In the single most mystifying political move I can think of... and one strangely reminiscent of John Kerry's "I actually did vote for the $87 billion (supplemental Iraq War funding bill) before I voted against it." moment... the Senate Democrats chose not to filibuster the Mukasey confirmation vote on Thursday night.
The Democrates had some pretty apocalyptic things to say about what it would mean for Mukasey to be confirmed:
"Torture should not be what America stands for . . . I do not vote to allow torture," said Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy. Russ Feingold said: "we need an attorney general who will tell the president that he cannot ignore the laws passed by Congress. And on that fundamental qualification for this office Judge Mukasey falls short." Feingold added: "If Judge Mukasey won't say the simple truth -- that this barbaric practice is torture -- how can we count on him to stand up to the White House on other issues?"
But they didn't do what the Senate Republicans have done on literally every vote where they opposed the legislative goals at stake: Require that the opposing side come up with 60 votes to get the legislature they want passed.
Why not???
I don't know.
But I think we need an answer to this question, because - to me - in this single, Reality Busting Moment we have The Central Question Of The Democratic Party laid out for all to see.
That question is: Will the Democrats Save America From Itself, or Is This All Truly Just A Show, Distracting Us From What Is Really Going On Behind The Curtain?
Glenn Greenwald has written a brilliant essay on the Senate Democrat's choice not to filibuster for Salon.com, What Happened to the Senate's '60-Vote Requirement'?
I Urge You All To Read This Essay.
Greenwald's essay is a fascinating description of the parallel worlds in which the Democrats and Republicans appear to live... and how the Republicans continue to be MUCH more effective in how they pursue their goals than the Democrats.
I wish someone would explain what is going on here... because there is No Way - based on what was said about Mukasey on the floor of the Senate - that he should have been confirmed!
As I said at the top, I am mystified.
I will be calling my Senators on Monday, reading them Greenwald's essay, and demanding an explanation for this massive process / reality disconnect. Oh... and Senator Harry Reid too - 1-202-224-3542 (or toll free: 1-866-SEN-REID).
I suggest you all do the same.. and pass Greenwald's essay on to everyone else you know.
I cannot think of a clearer example of the Democrats saying one thing and doing another. But it just may be that this vote has finally pulled back the curtain on what's going on...
A little silly? Sure. But only to emphasize a serious point.
The future of our nation is at stake as never before.
And one question historians may ask when writing about this period is "Why didn't the Democratics filibuster the Mukasey nomination?"
Final thoughts... the comedian George Carlin ends a very funny routine by saying "It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it". I hope George is wrong. But with this reality-busting moment over Mukasey, I'm afraid he may be right.
Senator Reid, I'll be calling you on Monday to find out what the truth is.
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Late Saturday Addendum:
The lead editorial in The Sunday NY Times is on this subject. Towards the end, the Times' editorial board says "All of this leaves us wondering whether Mr. Schumer and other Democratic leaders were more focused on the 2008 elections than on doing their constitutional duty. Certainly, being made to look weak on terrorism might make it harder for them to expand their majority."
It's hard for me to believe that "looking tough" was what drove the Democrats' thinking. (Given recent polls, how many Americans would feel rejecting Mukasey constituted being soft on terrorism?) But I'll include this in the questions I ask the senators I contact on Monday.
Monday Afternoon Addendum:
Sorry, folks, but when I wrote "Senator Reid, I'll be calling you on Monday..." I forgot that on Monday (today) all Federal offices are closed for Veteran's Day. I have to smile when I call and hear the computer voice say "The mailbox for Senator... is full." Reminds me of that great old movie "The Mouse That Roared", in which a small invading force (from a tiny country that wants to attack America and quickly lose so they can benefit from the "post war" support we showed enemies like Japan) actually wins the war, because when they arrive all government offices are closed for the day.
I'll make these calls tomorrow.
Follow Steven G. Brant on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SteveBrant
I am almost to the point that I will NOT vote next election. And I have voted for over 45 years in every election. Straight Democratic. But, really, what is the difference?
2. What do Pelosi or Hoyer have to do with a Senate confrimation vote?
3. Almost all of the votes to confirm were Republicans.
4. The Democrats who actually voted to confirm (as opposed to ALL Democrats) deserve your vitriol. I live in CA, and I will never vote for Feinstein again. Sadly, 2012 is a long way off, but you can't recall a Federal electee. I've been a lifelong Democrat, but I will forever regret not voting for Tom Campbell in 2000. Sorry.
I also must disagree with those who blame the democratic leadership for the confirmation of Mukasey. The real problem is us. If we keep writing checks to charlatans who have no principles or spine, we are ultimately to blame.
We must take a stand, and pledge to give not a cent to those who will not unequivocably oppose the use of torture by the United States. This holds true for those in office, and for the hopefuls running.
Not a cent. This is why we have formed notacent.com. You can't get any more grassroots than this. And we are putting our money where our mouths are.
It's going to take an Edwards or an Obama, or an Edwards/Obama to bring integrity back to this country. Vision is a gift, as well as a skill, but when it gets "bought", it becomes a mere commodity...and the gift is taken away. And though some mechanical skill may remain, the source of inspiration dries up, flees, and finds a more deserving soul to inspire.
Do not mix water and acid. Acid is corrosive, water is restorative. We need more water in the Democratic party, in America and in the world.
The water crisis is real, even on a metaphorical plane.
While your LieberStroms are content "living like a Republican", others think the Democratic Party could become the envy of the world. The bodhisattvas of the new millennium. Not fake giants among real pygmies.
We are not there yet, obviously.
You and I know that the potential is out there. There are still good stewards. They are just not in Washington.
Peace
David
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/opinion/11sun1.html
It's hard for me to believe that "looking tough" was what drove the Democrats' thinking. (Given recent polls, how many Americans would feel rejecting Mukasey constituted being soft on terrorism?) But I'll include this in the questions I ask the senators I contact on Monday.
Somebody should really investigate this strike and find the real driving force behind it.
Look at what the supposed Democrats are doing during it, and look who got hit the hardest...Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher - all our *real* news sources.
Goddamn...what a lucky break for the neocons huh? I don't believe in luck.
NOT one.
In FACT they gave the power of the filibuster TO THE MAJORITY. The deal that Tailgunner Joe Lieberman brokered was that the dems would promise not to filibuster anything unless the Thug party members agreed to LET THEM FILIBUSTER!
In return the Thug party promised not to take away the power of the filibuster.
CAN ANYONE ON EARTH EXPLAIN WHY THE DEMOCRATS WENT ALONG WITH THIS IDIOTIC PLAN????
"We promise not to use the filibuster unless you let us, and in return you won't take the power of the filibuster away from us".
HELLOOOOO?
Now that the Thug party is in power they use the filibuster on a weekly basis.
WHEN DID THE DEMOCRATS LOSE EVER INCH OF THEIR SPINES AND TURN THEIR BALLS OVER TO THE THUG PARTY????
No wonder people have such a low opinion congress. They refuse to take a stand ON ANYTHING.
Well that's not entirely true, they take the public stand, then cave at vote time.
SURE there are dissenters in the Democratic party who vote against these things, but think about it. Look at the voting record. It's almost like they are taking turns opposing certain bills, if not all, just so they can all at one time or another stand up and pretend to have taken the righteous stand.
What a bunch of fucking losers. I can count the real democrats in Congress in both houses on two hands.
That is about it.
The rest are total cowards.
The democrats have supported everything Bush has done. They have opposed nothing he wants to do.
If you believe that they are not in bed with the same people as the Bushies you really have to have your head in the sand.
It's like being crazy about some love interest. You express your feelings in some way or other. The other person is not interested. You persist. They start out being polite. They they start to ignore you. You persist. Finally you find your love interest in the sack with someone else. Do you finally believe that this person is not on the same beam as you - or do you believe your eyes are lying?
The capacity not to know something is both seductive and dangerous.
You know who the democrats are by the way they behave. Take it in.
Rest assured the actions of Harry Reid helped to Shepherd the rush to vote on Mukasey, leaving party presidential candidates a convenient excuse not to vote, due to their absence, and to avoid the need to call torture by its true name, to its face. Schumer and Feinstein, on a quiet Friday evening, had slipped into the Mukasey Camp to join in the fest of support.
What we are left with is a "Party-and-a-Half System" of politics in America. Where the line begins for the one, and leaves off for the other, we Independents are not certain. Not some old-fashioned power of wills, a "political dogfight", ... no, it is more reminiscent of a "Mating-Ball" of snakes, ... a slithering mass of serpents sliding among one another, mindlessly unconcerned with anything beyond themselves, nor with whom they just "struck a bargain" as they set out to screw or be screwed by anything in sight, or in touch with themselves.
It is not that the Public has lost interest, but rather that It is so bewildered by the behavior of politicians, we choose to stand back and not risk life and limb in a fight, nor a mating ritual. We independents will keep our votes, and shovels, ready.
What is not understandable are the actions of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Strong and effective Senate leaders in the past, such as Lyndon Johnson, would never have tolerated even an appearance of the disarray and weakness Senator Reid has created. Where an LBJ never picked a fight he couldn't win, Senator Reid seems incapable of picking a fight he can win.
LBJ was famed for his abilities to twist arms and enforce party unity behind the scenes, exacting at least a quid pro quo for distasteful accommodations. Senator Reid apparently has no conception of how to effectively work the levers of power at his disposal.
It's too late at this point to replace Senator Reid with a more adept Majority Leader until the next election cycle. One would hope Senate Democrats at least recognize the problematic nature of Senator Reid's leadership and find a more effective leader when the occasion presents itself.
I think he'll be an improvement over Oh Boy,
Alberto, I think Gonzales was a simpering
yes-man whereas Mukasey might just stand a
ghost of a chance of retaining some kind
of integrity, I don't know what role an
attorney general might play in an impeachment,
but I'll bet you he'd watch every second
of it on C-SPAN...the person/people holding
that job are supposed to be independent,
and that's what he's claimed that he'll
be. I say give him a chance, can't be any
worse than the guy he just replaced...