I Am in Shock

Thank you for posting this. (0.00 / 0)

I just got home and saw it on a comment thread over at Eschaton. I am absolutely sick about it. Maybe we misread something? Can there be ANY excuse?

If true, I'm out. That's it. No more pro-Menendez posts. No more getting Lautenberg's back. No more money to any one of these spineless un-American bastards. No more volunteering. No more phone calls. Whats the freaking difference?

I'm so goddamned pissed off right now. Seriously. FUCK IT.

I know I shouldn't post a comment in this state, but MY FREAKING GOD.

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by: Sidd Finch @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 20:39:02 PM CDT

Letter to Menendez (0.00 / 0)

Dear Senator Menendez,

I am disgusted and ashamed. Your vote on the torture bill today proved that, no matter what your ads and spokespeople might say, you have become an example of exactly what the Democratic party can not afford right now - a political opportunist.

Let me remind you of what you voted in favor of today. You voted to allow the president to arrest any US citizen without cause. To suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus, so that the citizen does not need to be charged with a crime. Forget the basic human rights of non-citizens - they are out of luck.

My great great grandparents were Jews in Czarist Russia. They came to this country because of the freedoms guaranteed to any citizen - something that a Jew in 19th century Russia just did not have. They settled here in NJ, had a farm in Hawthorne, and eventually made their way to Paterson. Since then (1860s), my family has lived in Northern NJ. My Grandfather and all of his brothers served in WWII.

I am happy that my Grandfather is not alive to hear the horrors contained in today's bill. He would be shocked, and furious, that any Democrat claiming to represent him would vote for such an affront to basic human dignity.

We were going to contribute to your campaign. We will not.

I was considering taking a personal day to volunteer on election day. I will not. My days are better used in more valuable ways.

I will still vote for you, not because I have any respect left for your candidacy, but because it is vital that Democrats build their power in this cycle.

Unless you seriously change your stripes in the next six years, and make up for this disgusting vote, I will gladly support a primary challenger in 2012.

Sincerely,

Eitan  Gutin

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by: gooch @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 21:19:01 PM CDT

I also wrote (0.00 / 0)

A similar letter to Lautenberg's office. As a Jewish professional I worked in a building he donated to a local Jewish Federation. I am disgusted, shocked -

this is why primaries are important.

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by: gooch @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 21:20:28 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Can't vote for them (0.00 / 0)

I could never vote for Kean, but these two just lost my vote.  If my elected officials don't understand the founding principles of our democracy, then they can't have my vote.  Period.

And I wrote letters to both of them telling them so.

I understand compromise, but torture and the repeal of habeus corpus are non-negotiable. 

If Kean wins by a single vote, it's mine.

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by: makr1964 @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 11:09:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I too am sickened ... (0.00 / 0)

It's true, Menendez and Lautenberg are among the shameful 12 Dems (if you also count Lieberman) who just voted with all the Repubs (except Chafee) to make torture, secret detentions and mock trials the law of the land.

As Democratic Party chair for Princeton Township, I am trying to rally the troops to hit the streets and pick up the phone and get out the vote to hold our Senate seat so that we have a shot at taking the Senate. But I feel as if I've just been punched in the gut by our candidate.

This is much. much worse than Menendez's pandering flag-burning vote. This rips the heart out of the America that I believe in.

But it's just 6 weeks or so until election day. I need to convince myslef to go out on Saturday and pound the pavements for the Democratic ticket knowing that Kean Junior would have voted for this as well - and overall Menendez is way way better, right?

I think I'll dump my Menendez stickers in the trash and proudly display Rush Holt's name. Too bad Holt isn't the person at the top of the ticket. Menendez will retain my support as the lesser of two evils. But with this execrable vote, he really is succumbing to "fear itself" - the evil that the Republicans continue to exploit to frighten America into submission and self-hatred.

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by: danpreston @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 21:24:00 PM CDT

please tell me the votes were misrecorded (0.00 / 0)

You can't help thinking about what one of the other guys (or heaven forbid, women) Corzine could have appointed would have done.

Enough to take the wind out of anyone's sails. 

Anyone for focusing their efforts on the House:  Linda Stender and Carol Gay?  Contact either campaign for info on how to help, even from Princeton.

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by: kwilkinson @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 21:52:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Republicans are reponsible for this mistake (3.00 / 1)

This is a Republican bill, passed by the Republicans against the votes of the majority of Democrats.  Let's not lose sight of that.  And what happened to Max Cleland.  The bill is not designed to allow torture and detention -- that is happening anyway -- but rather to give Karl Rove an issue in November to accuse Democrats of being weak terrorist sympathizers.  Even many Republicans who voted for the bill expect it to be overturned (NY Times), although I don't think at all we can count on that.

That said, I too am disappointed that we have a Democratic party that cannot effectively stand up for the principles that have brought America from a small, isolated county to the leadership of the world. 

I have to think of a witty signature about Frank LoBiondo

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by: Hopeful @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 21:29:54 PM CDT

link to Steve Gilliard (0.00 / 0)

He says it much better than me:

Led by cowards

I have to think of a witty signature about Frank LoBiondo

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by: Hopeful @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 21:38:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes, Gilliard is quite correct. (0.00 / 0)

That said, this was a gut-check moment. This is where principle could have rose up in the face of political calculation. This was where we discovered who stood for the best qualities of this nation, in the face of potential political threat. This was where we could have learned about real courage.

In three cases, we learned who has a paucity of these qualities: Holt. Lautenberg. Menendez.

They have shamed themselves and abused the trust of their supporters. They deserve contempt and derision for their actions over the last two days.

And for those who are wondering: Yes, goddamit, I AM A DEMOCRAT. But I am not a political pushover or lickspittle.


The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 22:00:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Holt (3.00 / 1)

voted against the bill.

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by: Juan Melli @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 22:05:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Jeebus. (0.00 / 0)

You are so correct. I should have said Andrews. My apologies to the Good Representative.

Christ, what a day.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 22:10:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah, that's swell (0.00 / 0)

And I am happy to see that the Democratic Party has people who will run cover for the cowardice of its members and the shameful actions of those Democrats who voted for this bill.  What would a party be without its shills?

But all that running cover doesn't work for me, baby.  Menendez is dead to me.  He can go all bulldog tough guy in his TV ads all he wants.  He can tell us how he's tough on security and better than the other guy and how he's all so squeaky clean and that stuff about his ethics is bologna.  Doesn't matter.  He made it clear where he stands yesterday.  Call it political opportunism or moral cowardice or anything else you like.  He voted to violate the Constitution.  He voted for incompetence, ineffectiveness, and pointless destruction.  He voted with the dark side of the force.  he voted for evil and he voted to invite Hell to breakfast.  And he did that so he wouldn't have to explain voting against it. 

Much like the idiots who voted for the Iraq War, by the way, and look how well that worked out for everyone.

DBK

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by: DBK @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:54:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Welllllll then... (0.00 / 0)

GF Yourselves, senators. You have betrayed the trust and the faith of your supporters. You will get nothing from me, in perpetuity.

You are dead to me.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 21:36:30 PM CDT

zerg (0.00 / 0)

I can't in good conscience vote for Menendez now.  :(

What are the odds this is all some sort of horrible clerical error?  How could so many Democrats have voted for this monstrosity after Hillary Clinton gave such a good speech?

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by: Capt. Jean-Luc Pikachu @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 22:00:40 PM CDT

I can't vote for him either (0.00 / 0)

I'm going to write in Codey.

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by: Lovo @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 22:16:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Then... (0.00 / 0)

Why was it reported here that he voted for it?

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 22:08:34 PM CDT

Change and getting noticed (0.00 / 0)

I'm upset by this vote, and will continue to be, regardless of the facts that say the Republicans are 99% responsible for this and it will quickly be rejected by our courts (knock on wood).

At the same time, I want change. I need change. And Kean Jr. isn't change -- he's just the opposite. He's not going to be a Lincoln Chafee (if that's a compliment), and I won't buy it if he says he'd have voted against this. He seems like the kind of guy who'll dig in to raise enough money to buy re-election and hope the average voter doesn't notice.

I have no doubt that Bob Menendez will do better for working families and the stability of our country's future, and while I'm upset over this vote, I'm not that upset.

I'm not going to write a letter to Menendez and Lautenberg's Senate offices. Instead, tomorrow morning I'm going to call up the campaign office I've been volunteering with, and tell them that I won't be in for a week -- not because I'm too busy, but because I'm ashamed of this vote. I will also ask that they mention this in their next conference call. I have a feeling that Menendez will be paying a lot more attention to the affairs of his campaign than that of his office.

At best, that's how the way he voted this evening.

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by: JRB @ Thu Sep 28, 2006 at 22:19:38 PM CDT

Tough Situation (4.00 / 1)

This is a tough situation.  I'm deeply disappointed and puzzled by our senators' votes and my initial reaction, like many of you, was to forefeit my support for both men.  Both have cast votes I've disagreed strongly with in the past, but this goes far beyond those.  I'm still puzzled; if anyone can refer me to a statement from either senator, or their floor comments, please do.

However, I've decided to begrudgingly vote for Menendez.  Despite this vote, he is still better than Kean, and a Democratic Senate is better than a Republican one.  I'd ask some of you to keep that in mind when deciding on you vote. 

I will, however, vote against Rob Andrews. 

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by: Jack Donovan @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 00:04:38 AM CDT

Look People: We All Still Must Vote and Promote Menendez...BUT (0.00 / 0)

More importantly, we must build a progressive movement in our State that has the chops to, essentially, BECOME the mainstream of the operational levers of the Democratic party.

For now; realpolitik is the name of the game, Menendez is better than Keane; lots better. 

Some of you may remember how strongly I supported Camille Abate; yet, I still urge all in the Fifth to vote for Paul Aronsohn...that's politics.

The torture vote is particularly disturbing in that I truly believe that, if Bushism prevails in the long term, torture will be as commonplace domestically as it was in Saddam's Iraq. 

We really could go down the road of a Pinochet type dictatorship, all in the name of "national security".  (In which case, some of us would be getting that 3 AM knock on the door, eh?)

Menendez would squawk at that (if only because of the Cuban experience with their own dictator), I doubt Keane would care.  The Bush Republican party is, pretty much, a proto-fascistic wedge operation.

If we progressives do all that is possible and successfully reach out to the electorate at the precinct level...we BECOME the NJ Democratic party and Menendez himself could be "primaried" in six years if need be.

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by: Nick Lento @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 00:35:10 AM CDT

Do you honestly believe Aronsohn would have voted against this? (0.00 / 0)

The man won't answer any question you ask him.  I was appalled at him at the Edgewater candidates forum.  Do you think he has the cojones to buck something like this?  I don't.

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by: brilliantatbreakfast @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 07:55:13 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Of Course You're Probably Right... (0.00 / 0)

...and that's why my "support" for Aronsohn is of the most pro forma lukwarm variety.  Paul, as flawed as he is, would still be a far better Representative for the Fifth District than the pathetic and dangerous fool they now have.

Camille Abate would have been kicking Garrett's ass right about now.  As it is, Garrett is getting away with, essentially, ignoring his challenger. 

If Paul Aronsohn comes out in public opposition to this un-American Senate vote that is a direct threat to the Habeus Corpus rights of every American citizen; I'll be very HAPPY to eat my words!  :-)

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by: Nick Lento @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:45:25 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

It has been two days... (0.00 / 0)

Since the House voted on this odious and egrigious legislation. There has not yet been a comment from Mr. Aronsohn.

I find that telling.

Yes, candidates, this IS a litmus issue. You are either for or against. All that waffles will get you, on this one, is syrup.


The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 10:17:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

In defense of Menendez (0.00 / 0)

I don't believe his vote on S. 3930 or the flag amendment were pandering. I believe he voted sincerely on both matters.  But today he lost my vote, & he has 40 days to get it back. Now his radio ad attacks on Junior for supporting Bush sound absurd. Junior's been working in Trenton while Bob Menendez has been supporting dangerous expansions of presidential war powers.

& I also read today that a 52 year old National Guard 1st Sgt was killed while manning a turret gun in Afghanistan. Killed along with her was a 43 year old Staff Sgt. I'm only 56.  Why shouldn't I go downtown & try to enlist as long as my generation is fighting & dying in this thing. God knows Jenna & Barbara won't.

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by: Wesleylake @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 04:23:27 AM CDT

Menendez & Lautenberg statements? (4.00 / 1)

Where can I find a record of BM & FL's public statements about their votes? Have they made any? I'm trying to draft a letter.

The chances of me doing pre-GOTV legwork for Menendez have now fallen to zero. I'll either do GOTV or pollwork on election day, but that's it.

"If I can't dance, it's not my revolution." -- Emma Goldman

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by: DoctorScience @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 06:28:08 AM CDT

Just the sound of crickets. (0.00 / 0)

I have yet to see any public explanation of their vile votes.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

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by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 13:54:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What I wrote (4.00 / 1)

--- 1. First, I wrote to Menendez:

Dear sir,

You lost my support in November when I got up this morning and saw your
cowardly vote on the pro-torture, anti-Constitution legislation.

I will never, never vote for a Republican. But I will never, never vote for you, either.

There's a lot more I could say but I'm just too sad right now.

Sincerely (etc.)

--- 2. Then, I dried my eyes and I wrote to Lautenberg:

You and Mr. Menendez did very wrong yesterday.

  I am a lifelong Democrat and I will NEVER vote for a  Republican but  neither will I pimp my vote to a Democrat who supports torture.

  Maybe you thought the election was too close for you both to stand up for the clear-cut principle that trashing the Constitution is wrong.

Well, congratulations, you're not soft on terrorism, whatever that means.  Maybe you'll win in November. Maybe you won't. I  think it doesn't matter, because it is plain that Democrats who feel too vulnerable politically to defend our basic rights  aren't worth much, in the majority or out of it.

  I will continue to work and hope for a Democratic majority, but for a majority that's willing to be a true alternative. Which means, no more  supporting wimpy pro-torture Democrats.

  Sincerely, (etc.)

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by: rabblescrabble @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 07:08:00 AM CDT

I feel and agree with your hurt, but (4.00 / 1)

Frist, Mr. Lautenberg is not up for re-election this year and second, the only way we are going to have this horror reversed is with a Democratic majority.

If things remain at the status quo for the next cycle, don't vote.  For now--you should.

Best,

M.

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by: M. Sullivan @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 08:39:13 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks for feeling and agreeing with the hurt and all, but (3.50 / 2)

I am well aware Mr. Lautenberg is not up for re-election.  I wrote Mr. Menendez as well.

However it is clear that both men cast a cowardly vote that had more to do with Mr. Menendez's Senate prospects than it had to do with concern over the integrity of the Constitution. And yes, that was wrong.

This was a vote about the core of our national heritage. The Constitution was worth standing up for, re-election chances or no. A whole bunch of other Democrats managed to find their spine and do the right thing, unlike our guys.

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by: rabblescrabble @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:43:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Still think any Democrat is better than a Republican? (3.00 / 1)

Now you guys understand why I refuse to support any Democrat who will not take a firm stand against this Administration.  Our very future as a nation is at stake.

It's only a matter of time before blogs like this -- and like mine -- are outlawed.  It's only a matter of time before people like us, and like Keith Olbermann and Kristen Breitweiser and the millions of others committed to truth are rounded up and put into camps.

Think I'm being dramatic?

So did German Jews in 1933 think it couldn't happen to them.

Our Senators voted for fascism today.

Menendez lost my vote today.

If I'm going to meet the same fate that nine of my grandmother's siblings met, I at least want people I DIDN'T rely on to protect me to turn on the gas.

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by: brilliantatbreakfast @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 07:53:04 AM CDT

Given Your Heritage... (0.00 / 0)

...your feelings are 100% understandable.

However, I don't see Bob Menendez as someone who would "turn on the gas".  Again, I understand the emotion, but it's not fair to Menendez to even imply that.

The kind of horrific future you describe is THE PRESENT for a large portion of the worlds peoples. 

The phrase "never again" comes to mind...well it's too late for the many thousands/millions of victims of current/ongoing political torture and murder throughout our planet.  The Holocaust is in some very real sense an ongoing reality.

Ideally. the whole of America's economic and military and moral clout/authority/resources should be dedicated toward the spreading of peace, justice, democracy, and health/prosperity throughout the whole of humanity (yes, that includes here at home too).  We have a long way to go, eh? 

We Americans still have a fair modicum of freedom left relative to most of the worlds peoples.  Yes, it is diminishing by the day; but to  adopt a "strategy" of refusing to vote for someone who is as far from perfect as Bob Menendez when the alternative is someone who would be another rubber stamp for the Bush agenda seems worse than counterproductive.

The very fears you express may be made more likely to materialize if  "everyone" simply failed to vote for Democrats because they are imperfect, flawed, and/or compromised.

On the other hand, your vote is your own; and there is the argument that "we have to let things get really really bad so that people will really understand just how evil the Bush agenda really is"  I don't buy it...by that time, we may in a situation where freedom is already lost.

Anyone who has read me over the last months knows just how skeptical and outraged I am about the status quo.  But we really do have to work with what is; from where it is; and struggle to transform the political landscape.

In great measure, part of that struggle is one of personal transformation too.  It's a cliche, but true none the less, that we must become the change we with to see in world. 

Real evolutionary change can only come about when our actions are founded in hope and a positive vision. Actions that have their roots in fear, no matter how correct they may seem, only serve to strengthen the hand of the Bushs and the Bin Ladens.

I know that I am so far from being an example of the ideals expressed above that I'm red faced and ashamed to speak of them in such a public space; but (despite my own frequent lapses into cynicism and fearfulness) I still hold them to be true.

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by: Nick Lento @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 10:34:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

They're not listening (4.00 / 1)

I know exactly what Jill is saying. If not now, then when? When Democrats have 49 senators & we get Chafee on our side against the next S. 3930 type bill but Frist lines up Menendez & Lautenberg? When Democrats have 51 Senators & we get Chafee and Snowe against the next S. 3930 type bill,  but  four Democrats cross over to the dark side? The failure here is not only that of Menendez, but also of Corzine & Cryan etc. They're not listening.

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by: Wesleylake @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 10:57:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Menendez and Lautenberg's votes (4.00 / 1)

I am deeply upset and concerned by Senator Menendez and Lautenberg's votes today allowing for Torture, Wiretapping, the stripping of the constitution and habeus corpus.  I am coordinating volunteers in Morris County, and already several have called me to say they are skeptical about volunteering for a Democratic Senator who supports Bush policies on Torture.  I will continue to do all i can personally to support Menendez, since we absolutely must take the Senate back, but all of us feel that Senator Lautenberg and Menendez have some SERIOUS explainign to do about why they voted for this legislation

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by: BootGOP2006 @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:31:37 AM CDT

For whom? (0.00 / 0)

For whom will you "take the Senate back"?  Spineless moral cowards who are as cynical a bunch of political opportunists and have as little regard for the Constitution as the other guys?

Count me out.

DBK

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by: DBK @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 09:57:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

We finally agree (0.00 / 0)

I know we had a bit of a falling out during the primary, DBK, but I'm glad to be able to support you on this one (and you were quoted in the Bergen Record, too).  Thanks for articulating my view so well.

I don't fault anyone who feels that they have to be a "good soldier" because even a bad Democrat who votes to allow George W. Bush to arrest any of us at any time because we don't support him is better than a Republican who'll do the same thing but vote badly on everything else.  But I don't have any faith that Bob Menendez will have any more courage if the Democrats DO control the Senate than I see now.

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by: brilliantatbreakfast @ Sun Oct 01, 2006 at 21:42:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

WWJD? (0.00 / 0)

No, I'm not talking about Jesus--I'm talking about Junior.

Menendez and Lautenberg both voted for the Specter amendment, which lost.  But yes, they wound up voting for the bill.  Am I disappointed?  Of course!  Am I frustrated?  You bet!  Am I angry?  Absolutely!  But let's think about it:

Anyone with half a brain could tell that the bill was going to pass after the Specter amendment went down to defeat.  So think about this:

What would the voters have gotten from Rove and his creatures in NJ, including Junior, had Menendez voted against the bill?

We have a tight Senate race here.  It shouldn't be that way--Junior has nothing to recommend him--but nonetheless it is, largely because of the Repugs' smear tactics.  Now, they are reviving their fear campaign that was so effective in 2002 and 2004--and in a lot of places around the country, it's working.  All that was missing in NJ was the allegation that Menendez is "soft on terrorism."  They can't use that crap now.

And what would Junior do?  Well, first he would have voted against the Specter amendment--Menendez voted for it.  Then of course Junior would have voted for the bill.  Now, think about what Junior will do if he beats Menendez and goes to the Senate:  Dubya plans to bring privatization of Social Security back after the election, "stay the course" in Iraq, and continue with his right-wing agenda.  And of course Junior will support him every step of the way.

Is that what we want?  Another Bush clone in the Senate?  Sure--we have a right to be disappointed, frustrated, and angry.  But we also have an obligation to be realistic and to consider the long-range implications of the November election.  Let's face it:  if Democrats don't take back Congress, this country is sunk. 

That means we must work our asses off between now and election day  to keep Menendez in the Senate and to do all we can for our Democratic congressional candidates--Linda Stender, Carol Gay, Paul Aronsohn, and all the rest, including incumbents like Rush Holt and Frank Pallone.

I have been doing politics for more than 50 years, and in all that time I have known only one "perfect" politician--congressman Bill Ryan from NYC, who served from 1960 until his death in 1972.  Bill was the first member of the House of Representatives to speak out against the Vietnam war, and he kept speaking out, even when his throat cancer meant he could only whisper--but people listened.

If we're serious about saving America from the right-wing thugs, we have to take the long view, be realistic about the situation, and act like rational grown-ups.  Sometimes the only choice we have is to make sure someone like Junior loses, even if the alternative isn't perfect.  I don't think Harry Reid is perfect, but I'd rather have him than Frist as Senate majority leader.  Nancy Pelosi isn't perfect, either, but better her than Hastert as Speaker of the House. 

Senator Menendez, I'm as pissed off as everybody else--but I understand how important it is for us to keep you in the Senate.  Some of us will need some time off to recover from our shock and anger--but we are grownups, we know what our priorities have to be, and we have learned not to espect perfection from any politician.  Life is full of choices, and choices have consequences.

This disappointed Democrat will be working like hell to elect you and our other Democratic candidates.  I hope all the other disappointed Democrats will join me--we know what the alternative is! 

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  (Teddy Roosevelt)

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by: DottieG @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 10:44:07 AM CDT

Politcs (0.00 / 0)

If you count the political costs of doing the right thing every time, you wind up doing the wrong thing a lot.

WWJD doesn't work.  I've voted for the lesser of two evils enough.  Let me put it this way:  Menendez voted against the Iraq War bill and against the Alito nomination.  Then he voted for the Torture Bill.  This wasn't some little piece of pork barrel legislation, a little bit of Senatorial shoplifting.  This was a gang rape.  I am not comforted by the thought that he yelled "Stop!" at two previous gang rapes and then took part in this one.

DBK

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by: DBK @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 11:01:13 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

gang rapes? (0.00 / 0)

Better than to participate in all three, as Junior would have done.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  (Teddy Roosevelt)

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by: DottieG @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 12:33:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Nose Clips Needed (0.00 / 0)

Did Menendez seriously believe that voting in favor of the detainee bill would insulate him from Republican charges of being soft on terrorism? He's already running against Bush in his campaign and was one of the few senators to courageously vote against the Iraq war. Try as I might, I don't think the Karl Rove juggernaut will start playing nice because of this vote. And it sure as hell wasn't a way to excite his supporters as we've seen in this thread. 

Maybe we need thousands of nose clips that say "Stop Bush" to distribute to Democratic voters on election day ☺. I’ll certainly be holding my nose as I vote for the junior NJ senator.

As for Lautenberg, what, pray tell, is his excuse? The man's not even up for re-election.

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by: noodletalk @ Fri Sep 29, 2006 at 12:47:25 PM CDT

It's a major set back (0.00 / 0)

I agree that it's a major step backwards for the nation and civilization in general.

I am not going to dump Menendez because of it.  Junior is no choice at all and letting him to win makes no sense at all.

By the way, before someone flames me, I respect your decision to do whatever you think is right.  I hope we all respect our fellow activists and let them move on what they think is the proper course of action.

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by: rjsnj @ Sat Sep 30, 2006 at 06:54:12 AM CDT