The implication of that 72-25 vote on Alito and what it really means.

I endorse and agree with David Niewert and his  Orcinus: My Letter to Cantwell

I'll vote for you, but not enthusiastically. In the meantime, I have limited dollars to spend on politics. I pick and choose where I donate carefully. And you just crossed yourself off my list.

sums it up for me too, David.

Your letter is well written and more than anything I could write. I sent the Senator a note referring to and endorsing your thoughts.

I don't think most of us who've been aroused into politics by Republican dishonesty the past 3-4 years realize the implication of that 72-25 vote on Alito today and what it really means.

If you're stranded in a strange place and have lost your sense of political identity and citizen power, the Democratic Party with it's currently elected national representation is not the answer to your problems. Nor is most of the leadership structure.

The implication also is that we have seen yesterday the ultimate disappointing revelation of the mirage constructed by the Demcratic Party, DLC and most Demo insiders considered trustworthy, loyal and able to function at the center of Non-Republican political opposition.

The mirage dissipated quickly and today, just as the Republicans have demonstrated openly that they are not going to come to the aid of those victims of Katrina, it has openly revealed to us as of yesterday that we are abandoned and stranded by our own party - that we've been let down by those folks we elected and  upon whom we've placed our highest hopes and given our deepest trust.

They haven't got what it takes and I'm embarrassed for those 19 who have pretended to be leaders and fighters for their constituents but who in the end, could not see nor sense an opportunity to shore up and strengthen support even as it literally danced in their faces.

Taking a strong stand contrary to Alito would not have cost one Democrat any significant loss of votes anywhere in this country. We remain mystified by this surprising and astonishing lack of backbone, courage and plain old fortitude on the part of those 19 Democrats who voted with the Repuglicans.

The roll of shame:

Akaka, Hawaii
Baucus, Mont.
Bingaman, N.M.
Byrd, W.Va.
Cantwell, Wash.
Carper, Del.
Conrad, N.D.
Dorgan, N.D.
Inouye, Hawaii
Johnson, S.D.
Kohl, Wis.
Landrieu, La.
Lieberman, Conn.
Lincoln, Ark.
Nelson, Fla.
Nelson, Neb.
Pryor, Ark.
Rockefeller, W.Va.
Salazar, Colo.

There is no rationale any of these can offer that could generate agreement that what they willfully refused to make  yestereday was truly a choice in the best interest of the American people.

The agony of today's moment is that it's way too late to find or found another party with backbone.  

These 19 collaborators in a single moment have thrown the current two-party system into perilous disarray and forced all of those who disagree with and oppose Republican policies into a tragic loss of time for alternative solutions.

We are too close to November to build a legitimate 3rd party.

We are now forced to vote unenthusiastically for candidates unworthy of our loyalty in order to try to avoid the election of Republicans unworthy of our respect.

We are now forced to look out on a horizon 3 years away under an ignorant and untrammeled president and party during which time we are forced to build from the ground up a new party with backbone, courage and long-term stamina.

All because 19 Democrats failed to see their entire consituency hoping and praying that they would finally act with courage.

Who will run for president in 2008?

A Supreme Christian Republican Evangelical American Moralist

A Subservient and Indecisive Democratic Panderer

and perhaps a real candidate of courage and honesty dedicated to the proposition that government is of the people, by the people and for the people ... if we can find one.

I know where I won't be looking.

Cross posted to Washblog and the Pacific Northwest Portal which is celebrating an anniversary today.

•  Full list of their contact info is...

  ...here.

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  Call them now!

  -fink

  by fink on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 06:57:30 AM PDT

  •  Start with LIeberman

    Give money to Ned Lamont as soon as his website is up and ready to accept donations.

    Lieberman is a poster boy for a Bush suck-up war monger who trashes fellow dems at every opportunity.  Primary Joementum right out of the party.

    Ned Lamont is looking for 1,000 volunteers who live in Connecticut, then he's in the race!

    http://www.nedlamont.com/

    by MD patriot on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:12:11 AM PDT

•  Indeed; it's essential:

  It's our way of exacting discipline on them.

  by Mumon on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:02:54 AM PDT

•  We need to FOCUS

  Here's a short list of backbone-free Democrats in Blue States (based on the presidential election, 2004).  

  Do I have this right?      

  Akaka, Hawaii
  Cantwell, Wash.
  Carper, Del.
  Inouye, Hawaii
  Kohl, Wis.
  Lieberman, Conn.

  I propose a Blue State Democrat pledge:

  "I won't lift a finger to help these Blue State Democrats; or spend a dime to support their campaigns; or oppose primary challenges against them. As an opinion leader, I will encourage other Democrats to do the same.  But as a Democrat, I also won't vote against any of Democrats in a general election."

  by markymarx on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:07:07 AM PDT

  •  I will primary each of these turncoats

    Let's make a little stronger statement, and start with the reprehensible Lieberman:

    http://www.nedlamont.com/

    Sign up to be one of Ned Lamont's 1,000 Connecticut volunteers, then he will enter the race.

    How many dKos members live in CT?

    by MD patriot on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:13:58 AM PDT

  •  Hell, put Arkansas on that list

    Two new Democratic senators, please.

    by bumblebums on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:36:08 AM PDT

    •  West Virginia too, damn it

      by bumblebums on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:37:11 AM PDT

      •  Byrd and Moveon

        Am I the only one truly p*ssed off at Byrd?? I gave him money! Obama wrote a letter on his behalf to Moveon members and raised about a half mill in 1 week. This was enough, as far as I know, to hold off any serious GOP opposition in the fall. Yes, I'll give money but be sure it will be very limited to those turncoats.

        Why change elephants in middle of a good screw??

        by never forget 2000 on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:07:23 AM PDT

      •  yea

        I would argue for making the list as small as possible, which could be the classic red/blue divide--who went for Kerry and who went for W?  

        by markymarx on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:33:07 PM PDT

•  Could someone explain this

  Cspan was showing the tote board on the left hand side of the screen as Hatch is talking.

  The "Y"s and "N"s of the Senators on Alito's
  confirmation.

  About 4 Eastern, 3 Central.

  It showed 57 yes and 40 no votes with Rockefeller, Landrieu,
  and Snowe uncommitted.

  What happened ?

  by jmmcgowanjm on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:08:37 AM PDT

  •  wimps voted for cloture

    These clueless, go along with dictator Bush wimps voted to end debate, but then plan to suck up to their voters by voting against Scalito in a "safe" vote since they know he will win.

    Profiles in cowardice and hypocrisy.

    by MD patriot on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:15:51 AM PDT

•  How to win

  For many years, very few Congressional Democrats were on the side of good.  In the 50s and 60s when it came to the Cold War, Vietnam, Civil Rights, women's rights, they spoke like today's Republicans speak.

  Things changed because of grass roots movements, the outcry of people whom the "general" (read white, male, upperclass) populace, including eventually Democratic politicians, could no longer ignore.

  Republicans were in the same boat until 1994.  They relied on a movement to whip Republicans into shape.  Now they've even got the few liberal Republicans who are left cowering and afraid.

  In a few words, it's like Joe Hill urged:  "Don't mourn.  Organize."

  by NCJan on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:13:39 AM PDT

•  Blue State Folks..

  Lieberman I expected..But Cantwell-WTF??? Also..is something going on in Hawaii that only the two Senators and Cheney know about? Is Hawaii going Red soon? WTF? The rest...Fuck them. Fuck them all.

  by Chamonix on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:23:33 AM PDT

•  Let's not forget

  we should also thank those who voted NO on cloture, and, yes, that includes Senator Clinton.

  by TLS66 on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 07:26:17 AM PDT

•  I wonder if this means what it suggests, that

  the Democrat senators who voted in favor of clotûre are in fact unconcerned about the growing monarchianism of the Executive Branch. Or, that they feel that their constituents are either unconcerned about it or in favor of it.

  I must say, if they voted as they did out of a political calculation, then I'm disappointed but not really surprised. But if it really means that they are aligning themselves with this new attack on the principles of balance of power and rule of law, then I am appalled, aghast at their violation of the oaths they swore to uphold and protect the constitution.

  I think that each an every one of the members of the "list of shame" should be asked the question directly: how do they feel about the Bush administration's program to increase the powers of the Executive Branch relative to those of the other two branches of government?

  If they refuse to answer, or do not explictly denounce it, then they deserve having all support from Democrats cut off.

  If they do denounce Bushco's program in spite of their vote, then they will have been exposed as mere political panderers who have sold out the nation for their own careers. Slimy, yes, but all that really would be necessary to smack them back into line is to, well, work on things at the grass roots level, to make it clear that their political careers depend on standing with other Democrats to obstruct those who would pervert our system of government. Punishing them would be sort of like punishing a cat for shedding on the rug: its just the nature of politicians to calculate politically.

  Greg Shenaut

  by gshenaut on Tue Jan 31, 2006 at 08:33:14 AM PDT