Clinton, Dodd, Biden, Obama Skip Mukasey Confirmation Vote

Mukasey, 66, was the White House's first choice to replace Gonzales.

Besides Schumer and Feinstein, Democrats voting to confirm Mukasey were: Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Tom Carper of Delaware, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Of the Senate's two independents, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut voted for confirmation and Bernie Sanders of Vermont voted against.

Not voting were Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden of Delaware, Hillary Clinton of New York, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Barack Obama of Illinois. All four had said they opposed Mukasey's nomination.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain of Arizona also was absent, as were GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and John Cornyn of Texas.

Read entire article here.

Comments

[whatsreallygoingonhere]

Where I come from people get promotions when they do a good job. They're getting paid to do a job and then, on a vote as important as this, they don't show up to represent their constituents and defend the constitution?

Sorry guys, no 'promotion' for you! If you can't handle your duties as a Senator, you do not get a promotion to President in my book.

You're fired!

[theswan]

Canidates without voice?
I'm sick of political maneuverings of this type. This sort of stuff only tells me that image trumps substance.
In your face BS. Something a bush might pull. Are they no better? Apparently not.

[underdog]

More of the general democrat "can't do" attitude here:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/House_Dem_defends_leadership_decision_to_1109.htmley_impeachment.php

Here is one avenue to voice your opinion:

http://usalone.com/chen

[rh654]

LOL - now the two front running Democrats who want to be President skipped the vote on Mukasey.

Are they really trying to show who has the least amount of spine?

Or are they really just that stupid that they think they can dunk these things and it will go un-called for in the General election?

[SaviourMachine]

Dodd is a posuer.

All that posturing re;Mukasey and poof.

As for the other three I'm not going to waste my breath.

[Schmice]

The job of a Senator is be present in the Senate chamber when a vote, especially one this critical, is taken. What would have brought distinction to these Presidential aspirants would have been to be there and vote their conscience. Even "present but abstaining" with an explanation would have been a sign of leadership. Sadly, some Democrats choose to wait and wait until they find the ideal battleground. Just come out and explain the intricacies involved in your decisions, the national interest involved and how your vote will help achieve a stronger and safer America. I am not convinced that Mukasey is the right man for the job, but you have to hand it to Bush. It was truly Rovian of him to have Schummer, a Democrat, nominate him. Its still turd blossom season in Washington. Remember him? Rumsfeld? Do you think they just go away never to be heard fron again. Smell something underfoot?

[only1Demvoter]

I for one, would like some kind of credible explanation from each of them, for their absence.

-ralph

[jarthur]

Not that it's necessarily a good excuse, but what the article fails to mention is that tomorrow is the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Des Moines, Iowa - the premier annual fundraiser for the Iowa Democratic party. The Senators in question have all been in Des Moines for the better part of this week getting their supporters fired up for the event at which Obama, Dodd, Clinton, Biden, Kucinich, and Richardson will speak and have the opportunity to sway any remaining undecided party activists. I know that Senator Reid gave the candidates a stern warning about missing votes this week back on November 2, but it was naive on his part to think that they would be in Washington over Iowa this week. Whether that is right or wrong, Harry Reid knew that, so I question the timing of the vote.
As for McCain, I don't know what his excuse was.

[Uther]

The Republicans have this country halfway down the slippery slope of fascism. (Don't take my word for it. Look up the definition of "fascism". Or just go here: http://www.bushflash.com/14.html or here: http://www.ellensplace.net/fascism.html)

But the Democrats don't seem to care.

[freespeach]

What are the Democrats doing?

They screwed the American people this week by protecting Bush from impeachment. They did this with dirty tactics showing they DO know how to play hardball, they DO know how to use the rules of the house to their advantage.....when they actually believe in something. They obviously believe in protecting George Bush from impeachment.

Detailed explanation:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/GOP_troublemakers_save_impeachment_measure_1107.html

They are confirming a man who approves of torture as policy for our nation.....Mukasey

The two DLC loyalists, Obama and Hillary are being forced on us. Neither has the character or compassion to show up and vote against torture lover Mukasey.

They are screwing us on the FISA bill, giving a dirty war criminal the freedom to spy on us.

They continue to fund the crimes in Iraq while "talking" about how the oppose war.
Stop listening to their talk and watch their votes.

They continue to fully support the law for Iraq created by Dick Cheney known as the hydrocarbon law.

They have been taken over by a group of dirty corporate whores known as the DLC. They have killed our party and eliminated the voice of the people. A great explanation here:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/090607J.shtml

If you are a decent person who values honesty, and wants the war to end.....you have no voice in the Democratic party.
They want you to shut the fuck up and vote for them every two years.
If you are fed up with being treated like this, check out the Greens....

http://www.gp.org/

And if you think Democrats are "at least still good on the environment" read this and cry....then please wake the fuck up.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toby-barlow/news-alert-if-you-love-r_b_71888.html

Or like the cool commenter said yesterday, you can keep on being Charlie Brown and the Democrats will keep on being Lucy holding the football telling you it will be different this time.....

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"Clinton, Dodd, Biden, Obama Skip Mukasey Confirmation Vote"

----------­----------­-----

LAME!!!

[Beelzebul]

Rudy stated he would be happy if he were only half as successful as this if elected president.


"Kerik, 52, was named in a 16-count indictment charging him with, among other felonies, fraud, tax evasion, obstruction, filing a false loan application, and making an assortment of false statements when applying for various federal posts, including Homeland Security secretary."


I think I'll have to redo my resume and aim a little lower. That way, not much will be expected of me.

[dailyrev]

Note that the headline catches all the blue Pres candidates, but omits McCain, who should have the strongest stake in this, given his outspoken (and correct) history on waterboarding. Hillary and Barack should indeed be called to account for failing to vote on this, but so should McCain.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

"President Bush is not fazed by other candidates' war records. He said, I may have not fought in Vietnam, but I created one." —Craig Kilborn

[BettiMoran]

Now that Mukasey has been confirmed isn't it time for Mcain to insist Mukasey declare waterboarding IS torture, as Mcain promised he would do?