42 Democrats voted against Alito, a sufficient number to sustain a filibuster or to force the Republicans to follow through on their threat to blow up the cloture rule (even if Chaffee had flipped his vote on a cloture vote).

So there it is - evidence of EXACTLY what is wrong with this party. No will, no courage, no principles. Plenty of posturing ("Hey - I voted against Alito, right?" and "Hey - I actually CALLED for a filibuster - remember, Hillary?"), but not enough gonad among the lot of them to make a fight on principle - even at the cost of...HORRORS!!!!...losing.

You think I'm "cynical," boys and girls? There's nothing more cynical than a cowardly, capitulating elected Democrat. All nuance, no guts. No principle worth fighting for except the principle of triangulating themselves into reelection.

What a pathetic bunch. All they have to offer is that they are the "alternative" to Republicans, but when it comes time to put up and prove that they really do offer an alternative, they hide under tables.

Fuck the Democratic Party. Every time these useless, spineless turds do something like this, another three hundred thousand voters - the poor, the unemployed, the defenseless - shrug their shoulders and say "What the fuck - if they're not going to do anything for me then I might as well vote for Republicans - crumbs are better than nothing."

Howard - quit your day job and go third party. This truly is the end of the Road to Nowhere.

42 voted no on the nomination and they didn't all vote for the fulibuser? I don't get it. What is the reasoning? Have any of these guys explained? I didn't get the "voting their conscience" thing Reid was offering the other day either.

Is a Senate "tradition" being preserved more important than allowing a man on the Supreme Court who will not preserve the Bill of Rights and the checks and balances of the branches? Something is really wrong in the Beltway, and we're finally realizing that a lot of the problem is on our side of the aisle.

Baron, I refuse to yield our party to a bunch of idiots. Let them get out... and start looking for a job with all those people losing their jobs at Kraft.

Well, here we are.

Bravo SandyH. I agree 110%.

Im here

Sheehan arrested in House gallery

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Tuesday in the House gallery after refusing to cover up a T-shirt bearing an anti-war slogan before President Bush's State of the Union address.

"She was asked to cover it up. She did not," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman, adding that Sheehan was arrested for unlawful conduct, a misdemeanor.

Capitol police arrested Sheehan and questioned her for about an hour in a separate area of the House, a senior House official said

Posted by bb on January 31, 2006 at 10:27 PM

So, a Civil Rights Leader, the Right to Privacy, and the Right to Freedom of Speech have died today.

AAHHH, the POWER!!!

(of sugesstion)

Howard - quit your day job and go third party. This truly is the end of the Road to Nowhere.

Posted by BaronScarpia on January 31, 2006 at 08:34 PM

I often wondered if those that followed Dean through the primaries turned their back on the party 'cause their man didn't win and in doing so, allowed the repugs to retain the WH. Now they want their leader to jump the democratic party and start a new team.

WOOT!

{{Jaq}} ya made it!!! YAAAY!!!!

Ok which is it - did Cindy have a banner as CNN is reporting or did she have on a T-shirt?

Hello Kathy. Missed you.

Looks like a t-shirt.

They said that so far, at least 5 people have been arrested for wearing anti-war tshirts at Bush speeches/rallys.

From MSNBC:

The T-shirt bore the words “2,245 Dead — How Many More??” in reference to the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq, protesters told NBC News.

CBS is showing polls right now - everything they are reporting is showing Bush with huge high poll numbers. Shafer just said that when a republican president gives a speech, more republicans watcha nd respond to these types of polls. But when a Democrat President has a speech, more Democrats watch and answer the polls differently. They are also reporting that the pres will good up in the polls but they think this will be short lived because Bush just able to get his message out there as he used to.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Tuesday in the House gallery after refusing to cover up a T-shirt bearing an anti-war slogan before President Bush's State of the Union address.

Sheehan arrested in House gallery

Me thnks that the TALKING HEADS on CNN DON'T even read their OWN news.

I know some here have a hard time understanding my methods, I'll be the first to admit, they can be mad at times, but really, why would anybody wear or carry something that they know will have them removed from the chambers? It is the state of the union, for goodness sakes. There is protocol that is followed.

Personally, I think her calm presence during "the show" would have spoke louder than her trying to make a statement with a shirt/sign.

The dems didn't stand or clap when it went against what they believed in, but they most certainly will shake the President's hand. Honey, not piss, people.

Honey hasn't been working, and only paints this party as the weaker of the two.

No free speech in my own capital!

Hi Rob - what did you think when Bush made a reference to the effect that the country and it's people will always go with what's moral? An indirect reference to same sex marriage. I thought it was rather a low point.

A republican friend just emailed me and asked what I thought about the speech - I wrote back I didn't watch, was it good. She wrote back and said it was great - I then replied, good that means he resigned? I'm waiting for her reply - she probably logged off.

It was activist in this Country's history that have effected change, not the passivist.

It has been those that have stood up against oppression in this country that have mandated change, not those who stay in the chains of bondage.

Passivity will kill democracy, and I applaude Cindy for standing upon her Rights of Free Speech. At least she is taking a stand.

play-by-play on the open thread

Rob - man this Toll Road issuse is really heating up in Indiana isn't it? That gal from Lake County is an ass. There was open warfare today down state - dumbshit Mitch is asking for the Democrats to take a hitch like they did over Day Light Saving time - they'll walk - just watch!

sigh....omgoodness!

We need to get people we want to represent us to run for elected office. If we don't, we should run ourselves.

Then you can piss on the repugs and their president when you are in the chambers.

Love that: must mean he resigned.

Same sex marriage, abortion, you name it, I really think we are going to see Congress and this administration start to take stands against the "immoral", especially since the court will side with them now.

Only problem: whose morals are we going to use? Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, or Atheist?

are we on the right thread? Where is everyone?

yes right thread

I don't think the SOTU was the place to hold that kind of freedom of speech. Knowing this administration, she knew what would happen.

Has Cindy been on any news shows yet? I'm not watching at the moment. If not, I bet she would have been interviewed by MSM that most Americans watch and got her message out.

bbl - I'm going to hunt around to see where everyone is....

Cindy Sheehan wore that shirt because she is a publicity whore. Who doesn't know that?

Who ever vetted Tim Kaine for the Democratic Party rebuttal tonight should be fired - I don't care if who it is - even Dean.

Kaine was not up to the task. He needs to take a crash course in forensics and public speaking before he's allowed to speak again on the national stage for the Democratic party.

He sounded like a Kmart advert ad

We don't get many chances to work the press in this party - that may be a failure of party leadership in and of itself - so when we do, we should damn well put up someone competent

and Kaine is not competent - in my not so humble opinion.

If this was all a "dry run" for 2008, someone in the Democratic Party leadership made a strategic mistake in my opinion because the 2006 elections are arguably more important than anything that happens in 2008.

Someone in the Democratic Party has done no better than FEMA did in it's response to Katrina - is that the record of competence this party is going to run on?

I've worked my butt off for this party, and if you all nominate this guy for president in 2008, I'm going to try and take back the Republican party

And given the mood I'm in right now - I think that task might be easier than helping this party win elections.

I'm back - looks like this is the thread - everyone else must be a parties.

I've got mixed thoughts on Cindy. One hand, I'm glad she's standing upp against this president who killed her son but then on the other hand, I think she would have made more of a statment if she would have just sat there.She could have stood up at some point and turned her back - that would have been all over the news.

you should all really give them more money...that always helps.

THE REAL STATE OF THE UNION

Kathy,

Yep, it is getting interesting here.

I doubt Mitch will have a second term, and hopefully we will see a swing towards Democrats here.

Is everybody jumping the democratic party?

I wish I could be at one of those parties Tim is posting about. Instead, I'll get some beauty sleep.

Heading for bed - got to work tomorrow and laugh at my republican co-workers. They can't be too proud of coke jaw - that speech wasn't the best. Man, he's hard to listen too - my eye balls are tired from rolling around in disgust!

Good Night all -
Keep on Rockn'

Rob - you got that right - one term Mitch! Hey see you around. I need for you to fill me in on that guy we have as a Congreeman who no one knows in Elkhart County - what's his name Stouder or something? Anyway - that's another time and another thread - but I will seek you out and I want to know more on him.
Good night.

Posted by newbie on January 31, 2006 at 11:13 PM you should all really give them more money...that always helps.

The failings of both parties is plain for everyone but rabid partisans like you to acknowledge.

The difference between the GOP and the Democratic party is that there are still some people in the Democratic party willing to acknowledge them.

evening folks, everyone that watched the sotu done hugging the porcelain god?

greetings,

the comments are hilarious, y'all...so glad i missed the speech, because you're much more entertaining and informative

Pam, lots of that little throw-up taste happening, lately...dpd, if you're around i'm ready for one...
a shot, that is...

hi jen

i missed it, thankfully...addiction to oil?

Hit {{fade}} with your best shot!

From BradBlog:

Call the White House Comment Line 202-456-1111,1,1 and express your outrage that the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq was arrested for wearing a t-shirt with the number of soldiers killed in Iraq!!!!!

a t shirt? who arrested her, the fashion police?

{{{dpd}}}

raw story has comments from Kerry and Reid, which are apparently much more rousing than either of the speeches.

i really enjoyed your comments, pukels...very good..the jaw thing, too...hilarious

laughing as we ride into the apocalypse is better than crying, or (in my case) raging...

the whole crew was spectacular tonight

Yes, a t shirt is now illegal in this country if it doesn't praise the Dictators policies.

hi fade, yeah. and he talked about defeatists. you know, dems.

dorsano on January 31, 2006 at 11:11 PM

{{Dors}} I agree

And why, this being the DNC blog, don't we have an open thread tonight to discuss tonight rather than posting all over the different threads...

oh well, it's past my bedtime.

Goodnight {{everybody}}

others have been arrested for wearing the wrong shirt in the wrong place. remember those people at the wva bush rally?

we are addicted to oil. kurt vonnegut talked about it in his book. he acts like it's some new idea. hello?

tom oliphant pointed out that many of the things bush said tonight sounded to him like i think he called them industrialist dems from the 80's about spending money on energy alternatives and spending money on math and science.

make the tax cuts permanent and spend lots of money AND reduce the deficit by half by 2009. he's a magician. W stands for Wizard.

jen

npr was commenting on the speech as i drove home...ej dionne said the new orleans comments were really out of place...

one of these things is not like the other...

also noteworthy was the jab at gay marriage

did you see Tim Kaine? he didn't seem to be a big hit here...

what did you and jeff think?

{{{GiG}}} hi and bye love!

i miss jb

What was the matter with Tim Kaines eyebrow? I thought he was channeling the spirit of John Belushi.

LOL Richard

hi {{GiG}}

Toooooo funny Richard.

well actually husb was out of control, doing the nazi salute and calling bush der fuehrer. he even yelled sieg heil out the back door at the top of his lungs. i told him i was going to have to call the cops. lol. he was fired up about bush and also some b.s. the odmrdd pulled today on his dad's mrdd advocacy league.

kaine was ho hum. i mean, i'm glad he beat kilgore and all but i'm not crazy about him. and who ever thought 'there is a better way' was a good slogan needs their head examined. i'm pissed about kaine's stance on gay marriage. apparently the pundits i watched (david brooks (ew) and pat oliphant (ah) with jim lehrer) think we are going to see a lot of emphasis on being 'less partisan' and dems and repubs working together and effective management rather than incompetence. mentioned obama as another one who is aiming for purple.

i dunno. bleh.

haha Richard! i think kaine comes off like a milquetoast.

less partisan?

well, it's beyond me...i'm not smart enough to understand what the utility of "playing" like the middle is somewhere between the truth and the nazis...o well, i'm not that smart

there's a better way? wow...dazzling, astounding, yawn...NO is this reaction to "Democrats don't have a plan"

CHANGE THE SUBJECT for pete's sake!

{{Jen}} {{Fade}}

Jen, what is "funny", I only have local stuff here now, I've cancelled cable/dish, and right after the broadcast they changed over to the German Nazi regime and history...hint!! anybody??

As for Kaine, I have to agree with Dors...I was switching my 5 channels since I couldn't stomach the "state of the union" speech and almost missed him alltogether....he was so blahhh.... and so not a speaker who is willing to fight for this party and he didnt' get our (heck, any) message out. We need somebody who will fight for us, and along the grassroots levels, with us.

Ok...I'm really out of here...

g'nite all

did anyone see brian ross (he's great) on nightline talking to the injured iraqi vets who the dod overpaid combat pay while they were in the hospital and then made some of them go without pay to get their money back?

evening

thanks {{GiG}}, too funny, subliminal messages on local tv! hey, i totally agree with you guys on Kaine.

hi cin how are ya?

hi jen, just got back from a meeting for kindergarten. didn't watch chimp but eric wanted to tape it - i'm trying to get caught up - i take it the dem response was bad....

gawd, i really missed my laptop tonight. no tv in the office and i can't watch tv on the p.c. very well. i guess i missed all the fun. listening to mike malloy and a caller talk about the wastes of dna - heart attacks waiting to happen behind bush tonight

it was tough finding you guys - threads all over the place

it was just not very inspiring Cin. how was kg meeting?

jen - yeah who is the ugly guy that is always behind him - not cheney, the other one

"This year, the first of about 78 million baby boomers turns 60, including two of my dad's favorite people: me and President Clinton."

Camera cuts to Senator Clinton, with an incredulous look on her face, and an ever so slight shake of her head.

It takes lots of skill to be both a kiss ass, and a back stabber at the same time.

yeah Cin. we misfits on the open thread are not getting with the program i guess.

i may be getting it confused with a snl spoof

did laura really sit next to a dog?

Hastert.

yeah, Richard, lots of practice honed that skill.

thx jen

Hello

Is this where the thread move to? If ya'll don't mind me asking?

yes, it's hard work

yes, it's hard work

no Laura sat next to a black man and a woman with a muslim headscarf. unless the gop is showing it's true colors again and making freudian slips about what they really call them in private.

there was a dog there, though, and probably the most dignified mammal there.

oops - see

i hope so hank, unless there's more than one thread going on at a time. how are ya?

dog story

jen - lol

Hi folks. Your friendly night owl here. I've posted a couple of times in the last few nights. I used to work with a gal that said there were two kind of people in the world. Larks and owls. I'm the latter.

In the last week we've had highs and lows. No one seeming to care that Alito was going to be confirmed, to Kerry calling for a filibuster, to many of us doing what we could to support that call, and the euphoria that the effort caused. There was the downer of no filibuster, but, most of our guys hung together today and Alito got less democratic turn coats than Clarence Thomas, and the Democrats were in a majority at that time. But those were more collegial times.

Tonight was the state of the union. If you want a good summation of all the lies go over to thinkprogress.com. You'll have to scroll down a ways to read them all. Frankly I think the people running this blog should have been doing something along the same line, but what do I know?

At this point one feels the need for a bit of humor and I found it at the Washington Post. Its at http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2006/01/sub_spying_in_l.html#more.

I'm sorry I don't know how to make links on this site. If someone cares to enlighten me, I'll be more than happy to try to follow the instructions in the future.

Sorry for the lengthy post.

MSNBC Live Vote poll

Did President Bush persuade you that he has the right plan for the country?

68% say no, 32% are watching way too much CMT

hi pax! thanks for posting about that bit of the patriot act last night having to do with protests.

Considering our leader is still an idiot. I am doing good. Thanks for asking.:)

Considering our leader is still an idiot. I am doing good. Thanks for asking Jen.:)

Sorry for the double post. Got an itchy trigger finger tonight.

Dors you're right,
What is it that the DNC leadership does not get? What is it about this party that is unable to produce a strong forceful leader to articulate the the message of the Dems? Obama would have been a great choice as would former Virginia Gov Warner. Kain's message is at best alright, but it had absolutely no sticking power. But, it was not as bad as Gov Locke's response from a few years ago. This party is too afraid to offend anyone and that includes their only rivals. You do not have to slander by no means, but you can articulate meaning and forcefulness. Just my two cents about Gov Kaines response.

gotta sign off - nite folks

hey jen. Thanks for giving me a hat tip over at your blog. Almost missed it!

no problemo Hank, glad you're doing well. i guess we can count on one thing, bush is and always will be an idiot.

President Bush's State of the Union addresses, by the numbers

night Cin

my pleasure pax, if the first place i see something is here or on another blog, i hat tip.

"in places like Syria and Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea and Iran." , Countries on this years SOTU hit list.

Could we be looking at a "quickie" war with a small country, ala Grenada 1983, to boost poll numbers? Burma would be a neat little target for the strongman Bush.

Will someone, or a group of people say like congress, stop this man?

I thought Burma was now Myanmar anyway?

Will someone, or a group of people say like congress, stop this man?

yes, 01/2007?

g'night

Posted by Richard on February 1, 2006 at 01:03 AM

Yes, hopefully the mid-term elections will kick start that. But as long as the DNC keeps putting up wispy whishy washy responders like Gove Kaine the dems can flush their future down the toilet. Burma? We would lose for sure. "Never get involved in a land war in Asia!"

Jen, you are right Myanmar is what was once called Burma. Terrible human rights record.

Good night Jen. I guess I will hit the hay too. Later Dems!

Over on the leftcoaster.com the second post down is entitled "Deserting the War on Terror". It tells us about all of our "allies" that will be deserting the scene in Iraq in the next little while.

Earlier I read an article somewhere on the www about the newsanchor that was injured in Iraq this weekend. It said the military hopital in Germany was receiving 30+ injured soldiers a DAY. That equates to almost 11,000 a year. Somehow, someway there is a discrepancy with what we are being told about the 15,000 or so that have been injured. Another lie I guess.

The night owl is off to bed

Bleau -

You can stop "wondering." I worked for Kerry after Dean went down. Don't look to supporters fo Dean for the reason why Bush is in the White House. Look to the Democrats who support him in Congress, day in and day out. Remember? Joe Lieberman - Dean's way was the "Road to Nowhere?"

Well, welcome. You've arrived. Nowhere.

Posted by BaronScarpia on February 1, 2006 at 07:57 AM

Woo-hoo! One dean supporter, millions more to inquire about! ;\

You mean Joe Lieberman has more than one vote? Damn! That isn't fair!

PUNISH THE DEMOCRAT SELL-OUTS! DRIVE THEM OUT OF THE PARTY! VOTE FOR THEIR PRIMARY CHALLENGERS AND REFUSE TO VOTE IF THEY WIN THEIR PRIMARIES AND GO TO THE GENERAL.

MAKE 2006/2008 THE YEARS TO TAKE BACK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!