Where were our spineless Senators at Hughes confirmation hearing?

[Dr.Phool]

With this bunch of lightweights in Washington, we're doomed to permanent minority status. It might help if at least ONE Dem showed up to grill Hughes.

Check out:
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/07/22/excuse-me-but-do-you-enjoy-being-in-the-minority/

Excuse me, but do you ENJOY being in the minority??

This morning the Wall Street Journal reported that Senate Democrats were planning “to grill Bush confidant Karen Hughes” about her involvement in the ever widening leak-case. But, Senate Democrats must have gotten lost on the way to the hearing. Not one showed up. Instead, according to the Associated Press:

“A scaled-back Senate Foreign Relations Committee showered praise Friday on Karen Hughes and put the former political adviser to President Bush on a fast track to confirmation as the State Department’s top public relations official.”

The absence of the Democrats is even more glaring considering just today the New York Times reported that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald called Karen Hughes before the grand jury to testify as to her involvement in the leak-case. Of course, this begs the obvious question: Karen Hughes, did you have a role in leaking the name of an undercover CIA agent?
(snip)

Call up and thank our Senators for standing up with such courage, in the face of disaster.

Senators
Biden
Kerry
Nelson (Bill)
Dodd
Sarbanes
Boxer
Feingold
Obama

:argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh: :argh:

[fooj]

1. I agree. You'd think we'd have representation, wouldn't you?

Not ONE Democrat? Not ONE. That's troublesome, to say the least.

Peace.

[KoKo]

2. Could they have been protesting by not showing up?

A way of showing that it wasn't worth their time to appear? :shrug:

[Dr.Phool]

4. Why pass up the chance to question her UNDER OATH?

There's a thousand questions she would either have to answer, or perjure herself.

[KoKo]

12. How would they prove her perjury? No power.....

to do anything. I'm not apologizing for them. I was angry at first, too. But, thinking about it I thought it might be that they were protesting.

I'm already angry at some of our Dems votes on Bankruptcy bill, etc. But, maybe this time they were doing the correct thing. I guess we will have to wait and see if Hughes and the rest of the WHIG group get exposed for helping out Plame to know.

[imenja]

3. Weren't many at the CIA leak hearings?

the unofficial ones that the Dems held?

[flyarm]

8. THEY BARELY SHOWED UP THERE!!

AT ONE POINT WAXMAN WAS THE ONLY CONGRESS PERSON IN THE CHAMBER..IT WAS DISGUSTING THAT THESE CIA MEN CAME TO TESTIFY IN FRONOT OF THE CONGRES AND ONLY A HAND FULL OF DEMS EVEN SHOWED UP..GUESS THEY WERE AT THE BEACH!!

[acmejack]

5. Well they might have been here doing this!:

1. H.R.2601 : To authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. (introduced 5/24/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House International Relations
House Reports: 109-168
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 172.

2. S.CON.RES.45 : A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Life Insurance Awareness Month, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

3. S.CON.RES.46 : A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that the Russian Federation should fully protect the freedoms of all religious communities without distinction, whether registered and unregistered, as stipulated by the Russian Constitution and international standards.
Sponsor: Sen Brownback, Sam (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Foreign Relations
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

4. S.RES.205 : A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Constantino Brumidi and recognizing his contributions to the United States on the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Sponsor: Sen Enzi, Michael B. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (7)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

5. S.RES.206 : A resolution designating August 2005 as "Psoriasis Awareness Month".
Sponsor: Sen Smith, Gordon H. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

6. S.397 : A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others.
Sponsor: Sen Craig, Larry E. (introduced 2/16/2005) Cosponsors (58)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate floor actions. Status: Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate.

7. S.1042 : An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Warner, John (introduced 5/17/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Senate Reports: 109-69
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate floor actions. Status: Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate.

8. S.1389 : A bill to reauthorize and improve the USA PATRIOT Act.
Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen (introduced 7/13/2005) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 171.

9. S.1464 : A bill to make a technical correction to the Act providing for the designation of the David Berger Memorial.
Sponsor: Sen Voinovich, George V. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

10. S.1465 : A bill to strengthen programs relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes science training by providing coordination of efforts, greater interagency cooperation, and the strengthening and expansion of related programs administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and to diversify the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes science community by attracting underrepresented groups.
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

11. S.1466 : A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on Desmodur R-E.
Sponsor: Sen Santorum, Rick (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

12. S.1467 : A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on Walocel VP-M 20660.
Sponsor: Sen Santorum, Rick (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

13. S.1468 : A bill to reduce temporarily the duty on Crelan VP LS 2147 (self-blocked cycloaliphatic polyuretdione).
Sponsor: Sen Santorum, Rick (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

14. S.1469 : A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on Desmodur BL XP 2468.
Sponsor: Sen Santorum, Rick (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

15. S.1470 : A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on Desmodur HL.
Sponsor: Sen Santorum, Rick (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

16. S.1471 : A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on Desmodur RF-E.
Sponsor: Sen Santorum, Rick (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

17. S.1472 : A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to provide for the restoration, protection, and enhancement of the environmental integrity and social and economic benefits of the Anacostia Watershed in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Sponsor: Sen Sarbanes, Paul S. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (4)
Committees: Senate Environment and Public Works
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

18. S.1473 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a business credit against income for the purchase of fishing safety equipment.
Sponsor: Sen Collins, Susan M. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

19. S.1474 : A bill to amend the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to clarify the Permanent University Fund arbitrage exception and to increase from 20 percent to 30 percent the amount of securities and obligations benefitting from the exception.
Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

20. S.1475 : A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on cyclopentanone.
Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

21. S.1476 : A bill to suspend temporarily the duty on glyoxylic acid.
Sponsor: Sen Vitter, David (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

22. S.AMDT.1311 to S.1042 To protect the economic and energy security of the United States.
Sponsor: Sen Inhofe, James M. (introduced 7/20/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

23. S.AMDT.1312 to S.1042 To express the sense of Congress that the President should take immediate steps to establish a plan to implement the recommendations of the 2004 Report to Congress of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Sponsor: Sen Inhofe, James M. (introduced 7/20/2005) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

24. S.AMDT.1313 to S.1042 To require an annual report on the use of United States funds with respect to the activities and management of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Sponsor: Sen Inhofe, James M. (introduced 7/20/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

25. S.AMDT.1342 to S.1042 To support certain youth organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Frist, William H. (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (53)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

26. S.AMDT.1343 to S.1042 To increase the limit on the value of assistance that may be provided to eligible entities to carry out procurement technical assistance programs operating on less than a Statewide basis.
Sponsor: Sen Allen, George (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1343 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

27. S.AMDT.1351 to S.1042 To stop corporations from financing terrorism.
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (3)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

28. S.AMDT.1357 to S.1042 To express the sense of the Senate with regard to manned space flight.
Sponsor: Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

29. S.AMDT.1374 to S.1042 To require a report on the use of riot control agents.
Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

30. S.AMDT.1375 to S.1042 To require a report on the costs incurred by the Department of Defense in implementing or supporting resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

31. S.AMDT.1377 to S.1042 To ensure that certain persons do not evade or avoid the prohibitions imposed under the International Emergency Powers Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Collins, Susan M. (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

32. S.AMDT.1379 to S.1042 To require certain dietary supplement manufacturers to report certain serious adverse events.
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

33. S.AMDT.1389 to S.1042 To postpone the 2005 round of defense base closure and realignment.
Sponsor: Sen Thune, John (introduced 7/21/2005) Cosponsors (10)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Considered by Senate.

34. S.AMDT.1415 to S.1042 To transfer funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Energy for the National Nuclear Security Administration for weapons activities and available for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator to the Army National Guard, Washington, District of Columbia, chapter.
Sponsor: Sen Kennedy, Edward M. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (4)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

35. S.AMDT.1418 to S.1042 To require life cycle cost estimates for the destruction of lethal chemical munitions under the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program.
Sponsor: Sen Allard, Wayne (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

36. S.AMDT.1419 to S.1042 To authorize a program to provide health, medical, and life insurance benefits to workers at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site, Colorado, who would otherwise fail to qualify for such benefits because of an early physical completion date.
Sponsor: Sen Allard, Wayne (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

37. S.AMDT.1421 to S.1042 To rename the death gratuity payable for deaths of members of the Armed Forces as fallen hero compensation.
Sponsor: Sen Salazar, Ken (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

38. S.AMDT.1422 to S.1042 To provide that certain local educational agencies shall be eligible to receive a fiscal year 2005 payment under section 8002 or 8003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Sen Salazar, Ken (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

39. S.AMDT.1423 to S.1042 To provide for Department of Defense support of certain Paralympic sporting events.
Sponsor: Sen Salazar, Ken (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

40. S.AMDT.1426 to S.1042 To express the sense of the Senate on the declassification and release to the public of certain portions of the Report of the Joint Inquiry into the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001, and to urge the President to release information regarding sources of foreign support for the hijackers involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Sponsor: Sen Dorgan, Byron L. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

41. S.AMDT.1429 to S.1042 To establish a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism.
Sponsor: Sen Dorgan, Byron L. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment proposed (on the floor)

42. S.AMDT.1430 to S.1042 To clarify certain authorities relating to adoptions by members of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1430 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

43. S.AMDT.1431 to S.1042 To require a Comptroller General to study on the features of successful personnel management systems of highly technical and scientific workforces.
Sponsor: Sen Sessions, Jeff (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1431 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

44. S.AMDT.1432 to S.1042 To extend the effective date of the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003.
Sponsor: Sen Enzi, Michael B. (introduced 7/22/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1432 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Or Here:
There were 64 Committee actions yesterday!

[Oversea Visitor]

6. Waaaah

64 talk about super fast track
Why the rush

[ginnyinWI]

7. If none of them showed up, then there is a strategy involved.

Reid has got them organized; they do have a war room now. So I'm going to suspend judgement, wait and see.

[NV Whino]

9. Go ahead and kick me, but

Karen Hughes is the least of our worries and not worth fighting over.

[Dr.Phool]

10. Okay you asked for it!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[NV Whino]

11. ouch!

(It only hurts when I laugh.)
:rofl:

[wli]

13. it's a party line vote anyway, so why bother?