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Canvassing in Manchester, CT
Oct/07/2006 04:11 PM Filed in:
Ned Lamont
by selise
A beautiful Saturday, the leaves just starting to turn... and what could be better than being outside canvassing for Ned Lamont? We got up early to meet about 25 other volunteers at the Manchester Town Hall and pick up our assignments. When we returned we were met with sandwiches and then with Ned himself to thank us for our efforts! There is so much going on now and so many elections to keep track of - but for my money, and my time - this is the one that counts the most for the country. Pictured, left to right, is me, Kathyrn_in_MA, Ned, RevDeb and scarecrow.
A beautiful Saturday, the leaves just starting to turn... and what could be better than being outside canvassing for Ned Lamont? We got up early to meet about 25 other volunteers at the Manchester Town Hall and pick up our assignments. When we returned we were met with sandwiches and then with Ned himself to thank us for our efforts! There is so much going on now and so many elections to keep track of - but for my money, and my time - this is the one that counts the most for the country. Pictured, left to right, is me, Kathyrn_in_MA, Ned, RevDeb and scarecrow.
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The World Can't Wait
Oct/05/2006 12:05 PM Filed in:
Civil
rights
by selise
Think torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts are unacceptable? Well, you're not alone. Yesterday, October 4th 2006, this full page ad (pdf) appeared in the New York times. Today, there are over 200 protests planned all over the country.
“Can’t the United States see that when we allow someone to be tortured by our agents, it is not only the victim and the perpetrator who are corrupted, not only the ‘intelligence’ that is contaminated, but also everyone who looked away and said they did not know, everyone who consented tacitly to that outrage so they could sleep a little safer at night, all the citizens who did not march in the streets by the millions to demand the resignation of whoever suggested, even whispered, that torture is inevitable in our day and age, that we must embrace its darkness?”
- Ariel Dorfman, “Are We Really So Fearful?”
Think torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts are unacceptable? Well, you're not alone. Yesterday, October 4th 2006, this full page ad (pdf) appeared in the New York times. Today, there are over 200 protests planned all over the country.
“Can’t the United States see that when we allow someone to be tortured by our agents, it is not only the victim and the perpetrator who are corrupted, not only the ‘intelligence’ that is contaminated, but also everyone who looked away and said they did not know, everyone who consented tacitly to that outrage so they could sleep a little safer at night, all the citizens who did not march in the streets by the millions to demand the resignation of whoever suggested, even whispered, that torture is inevitable in our day and age, that we must embrace its darkness?”
- Ariel Dorfman, “Are We Really So Fearful?”
SILENCE + TORTURE =
COMPLICITY
Here are today's protest locations in Massachusetts (more info here).
Don't be silent.
Senator Kennedy stumps for Lamont
Oct/04/2006 07:14 PM Filed in:
Senator
Kennedy
by selise
Thank you Sentator Kennedy!
From the Boston Globe:
Lieberman talks home ownership, Kennedy stumps for Lamont
Thank you Sentator Kennedy!
From the Boston Globe:
Lieberman talks home ownership, Kennedy stumps for Lamont
Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy was in Bridgeport on Wednesday to stump for Lamont and Democrat Diane Farrell, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Chris Shays in Connecticut's 4th District. They appeared at a health care forum.
It's great to see our Senators continue to support Lamont... see here and here for statements immediately post primary."We have two winners right here today in Diane and Ned," Kennedy said, adding that both would fight for universal health care. "I've worked with Sen. Lieberman in the past, but the people here in Connecticut have spoken. The Democrats have spoken."
Senator Kerry to campaign for Lamont
Oct/04/2006 11:09 AM Filed in:
Senator
Kerry
by selise
Thank you Sentator Kerry!
From AP in today's Boston Globe:
Kerry to campaign for Lamont in Connecticut Senate race
Thank you Sentator Kerry!
From AP in today's Boston Globe:
Kerry to campaign for Lamont in Connecticut Senate race
Sen. John Kerry is ready to join an exclusive club: prominent Democrats shunning three-term Sen. Joe Lieberman to campaign in Connecticut for his anti-war rival Ned Lamont.
The Massachusetts senator, the party's 2004 presidential nominee, plans to travel to the state Oct. 25 for Lamont. Kerry's running mate, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, appeared at a Lamont rally last month.
Other top Democrats, however, have tacitly backed Lamont, who seized the Democratic nomination from Lieberman in last month's primary, but have avoided public displays of support. The rationale is simple: Lieberman is running as an independent and has a good shot of winning another term; a statewide poll released Thursday showed him up by 10 percentage points.
Glad to see that Senator Kerry gets it - Senator Lieberman is NOT on our side.Democrats want to stay in Lieberman's good graces to ensure that he remains on their side.
A Sad Day in the Senate - part 2
Oct/04/2006 08:39 AM Filed in:
Civil
rights
by selise
So that we will not forget the events surrounding Thursday, September 28 2006, when the Senate approved torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts... continued...
Due to a prior unanimous consent degree (shame on you, Harry Reid), there was no vote for cloture on S. 3930 - the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
S. 3930 - the Military Commissions Act of 2006 passed in the Senate by a roll call vote of 65-34, with 1 not voting:
Democrats voting YES for torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts: Thomas Carper, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Frank Lautenberg, Joseph Lieberman, Robert Menéndez, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Debbie Stabenow.
Republican with a conscience: Lincoln Chafee; Republican not voting: Olympia Snowe.
So that we will not forget the events surrounding Thursday, September 28 2006, when the Senate approved torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts... continued...
Due to a prior unanimous consent degree (shame on you, Harry Reid), there was no vote for cloture on S. 3930 - the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
S. 3930 - the Military Commissions Act of 2006 passed in the Senate by a roll call vote of 65-34, with 1 not voting:
Democrats voting YES for torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts: Thomas Carper, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Frank Lautenberg, Joseph Lieberman, Robert Menéndez, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Debbie Stabenow.
Republican with a conscience: Lincoln Chafee; Republican not voting: Olympia Snowe.
A Sad Day in the Senate - part 1
Oct/04/2006 07:30 AM Filed in:
Civil
rights
by selise
So that we will not forget the events surrounding Thursday, September 28 2006, when the Senate approved torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts...
All amendments to S.3930, Millitary Commissions Act of 2006, failed. Massachusetts Senators Kennedy and Kerry voted YES to all of them (thank you Senators). Democrats who voted NO (or didn't vote) are destined for the hall of shame. Republicans with a conscience voted YES:
Levin Amdt. No. 5086 - In the nature of a substitute.
Rejected, 43-54, with 3 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson;
Democrats not voting: Daniel Inouye;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee;
Republicans not voting: John McCain, Olympia Snowe
Specter Amdt. No. 5087 - To strike the provision regarding habeas review.
Rejected, 48-51, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: Ben Nelson;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee, Gordon Smith, Arlen Specter, John Sununu;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
Rockefeller Amdt. No. 5095 - To provide for congressional oversight of certain Central Intelligence Agency programs.
Rejected, 46-53, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: none;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
Byrd Amdt. 5104 - To prohibit the establishment of new military commissions after December 31, 2011.
Rejected, 47-52, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: none;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee, Arlen Specter;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
Kennedy Amdt. No. 5088 - To provide for the protection of United States persons in the implementation of treaty obligations.
Rejected, 46-53, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: Ben Nelson;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee, Arlen Specter;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
So that we will not forget the events surrounding Thursday, September 28 2006, when the Senate approved torture, indefinite detention, and kangaroo courts...
All amendments to S.3930, Millitary Commissions Act of 2006, failed. Massachusetts Senators Kennedy and Kerry voted YES to all of them (thank you Senators). Democrats who voted NO (or didn't vote) are destined for the hall of shame. Republicans with a conscience voted YES:
Levin Amdt. No. 5086 - In the nature of a substitute.
Rejected, 43-54, with 3 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson;
Democrats not voting: Daniel Inouye;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee;
Republicans not voting: John McCain, Olympia Snowe
Specter Amdt. No. 5087 - To strike the provision regarding habeas review.
Rejected, 48-51, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: Ben Nelson;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee, Gordon Smith, Arlen Specter, John Sununu;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
Rockefeller Amdt. No. 5095 - To provide for congressional oversight of certain Central Intelligence Agency programs.
Rejected, 46-53, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: none;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
Byrd Amdt. 5104 - To prohibit the establishment of new military commissions after December 31, 2011.
Rejected, 47-52, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: none;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee, Arlen Specter;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
Kennedy Amdt. No. 5088 - To provide for the protection of United States persons in the implementation of treaty obligations.
Rejected, 46-53, with 1 not voting.
Democrats voting NO: Ben Nelson;
Republicans voting YES: Lincoln Chafee, Arlen Specter;
Republicans not voting: Olympia Snowe
Safeguarding America
Sep/28/2006 02:19 PM Filed in:
Civil
rights
by selise
"The willingness and ability of members of congress to live up to their oaths of office, to protect and defend the constitution, is intimately related to the most important safeguard of what America is all about."
- Al Gore 3/12/06 .
"It would be utterly irresponsible for Congress to neglect our oath to the Constitution and the American people and pass this unconstitutional legislation in the hope that the court will ultimately rescue us from our folly."
- Patrick Leahy 12/25/06
Senator's oath of office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION - A FILIBUSTER MUST BE ATTEMPTED.
"The willingness and ability of members of congress to live up to their oaths of office, to protect and defend the constitution, is intimately related to the most important safeguard of what America is all about."
- Al Gore 3/12/06 .
"It would be utterly irresponsible for Congress to neglect our oath to the Constitution and the American people and pass this unconstitutional legislation in the hope that the court will ultimately rescue us from our folly."
- Patrick Leahy 12/25/06
Senator's oath of office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION - A FILIBUSTER MUST BE ATTEMPTED.
