Senate Clown Show

This past week, the U.S. Senate put on a clown show.

With most Americans wanting troops out of Iraq, Democratic leaders in the Senate failed to get enough Republican votes to overcome GOP filibusters for fairly tepid change-course measures. They could get only six Republican votes even for a Jim Webb proposal simply requiring that U.S. troops spend as much time at home as they spend deployed in Iraq.

But thanks to 22 Democratic clowns joining a Republican circus, the Senate was able to break the partisan impasse by overwhelmingly passing one bold measure: A defense of Gen. David Petraeus against a MoveOn.org newspaper ad. The resolution expressed "full support" for the general and condemned "personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces."

Cable news networks that cheer-led our country into invading Iraq took a break from their latest all-O.J.-all-the-time binge to make an antiwar ad more controversial than the ongoing slaughter of Iraqis and Americans that the invasion predictably unleashed. And 22 Democrats were more desperate to distance themselves from the 3-million-member MoveOn than from less than 50 Republican dead-enders bent on prolonging the killing.

The 22 Democrats can be reached by dialing the Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121. They are Baucus (MT), Bayh (IN), Cardin (MD), Carper (DE), Casey (PA), Conrad (ND), Dorgan (ND), Feinstein (CA), Johnson (SD), Klobuchar (MN), Kohl (WI), Landrieu (LA), Leahy (VT), Lincoln (AR), McCaskill (MO), Mikulski (MD), Nelson (FL), Nelson (NE), Pryor (AR), Salazar (CO), Tester (MT) and Webb (VA).

MoveOn's ad in the New York Times - headlined "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" - questioned whether the extremely political Gen. Petraeus would betray the truth and the facts about Iraq, as he had previously in echoing Team Bush. The ad didn't question his patriotism.

Yet 22 Democrats (plus, of course, Joe Lieberman) backed the pro-Petraeus resolution after hearing its rightwing sponsor declare that the MoveOn ad had "crossed a historic line of decency."

Are these 22 Democrats amnesiacs? Have they forgotten the Republican ads calling war-wounded Sen. Max Cleland a liar unwilling to protect us from Osama bin Laden? There was no Senate resolution defending the Vietnam Vet against those ads.

Nor were there Senate resolutions aimed at Disney, Rupert Murdoch, General Electric or Clear Channel for broadcasting the screeds of the O'Reillys, Hannitys, Coulters, Savages and Becks in which Iraq War critics were routinely referred to as treasonous and traitors.

Nor a resolution after Rev. Pat Robertson declared that Democratic criticism of Bush during wartime "amounts to treason." Or one condemning Bill O'Reilly for declaring that Democratic-backer George Soros "ought to be hanged." Or one denouncing Glenn Beck for wishing on-air for the violent deaths of war critics, including a member of Congress.

The Petraeus/MoveOn resolution had one main purpose: To get Democratic Senators to run in fear from the party's antiwar base. President Bush basically admitted as much in rehearsed remarks at Thursday's news conference: "I was disappointed that not more leaders in the Democratic Party spoke out strongly against that kind of ad. And that leads me to come to this conclusion: that most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org - or more afraid of irritating them than they are of irritating the United States military."

And 22 Democrats fell for this Karl Rovian political ploy - a resolution that fraudulently purported to condemn "personal attacks" on "all members of the United States armed forces."

During the run-up to the Iraq invasion, I worked in cable news when these networks relentlessly questioned the integrity and patriotism of former Marine officer and Gulf War veteran Scott Ritter. As the U.N.'s top weapons inspector, Ritter had stood up to Saddam Hussein's government for years. But when he forcefully questioned the grounds for invading Iraq, corporate media called him an agent of Saddam. . .and worse. No Senate resolution has ever condemned the personal attacks on Ritter.

And unlike Petraeus - who penned a ridiculously over-optimistic Washington Post column (datelined Baghdad) extolling Iraq's security forces, timed just weeks before the 2004 election - Ritter's accurate analysis was never tailored to please any White House.

There is a struggle for power going on in our country between forces for peace and international diplomacy and open debate and civil liberties and social justice on the one hand - and the forces of intimidation and militarism and corporatism on the other. The Democratic base is firmly in the first camp. But not all Democratic leaders are.

When the forces of intimidation and their allies in corporate media cook up one of these obviously phony controversies to bully or distract the public - whether targeting a MoveOn ad or a Michael Moore movie or a liberal politician's minor misstatement - how should we react to Democratic officeholders so quick to aid the other side? Think P.C. - primary challenge.

Comments

[altohone]

The establishment wins. America loses.


The anti-Democrats are running full bore against the majority of the country.

Hillary confirmed this morning that she will keep US troops in Iraq if elected...

... "BEGIN to end the war"...

... not "end the war".

The leading candidates from both parties are selling the status quo.

Are YOU buying it?

[Facethereality]

Any Democrat who supported Republicans in this vote should not be re-elected

[splashy]

Well said! My two idiot Senators that took valuable time voting to censure and AD are on my list of those that should be voted out. I am going to do my best to make that happen!

[julianne]

It seems that the reason we are constantly mitigated from a more forceful position in the House and Senate is that the Dems have a minority of superficial political hacks and the Presidential contenders are not helping to consolidate the ranks and focus on the occupation-slaughter that is now almost exclusively supported by the Republicans. The Dems need a hard core populist leadership, leaders who aren't afraid to point their fingers at those who have committed war crimes, war profiteering, and other financial crimes while spelling out the impending consequences for their deeds. Because only when those consequences are spelled out - criminal and financial - will you see any Republicans alter their suicidal course. Health care talk right now is small fry and shows the Dems are without any hardcore priorities, whether the slaughter in Iraq, the impending bombing of Iran, or the criminal- financial holocaust inflicting millions of citizens. It goes without saying, that the Republicans are the political and ethical scum of the Western World. The Europeans see them for what they are and many of their foreign ministers have warned us that they will not stand for another Republican President (read, corporate fascist).

[olo]

The Rs are skunks & the Ds are punks.
I'd like to bust 'em both up.
Cowardly bullies & just plain cowards;
Arghhh..........

[Earthsaver]

I am afraid to say that Democrats are nor as clever and smart than Republicans. These wimpy democrats are too much on the defense, not as united and aggressively straightforward than the Republicans. Therefore, as long as Dems are not changing that pattern, they will stay at the loser's side...

[Ani]

I've thought about this issue quite deeply. Here are my thoughts - take them or leave them. They're simply the thoughts of a rambling woman who wants the best for her country.

1. The people at MoveOn who concocted the ad are most likely very young people who found joy wading in the shallow waters of their pun, yet found depth to it nonetheless. Kids playing with words. I celebrate their joy.

2. Republican members of Congress found yet another Terri Shaivo moment in the words of the ad. Again, kids playing with words. This time, Dr. Frist didn't place his hands on the TV proclaiming thoughtful life in a vastly unfortunate woman, but rather these Republicans looked at a newspaper ad and proclaimed it a Democratic Party slap to the troops.

5. 22 Democratic members forgot the words of the Constitution and voted with the Republicans who remembered the Constution but chose to subvert it. They followed the petulant, pouty words of the President who conveniently forgot other heroes such as Max Cleland and John Kerry who were equally, if not more, maligned by his own abusive ads. Still more kids playing with words.

Am I disappointed? Of course. Will I hold it against the Democrats? Not for long.

Staying mad at the Democrats serves us poorly.

Take a big breath, everyone. As my high school coach told me when I would mess up, "Shake it off, kid."

We have a war to end. People to help off the streets. Hungry kids who need food, health insurance and decent education. Men and women who need jobs to pay their crappy mortgage ARMs.

We have life to live and a country to love.

We need to spend our time hugging and kissing our kids, and listening to their sweet prayers that always smell like graham crackers and milk.

We also need to call our Congress people and tell them to "shake it off" and do better for us next time.

Have a good evening all,

Ani

[Agentprovokatur]

I have to agree with your analysis and attitude Ani. The whole thing was a Republican stunt designed to rally their base to their flag and to get Democratic party members shooting arrows at our own.

I did write a letter to my senator, Feinstein, letting her know how and why I thought she had both fallen into that trap and betrayed her constituents who are against the war and the principles of free speech. I asked her to explain her actions. My initial reaction was immediate outrage, anger and a sense of betrayal.

But . . . like you, I am now done and as a member of MoveOn, am moving on. MoveOn has already floated the idea of primary challenges to various Democratic representatives in both houses. While I admit this shocking betrayal of principles by the “Infamous 22” as I am calling them was egregious, those challenges will likely be based on more substantive actions/votes, such as the Democratic representative from Vancouver, Washington who did an about face in his support for the war.

Save our powder for real turn-coats and those whose ideologies are so counter to the Democratic ideals that they actually vote against them on matters of substance. And then save the “bunker-busters” for the Republican candidates. Channel your energy into getting the Republicans out of office, while keeping one eye on our own representatives, with a well placed kick in the butt for those drifting too far out of line.

[flyingcabeza]

I'm shocked that no one mentioned the great Pelosi of the "impeachment is off the table" fame. Where does she get off obstructing the Constitution? These two parties are aligned with each other in the pursuit of profits. They all know which side of their bread is buttered and it's by people with big money. These are management level peons in the U.S.A. Corporation doing anything to hang onto their jobs, and BTW, they cover each others' asses.

[ajax2]

Basically 22 Democratic Senators signed onto a lie. Since we can't challenge 22 Senators, Harry Reid should step down.

I'm still waiting for Feinstein to apologize.
The Cornyn resolution concluded with a blatant lie easy for busy Senators to read and comprehend.

[mtlion2]

this was needed, to see what Dems voted for this crazy admendment.....I will not support the party anymore....thanks Jeff Cohen...

[Nonamnesiac]

Excellent post. Add to that that Cardin, Casey, McCaskill, Tester and Webb, freshman Democrats who won on anti-war planks, all voted to fund the surge without conditions, except for the Petraeus Report, also voted for the probably unconstitutional anti-MoveOn ad (the Senate resolution was passed by a governmental body and may well have created a chilling effect on First Amendment expression) and most of them voted for the Trample on Constitutionally Guaranteed Civil Liberties Act 2 (Protect American Act). This means the Democratic leadership intentionally recruited Republican-lite candidates. This seriously brings into question the whole strategy pushed by some progressives to simply elect more Democrats to answer our problems. The war, repression of civil liberties and the attack on the absolutely accurate, righteous MoveOn ad are bi-partisan. Dems like the Freshman Five (who vote on those key issues exactly as those Republicans whom they defeated would have voted) need to be identified and voted out in the Democratic Party primaries, just as Jeff Cohen says. Otherwise it won't matter who wins in 2008, the war will continue along with the assault on civil liberties.

[chucknoblet]

Don't you get it? Calling the 22 Dems to complain is exactly what the Repubs were after in pulling this stunt. They want to get Democrats pissed at Democrats. This was a move to divide Democrats and divert us from the real issue: that the Republican Senators are keeping our soldiers stuck in the desert as unwanted (and hated) occupiers. Why are we wasting our time and energy on some Repub stunt, when we should just ignore their clowning and contact our Dem Senators and keep supporting them for their withdrawal efforts and votes. Why are so many of us falling into this childish, despicable Repub trap? Who cares how the Dem Senators voted on this meaningless measure. THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE DYING AND THE DEMS ARE FIGHTING TO BRING THEM HOME, not wasting their energy trying to fight some Fox News/Republican made-up controversy about an ad. This is a completely made-up controversy; let's stay focused on saving the lives our our soldiers!

[UnionJok]

Senator Baucus (MT) or Senator Bought-Us?
Senator Bayh (IN) or Senator Kiss-Us-Bye-Bye?
Senator Cardin (MD) or Senator Card-Sharp?
Senator Carper (DE) or Senator Ich-Thy-Us?
Senator Casey (PA) or
Senator Mighty-Casey-Had-Struck-Out?
Senator Conrad (ND) or Senator Heart-of-Dark-Us?
Senator Dorgan (ND) or Senator Dork-Us?
Senator Johnson (SD) or Senator LBJ-Us?
Senator Klobuchar (MN) or Senator Go-Butcher-Us?
Senator Landrieu (LA) or
Senator Land-of-Hope-and-Glory-Us?
Senator Kohl (WI) or Senator Kohl-Rob-Me?
Senator Leahy (VT) or Senator Slay-Me?
Senator Lincoln (AR) or
Senator Ford-not-a-Lincoln?
Senator McCaskill (MO) or Senator Mc-Ask-Us?
Senator Mikulski (MD) or
Senator Barb-How-Could-You?
Senator Nelson (FL) or Senator Ozzie-Mandy-Us?
Senator Nelson (NE) or Senator Harry-Us?
Senator Pryor (AR) or Senator Prior-Commitment?
Senator Salazar (CO) or Senator Abracadabra?
Senator Tester (MT) or
Senator Test-Our-Patience?
Senator Webb (VA) or
Senator Oh-What-A-Tangled-Web-We-Weave?

Just McAsk-in...

[kentuck]

These are not normal times. Any Democrat that sides with the Republicans during these times is not competent to hold office and should have a "primary challenger".

This is too serious for ignorant or foolish Democrats that are so out of touch with relaity. Sixty-five Democrats in the Senate would be useless so long as we have these naive and "bi-partisan" Democrats in the Senate. They are dying to be "bi-partisan" with their Republican "friends". Unfortunately, their Republican "friends" are not dying to be "bi-partisan" with them.

It pains me to say that we need to replace many of these Democrats. These are the same type of Republicans that will vote to uphold George W Bush's veto of the Children's Healthcare Bill. These are the same Republicans that will vote to keep our GIs in Iraq forever and ever, without any time at home, if they can get away with it. Apparently, they are able to get away with it. Mostly, because we have ignorant and naive Democrats befriending these same Republicans.

[bethinCary]

Dems are PATHETIC.
How many times have Dems heard the GOP rhetoric on the military-if you don't vote with the GOP-then you are for the terrorists. Or evangelicals say:anyone who disagrees is against God.
Of course people know better after 6 yrs of hearing this idiotic rhetoric-especially by an administration who never had a strategy in the first place.
I heard Levin say that he thought the Moveon ads were lumped in with the Swiftboat ads, Max C. ads... which is absolute stupidity when you think about it-Those ads were based on lies. The reason the GOP came out swinging-is becasue there was so much truth to the ad that the GOP didn't want it out there-so they bitched and moaned. Once again Dems fall for it. I can't figure out what the choices are in the minds of our Senate-it's more important to look weak against the eyes of thier constituents Vs.I'm so stupid I just can't think of a rebuttal-so I fold VS. VIETNAM!
I have never been more disgusted with the Senators who voted AGAINST an organization they should be thanking.