Jane Hamsher: Dear Speaker Pelosi

[babylonsister]

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/23/dear-speaker-pelosi/

Dear Speaker Pelosi
By Jane Hamsher on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 10:30 am


With all of the outrages perpetuated by this administration, with the abject failure of the House under your leadership to do anything that they were elected to do, I guess we’ll have to say that this is your crowning achievement — forcing Pete Stark to his knees and making him grovel before this completely lawless, warmongering and inhumane administration.

For the record, I’m offended.



Howie Klein:

You might be interested in knowing that 5 Democrats voted with the Republicans on condemning Rep Stark and another 8– all reactionaries– voted “Present,” refusing to come to Stark’s defense. You can probably guess the names of the disgraceful 13 Democrats. But just in case… the 5 who voted– as they so often do– with the GOP:

Jason Altmire (PA), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Chris Carney (PA), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Joe Donnelly (IN), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Brad Ellsworth (IN), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)
Heath Shuler (NC), still not kicked off the DCCC Front Line list (Bush Dog)

Howie has another interesting statistic — according to Progressive Punch, of the 20 House Democrats who vote with the Bush Administration most frequently in tough roll call votes, 10 are freshmen recruited by Rahm Emanuel. Altmire, Carney, Donnelly, Ellsworth and Shuler are all on that list.

I’ll just leave you with that thought and let it sink in.

Update: From reader Cynthia R.:

I called Stark’s office in DC to complain about his apology. The person answering the phone told me that Stark had no choice; Stark was told before the vote was taken that should he not apologize, the vote to censure would pass. According to his office, that is the only reason he apologized.

I guess we better stop saying the House leadership can’t get anything done.

[Coexist]

1. sonofabitch.

[truebrit71]

2. Sickening....disgustingly sickening...

..He was threatened by his own GODDAMNED PARTY!!!!


FUCK PELOSI!!!! :grr:

[leftchick]

3. I am glad he mentioned the Emannul connections

and just wait for 2008! He is recruiting EVEN MORE bush dogs, although by then they will be hillary dogs.

[mod mom]

22. It's all a power grab for Rahm and his ilk. They could care less about what the Democratic base

wants. Their goal is to bring progressives to their knees.

I haven't donated a cent to DCCC since how he attemted to undermine Dean in '06.

those type of Dems will never get a vote, a cent or any GOTV volunteer work out of me.

[southern_belle]

24. It sure does seem like Rahm is a GOP operative,

doesn't it???? :shrug:

[IndyOp]

4. I don't understand Cynthia R's comment - Stark was told by whom

that if he did not apologize the vote to censure would pass. Did the vote pass?

I am sick about this. Capitulating to psychotic bullies makes them more powerful.

:puke:

[babylonsister]

5. The vote didn't pass because he apologized; Steny Hoyer

told, or threatened him.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2117021

[IndyOp]

6. What force does a censure have? What was the threat do you think? (n/t)

[babylonsister]

8. I have no idea. I think censure does little (think DeLay). I don't know

what Hoyer held over his head; surely it wasn't because he might lose respect for the Dems in the House. I think they're way beyond that.

[bdamomma]

12. oh there's so much shit going on behind the scenes.

[robinlynne]

16. and I am sick and tired of behind the scenes negotiating with the neocons.

[halobeam]

15. Censuring free speech has dire consequences when they are esp. targeting

key officials, guess who'd be next? I was stunned by Naomi Wolf's latest book. Censuring free speech is a tipping point to close down a democratic society. Btw, in case anyone isn't familiar w/ her book, she states that as a society closes down, it will do it on both sides of the aisle.



Just my thoughts on the matter.

[me b zola]

7. k&r

:grr:

[lpbk2713]

9. K&R

The jellyfish DINOs empowered the corrupt BushCo regime yet another time. I marvel at their consistency.

[Coexist]

10. can someone post the # to his local office, please?

[Coexist]

11. here it is!

WASHINGTON, DC
239 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5065
202-226-3805 (fax)

FREMONT
39300 Civic Center Dr.
Suite 220
Fremont, CA 94538
510-494-1388
510-494-5852 (fax)

[H2O Man]

13. I agree 100%. n/t

[LSK]

14. KICK AND RECOMMENDED!!!!

[stimbox]

17. Keith O mentioned this!!!!!

Right on Keith!

[A wise Man]

18. We are fucked

no representation of the people at all. There is only one thing left for us in this country, and that is"REVOLT"

[Zodiak]

19. Not a surprise.

Emanuel came right out and tried to claim credit for the victory in 2006, and I knew the war was on. They got Congress and feel they do not need the left/progressives/liberals/populists. They think the big tent belongs to them, and have declared political war to make it so.

This is our reward for our blind loyalty because we were desperate to weaken Bush. We are suckers, just like half of the Repuke party was in 2000 and 2004. We elected unaccountable anti-Americans without being critical of anything but their party affiliation.

[ellenfl]

20. so we vote them out! eom

[dapper]

21. IN Democrats...

I helped vote Joe in, I guess I got to vote Joe out now.

Joe Donnelly (IN)
Brad Ellsworth (IN)

Dap

[KoKo]

23. Kick...of the 20 Dems who voted for Censure ....10 were Emmanuel's Picks...

I wonder who picked the other 10...but still Emmanuel's power will be picking more Nelson twins and Landrieu, Salazar and the others who always vote Repug. More DINO Dems...just what we need...right? Right...