Letters to the Editor
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I can see it now
Obama votes "present" and then criticizes Edwards and/or Clinton for voting either way. Then Obama hides behind a life-sized cardboard cutout of MLK when Clinton and Edwards raise their eyebrows at him.
I love this game, don't you?
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Needless to say
This will be a telling way for the various candidates to distinguish themselves. The top two dem candidates are both sitting Senators and how they respond to this challenge will certainly be one of the main criteria I use for deciding my favorite.
On the subject of the Dems showing their security bona fides by rolling over and playing dead, I have an entertaining fantasy.
Imagine these as the first words of a voiceover for a campaign commercial.
Karl Rove thinks you're stupid. Karl Rove thinks you are a coward. Karl Rove thinks that you can't tell the difference between a political activist and a terrorist. Karl Rove thinks your afraid of Freedom. Karl Rove wants to be able to read your e-mail when he can't even be trusted to back up his own. Karl Rove thinks that the American dream was buried in the rubble of the World Trade Center.
In November, I urge you to tell Karl Rove to STFU!
I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.
OK, it'll never happen but it's a nice thought.
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I have my pitchfork...
... and I'm ready to use it. I want us to do anything and everything that we can to highlight the importance of this fight.
Just in case the Democrats are looking for a bit of leverage on the issue, might I suggest taking note of this:
Bush invited the bipartisan congressional leadership to discuss an emergency rescue package centered on tax rebates and business tax cuts but also likely to include increases in unemployment benefits and food stamps. "I've got reasonable expectations about how fast something can happen," he said. "But I'm also optimistic something will happen."
Speaking in the Cabinet Room packed with lawmakers and advisers, Bush said both the administration and Congress want to find a solution quickly, but that's he knows that can be difficult with the sometimes tedious legislative process.
"Everybody wants to get something done quickly, but we want to make sure it gets done right," the president said. "And make sure that everybody's realistic about the timetable. Legislative bodies don't move necessarily in an orderly, quick way, and therefore these leaders are committed, and they want to get something done."
Emphasis added. http://tinyurl.com/22uxhx
Why can't the Democrats suggest that by bringing the SJC version of the bill to the Senate floor while agreeing not to add retroactive immunity back into the bill (and of course, "good behavior" in the conference process to reconcile with the House version), the stimulus package will have smooth sailing and won't be crowded out of the Senate calendar by a protracted filibuster of the SIC bill?
Oh, that's right. That would require courage.
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explain to me again, why didn't anyone support Chris Dodd's bid for the nomination?
Barack Obama's message may be stirring, and John Edward's plea for the poverty stricken is certainly well-placed. Hillary Clinton's 35 years of experience doesn't do anything for me. But none of three are addressing the damage this administration has done to the constitution and the nation in any concrete way. We know George Bush has been a disaster. We don't need those three to tell us. We need them to take the lead and fight him. That's exactly what Sen. Dodd is doing.
Personally, I think we'll get some luke warm support from Obama and Edwards and some murky "yes, I mean no" from Clinton on t warrentless eavesdropping. Their timid (fearfull)responce will allow the Republicans to take the lead and own the issue (once again)no matter how wrongly.
Unfortunately, all I really see from the three Democratic candidates is typical whistle-stop campaign talk. Chris Dodd has been out front on these issues and took a true leadership roll, and the best we can hope is that the three Democrats running to be the President of the United States (the LEADER of the free world) will *ahem* support him.
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A Cave Index for "Cave Democrats"?
I think we now have a new moniker for those noodle-spined Democrats we so despise: Cave Democrats. Now we need to develop an index that would show us which Democrats cave the most.
To create the Cave Index we must identify all the votes on legislation in the past few years that would give Bush what he wants in opposition of the desires of the Democratic base, and then calculate what percentage of the time each Democrat voted to cave into the President's demands. This will be the Cave Index, an easy to understand value we can use to evaluate our politicians.
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LA Debate
This issue desperately needs to be brought up at the upcoming debate in Los Angeles on January 31st. The event is sponsored by the Politico and you can submit questions to the candidates online at http://dyn.politico.com/debate/.
I urge everyone to submit a question on this issue to all the candidates. If enough people do it, hopefully one will get through.
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RE:
GG:
"It will be increasingly difficult to listen to Edwards, Obama and Clinton tout their supreme leadership attributes..."
I'm not sure how it can be MORE difficult to listen to them than it is now. That having been said, I will call, write, fax, etc. the various leverage points as they are delineated over the next few days.
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Where were Clinton, Obama, amd Edwards when Dodd was standing up?
Mouthing meaningless platitudes.
Feh.
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endlessly frustrating
I've written and called my senators on innumerable occasions as the FISA fight has unfolded. I've emailed, and called, Harry Reid's office. I've signed every petition I can find sponsored by EFF or the ACLU and donated money/paid a membership fee to both to support their efforts. I've hounded my friends about doing the same until they've learned to fear their email inboxes. I've written to all three Dem front runner's campaigns as an uncommitted voter looking for someone to take a damned stand on something substantial. My own email inbox has been flooded with campaign contribution solicitations in return. I've donated money to Chris Dodd's campaign hoping the others would get the message. And, I'll do it all over again as Glenn and others indicate it's time to push once more.
But, I think the Dems figure they have me on the ropes no matter what they do. I can't see myself voting for any of the Republican front runners, so the only other thing I can threaten is to stay home in November.
I. Just. Hate. This.