Byrd Update

[GrpCaptMandrake]

At 3:10 p.m. EST a staffer in Byrd's office confirmed that he *will*, indeed vote to confirm Alito.

I informed the lady that while I do not have to vote for his opponent, I also do not have to vote for Byrd, and will not vote for Byrd. I also informed the staffer that my 81 year old WW II vet father asked "Why did I fight, why did my brother die, if all it meant was that 60 years later an old man who claimed to represent me and loved the constutition above all things, would be willing to trample it.

When he repented from his membership in the Klan, I said "OK."

This past year, when he voted for the bankruptcy screw-job, I said "OK."

This past year, when he voted for the class-action screw-job, I said "OK."

When he voted for Roberts, I said "OK."

But no more. This is the last straw. He claims to be a great student of the constitution and of history, but he has turned his back on it all.

If I wanted a Republican Senator, I'd vote for one. And it appears we in WV will have one no matter which way we vote.

It is time for real Democrats to understand that loyalty is a two-way street. Byrd is bowing to the Religion Industry's demands. He has shown us no loyalty. We no longer owe him any.

[benburch]

1. Amen, Bob!

Who can we run against him in the Primary?

Because I'll do whatever I can to get another Democrat to run.

[MADem]

2. OK, who has his phone number?

If you aren't from his state, tell the staffer you contributed to his reelection campaign before you even open your mouth. And then tell the staffer how disappointed you are, and how you won't be contributing this time around...

We all need to call the guy--big time. May not do any good, but then again, it might.

Pass the word...

[bettyellen]

12. Byrd's # + the gang of 14, as well as snowe and collins.....

The Gang of 14 Moderate Senators:

Democrats:

Robert Byrd (WV)
311 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: http://www.byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html
FAX: [phone]

Daniel Inouye (HI)
722 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: http://www.inouye.senate.gov/webform.html
FAX: [phone]

Mary Landrieu (LA)
724 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: http://www.landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
FAX: [phone]

Joseph Lieberman (CT)
706 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
Web Form: http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact /
[phone]
FAX: [phone]

Ben Nelson (NE) (He has said he will vote to confirm.)
716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: http://www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
FAX: [phone]

Mark Pryor (AR)
217 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: http://www.pryor.senate.gov/contact /
FAX: [phone]

K. Salazar (CO)
UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: http://salazar.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
FAX: [phone]

Republicans:

This moderate Republican isn't really a member of the Gang of 14, but as the Chair of the Judiciary Committee, he is crucially important, so he is included as well:
ARLEN SPECTER (PA)
711 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Web Form:
http://specter.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactI ...
FAX: [phone]

Lincoln Chafee (RI)
141A Russell, Washington, DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: http://chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm
FAX: ) [phone]

Susan Collins (ME)
461 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: http://collins.senate.gov/public /
FAX: [phone]

Olympia Snowe (ME)
154 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
WebForm: http://snowe.senate.gov/Webform.htm
FAX: [phone]

Mike De Wine (OH)
140 Russell Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Web Form: http://dewine.senate.gov / (Note: DeWine's site does not have a direct email link. You'll need to follow the link to his site, click on "Contact Information" and then click on the "email' link.)
FAX: [phone]

Lindsey Graham (SC)
290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
[phone] phone
Web Form: http://lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contactform
FAX: No FAX listed

John McCain (AZ)
241 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
WebForm:
http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.H ...
FAX: [phone]

John Warner (VA)
225 Russell Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: [phone]
WebForm: http://warner.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm
FAX: [phone]

Signature lines are currently turned off due to high traffic.

[MADem]

14. Thank you--and I agree with John Q's advice below, FWIW

Sounding hurt actually works with people who have a modicum of conscience....

[bettyellen]

16. hey, it's worth a try. and you're welcome!

[Surya Gayatri]

3. Gear up for a grassroots overthrow

of this DINO--surely in the whole great state of WV there is a Democrat worthy of the name who could take this guy out in the primaries. SG

[John Q. Citizen]

4. My advice, be respectful and sound hurt. Ask him to reconsider

his vote, and ask him to vote no on cloture.

Threats of a primary challenge won't help us.

[MuseRider]

6. Would it help if I told him

that Orin Hatch made me cry during the "questioning"?

[John Q. Citizen]

8. Ha ha . I doubt he bought that anymore than we did. My bet is the

fundies flooded him with calls and he just got two Repo challengers to his seat yesterday had something to do with it.

I don't know.

[ancient_nomad]

5. Great Post

K&R.

[Justitia]

7. This is EXACTLY how I feel. He just threw a defender under the bus.

I've been a regular contributor (out-of-state) to his campaigns and I have sometimes twisted myself into a pretzel defending him and his votes.

Sorry Byrd, this was the final stop and you have seriously let us all down.

I am borderline hating these "dems" who are just killing us at this crucial hour.

Bob, you are dead to me.
:nuke:

[wakeme2008]

9. Didn't one Internet Dem group just get a lot of donations for

his re-election campaign. :grr:

[Hubert Flottz]

10. This hit me like a sledge hammer!

I'm sick, having chest pain and popping my nitro! I've had it with the man too if he really votes to make Bush king! If he does that I'll lose all the respect I've ever had for the man. I've been a lifelong supporter, but no more...I feel like I've been kicked in the teeth with a hard toed boot! * God Damn!!!!!!! Maybe God does have a boner for America after all, to let the god damned Nazis take it over! Might as well piss on the fire and call in the dawgs I guess! Hell I'd vote for a third party person before I'd vote for a Bush Enabler.

[BigBearJohn]

11. And I gave money to his campaign! Fuck! What a jerk

[Senator]

13. Ask him to JUST WAIT

Perhaps he can be persuaded to hold off on giving them his cloture vote until after the SOTU.

It would make for a great "split-screen" coverage with Dems standing up on principle DURING the DC/Euphemedia Analstocracy Dog and Pony Show.

Simply abstaining for a period of time doesn't violate any principle he may have, it's just good old-fashioned hardball politics.

Or is he just running on Viagra now?

--
www.january6th.org

[Coexist]

15. WEST VIRGINIANS: $14.99 for a telegram to your Senator

Please consider this - the vote is not until Monday!

http://www.westernunion.com/info/faqTelegram.asp#tstfaq2


2. How long will it take to deliver a Telegram?

Messages received prior to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on Monday through Thursday will be delivered the next day to any point in the continental United States (excluding APO addresses, P.O. Boxes and rural routes). Messages received on Friday before 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time, will be delivered on the following Monday. Messages received Friday after 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Saturday and Sunday will be delivered on the following Tuesday.

3. How do I pay for a Telegram?

You may bill the charges to your Visa® or MasterCard® credit or debit card.

4. How much does it cost to send a Telegram?

The current fee to send a telegram message is $14.99.

[Staph]

30. Telegrams are no more!

If you go to the Western Union website, it states that "Effective January 27, 2006, Western Union will discontinue all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you, and we thank you for your loyal patronage." Bad timing! I guess we'll have to find another way.

I suspect that information sent to the Senator's office in hardcopy format (letters, faxes and telegrams) probably have more weight than phone calls and e-mails.

[madmadmad]

17. just called his office...

and after i identified myself as an american citizen who pays byrd's salary, but not forom his state, his staffer hung up on me.

[Wheezy]

18. Dear Senator Byrd,

I am sitting at my kitchen table, crying over your decision to confirm Judge Alito.
Sadly, there are no cameras on me.

Please reconsider.

<me>

[GrpCaptMandrake]

21. Excellent! n/t

[Wheezy]

23. thank you

I have dialed and typed 'til the numbers and letters on my keyboard and phone are worn off. :)

[GrpCaptMandrake]

19. Sorry for the self-reply,

but it's worth adding that the Religion Industry has been hammering WV with radio ads telling the knuckle-walkers to tell Byrd and Rockefeller "not to vote with Ted Kennedy."

That's who Byrd is bowing to: the Religion Industry, the people that Abramoff associate Michael Scanlon referred to as "the religious wackos."

And they won't vote for him, anyway.

The poor, old fool.

He's been made a Judas goat and doesn't even have the dignity to resent it.

[Czolgosz]

20. You can take the boy out of the Klan, but you can't take the Klan out of

the boy. Fuck him. If he was for shit, he wouldn't have stood idly by while this adminsitration gutted MSHA.

[cosmicdot]

22. I don't live in WVa, but I just wrote Byrd ...

I was born in neighboring VA, and I have been to the annual Apple Butter Festival in Berkeley Springs a couple of times :)

Amongst other things, I said that I couldn't believe the person who spoke the words below would vote to confirm the Arrogance of Power he railed against ... and, that, today, I weep for my country.

I suspect a yes vote out of a Democrat is pleasing all kinds of people and things: the secretive Council for National Policy, the Heritage Foundation and other ultra-conservative right-wing think tanks, Ed Meese, Bu$h-Cheney of course, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, corporate multinationals, Paul Weyrich who said, "We are no longer working to preserve the status quo. We are radicals, working to overturn the present power structure in this country." etc etc.



"The Arrogance of Power"

"I believe in this beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution. I have marveled at the wisdom of its founders and framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength.

"But, today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.

"Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place.

"We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat UN Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split. After war has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe." - Sen. Robert Byrd, 3/19/2003

[mzmolly]

24. Look, I hate some of Byrd's positions, but he was one of the most vocal

opponents of the war and the patriot act.

Here is what Byrd was up to about this time last year.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/121605R.shtml

It's fine to say we don't like his position on X, but please - let's not start calling him a "Republican."

Byrd will always have my respect for how he has battled the Bush administration. He's an aged southern man, I don't expect to agree with him on every issue.

[Hubert Flottz]

25. As another FAST aging southern boy...

One large oh shit, wipes out a lifetime of atta'-boys. I slept on it and it still sucks to high heaven. The only idea I can come up with, is that it's got to be a political move meant to throw the GOPers a curve ball. It breaks my already patched up heart, to think that Mr. Byrd has decided to cave in to the Nazicons. The problem is, so far there is every indication that caving is exactly what we've seen. In a state where cave-ins is the norm, a cave-in still causes nothing but pain.

If Byrd was so god damned worried about Alito's old lady crying, he should look at how many people are crying for their children killed in Bush's elective war in Iraq. Alito wants to give Bush absolute power like Hitler had. Anyone who votes for people like that, should be kicked out of congress and history should treat them like the fool that they are.

Robert Byrd was one of the only politicians I ever really trusted and this thing is hard for me to take. Robert Byrd has done some good things for me and my state. I'd hate like hell, to see Mr. Byrd's great career, in the service of the country, end on this sour note. I'd hate to see him go down in history as a BushCo enabler, with the likes of Zell Miller.

[mzmolly]

26. Boy, I feel your pain.

I do have trouble understanding what his "deal" is, but he's surprised me on many an occasion. Sometimes it's been a pleasant surprise, sometimes not so.

"Nazicons" love that description.

I am very sorry about Senator Byrd, I DO hope he has an awakening. But if he doesn't, I won't vilify him, personally.

[Catrina]

27. I won't vilify him either. In the darkest times over the past few years

he, when he went to the floor of the Senate, he shone the brightest light on this criminal administration and despite the vicious attacks on him from the radical right, he continued to speak out when no one else would.


I don't know why he is not more concerned about Alito's record when it comes to constitutional rights.

As someone else said, WE are crying too, and he needs to know that. Mrs. Alito's tears should not have that much of an effect on him. But I can see why that happened. He is saddened by the lack of civility in today's world and apparently didn't notice that it was Lindsey Graham who made her cry.


Also, I do agree that he most likely has been duped by people who won't vote for him anyway, indeed can't wait to see him leave the senate. So sad if that turns out to be the case. They are no doubt laughing at how successful their little dirty tricks have been.

He could still foil them by abstaining ~ they need sixty votes! He could deny them one.

[Hubert Flottz]

28. I was very disappointed by Senator Byrd's statement in favor of

BushCo's loyal hard right nominee. Surely Mr. Byrd can see where Bush and Mr. 'Eliteo's' appointment, could soon end up putting the country into political checkmate, anytime the GOP decides upon a whim, to do so and they will most probably decide just that, if we trust them with still more power, over yet another branch of the federal government.

Mr. Byrd has no doubt seen, as I have seen, that you can't "TRUST" these people's word, on anything at all. They even lie about trivial things, like knowing crooked lobbyists, and even the weather reports. On everything major, that the democrats have "TRUSTED" Bush and his cronies on so far, the country has gotten burned and abused on, because of the democrats misplaced "TRUST"! Robert Byrd should know ALL that, far better than you or I know it.

There are VERY few politicians that I have ever admired and trusted, as much as I have trusted Robert Byrd. No man is perfect, but I had thought for a lifetime that Mr Byrd was mighty close. This has indeed been a hard, bitter, pill for me. Like seeing democracy flushed down the toilet. I pray that Mr. Byrd wasn't terrorized, or coerced, into making his odd decision, but at this point I wouldn't be at all surprised. I put nothing past Karl Rove's crew of political gangsters.

Color me Bushed and Bewildered...

[mzmolly]

29. I like the idea of abstaining. I think Byrd is very stubborn and

emotional, sometimes that works to our benefit, other times not. I DO hope he'll reconsider. Part of me wonders if the "reformed bigot" bond is playing a psychological/sub-conscience role in Byrd's decision?