When I see what happened this week in the United States Senate, I despair of democracy. It almost makes you wonder if this great experiment in self rule might not work. I know that through these windbags we call senators we are eventually going to get to the will of the people, but it is a slow, ugly and infuriating process.
This week instead of passing any meaningful legislation about Iraq -- whether it's to stay or to go, whether it's to change strategy or to stay the course -- our senators did absolutely nothing. To be fair to the Democrats, who I am usually so hard on, they had moments where they tried to do the right thing, like the Webb amendment that would have given our troops the rest they have earned. But the Republicans wouldn't have it. They filibustered every single bill, except one.
So, what was that one magical bill that captured their imagination and caused them to finally spring into action? It was a vote to condemn an ad! A newspaper ad! It makes you despair of democracy. What a terrible waste of time, and more importantly, what an insult to our troops and the American people that they would waste their energy on this kind of trashy political theater instead of finding a way to bring a decent and humane resolution to the Iraq War.
And, as always, the media went right along. Is there any right-wing talking point that the media will not trumpet as if it is the most important thing in the world? What a bunch of hopeless suckers. But that fight is for another day (if you want to see what I thought of the ad itself and the media coverage of the ad, watch this). The video below shows you how I feel about this useless, senseless Senate vote on the Moveon ad. If you think my writing sounds angry, wait till you get a load of how I really feel:
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The Senate Votes on Newspaper Ads While Our Troops Get Killed
Posted Sep 21st 2007 11:58AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Iraq, U.S. Senate, Young Turks, Video
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 6)
1. Young Jerks as usual show what losers they are, just like Air America is a loser, part of which they cause. Of course no comment from Young Jerks about potential Commander in Chiefs Clinton and Dudd who voted for MoveOn over a decorated US General. Of course the big cowards of the day Obuma and Biden the cowards who would not even vote
And since when did the Young Jerks ever care about even one person in the military who died in Iraq, you phonies. Young jump every chance you get to badmouth troops in Iraq, Afgan etc.
robert okane at 12:57PM on Sep 21st 2007
2. Young Quriks, you got Obama on your side. He did not vote.
Alan Klaus at 1:27PM on Sep 21st 2007
3. Young Jerks
Young Quriks (sic)
wow! two comments in a row brimming w/ creativity. SUPER! robert okane and alan klaus (full names: brave) -- you two geniuses are my heroes.
"and i'm proud to be an American, where at least i know i'm free."
Lonnie Blossom at 1:47PM on Sep 21st 2007
4. In a democracy EVERYONE can be critcized, praised, examined...every president, judge, military man, Senator, Congressman, candidate, you and me. So does MoveOn have their facts/opinions wrong? That's the issue.
And examining a military man is important, lives are at stake. I seem to recall other military men who thought we were making "progress' (Vietnam)
Let's not let the term "progress" remain vague as we did the terms "weapons of mass destruction" (mustard gas counts in that category and everybody has that)
Since MoveOn is doing well I guess people are CHECKING THE REFERENCES. Have you?
Suzanne at 1:49PM on Sep 21st 2007
5. what is all the hoopla about the ad. the republicans have produced vicious ads in the past with little backlash. let's talk about swiftboat lies during the carey campaign. let's stop the talk and start the action to get our troops out of iraq. ask the military how safe it is to drive from the green zone to the airport. most visitors are flown out by helicopter. is that progress!
stan schlesinger at 1:59PM on Sep 21st 2007
6. It never fails to amaze me what BIG BABIES neo cons are. What they don't like being "swift boated"? Well, take your medicine, swallow it and then shut up.
Payback baby . . .
ccm at 1:58PM on Sep 21st 2007
7. There's a reason this congress has a lower approval rating then any other in history. You say the Republicans have "filibustered" their attempts, but really they've just wasted their time and pretended to work since they took power. The "non-binding resolution on Iraq". Nonbinding? Why bother? The incredibly obtuse immigration policy that did not give preferential treatment to scientists, scholars, nurses and other important fields and was hundreds of pages of nonsense? What else do these guys have to do, but vote on condemnations? Fly in private jets to go golfing?
Mel at 1:59PM on Sep 21st 2007
8. No one is above approach...however the ad was a cheap shot. The gen. is doing his job. Some people think that the military can say what they think. Not so, people. When in uniform, you have incredible standards. The first thing is to obey orders.
The ad men who came up with that 'betray us', bit are so sophomoric, I'm appalled.
JeDance at 2:02PM on Sep 21st 2007
9. There is freedom of speach and there is treason. I strongly believer we are ready to prosecute these anti-Bush and anti-war crusaders for TREASON. They are taring our country apart over their anger. Remember, a person with anger loses all logic.
Al Fiedler at 2:05PM on Sep 21st 2007
10. Sometimes I look at our Representatives and all I can see is the cast from Life of Brain doing the Judah People's League, oh my there's a problem, ok lets write a resolution. How about they get off their overly bloated asses and do something of substance. Enough symbolism over substance, do something, show us you have a spine and get to work.
Stop begging for the scraps from special interest, and be your own person. I think you know the difference between right and wrong, and it shouldn't be defined by a campaign contribution. America's bravest are fighting and dying to keep us safe, and you folks worry about a damn political ad, how very shallow and self serving.
Barry at 2:17PM on Sep 21st 2007
11. Young Jerks as usual show what losers they are, just like Air America is a loser>>>>
The big losers will be the Republican Party and warmonger supporters come Jan 09. A happy day for America and the Constitution.
LiarBush at 2:20PM on Sep 21st 2007
12. Robert Okane is totally hitting the nail on the head. Hear that, you "Young Jerks".
Danny Kendrick at 2:31PM on Sep 21st 2007
13. So much for freedom of speach and freedom of expression. I am ashamed at the Democrats that voted for this attack on the press. I am ashamed at the democrats for allowing the Decider in Chief to get away with being a hypocrit yet again!!!
It was okay for the Decider to use a General as his stupid mouth piece??? Do you not find this disgusting and insulting to you, the American people and the troops who are giving thier lives for this little man's capricious attitude and ignorance!!!
So much for the Constitution of the United States of America and the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave... Some of us have giving it all up for the WORST President in the hitory of this Glorious and Amazing Nation.
This is so very sad.... Some Democracy we are showing the Iraquis and the rest of the world!!! What makes us any different than a third world country, run by dictators???
Patty at 2:34PM on Sep 21st 2007
14. Thank you, Cenk. My thoughts exactly! Kudos to you for exposing the absurdity of this resolution, and to Senator Obama for refusing to vote on this ridiculous time-waster, especially in the wake of the Senate's refusal to bring the habeus corpus bill to a vote. And, what nerve to blast MoveOn for being "unpatriotic" in one vote, while denying the troops their R&R and training time in the very next breath!! And as far as President Bush goes, I can think of many things that are much more "disgusting" than an antiwar group exercising its right to free speech... but there just isn't enough space in this little box to list it all. I guess you can just ask the people of New Orleans, the vets at Walter Reed AMC, the Jena Six, the millions without health insurance, etc., etc., ad infinitum. Incidentally, I speak as a military spouse whose family has survived one deployment to Iraq thus far. We are not insulted by MoveOn's ad in the least.
L.M. at 3:08PM on Sep 21st 2007
15. Mostly cogent responses, except the one about, it is treason to criticise dubya and his minions.
Dubya has destroyed the constitution by ignoring it
and he's caved in to minorities making everything politically correct, like no more "merry Xmas". Now his accolytes consider it "Treason" when he is criticised. Lets see, no radio, no press no blogs?
All this from a president skirting on the edge of impeachment.
JeDance at 3:11PM on Sep 21st 2007