Excellent! A frontal attack on lies and corruption.

It is needed, especially with the Gonzalez/Bush sneak attack on the prosecutorial process in this case: Taking the prosecutoe away by giving him a judgeship. Just seems to be mighty suspicious timing to me!

John Kerry...he reminds me of Foghorn Legohorn in the old Warner Bros. cartoons, hurling insults at the dog who's tethered to a rope that's inches too short for him to get at the rooster.

Brave, brave Johnnie Me Too. Calls for a filibuster precisely - AND ONLY - when he KNOWS there's no way it's going to happen. No fault courage. Just a line on his resume for the 08 election cycle. You people out there who called this "courage?" You're just saps.

Kerry is the poster child for this chickenshit party of posturers and panderers. All nuance, "middle of the road" rhetoric, and not one gonad among them.

Thanks for nothing, Johnnie. And thanks too, for nothing from the rest of you cowardly, useless Democrats. If you can't find a reason to oppose Alito, what on earth are you doing in Washington as the "opposition" party?

Thanks again, DLC. Thanks for nothing.

Does it seem to you that the American people are always begging the Bush Administration to do the right thing? Put proper armor on the troops, give proper armor to their humbys, put regulations back in place for mine safety, please give our poor and disable a proper education for their well being, etc.? What is wrong with most of the Republicans? Why should we have to beg to live in safety? Work in safety, and fight their wars in as safe as America can provide? It seems to me they only care about self power, position,and the wealthy. Where is the Christanity in this attitude?

The noose is tightening. Check out the connections between Safavian (former WH procurement officer) and Abramoff acting on behave of his client - Tyco corporation!

It's all over for Junior!

Kerry had lots of guts calling for a filibuster. He knew the sort of cynicism he would face from the media! Yet, he did it because it was the right thing to do. Rail away at him if you must but I'll take one Kerry over most and certainly over any Repug!

IT’S THE FEAR FACTOR – STUPID!

They’re using the fear card again!

The Republican fear machine has swung into high gear. It started last week with Rove saying that the midterm election will be about security. For the uninitiated that means fear. And with this fear comes the continuous mental manipulation that has served the Republicans so well.
Being manipulated to buy a certain toothpaste so I can be sexier doesn’t bother me. Buying an anti wrinkle cream that promises to make me look younger causes me to start talking to myself – yes the ad got to me again. I want to look younger than my 50+ years. But when the talk starts 6 months early that if you don’t vote Republican the terrorists win, you have to be ready to fight the fear campaign and do the right thing.

DEMOCRATS ARE AS CONCERNED ABOUT TERRORISM AS REPUBLICANS AND WILL DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY.

This should be the Dems mantra and a version on every bumper sticker in America.

In the late 1950s or early 1960s America was surprised and angry when Vance Packards book Hidden Persuaders was published. We learned that advertisers were manipulating us; using sex, poor self images and lack of confidence as tools to make you buy products. Today we hear we are being manipulated, controlled or unduly influenced and we just shrug like it’s no big deal. It is a big deal because it is causing you to vote against your best interests.

So I’m going to tell you what to be afraid of. Be afraid of a Republican controlled Congress and Senate with no checks and balances. Be afraid of losing your freedom of speech. Be afraid of having a one party system with George as your dictator. Be afraid of no middle class. Be afraid of your job going overseas. Be afraid because the Bush administration was the one that ignored the ‘Bin Ladin determined to strike U.S. interests’. Be afraid of a Senator injecting his ultra-rightwing view into Federal court proceedings and calling the judges ‘acticists’ because 20 of them (appointed by Republicans) did not agree with his view. We should be afraid of cronies instead of qualified appointments to FEMA, Homeland Security and the FDA. And lastly we need to be afraid that fear will once again cause us to elect individuals that will truly harm us.
We must stop being gullible and allow ourselves to be fooled. Stop it. Stop it now. As a local Miami writer said:
“Make no mistake. America is not for wimps. It takes guts to be an American, to believe in the rule of law, the freedom of dissent, the dignity of woman and man even when – especially when – it is more expedient not to. To be an American is to commit a daily act of faith.” Leonard Pitts r. Miami Herald 1/27/06

Lastly I urge you to read Jimmy Carters new book, Our Endangered Values. It will make a ‘survivor’ out of each of you. I myself am not a Christian but this book has truly moved me.

rjsn -

"Guts" would have been shown by calling for a filibuster weeks ago. There were no "guts" displayed by calling for it after the Senate Democratic caucuses had shown that there would not be 41 votes to sustain a filibuster.

This was just another one of his "procedural" votes, taken for a later effect. He'll dust it off in a debate and throw it at some other DLC'er's feet - maybe Hillary, maybe Evan, who knows?

"Guts," my ass. Please...wake up and understand this for what it was. Pure political theater from another gutless Democrat.

Please...wake up.

Why are the worms turning on the their own? I question why these guys are asking the White House to give up documents....when we all know they never do that. Is this ust a ploy to turn the glare of public scrutiny away from the criminals in the Republican Congress who are up for re-election?

Guts," my ass. Please...wake up and understand this for what it was. Pure political theater from another gutless Democrat.
***

Please yourself baron! You can choose to be cynical but I am not. The man knew he would face pointless allegations of politicing and yet he called for a filibuster. That takes guts!

See this url for the latest:

Alito 48

alito = filibuster

baron,

You are like a ray of sunshine to the Democratic party, aren't you? Maybe we should all just mix up a large pot of poisoned koolaid and commit suicide now and get it over with?

Do not confuse the DLC with the DNC. I despise the DLC and the direction they are trying to take this party. That has nothing to do with Kerry, feeling pressure last week from grassroots Democrats for a filibuster to come out and call for one. Certainly MY faxed letters and emails to all Senators called for one.
He would certainly not come out for one, if the American Public were all in favor of Alito, which it was appearing was true. When did YOU start your Communications with your Senators and others that you found Alito unqualified?

If you truly are sick and tired of the DLC, then contact them and tell them so. A rant here does NOTHING about that. And railing against Kerry does not either.

http://www.dlc.org/cobrand/contact_us.cfm

If you truly are sick and tired of the DLC, then contact them and tell them so. A rant here does NOTHING about that. And railing against Kerry does not either.
***

Amen Pam! It's senseless to rant against Kerry just because he is taking a stand. Even more senseless to rant against fellow activists that they should wake up! We did wake up from the nightmare that is "Bush World". IMHO, there is only one way to change it - fight it!

I hold no grudge against anyone that approves of Alito. There may even be some Dems that actually like him (I can't imagine why but I sure wish you made a case logically for the merits of Alito). But, if you don't approve of him, what are you waiting for? Holding your powder just won't cut it as he is a lifetime appointment.

At any rate, if there are people that think a filibuster is not "useful", then fine. I heard and read your opinion but it's divisive to ridicule others who don't agree with that perspective. We are trying to do, what we can do!

alito = filibuster

http://www.democrats.com/alito-48

There is a morning thread now!

PamB, rsnj -

You call me cynical. If I read a thermometer and see that it's 5 degrees out, am I "cynical" to say "Shit - it's freezing out there?"

I stand by my observations on Kerry - He said NOTHING about a filibuster until he knew for certain that it was not going to happen (that's what caucuses are about, kids).

And Kerry is, at this moment on this matter, only a symbol of what is fundametally wrong with the Democratic Party. Too many elected Dems, Kerry being one of them, craft their words and actions to convince the voters that they're not too unlike Republicans. Please don't even think to argue that point. He's my Senator and I have ample evidence to support that claim. But he's not the only one. Don't think for a minute that my complaint is just with him. Again - go look that the DLC site and read their "platorm." Close your eyes, listen to the words in head, and put a Texas drawl behind them. Precious little difference between what they have to offer and what the Republicans offer.

Now, you want to argue that the DLC is different than the Democartic Party? Sorry, but the math isn't on your side. A large number of our Democratic Senators drink from the DLC trough, and if you choose to ignore that fact, well...you get what you deserve.

Maybe I'm a cynic. I'll take that to being gullible any day.

I as a longing standing Democrat believe we should have full disclosure about the money but I also believe Senators like Harry Reed shouldnt make statments about getting money and that He wont return it because He didnt do anything wrong. Harry got caught with His hand in the cookie jar and He should be held accountible like everybody else. Thank You

OK, look. I am a newcomer to this site, but here is what I hoped to find here, but did not. The corruption scandal is not getting traction nationwide. In fact, the right wing spin machine has SUCCESSFULLY framed it as a problem for both Democrats and Republicans.

This site does seem to contain a useful comprehensive analysis of the issue. Where can I find an appropriate discussion of the K street project? Where can I get an alaysis of the tie in between Abramoff's personal secretary and the White House? What about Guam? I could go out and fight hte good fight a lo tmore effectively if this site was a useful resource.

Dems and progs don't need 'talking points', the repubs are doing it for us.

cunningham, delay, abramoff, blunt, libby, rove, hecka good job brownie, etc.

oil and gas prices, republican's refusal to swear in oil

CEOs and letting them lie to congress,

bush's medi-care screw up,

bush's Social security debacle,

bush's spying on Americans,

bush's complete failure on Katrina,

bush's refusual to provide, congressional oversight committees, with documentation on abramoff or katrina,

Let's let them do the 'hard work' for us.

However, need to find one voice that is easy to bring together all dems and repubs:

Oil and gas...corruptions and market manipulation, prices, corporate welfare, repubs refusal to swear them in, CEOs lying to congress.

Social Security....uncover the bush plan and how it really works. (borrowing your own money to invest...no insurance for early death, disability,or retirement.

Education...precisely how no child left behind is working...not. College education, cost, changed by cuts.

Subsidizing Caymen Island schemes and how they pay to move corporations and jobs away from the USA.

Sweat shops....conditions and wages and how they apply to workers in the US and abroad...i.e. Third world workers exploited, while driving down the workers in the US.

The war in Iraq.....the devastation we have done (have our senators fly over Fallujah and other bombed out villages and cities...actually see reconstution and hold halliburton, bechtel and others responsible. Sue them for jobs incomplete, poorly done or/and not done at all. Hold them accountable for, rotten food and contaminated water, $45 per case soda, etc.

Get our multi-nationals out (especially the corporate security forces, para-military' that have complete immunity from US or Iraqi law). They are committing atrocities that are getting our troops killed, fueling the insurgents and recruiting terrorists.

Give the reconstruction back to Iraqis and help them financially, by paying their contractors for jobs completed and inspected.

Nullify all of Bremer's orders that plunder Iraqi's assets and national resources, and sue the US corporations that are involved.

Un-cover bush's Clean Skies Act, by showing how he has de-regulated corporations and let them decide how much they will comply.

Show (visuals) how the Healthy forrests Act is providing exploitation and clear cutting.

Show testing of water and mecury and stricnine (misp?) and results.

Make sure the senate hearing #2, on pre-war intelligence, finishes before June.

Make sure that the spying on Americans is finished with all of the facts.

Make sure the truth about the Katrina mess is is fully disclosed.

Make sure the truth is known about black box voting and voting laws are exposed and remedied.

Help groups like Media Matters and F.A.I.R. take back our Public airwaves and make sure repubs and dems, alike are notified. Local news is imparative. For all Americans.

Keep fighting the un-PATRIOT ACT. This is a bi-partisan issue.

Don't argue, yet, about global warming. Win on these bi-partisan issues. First, as repubs are so fond of saying, you have to win elections before you can set policy.

Shame repub congressmen with fact (and only FACTS), let their own constituants push them on these bi-partisan issues.

Get a committee to research and study everything about each issue, assign each person or small group a part of the issue, get a consensus of each committee. Meet all commissions often. Make the facts as short and concise as possible and every dem sticks together with the same exact message, in private, in public, and on the media.

'Stay on message', no more bush bashing. Goal orientated, issue driven and only absolute facts, no almosts, maybes, if, ands, or buts.

Let them hang themselves. They are becoming, great at it.

I think this approach could help take us 'over the top'

Each mid-term election back good moderates and progressives. Make sure they have all the help they need. Townhall meetings, flyers, inter-net, get out the vote.

Then give each issue to one or two senators, and divide up the dems in the house onto each issue, and have them 'drive them home' in the media, in congress, at town hall meetings, in an informed, concise, factual manner.

EACH ISSUE HAS TO HAVE AN ALTERNATE PLAN!!!

i.e. the 'pay-go' plan and exactly how you would pay for it.

Dems and progs don't need 'talking points', the repubs are doing it for us.

cunningham, delay, abramoff, blunt,libby, rove, hecka good job brownie,

oil and gas prices, republican's refusal to swear in oil

CEOs and letting them lie to congress,

bush's medi-care screw up,

bush's Social security debacle,

bush's spying on Americans,

bush's complete failure on Katrina,

bush's refusual to provide, congressional oversight committees, with documentation on abramoff or katrina,

Let's let them do the 'hard work' for us.

However, need to find one voice that is easy to bring together all dems and repubs:

Oil and gas...corruptions and market manipulation, prices, corporate welfare, repubs refusal to swear them in, CEOs lying to congress.

Social Security....uncover the bush plan and how it really works. (borrowing your own money to invest...no insurance for early death, disability,or retirement.

Education...precisely how no child left behind is working...not. College education, cost, changed by cuts.

Subsidizing Caymen Island schemes and how they pay to move corporations and jobs away from the USA.

Sweat shops....conditions and wages and how they apply to workers in the US and abroad...i.e. Third world workers exploited, while driving down the workers in the US.

The war in Iraq.....the devastation we have done (have our senators fly over Fallujah and other bombed out villages and cities...actually see reconstution and hold halliburton, bechtel and others responsible. Sue them for jobs incomplete, poorly done or/and not done at all. Hold them accountable for, rotten food and contaminated water, $45 per case soda, etc.

Get our multi-nationals out (especially the corporate security forces, para-military' that have complete immunity from US or Iraqi law). They are committing atrocities that are getting our troops killed, fueling the insurgents and recruiting terrorists.

Give the reconstruction back to Iraqis and help them financially, by paying their contractors for jobs completed and inspected.

Nullify all of Bremer's orders that plunder Iraqi's assets and national resources, and sue the US corporations that are involved.

Un-cover bush's Clean Skies Act, by showing how he has de-regulated corporations and let them decide how much they will comply.

Show (visuals) how the Healthy forrests Act is providing exploitation and clear cutting.

Show testing of water and mecury and stricnine (misp?) and results.

Make sure the senate hearing #2, on pre-war intelligence, finishes before June.

Make sure that the spying on Americans is finished with all of the facts.

Make sure the truth about the Katrina mess is is fully disclosed.

Make sure the truth is known about black box voting and voting laws are exposed and remedied.

Help groups like Media Matters and F.A.I.R. take back our Public airwaves and make sure repubs and dems, alike are notified. Local news is imparative. For all Americans.

Keep fighting the un-PATRIOT ACT. This is a bi-partisan issue.

Don't argue, yet, about global warming. Win on these bi-partisan issues. First, as repubs are so fond of saying, you have to win elections before you can set policy.

Shame repub congressmen with fact (and only FACTS), let their own constituants push them on these bi-partisan issues.

Get a committee to research and study everything about each issue, assign each person or small group a part of the issue, get a consensus of each committee. Meet all commissions often. Make the facts as short and concise as possible and every dem sticks together with the same exact message, in private, in public, and on the media.

'Stay on message', no more bush bashing. Goal orientated, issue driven and only absolute facts, no almosts, maybes, if, ands, or buts.

Let them hang themselves. They are becoming, great at it.

I think this approach could help take us 'over the top'

Each mid-term election back good moderates and progressives. Make sure they have all the help they need. Townhall meetings, flyers, inter-net, get out the vote.

Then give each issue to one or two senators, and divide up the dems in the house onto each issue, and have them 'drive them home' in the media, in congress, at town hall meetings, in an informed, concise, factual manner.