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Senator George Voinovich, Please Take A Bow
UPDATE: 18:52 PM, The motion for cloture fails 56-42. The Senate to recess shortly. The debate over the nomination will begin next month, when the Senate comes back from a weeklong recess.
Harry Reid and Joe Biden make it clear that this was not a filibuster, and that the Bush Administration is to blame for failing to turn over documents to the Senate that were requested three weeks ago, despite the fact that Majority Leader Frist spent the better part of the day trying to get them.
Hardball covers the vote live, with commentary that makes Fred Flintstone look like a political genius. *sigh* At least they cover actual politics instead of sitting around making inane remarks about it.
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There are some folks in the Senate who are having a hard time making up their minds about John Bolton and they need to hear from YOU.
Linc Chaffee, (R-RI): 202.224.2921
Mike DeWine (R-OH): 202.224.2315
Chuck Hagel (R-NE): 202.224.4224
Olypia Snowe (R-ME): 202.224.5344
Susan Collins (R-ME): 202.224.2523
Arlen Specter (R-PA): 202.224.4254
Jim Jeffords (I-VT): 202.224.5141
We have until 6PM, so let's get going guys!!
I know you may be tired from the filibuster fight. But we NEED to push on.
Here's what inspired me to write about George Voinovich today...
I was sitting on my bed last night, with my work spread around me from hip to hip. I was determined to catch up on all of the things I had been postponing in favor of working on the filibuster fight. I had CSPAN2 on in the background quietly, keeping me company, as I often do. When you grow up in a huge family as I did, you get used to hearing a lot of voices around when you are working.
I had just decided to start bearing down on going through the "to file" pile, when I heard a pretty amazing thing coming from the well of the United States Senate.
I heard someone speaking the truth.
You know that phrase "the ring of truth"? That's what I was hearing, and my heart stopped the work of my hands, to see who was speaking.
It was Senator George Voinovich (OH-R) and he was talking in a plain, yet deeply emotional way, about his fears for the future of America should John Bolton be appointed to the United Nation.
Please take ten minutes and read his floor speech from yesterday's Senate debate, speaking against the nomination of John Bolton (please note that this is a few pages of the Congressional Record, so you will need to click on "next page, this document at the bottom to turn the pages and read the full speech, but it is well worth it).
You will be amazed by the courage and humility of this man. I know that I was.
Here is an excerpt from that testimony:
I also want to point out that Carl Ford, Lawrence Wilkerson, and almost all of the witnesses who came before our committee are appointees of the Bush administration. These are loyal Republicans who say: I am a conservative Republican. I am loyal to the President, that they could not abide Mr. Bolton's nomination because of their concern for his conduct and his erratic, often unprofessional, behavior.
That is what this is about.I have to say that after pouring over the hundreds of pages of testimony and speaking with many individuals, I believe John Bolton would have been fired if he had worked for a major corporation. That is not the behavior of a true leader who upholds the kind of democracy President Bush is seeking to promote globally. This is not the behavior that should be endorsed as the face of the United States to the world community at the United Nations.
It, rather, is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what the diplomatic corps should not be. I worry about the signal we are sending to the thousands of individuals under the State Department who are serving their country in foreign service and civil service, living in posts across the world and in some cases risking their lives, all so they can represent our country, promote diplomacy, and contribute to the safety of Americans everywhere.
What are we saying to these people? And I care about human capital. I have been working on it now for over 6 years. When we say to these people that we look to confirm an individual with this record to one of the highest positions in the State Department, what are we saying to these people? I was in Croatia. I was in Slovenia. They can't believe it.
I want to emphasize that I have weighed Bolton's strengths carefully. I have weighed the fact that this is the President's nominee. All things being equal, it is my proclivity to support the President's nominee, as most of us. However, in this case, all things are not equal. It is a different world today than it was 4 years ago. Our enemies are Muslim extremists and religious fanatics who have hijacked the Koran and have convinced people that the way to get to Heaven is through Jihad and against the world, particularly the United States. We must recognize that to be successful in this war, one of our most important tools is public diplomacy, more than ever before--intelligence and public diplomacy. After hours of deliberation, telephone calls, personal conversations, reading hundreds of pages of transcripts, and asking for guidance from above, I have come to the determination that the United States can do better than John Bolton. We need an ambassador who understands the wisdom of Teddy Roosevelt's policy to walk softly and carry a big stick. The U.S. needs an ambassador who is interested in encouraging other people's points of view and discouraging any atmosphere of intimidation. The world needs an American ambassador to the U.N. who will show that the United States has respect for other countries and intermediary organizations, that we are team players and consensus builders and promoters of symbiotic relationships.
In moving forward with the international community, we should remember the words of the Scot poet Bobbie Burns who said:
Oh, that some great power would give me the wisdom to see myself as other people see me.
And when thinking of John Bolton earlier today, I thought of one--I don't know whether it is a fairy tale, or whatever, called ``The Emperor Has No Clothes.'' We are going to vote tomorrow, and I am afraid that when we go to the well, too many of my colleagues are not going to understand that this appointment is very important to our country. At a strategic time when we need friends all over the world, we need somebody who is going to be able to get the job done. Some of my friends say: Let it go, George. It is going to work out.I don't want to take the risk. I came back here and ran for a second term because I am worried about my kids and my grandchildren. I just hope my colleagues will take the time before they get to this well and do some serious thinking about whether we should send John Bolton to the United Nations.
I yield the floor.
There is precious little courage, let alone truth, going on in the Senate these days. Take some time and read the testimony.
Then call George Voinovich and thank him, 202.224.3353.
Unfortunately Casey, Chafee is a Bush man and believes that the president is entitled to have his appointments confirmed regardless how unqaulified. I have called his office multiple times and his staff is just not interested. I told them thank you, and that my Rhode Islands friends will remember that next November. I am sorry to say that I just don't trust Senator Lincoln Chafee.
Senator Voinovich must be supported, wholeheartedly, for no other reason than many are watching to see who stands behind him, or who stands to tear him down.
Why he chose now instead of weeks ago, we dont know, nor should we be privy too. It doesnt matter.
What Matters is there are several hundred democratically elected representatives that must choose to follow the Religious Extreme supporting this white house, or to stand as Senator Voinovich is, and draw the Line where Democracy must be defended. They will be making their choice based on how the Nation reacts.
If We allow anyone that stands to defend Democracy, be they republican, democrat, independant, to be torn down it will send a chilling message to anyone considering the same.
That is how they win.
We stand behind Voinovich...then others will stand with Him. There are events in our history that are looked back upon and decided as a turning point. The last few months events are a turning point, If we place the country and the Consitution ahead of our ourselves. This is what grassroots are all about, We must recognize the Moment and sieze it.
This is how we Win.
Support the Office of a Senator that has stood for his Nation, and for what he believes in. This Battle is bigger than being a Democrat or a Republican, liberal, conservative or Independant. We must form alliances with senators and congress that love Freedom, Liberty and this Nation as much as we do.
This is how the Nation wins.
Sen Kerry, LIVE right now
on CSPAN 2, on Bolton
DeLay PAC in Texas indicted today.
http://dailydelay.blogspot.com/2005/05/public-campaign-action-fund-statement.html
"They slip and slide across the floor, as they grease each other out the door..."
- Anonymous political operative
Voinovich on again right now. Pleading.
My email to Senator Voinovich:
"Dear Senator Voinovich,
I watched your speech on c-span yesterday, and watch it again today. I want to thank you for your strength, truth, and patriotism.
Law makers from both sides of the aisle should look to your example of what our country needs in it's leaders.
Thanks you for putting the needs of the country, and indeed the world, ahead of the wants of the party. You are a strong leader, and I salute your patriotism.
Yours,"
http://voinovich.senate.gov/
May 26, 2005
Judge Rules Group Tied to DeLay Violated Election Law
By ANNE E. KORNBLUT
WASHINGTON, May 26 - A Texas judge ruled today against a political action committee tied to Representative Tom DeLay, finding that the group's treasurer failed to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in violation of election law.
The decision in a civil lawsuit brought by five defeated Democratic candidates has no direct impact on Mr. DeLay, the House majority leader, who formed the political organization. He was not named as a defendant in the case.
But the ruling marked an important symbolic and legal victory for critics of Mr. DeLay, lending credence to allegations that he and his associates skirted legal constraints to gain the Republican majority in the Texas House in 2002. Three of Mr. DeLay's closest associates have been indicted in a related criminal case, part of a widening controversy that has engulfed the congressman for months.
Judge Joseph H. Hart, the senior district judge in the civil case, said in a letter to lawyers on both sides that Bill Ceverha, the treasurer of Texans for a Republican Majority, should have reported $532,333 in corporate donations that was spent illegally on campaign activities rather than for administrative purposes.
Until recently, Texas law allowed businesses to donate money for administrative expenses.
Mr. Ceverha will have to pay $196,660 as a result of the ruling, a sum that will be divided among the plaintiffs. Lawyers for the plaintiffs said that they expected the defendants to appeal, but that they were confident the case laid the groundwork for Mr. DeLay's associates to be found liable in several other pending civil suits and convicted in a criminal trial.
"This was an important first step," said Cris Feldman, a lawyer for the Democratic plaintiffs. Mr. DeLay's spokesman did not immediately return telephone calls for comment.
Mr. Ceverha's lawyers had argued that the group operated within complicated new campaign finance laws, and that all of the corporate contributions had been spent on administration, an argument the judge did not accept.
A portion of the civil case remains undecided while the criminal case is under way; charges that Mr. Ceverha and two other associates of Mr. DeLay conspired to evade campaign finance laws will be addressed once Ronnie Earle, the district attorney in Austin, Tex., concludes his grand jury inquiry.
Dear Senator Voinovich,
I watched your courageous statement on the floor of the Senate yesterday.
I think you are a man of rare conscience and integrity.
You put your country and her people before your career yesterday and I don't imagine you will have a very easy go of it in the Senate for the rest of the 109th Congress.
Please know that for every slight and petty remark that you hear from your "colleagues" and the administration, there are thousands of us out here that think you are a man among men.
I will be keeping a copy of your speech in my three-year-old son's keepsakebox, along with the story of the Bolton nomination. I would like him to know what real patriotism looks like and sounds like.
I would like him to know what it means to have ethics, principles, courage, humility and wisdom.
In other words, I would like him to know about you, Senator Voinovich.
God bless,
Spinnaker
Spinnaker: beautifully said. Sail on!
Ira,
I think it's important to call Chaffee regardless. It's important to have him on record as being FOR something his constituency is AGAINST.
And frankly, I do not think Chaffee has made up his mind.
As for his trustworthyness, no way would I ever trust that guy. There's a name for what SEnator Chaffee is, and we don't generally use it in polite company...
urgent notice from IRC:
[17:19] (xxx): Senator Salazar (CO) is now voting NO on Bolton cloture. Senator Feinstein (CA) still on the fence. If you live in california, or if you know someone who does, we need them to call.
[17:20] (xxx): 202-224-3841
Next week, six of the DCP crew will be at Take Back America. This just in:
Dear Karen,
According to a new poll just completed by the Democracy Corps with the Campaign for
America's Future, the American people feel overwhelmingly that in the Washington of
Bush, Frist and DeLay, the right wing that is in control is out of control. [1]
Poll results highlight that the right wing is peddling an agenda that the American
people just aren't buying. Mugged by reality, Americans are alarmed by the current
course and are looking for bold progressive solutions to real problems.
The poll results completely counter the President and right wing's post-election
claim of a "mandate" to impose their radical agenda on the American people. In
fact, the three signature policies of the so-called conservative revolution -- the
war in Iraq, Social Security privatization and economic prosperity through tax cuts
for the wealthy -- were all rejected by a majority of Americans.
- 56% oppose Bush's Social Security privatization scheme.
- 57% feel that the Iraq war has not been worth the cost of U.S. lives and dollars.
- 62% feel that our economy is not good for middle and working class people.
Get the complete poll results here:
http://action.ourfuture.org/ctt.asp?u=3881157&l=94649
Beyond merely opposing the right wing's agenda, this poll shows that Americans
strongly embrace progressive solutions for the future, and want an active government
to work to solve the problems facing our country.
- 83% support a national commitment to energy independence -- such as that outlined
by our very own Apollo Initiative -- with investments in alternative energy and
energy efficiency.
- 86% agree that the government should "guarantee that every child receives the
basics" in education -- a healthy start, good nutrition, quality preschool, small
classes and well trained teachers.
- 76% support guaranteeing health care to all through a program similar to Medicare.
- 76% want action to end tax breaks to companies that move jobs abroad and to
provide incentives for those who create jobs here and allow unions to organize.
This poll shows that the American people are hungry for bold, progressive
leadership. A majority of Americans (55%) would rather see Congressional Democrats
stand strong against President Bush and the Republicans to prevent them from pushing
their agenda too far -- than work in a bipartisan way to help pass the President's
radical agenda. The message to the Democratic and progressive leadership in
Congress is clear: Don't cower before the Republicans -- stand up, speak out and
fight for progressive values!
In less than one week, over 1000 progressive Americans will gather in Washington, DC
at our Take Back America 2005 conference. The failure of the right and the
remarkable public rejection of the policies -- and increasingly the philosophy -- of
Bush, Frist and DeLay opens the door for a progressive challenge. At Take Back
America 2005, progressive leaders thinkers and activists will come together to
highlight the new ideas that progressives are putting forth to challenge the right
and forge a new progressive majority.
We hope that you'll be able to join us in Washington next week, and we look forward
to continuing our work together to build the emerging progressive majority, and take
our country back.
All the best,
Robert L. Borosage, Co-Director
Campaign for America's Future
P.S. You can get more information about our Take Back America 2005 conference --
including our latest agenda here:
http://action.ourfuture.org/ctt.asp?u=3881157&l=94644
P.P.S. Please spread the word about our latest poll results and Take Back America
2005. Forward this email to friends. Discuss it on your favorite blog. Let's make
sure that more people know about America's emerging progressive majority and add
themselves to our growing ranks.
Casey I agree folks should call Chafee just to let him know we are watching his every move. But unless Voinovich's heartfelt speech actually got to him, he's made his mind up.
Victoria Ellen: as much as I would like to believe that the civil judgment against Tom DeLay's group was an indictment, it wasn't. 6 defeated Texas Congressmen sued TRIMS for the $200,000 that was illgellagly funneled through corporate contributions and they won a civil judgment which unfortunately Prescilla's Ownen's pals on our Texas Supreme Ct will certainly overturn. Only a Grand Jury can indict anyone, not by a judge's ruling.
Incidentally Andrea Mitchell just mentioned that Bolton was knee deep in the 2001 Florida recount debacle that put W in office and started our national nightmare. No wonder W wants to reward him. Had not heard that before and that behavior says it all for the kind of guy Bolton is.
Would like to know Casey if we have any credible candidates to run against Chafee next Nov. He is not 1/2 the man his dad was.
Specter went back to Pa w/o voting and sounds like the Repubs at 54 votes won't reach 60 votes for cloture tonight. Who are the 2 Dems voting for cloture?
41 votes. Debate on Bolton continues.
Did I hear a quack,quack,quack from Pa Avenue?
Landreau, Bill Nelson per CSPAN sided with Repugs
Just checking in to say I've been spreading the word to Hagel's constituents in Nebraska and asked Nebraska DCPer Zac Hookstra to weigh in on his efforts. Zac, if you received my message, can you give us an update?
battlebob: has Mary decided to switch parties?Her voting record this past month looks more Republican than Dem.
Mary is in a tough position and I think that when ever she can vote with the Republicans without "hurting" the Democrats position, she is smart to do so.
As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Harry Reid told her to do that, and I bet she checks with Reid before doing so at the least.
Sorry Casey I just don't buy that. Mary is not up for re-election for another 6 1/2 years. I was a vocal supporter for Mary, personally like her and even sent her a few hundred dollars for her re-election but after her vote on Anwr she has just not been a profile in courage.I can understand her vote for Owens more than this vote. You are right it was a free pass but I would be surprised if she votes against Bolton in the end.
Any comment on Bolton's involvement with the Florida recount Casey in 2001?
Did I hear a quack,quack,quack from Pa Avenue?
Posted by: Ira at May 26, 2005 06:45 PM
If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...
DUCK!
Speaking of ducks...
It also raised questions about Bush’s ability to win confirmation of some of his more ideological appointees. And it was a setback for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who was hoping to end nearly three months of delays and investigation and finally deliver Bolton’s nomination for the president.
Frist said the Bolton matter soured the air of cooperation.
“John Bolton, the very first issue we turned to, we got what looks to me like a filibuster,” Frist said. “It certainly sounds like a filibuster ... it quacks like a filibuster.”
Bolton & the Bush v. Gore Florida vote recount, from the Nation archives
John Bolton vs. Democracy
by John Nichols
"Im with the Bush-Cheney team, and I'm here to stop the count."
Those were the words John Bolton yelled as he burst into a Tallahassee library on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, where local election workers were recounting ballots cast in Florida's disputed presidential race between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
continue~
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0414-25.htm
I called to thank him but I took it one step further. I asked him to cross the aisle and join with the democrats who have been fighting to protect all of our grandchildren from this current regime.
Anyone think he'll follow MY advice?
Casey if anyone deserves a break it is Bill Nelson who will have a tough re-election next year. The RNC has already announced their intent to target him.
Bolton even looks like the thugs I remember pounding on the glass to the Tallahasse library trying to stop the 2000 vote. There are certain images that leave an indelible mark,that was one of them.That was the first I had heard of that story.
Casey is correct. Sen Mary Landrieu will be facing re-election in '08, so Yes, back home it does matter how she casts her votes. Whenever it is "safe" for her to vote conservative, she will. She's got to win re-election in a state that was once blue, but is in danger of losing both of our moderate Dems, if she loses in '08. (former Sen. Breaux's seat is now in Repub. Vitter's hands.) Mary L will prob. be facing young Rep. Bobby Jindal in '08. He's a fast rising star here in this red state and Mary must hold her seat, and she can't do that in La. unless she is seen as a very strong "moderate" Dem to the vast majority of her constituents. The liberal Dems like myself here in La. know that, so we have to forgive our Mary a few votes across the aisle.
Landrieu is up for re-election in 5 years not 6 but that's still a very long time.
Posted by: Ira at May 26, 2005 07:47 PM
Faily soon, I'll be referring to her as Sen. Landroid.
Diss Appointment
Citizens group files charges against Bush for an impeachable crime as described in the Downing Street Memo. The citizens group is officially asking congress to investigate criminal activities of Bush and Cheney in the lead up to the war.
http://rawstory.com/exclusives/alexandrovna/coalition_inquiry_downing_street_memo_526
ontovictory are you sure she is up for re-election in'08. Its hard to believe her last election was in almost 3 years ago in 2002; it just doesn't seem that long ago. That is still 3 1/2 years away and I will forgive her on this vote on cloture but I am sorry her vote, even though she represents the oil business on Anwr was shameless as was Akakaka's. What will be her excuse if she votes down the line for Bolton, Brown and Pryor. I would then ad that her presence only ads to our count towards majority status and nothing else. If she votes 100% with Republicans I could care less if she does get re-elected.
Sen Mary Landrieu's statement released today, she will vote NO on Bolton:
"In light of this pattern of poor judgment and inappropriate behavior, I intend to vote against his confirmation as Ambassador to the United Nations.
http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/04/2005526D13.html
Yes, the ANWR vote was hard to swallow, but big oil runs this state too.
She had a very tough race, but was re-elected in 2002. Look who invaded our state to campaign very hard against Mary Landrieu:
In addition to President Bush, a parade of other Republicans came to Louisiana to stump for Terrell, including former President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi and Sen.-elect Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina.
But Landrieu, attempting to maintain her centrist image, did not bring prominent national Democrats in to campaign for her. She received her biggest help from Louisiana's other Democratic senator, John Breax, who is as popular as Bush among state voters.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/07/louisiana.senate/
Sparrow - can we impeach both of them? Getting rid of Shrub just leaves us with an even worse option - if that is possible. A double impeachment would be grand!
Then her vote for cloture only gets her in the good graces of the 14 Senators who supported the filibuster compromise. I guess that prevents her '08 Republican opponent from attacking her as being inconsistant on the filibuster agreement. Shrewd politics but I believe that Biden and Dodd's request for documents was reasonable and deserved her support.
I will never ever see her again as principled, especially on a vote as impt as Anwr. If I lived in Louisiana it would be especially difficult for me to go knock on doors for her. Neither will I give her a dime in '08; my heart and money will be going to Pa. The Owens vote and her being against women's rights to make a private decision on abortion, I am OK with, but not on sacrificing the environment. That was over the edge for me.
Any comment on Bolton's involvement with the Florida recount Casey in 2001?
Posted by: Ira at May 26, 2005 07:19 PM
Yes. He was there, and Dick has a great picture somewhere that shows his face as part of the team looking up at the pinholes.
The image you are thinking of through the window barring the way to the recount? That would be MY lovely member of Congress, John Sweeney.
Thugs? Well, since I comment in public under my full name, I will let you all be the judge. Of course if there's anything to genetics, you may be interested to know that Congressman Sweeney's son was indicted two months back for felony assault. He was indicted under a special law for felony assault when its more than one person ganging up on another person. The person he and the other person indicted suffered critical head injuries...
Like I said, you be the judge.
John Bolton vs. Democracy
by John Nichols
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0414-25.htm
Posted by: on.to.victory4Dems at May 26, 2005 07:28 PM
~~~~~~~~
Payback's a bitch.... Why is it every time Bu$hCo has to pay back favors to his stooges and cronies, the citizens of this nation suffer for it?!?
Admittedly, I've not been watching MSM infotainment news, but during the entire litany about Bolton in the Senate on C-Span today and yesterday, I did not hear one word whatsoever about Bolton's role in the 2000 "election" debacle in FL....
Anyone wonder what he owes Owen? The other judges he's nominated? What history do they have with BushCo??? For that matter, I wonder what kind of personal history BushCo has with anyone else he has nominated and/or appointed who has ultimately proved to be so disastrous to this nation (aside from the very visible ones like Rummy, et al) since 2000...?
Ira, can you give any insight into Amnesty International going after Rumsfeld, Feith and a few others for war crimes, meaning they are going after them such that if they sedt foot in Europe, they will be arrested and indicted and tried for war crimes, much like they grabbed up Pinochet in London?
Have you heard or do you know anything about this?
Ira, I respect your opinion very much and if I lived in any other state, I would agree with you about Sen. Landrieu. But all politics is local, as they say, and she will never get re-elected unless she maintains her centrist position here. Believe me, I'll keep Mary if the alternative is Vitter-clone, Jindal.
But I hear ya, would that La. be true-blue again, but we must live in reality, and keeping centrist Dem Mary, with all her faults, is our reality here.
Nonny, there was a time when we could count on the media to ferret out the answers to those questions for us - alas, ... well, you know.
Regarding Landrieu and ANWR, I worked hard on that issue as it is near and dear to my heart. But I think we have to recognize that there are far, far worse things happening under this administration with regard to the environment than just ANWR. I suspect that voting as she did on ANWR gives her some "political capital" to spend on other important environmental issues. Republicans care about the environmnent too, they just care about oil profits a little more.
We are so quick to eat our own around here.
What's Owens connection to Bu$h?
....here's a couple:
Owens’ extremism isn’t limited to just anti-abortion rulings. She has numerous credentials in this department. Perhaps the most shocking of her rulings came on behalf of the Enron Corporation, one of the biggest contributors to her election campaign to the Texas Supreme Court. In one particular instance, Enron beseeched the Court to overturn a previous unfavorable ruling in a tax case. Owens ended up personally writing the new majority opinion that saved Enron from having to pay property taxes.
http://www.americanhumanist.org/humanism/bush.htm#_Toc38443675
Believe me ontovictory we all want to see Mary re-elected in '08 but the environment is very impt to all of us here and I am having a hard time getting past her vote on Anwr. i am sure by '08 we will have dealt with hundreds of other battles like SS where she will show her Dem. stripes.
Casey my understanding is that only the world court in the Hague has intl recognition to charge a political leader with war crimes and that Amnesty Intl is only a mouth piece and organization with fine scholars and lawyers but not jursidictional authority. They sent Rumsfield an open letter in '02 charging him with atrosities but I don't suspect it will get much further. Their is a local scholar I know that has argued before the Haugue if it is that impt to you.
By Don Knowland
8 March 2005
Use this version to print | Send this link by email | Email the author
Four Afghans and four Iraqis have sued US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in federal court in Chicago, the city of his principal residence, for implementing interrogation policies that resulted in their torture at the hands of US military forces. The case was filed on behalf of these plaintiffs on March 1 by the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First, until recently known as Lawyers for Human Rights.
According to the complaint, all the plaintiffs “are and were non-combatant civilians who pose no threat to the United States.” They were not engaged in hostilities against the US, were never prosecuted for criminal violations and were released by the military after being brutally tortured. The suit charges that this torture came as a result of a “policy, pattern or practice of torture or other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” authorized at the highest levels of the US military."
This story was posted at Amnesty Intl's site don't know if that is what you were referring to.
Is Bolton's photo in Fla appropriate to be posted here or is that making it too personal, too much like payback for 2000?
In selecting a recipient, the Profile in Courage Award Committee considers public servants who have demonstrated the kind of political courage described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage. In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Kennedy wrote:
"In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience – the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men – each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient – they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul."
It seems Voinovich looked into his soul and found courage.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1492198,00.html
Bush's war comes home
His dream of dominating every government institution in tatters, the US president is already plotting his revenge
Sidney Blumenthal
Thursday May 26, 2005
The Guardian
President Bush's drive for absolute power has momentarily stalled. In a single coup, he planned to take over all the institutions of government. By crushing the traditions of the Senate he would pack the courts, especially the supreme court, with lockstep ideologues. Sheer force would prevail. But just as his blitzkrieg reached the outskirts of his objective....
I look back on the days when Ed Dirkson, Bob Dole, Breaux and Alan Simpson regularly crossed party lines to vote for good public policies and appointments regardless of party affiliation. What Voinovich did regarding Bolton was in the best tradition of the Senate,which if it ocurred during almost any other period of time in history would be considered the norm, not some grand gesture to do the right thing.Its what most of us naive people think that all of our elected officials are sent to Washington to do.Unfortunately these times have become rare and Voinovich is only a relic to the new generation of Senators like Frist and Allen who don't give a flip about Senate traditions.
Posted by: Ira at May 26, 2005 09:14 PM
Well said... almost perfect actually.
I haven't had a chance to read all the above comments so my apologies if this has already been discussed.
There are indications coming from some political reporters that President Bush will appoint Bolton as a "Recess Appointment" next week while the Senate is in recess.
If Bush does this, Bolton will immediately become UN Ambassador until January 2006 and there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it.
mary: that was mentioned on Chris Matthews as an option for W. My thought is that W thinks that Bolton is a slam dunk now that he's out of committee unless something explosive is in those documents that Biden and Dodd have sought. That would be an admission by W that there is a problem in those documents and I would look for Biden to then take further action and a confrontation with the Whitehouse. With W's numbers plunging I don't see that happening but as you recall he did that with Pryor so putting his thumb in the Senate's eye is not beyond the realm. I just don't think that is necessary unless W really thinks he could lose.In my mind that would be a pyric victory for the Dems.
MediaMatters covers recess appointments:
Discussing "one other option" President Bush could resort to in order to secure John R. Bolton's appointment as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, if the Senate rejects Bolton's nomination, CNN host Wolf Blitzer had this suggestion for Bush: "[H]e could do what former president Bill Clinton used to do, have what's called recess appointments and just get his nominee through with that technical procedure." CNN senior analyst Jeff Greenfield responded by noting that a recess appointment may occur only "when the Congress is in recess," but he neglected to mention that Bush has already demonstrated ample willingness to employ the procedure on his own: He made 110 recess appointments during his first term -- nearly as many as Clinton made during two terms in office.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200505130007
I heard the broadcast of Senator Voinivich on the way into work about 12-1/2 hours ago. It was a voice of conscience & I called to congratulate using my cell phone (outside of the workplace) as my internet is blocked there.
This is good to come home & read.
I'm also watching the EU Constitution vote, because much as I'd like the dollar to rise against the Euro (to make it easier to travel and to buy European goods), I'd like to see a "yes" vote where all 25 countries agree on the EU constitution. Reason? I agree that it would counterbalance the power of the US & China. The EU has 425,000,000 people.
Re. Social Security - heard a good position on Marketplace (radio) - Bush's private accounts are also a way of union-busting. Most current union-backed retirement plans are benefits-based & Bush's private accounts would be contribution-based. That may benefit corporations but it wouldn't benefit retirees.
Someone asked about Bolton/ 2000 election/ Florida.
Check out this image:
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/images/photos10.16/8569_512.jpg
More admittedly partisan reporting on Day 4 of the Dino Rossi for WA Governor trial:
Today, on the fourth day of the trial, Judge Bridges expressed skepticism about the crux of Dino Rossi’s case – his proportional deduction theory. Clearly the court questions whether it should determine the outcome of the election by guessing how people voted based on where they live.
Ø Ø Today, Judge Bridges made it clear that he was unwilling to validate Dino Rossi’s theory of proportional deduction as being based on generally accepted scientific principles.
Ø Ø Judge Bridges comments in the court revealed his skepticism about the substance of Rossi’s theory.
Ø Ø Of course, even under Dino Rossi’s theory of proportional deduction, the result reinforces the fact that Christine Gregoire got more votes than Dino Rossi.
Ø Ø And, yesterday, on the courthouse steps…Dino Rossi’s own attorney Mark Braden admitted that there was no evidence behind his yelling “fraud” in the courtroom for three days, saying, “I cannot point to anybody who committed fraud.”
WHAT THEY DON'T SAY IS THAT JUDGE BRIDGES IS GOING TO ALLOW ROSSI TO USE THE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION THEORY ALL THE WAY TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT. THIS WAS A MAJOR BLOW TO THE DEMOCRATS.
DiAnne, is the proportional Representation theory as accurate as, say, exit polling?
Are you planning to attend the Women's leadership conference June 5? I think I might go, and I'd love to meet you. I'm hoping to travel up with a couple of other dynamo women from down here.
Re. Social Security - heard a good position on Marketplace (radio) - Bush's private accounts are also a way of union-busting. Most current union-backed retirement plans are benefits-based & Bush's private accounts would be contribution-based. That may benefit corporations but it wouldn't benefit retirees.
Posted by: DiAnne at May 26, 2005 10:16 PM
Ed Schultz today was explaining that most outsourcing has union busting as it's main goal, and it's working. These guys are so many steps ahead of us....
Amy
My friend Elizabeth is going to the day event for Women & then there is the big Howard Dean thing in the evening, but one is $125 & one is $75, I think - & I really got gouged by the airlines (going to see my mother in ND).
I think the 5th is a Sunday though & I could meet you guys somehow maybe - would love to meet you too! You can email me through the Forum. I'm just a busride away from anywhere downtown & an early bird.
Bush-As-Groucho Posters Spark Uproar
Friday May 27, 2005 1:16 PM
AP Photo WHRE103
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Posters that depicted President Bush with a Groucho Marx-style mustache and cigar were ordered torn down at a high school after a student complained.
Theater students, who had created the posters to advertise a satirical play, countered with new posters with a First Amendment message.
Principal Kenny Lee ordered 100 posters removed from the campus of El Camino Real High School in the Woodland Hills area last week on grounds that they promoted smoking and ``endorsing one ideology over another.''
``That's our take on the student speech and conduct,'' Lee said.
The school-funded posters advertised the students' play, ``The Complete History of America (Abridged),'' which satirizes U.S. history.
A senior who supports the president wrote a complaint letter to the administration, teachers and students said.
``We had one student who was very upset,'' Lee said. ``If something is bothering a student on campus, we're going to address it.''
The poster ban infuriated some students.
``It taught us that the First Amendment certainly does not guarantee the right of free speech,'' said Jes Shah, 16, a junior in the school drama program.
The principal asked the drama students to come up with new posters. The new designs all feature a silhouette of Bush and a burning cigar, along with inscriptions such as ``Free Expression for All (unless you are in high school)'' and ``What First Amendment?''
``They're good,'' Lee said. ``I like the follow-ups.''
http://www.guardian.co.uk today
Short abridged report on Seattle Democracy Cell
(more detail in Forum under "Pacific") - ideas
for organization
Here are some of the types of activities:
Don't Think of an Elephant-- Picnic followed by a discussion.
Monday Standing Meetings with the State Executive Director
First day at new office --June 7th. We will have access to the office on weekends and evenings very soon.
Installation of Campaign Volunteer Database
The Technology Committee will meet State Technology Manager, to install the volunteer database
Committee on Volunteer Systems looking at a draft for a volunteer form and discussing processes, policies and procedures.
Booth at the Fremont Fair!! (Last year the Republicans had a very prominent booth at the
The Events Committee looking at events and creating a calendar, helping to set up kits to take to events and deciding on bumper stickers and other material which we will sell at events.
We still have to agree as a group on our name.
This has all come about because of grassroots volunteerism & organization.
Poor Tom DeLay. Everybody is picking on him. Even the show "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." Maybe MSM is starting to see things our way? Or at least, some writer on the show is... Almost makes me want to turn my t.v. back on.
NBC clashes with Tom DeLay on Law & Order
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representative Majority Leader Tom DeLay accused NBC on Thursday of slurring his name by including an unflattering reference to him on the NBC police drama "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
DeLay's name surfaced on Wednesday night on the show's season finale, which centered on the fictional slayings of two judges by suspected right-wing extremists.
In the episode, police are frustrated by a lack of clues, leading one officer to quip, "Maybe we should put out an APB (all-points-bulletin) for somebody in a Tom DeLay T-shirt."
In a letter to NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker, DeLay wrote: "This manipulation of my name and trivialization of the sensitive issue of judicial security represents a reckless disregard for the suffering initiated by recent tragedies and a great disservice to public discourse."
--snip--
Some leading Republicans used harsh terms to condemn judges earlier this year after courts failed to intervene to save the life of Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman who died after her feeding tube was removed at her husband's request but against her parents' wishes.
At the time, DeLay said, "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior."
Producer Dick Wolf, creator of the "Law & Order" franchise, took a swipe at DeLay in his own statement on Thursday, saying, "I ... congratulate Congressman DeLay for switching the spotlight from his own problems to an episode of a TV show."
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=8621627&pageNumber=0
The executive director of Texans for Justice said Judge Hart's ruling yesterday regarding Tom DeLay(he is a Democratic Judge but 'chosen by the Republican lawyers for TRMPAC) said that Judge Hart's ruling yesterday shows that further 'Federal Investigation' of Delay is needed.
The problem with that is that the Attorney General, Alberto Gonzalez, would have to order the investigation and even if DeLay should be indicted and convicted in Federal Court, guess which court DeLay could then appeal to, Casey?
You got it. Prescilla Owens and the Fifth Circuit to the best of my knowledge. Interesting how Repubs seem to have rigged the system.
Melanie Sloan, director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington stated that "DeLay engaged in a conspiracy to violate Texas campaign laws in order to gerymander Texas congressional districts." Texans know full well what happened and how some of our best Dem State Representatives who had previously won their state races by large margins (my rep Debra Danberg who was wildly popular and won her previous elections by 60+ % suddenly lost when she and others were suddenly pushed into strongly Republicna Districts and this $500,000 in illegal corporate money was funneled to Republican state legislative races. $500,000 is a staggering sum to spend to win state legislative seats that at the time only paid a salary of $7,500.
My guess is that she is saying that DeLay should be prosecuted under the federal rackateering laws. That leads me to believe, which is what I have heard down here is that Ronnie Eral, the Travis Cty (Austin) D.A. is having difficulty finding a nexus to DeLay's activities to Travis Cty and difficuly getting co-operation from the Republican Ft. Bend (Sugarland Texas) D.A. office to indict and prosecute DeLay in the State District courts. Anyone else know more about this?
typo Ronnie Earl is the Travis Cty D.A.