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 6 of 6)
76. I have never know the senate to vote on a resolution like this. At least the senate CAN get something passed after all, however trivial it may be.
bcoleman425 at 2:49PM on Sep 23rd 2007
77. Speaking of the little decider, I was listening to NPR the other day, and they were talking about Iraq(mostly), this guy came on and stated that we should start impeachment hearings. The hosts addressed this man and brushed it off by saying "look what happened to Clinton when we impeached him"...and here's my take on that. The reason Clinton stayed in office WAS NOT because of his approval rating which shot up, he stayed the President because it was the most ridiculous impeachment in our 225 plus years as a nation. As a matter of fact, it may have been the only impeachment, possibly one more, I would have to look into that. Why, oh why do the Republicans get their way all the time....EVEN if they are the minority with a Demo President and the Democrats are walked all over, trampled on, hosed off, and hung up to dry?? Do Republicans think that it's their God given right(lol) and they are better then the Democrats(lol)?
Bryan Coleman at 3:03PM on Sep 23rd 2007
78. I now understand why the meek shall inherit the earth. They are the only people that would take care of this planet
Sorry, I have steered off the subject...no more on this. I've said all I can say about this topic, so I'll shut up and the other bloggers/posters/whatever we are, should shut up too.
Bryan Coleman at 3:09PM on Sep 23rd 2007
79. 74. 1. WE LIVE IN A REPUBLIC....NOT A DEMOCRACY! Thats why we have a senate and reps..to vote for the mass's, not one to one like a dem...AND FOR THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS!
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To the screaming person above. You are right, but maybe it's time that we changed the rules a bit and made it more of a Democracy. As you can see in the last six years, the American people are a heck of a lot smarter then this administration. Politicians, whoever they are, tend to become out of touch with reality and the American people, they are too busy appeasing lobyists and the people that live and work in the White House and the DC area. We are better informed now. We are much more literate then we were 225 years ago. If the senate can pass a resolution as ridiculous as the one they just passed, then a resolution, or the appropriate forum, should be introduced to the legislation. All we need is less 2/3's or 60% majority votes to more simple majority 51% wins.
Bryan Coleman at 3:21PM on Sep 23rd 2007
80. My uncle was in the Army Air Force and the Air Force from 1942 until 1961. He got his first trip home in 1945, after V-E, after 3 and a half years in England and France.
When one joins the military, particularly when there is a deployment, one shouldn't expect a "vacation." The military isn't a Fortune 500 company with a vacation and sick-day policy.
Kent at 10:23AM on Sep 24th 2007
81. To #69: Dear Mike,
I have to say that your most revealing statement, is the one about the 2 am radio shows. Hmmm.... it makes one wonder how you know about the 2 am radio shows...???
Patty at 3:26PM on Sep 24th 2007
82. All you liberal idiots should kill yourselves.
Eddie at 5:54PM on Sep 24th 2007