The bill’s ultimate passage was assured on Wednesday when Democrats agreed to forgo a filibuster in return for consideration of the (Specter) amendment. Any changes in the Senate bill, however, would have made it impossible for Republican leaders to meet their goal of sending the bill to the White House before adjourning on Friday to hit the campaign trail.
The Specter amendment failed. They are going to vote on the Kennedy and Byrd amendments now. They will fail. The Dems have already agreed not to filibuster, hoping the Specter amendment might pass. This shameful cave-in will never be forgotten. Ever. We haven’t forgotten other blemishes on our history, like the Japanese internments, the Dred Scott case, or the resolution authorizing force in Iraq. And if the Dems think they have bought some protection against charges they are weak on terrorism, they are wrong.
Underscoring the political stakes involved, White House spokesman Tony Snow said today that President Bush will emphasize Democratic opposition to the bill in campaign appearances.
“He’ll be citing some of the comments that members of the Democratic leadership have made in recent days about what they think is necessary for winning the war on terror,” Mr. Snow told reporters en route to a fundraiser in Alabama, according to a transcript provided by the White House.
I doubt he will be quoting this:
“What this bill would do is take our civilization back 900 years,” to before the adoption of the writ of habeus corpus in medieval England, Senator Specter said.
The Democrats didn’t prove they are strong on terrorism. They proved they are weak on human rights and defending the Constitution.
sad day and even the poll on C-Span that asks if detainees have rights to go before court to question their being detained – over 80% says yes that have this right!
The Republicans are soft on terrorists if they have to resort to torture and not being able to try even one in a court of law in five years.
Sorry but think this is important – Just learned something over in comments a Kos.
I just can’t believe this shit!
Who the hell is directing traffic out there in DC??!!;o( I am so bewildered.
When you are an incompetent boobs, it pays to have weak opponents. The Republicans do whatever they can to fire up there base, even when they lose. The Dems do whatever they can to lose their base.
What is this crap about agreeing not to filibuster? “Thank you sir, may I have another?”
Disgusting.
Hi Cabin Girl,
I just got off the phone with Harry Reid’s office. There was a nice young man named Nick, and he sounded very choked up. I asked why and they they were watching CSPAN in between phone calls and they are as upset and in tears as are we.
He explained the reason they did not filibuster is that they had only 38 votes – 6 Senators, Nelson NE and Landrieu LA being 2, were going to vote on favor of this abomination. So in effect this bill would have already been a done deal.
The Dems hoped that by forcing them thru amendments one at a time, they could run out the clock or perhaps change a few minds. Given the 6 Cowardly traitors – I say its the better strategy.
Also there is NEW 800# it is
1-800-828-0498
Thanks. It’s hard to stomach that ANY senator would vote for this sh*t, but even worse to think that it comes down to 6 traitors from the Dem side.
OT, but does anyone outside the blogosphere even realize what happened today?
Thanks for the new #.
Most people can’t be bothered CabinGirl. They are so busy(think about how it got that way for a minute)working, taking the kids all over, the PTA, the dog to the vet and on and on and on. I watch out here in California all the time. Everyone is in such a fucking hurry to get to nowhere. Drives me nuts. They don’t want to bother their pretty little minds with such trivial things as torture, civil rights and humanity. What the hell?
I wish it were different, but I think you’re right. I went for my morning walk with some other women from the neighborhood today, and I’m sure they would have been shocked to find out what all our little senators had been up to today. Almost like we live in parallel universes.
We are so fucked.
America is DEAD.
I just made arrangements for my kids to be cared for once me and my husband are “detained” because we will not stop marching.
Good Bye.
I never thought we’d return to the days of John Adams, but I guess that’s what you get with a president as bad as – no, worse than – Adams. There is so much more at stake now.
Cripes.
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.”
Sinclair Lewis was right. And my father and all those who fought fascism in WWII seemed to only have delayed its arrival here.
I just gotta say, apparently this no longer applies to the Us of A.
I am about to call barbara Boxer and tell her not to send me anymore requests for money. Same with the DNC (actually, I already called them). Same with countless others who are always begging me for money and ten not doing anythuign with it.
Oh, I’m gonna vote in 2006 all right. And then I am going to give money to every single primary opponent of these weak ass, waste-of-time, waste-of-flesh democrats.
so pissed.
I need a drink.
And so it’s official: we’re not where we think we are. The American democratic experiment has utterly failed; the dream is over.
What next?
And here I thought nothing would make me feel more let down or betrayed by my party’s elected legislators than the vote that put Alito on the Supreme Court.
How DARE they bargain away their strongest card — the filibuster — in exchange for something that they HAD to have realized had no hope of passage at that price? They didn’t even agree based on the PASSAGE of the Specter amendment — only on its CONSIDERATION? How utterly STUPID can they possible get?
Now, ironically, the only hope lies with the same Supreme Court justices whose confirmation we opposed…
This is a sad, sad day.
They are so busy war profiteering over in Iraq in order to spread”freedom and democracy” while they chisel away at it here. We are so screwed people. Now what?
Call the fuckers and tell what you think. Keep fighting… just now – it’s going to be “radical”. More dangerous. No more playing nice.
I did call David Wu State Rep – because he was one of the few who stood against this.
America IS DEAD.
oh and PS… I love you!!!!!
oh and guess what – when I called Wu’s office in DC… they said.. HEY! We just Cristy of CodePinkPortland, Civic Resist here and she was in the Gallery yesterday.
Don’t give up hope… it’s very very bleak right now… and more dangerous than we can imagine. We just all … ALL have to get out there. Out of our comfort zones.
Out in the fucking streets.
We just violated International Law.
I need someone that understands International Law to fill us in what is the next step is regarding a citizen’s responsibilities in upholding International Law.
What are we now required by International law to do to get the US back in compliance.
Looks like this probably needs a seperate thread…
http://www.boomantribune.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2006/9/28/163034/015
The myth of American exceptionalism is now officially dead. The myth was on life support as it was, and it was only a matter of time before they pulled the plug over in DEE CEE.
The bankruptcy bill made me sick. Now this. There really are no words.
Exactly. Every effin time I think it can’t possibly get any worse, they comeup with new and devious ways to prove me wrong. Now I just have to ask, what will they do to trump condoning torture?!?
Ugh. I am sick and in shock.
Fuck the Goddamn Democrats. These sniveling cowards made the deal to protect their own jobs at the expense everything America always claimed to stand for. This was no “compromise”, it was a blatant, shameless sellout. The Democrats had a historic moment. They used it to supinely cast their lot with America’s domestic enemies. By doing so they proved for once and for all that electoral politics is no longer relevant, and justice and decency will have to be fought for by other means.
I am ashamed that I ever imagined that either party was anything more than a punch and judy show created to co-opt democracy itself. They have left us an American future of failure, repression, and civil war.
Fuck Politicians! Fuck them all!!!
that Madman, AG and others have been saying for some time now…a vote for Democrats is a vote for a “kinder and gentler” version of Big Brother and the continuation of war without end…
Brings to mind a song written 10 years ago, by John Cale…
We are witness to the self destruction of the American ideal, and it is happening much faster than anyone could have imagined.
I am ashamed.
formerly of Steppenwolf
I wish being right didn’t taste so much like I’d thrown up in my mouth right now.
Why didn’t I take my own advice and stay away from the internet today?
How utterly shameful.
The day after the 2004 election, I felt so demoralized. Dean’s presidential run had long been destroyed. Cegelis had lost to frickin Henry Hyde. The decider was going to rule as president again.
I went to my store room pulled out an old mattress, threw a blanket over my head and cried for hours.
Now I feel cold. And nauseated. And empty. Time for a long walk.
I need a drink. Any Philly boomantribunesters, get in touch as to where.
i am embarrassed and ashamed today.
Hmm…
I’m despondant. It that worse than depressed?
I sincerely wish I’d been wrong. Really.
I’ve been feeling the despair you’re expressing for quite some time, and it became white-hot rage after Kerry’s capitulation.
We’re in for a long struggle. The greater majority of this dead party needs to go, and the hack clones they’ve annoited need to be rejected.
Looks like Torture Law illegal according to treaty…
“…The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was signed by the U.S. in 1992 and outlaws torture or degrading treatment.
The treaty mandates signatories to submit reports on their compliance with the treaty every five years to the Human Rights Committee, which reviews reports and presents its findings to the United Nations….”
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1029-03.htm
US Constitution says treaty obligations take precedence over all Congressional action.
From the text of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
“Article 7
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.”
http://www.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm
The terms of the 1992 Covenant on Civil and Political Rights take precedence.