

I think SCOTUS will get rid of it first, but nothing is permanent - other than the innocent people being held that may die before something happens.

I am so ashamed of my country today. I'm not ready to move yet - it's still worth fighting for.

I wish the world would sanction the US

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. And it's not even October yet. What else do they have planned?

[blm]

5. That's what Kerry said on the senate floor - the timing is Rove's election

politics, and has nothing to do with any interest in getting a good bill - just like they did in 2002 with IWR.

[bryant69]

6. Thes are them

Carper (D-DE)
Johnson (D-SD)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Stabenow (D-MI)

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[rzemanfl]

12. I am SO fucking tempted to vote for Katherine Harris! Damn you

Nelson! Fucker!

[prolesunited]

15. Yeah, voting for her will really teach the Dems

or not voting at all, that'll learn them.

And why we are so busy bashing the Dems, the GOP will be laughing all the way to victory.

The ONLY hope we have of changing things is going to the polls and voting the GOP out of power.

Once we actually HAVE some power, then we can start working to change things.

[rzemanfl]

20. Nelson has a safe seat. There was no reason for him to vote

with the pukes. He will get my vote, but I will hold my nose. What assurance is there that he won't continue to vote with the Repiglicans if the Dems get control of the Senate? None, that's what. I still really hate the fucker for that vote, sorry.

[brentspeak]

18. I don't understand why my senators voted 'yea'

Yes, the bill had enough votes to pass anyway, so their votes were kind of meaningless. I can only guess they did so because they were allowed to modify the final bill. Because the detainee bill is the kind of thing that expecially Lautenberg has always been against.

[StellaBlue]

8. I agree

it is very Rovian

but it is still absolutely (in the Bill Bennett sense, yes! absolutely!) WRONG.

We get to choose between Chamberlain and Hitler.

[Cameron27]

9. Take a drink, bang your fist against the door,

or cry your eyes out today, but even if you have to hold your nose, vote democratic in November.

[brentspeak]

19. I made an animated version of your post!

(With some modifications due to smilies)

:beer:

:banghead:

:hurts:

:kick:

[Cameron27]

21. There ya go

:thumbsup:

[Eric J in MN]

22. That's great. (NT)

NT

[Skidmore]

10. No poop, but Dems could have at least

VOTED against it. ALL OF THEM!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. For the most part they did.

Carper (D-DE)
Johnson (D-SD)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Stabenow (D-MI)


The Dem "Aye" list is a great starting point for weeding.

[Skidmore]

17. I agree, but first you have to get past those who think

getting a majority means it's okay to keep stinkers who'll stink on you again. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior and we've seen it over and over again with most of that bunch. Rockefeller's vote astounds me. If he were going to pursue this the way he did, he could have at least cast a vote consistent with his rhetoric.

[Dem2theMax]

13. I will vote Dem now.

But come 2008, ANY Dem who voted for torture is NOT going to get my support for President.

I want a REAL Democrat in office.

[Eric J in MN]

23. Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and John Kerry...

...all voted against the Military Tribunals bill.

[JeffR]

14. Right on the mark

But I'm still staring at the absentee ballot sitting next to the computer, and wondering whether I should just tear it up.

I won't, I'm sure. But when I dutifully mark next to those Ds, this will not be far from the surface of my thoughts. And it will be a long time before this is ever far from the surface of my thoughts. I will vote now in sorrow and anger, not in pride and confidence that this party is much better than the enemy.

[seabeyond]

24. they did it in 2002 with iraq war. rush vote before elections 80%

support for war with iraq. you could be right