Yesterday, Senator Leahy spoke for me. Thanks, Senator.

[cali]

Yes, I'm biased. He's my Senator. I've met him many times over the years. I think he's a standup guy, but I also thought that yesterday he was the most eloquent speaker in the Senate. So here's to Leahy; He voiced my pain, outrage, shame and anger. And if you didn't hear him, you should read what he wrote. Like his speech on the eve of the Iraq war, it's a classic.

[Mass]

1. It was an excellent speech I agree.

I am probably biased and think my senators gave an excellent speech as well, but it is true that Leahy's speech was totally remarkable (as was the one concerning Lebanon a few months ago).

Leahy is really a great senator and will be blessed with a second one come November.

[countryjake]

2. Agreed, his speech should have rung from shore to shore...but it didn't.

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200609/092806.html

“What has changed in the last five years that our Government is so inept and our people so terrified that we must do what no bomb or attack could ever do by taking away the very freedoms that define America? Why would we allow the terrorists to win by doing to ourselves what they could never do, and abandon the principles for which so many Americans today and through our history have fought and sacrificed?”

[sandnsea]

3. Many of our senators were excellent

We shouldn't forget them. We also shouldn't get hung up in the others - there's just too much work to do.

[cali]

4. I agree that there are other Senators

who deserve our commendations, but I singled out Leahy, not just because he's my Senator, but because yesterday he hit it right smack dab on the head. He deserves to be singled out and thanked for that.

[Stinkfoot]

5. Too Little, Too Late

It was a fiery speech, right on in it's analysis, but it would have been more helpful if delivered in the build up to the vote, not just before it. The democrats have been watching this freight train come down the tracks for a while now, hoping the faux dissidents in the GOP would do the heavy lifting for them. To me, this is like a defiant speech just before your execution. They should have been all over the airwaves, denouncing this act for the tyranny that it is, mobilizing public opinion and fellow democrats to stop this national disgrace. Instead they let it happen, content to make one futile speech after defeat was sealed. We have a right to expect more from our elected leaders.

[Mass]

6. He has been making many speeches these last days. This was

only the last one.

[cali]

7. Actually,

Senator Leahy has not been silent. I take it you don't live in Vermont, but really, you can't blame him for the media's lack of coverage.

[Stinkfoot]

8. Leahy was more Vocal, but Still Ineffective

Yes, if you listened very carefully, you might of heard Leahy protest, but this act really called for some kind of action, which the media could not ignore. I am sure he would have drawn attention if he called up the news outlets and told them he wanted to talk about his intention to filibuster this bill, and that he was calling on his democratic colleagues to support him in sustaining his filibuster. He may have done so privately, but he should have been prepared to call them out publicly. If you want media coverage, you have to be prepared do something significant.