Comments on: Missing From This Politico Piece- Any Explanations

By: Paul in KY

Paul in KY — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:56:13 +0000

My ‘Senators’ are McConnell & Bunning. If there’s two worse than that, well…I pity those of you who have to live under the 2 who are worse.

Go Al Franken!

By: brantl

brantl — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:01:10 +0000

You know what is missing from the long story? Not one of the thirty Republicans who voted against the bill would go on record stating why they opposed it.

I’ve seen it hinted at above, John but I’ll just come out and say it, it’s because each Republican representative, individually is a bag of dicks. One wouldn’t be enough.

By: Steeplejack

Steeplejack — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:17:31 +0000

@Sly: Very well put.

By: Lex

Lex — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:21:09 +0000

@asiangrrlMN:

That’s MY senator, Al Franken, and I am goddamn fucking proud of him

I haven't had that feeling since Sam Ervin retired, a mere 35 years ago. Sigh.

By: Waynski

Waynski — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:00:55 +0000

As has been pointed out in other posts, there is simply no reason to be chummy with the Republicans (unless you’re Joe Lieberman). Every attempt to offer a hand of friendship has been slapped away. At some point the Democrats in the Senate need to realize that the only time the right is interested in bi-partisanship is when they’re in power and the need Dem votes. But it’s a one way street. They never, ever reciprocate and should be dealt with accordingly, with the back of Franken’s hand. I hope he’s teaching the older Senators how to deal with these mindless idiots going forward.

By: Lex

Lex — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:48:42 +0000

Memo to Senate Republicans from a former New York PR professional: If you don’t want douchey publicity, don’t be a douche.

And please refrain from blaming someone else for the consequences of your own behavior. My 8-year-old knows better than that, and he’s not even a U.S. senator.

By: Lex

Lex — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:47:08 +0000

@Raenelle:

God bless them. This pretty much is evidence on the side that they’re stupid rather than evil.

No, it's evidence that they're both.

By: roseyv

roseyv — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:40:17 +0000

“a justification to frankly misrepresent and embarrass his colleagues”

So, Franken is claiming they voted against the amendment when they actually voted for it? Oh. So, he’s saying they voted against it and they did vote against it. So how is that misrepresenting them?

And if they’re embarrassed by nothing more than a simple statement of fact about what they in fact actually did (voting against the amendment), how is that Franken’s fault? If they’re that embarrassed by their own actions, they should apologize and try to correct them, not complain that someone else is embarrassing them.

No?

Ohhh … I see. So, it’s not that they’re embarrassed for having voted against the amendment, it’s that they’re embarrassed that, because they voted against it, people are accusing them of wanting to see certain rapists (not all, just some) rapists get away without being charged and tried for it. Which is totally not being pro-rape at all. It’s just being not anti-certain types of rape. Which is totally different.

Yeah. I can see why they’re pissed.

By: CalD

CalD — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:31:34 +0000

Know what else is missing? THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO SANE REASON FOR OPPOSING THIS.

But I note that this didn’t stop Jeff Sessions at least from going on record with his.

By: recusancy

recusancy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:56:11 +0000

I thought you weren’t going to link to Politico any more???

By: NorthernMNer

NorthernMNer — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:54:59 +0000

He’s my senator too! And I would really appreciate it if those Republican gas-bags would stop trying to tell Senator Franken what he needs to do for Minnesotans, especially given that we have sent two Democrats to the Senate. For a reason.

By: Gus

Gus — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:23:21 +0000

My senator too. He’s pretty polarizing for some reason, but I’ll vote for him for as long as he wants to stay in the Senate.

By: noncarborundum

noncarborundum — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:05:24 +0000

@Nate Dawg: Dude. You typed?

By: Sly

Sly — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:55:38 +0000

The problem Republicans have is that they can’t look at a contractor with his hand out and say “No.” Money for soldiers, especially those with physical and psychological trauma, has no purpose for them. But contracts for a company that gives them lots of money does.

That’s the ultimate justification for their vote. Too much red tape for people on the Federal teat. At least, the people they like. It’s red tape that might protect women from being raped on the job, or at least give them recourse outside of secret, binding arbitration if it does happen, but so what?

It’s why Inouye’s office was inundated with demands from defense lobbyists to strip the amendment from the final appropriation. Arbitration gives them control over the process and lets them keep it secret, both of which are extremely important. It’s not just the promise of haggling Ms. Jones into obscurity that makes KBRs heart warm, it’s the promise that no other woman will ever know what kind of operation KBR, or any other contractor, is allowed to run outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law.

Having due process thrown out the window is important, but more important is that they lose any practical reason to create safe working environments. No legal liabilities, no problems.

By: Wilson Heath

Wilson Heath — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:25:58 +0000

That must be it. That must be why the Party of No has become so uncooperative and refuses to engage in legislation other than to insert poison pills. Poor little babies got their feelings heart by the big, bad freshman Senator. Poor widdle tings.