I didn't think it was possible.

[madamesilverspurs]

After the insidious, insulting and destructive depredations of the Bush/Cheney administration I just didn't think it possible that anyone could be more deserving of contempt. It is the bitterest of ironies that I be proven wrong by those who claim to be Democrats.

The vile triumvirate of Baucus, Conrad and Lincoln have spit in the faces of every single American who worked so damned hard to bring about the changes we so desperately need. They have told us to go to hell, that we don't matter. They have laughed in the faces of the sick and dying by making common cause with those who profit from suffering. And in so doing they have divested themselves of any expectation of respect. What a pity that we can't immediately replace them with people who actually give a damn about the people of this country.

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. Yes I agree... but we already knew all this

So now what are we going to do about it?

Where is the public organizing to tell the media what we really thing!

[cry baby]

2. It actually stings much more than if the repubs had done it to us!

I am sick of them and feel betrayed. I guess publically funded campaigns would be the only answer. I hope they can live with the stories of Americans in pain...I guess they already are!!!!!

[Delphinus]

6. I understand what you mean about the

betrayal.

As for them living with the stories, I don't think they give a rat's ass.

[Cleita]

3. Time for another activist movement.

Everyone who pays FICA p/r taxes both employee and employer needs to demand Medicare coverage for themselves and their families. You pay into it you should be able to use it. Fuck this business of having to wait until you are 65 to get it. If they don't have the decency to offer affordable access to needed healthcare then it's time to demand what is yours and what you have paid for.

[Journeyman]

4. None of them are beholden to their electorate. . .

Each comes from a small state with a miniscule population. The corporations have learned they don't need to spend a fortune to influence a large state's vote in opposition to a large electorate. All they need do is finance small state Senators and they get as much influence -- more, in fact -- for a fraction of the cost. And replacing them with untainted politicians will be nigh near impossible, as the corporations will easily spend enough to influence (buy) all the candidates, and at a fraction of what they'd spend in a large state.

The only solution is publicly financed elections. Anything less is merely wishful thinking.

[hfojvt]

7. Are you sure they are not beholden to their electorate?

North Dakota voted for McCain by 53% to 44%. Arkansas, still stinging over Hillary's loss, voted for McCain by 58.7 to 38.9%.
Montana voted for McCain by 49.5 to 47.1%.

In 2000, it was even worse, Montana went for Bush by 58.4 to 33.4%. North Dakota by 60.7 to 33% and Arkansas by 51.3 to 45.9.

Those are all very conservative states, although Obama's financing edge and Dean's 50 state strategy have made some inroads. The media also did not go after Obama the way it did with Gore and Kerry.

[Journeyman]

8. Republican/Democrat doesn't mean squat to Corporate interests. . .

All that matters is, will the paid-for whore turn the trick they were bought to perform.

All three gave their Corporate Johns the money-shot this afternoon. If in the future the Johns need to buy a whore of a different flavor, what's it matter to them? A Republican whore may not be as bright as a Democrat, and a different Democrat may require a slight variation of technique, but each will perform as required. And on the limited stage of their small states, each can be bought for a pittance, it's true, but the money paid is way more than the citizens there can muster and it can be spread so as to influence in the greater good of the Corporate interest.

A whore's a whore. Be they red or blue, they all dance in the light of the green.

[Atticus]

5. Happy to rec this. We posted with same attitude about these three at same time. nt