do you have a rethug Senator?

[cali]

Write them. Call them. Tell them you support Hilda Solis and Eric Holder and you expect an up or down vote on their nominations. Remind them that President Obama enjoys high approval ratings. Remind them that Bush got his three AGs.

We need to flood the offices of repuke Senators and let them know we're paying attention. Although I don't have a repug Senator (thankfully) I've called Snarlin' Arlen to register my dissatisfactin.

Don't let them keep stalling Obama's cabinet picks.

[onehandle]

1. 2 spineless ones who take their orders directly from corporate masters.

They rarely make national news and do not take chances.

Forget Georgia.

[cali]

2. ah yes. you do have an awful pair

Isaacson and what's his name who just won re-election. As bad as any pair of Senators from any state.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. Arizona -- nuff said n/t

.

[Catshrink]

23. Me too..

Altough McCain has been cooperative, sort of. Kyl is a waste.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. Well said. GA should be ashamed (I AM!) of these 2 assholes. n/t

[dkofos]

4. Forget the two from Texas, they still have their heads firmly planted

up bush's ass.

[man4allcats]

27. Agreed. With those two having their heads so far up Bush's ass

all the time, you have to wonder if, like Bush himself, they enjoy being shit-faced.

[madokie]

6. Not only do I have two rethuglicons

I have Dr Tom Coburn and Yikes!!! iNhofe

[ChazII]

10. Arizona has 2

plus our new gov is a rethug. :(

[madokie]

13. Well I'm one up on you on that one

Gov. Brad Henry is the best governor we've had in all my 60 years. One word sums him up perfectly, Great.

[Catshrink]

24. Arizona is on its way to third world nation status

The new Leg + Brewer is bad news.

[lonestarnot]

44. We are still pretty much fucked.

[a la izquierda]

18. Howdie neighbor.

So sad for us. Dumb and Dumber...actually, Evil and Dumbass is more like it.

[madokie]

36. I'm hoping Gov. Henry will run for the Senate after his term is up

[a la izquierda]

37. That'd be nice.

I may not be living here by then. The perils of grad school and not knowing where one will live in a few years.

[mandyky]

39. I'll see ya, and raise ya two

McConnell and Bunning LOL

[Hippo_Tron]

45. Oklahoma wins the prize for worst pair of senators by far

[glowing]

7. I believe its stalled in the judiciary committee. So, writing those asswipes would

be the appropriate response.. and I believe its Cornynn that is holding up the process. Now that he's invoked the 7 day rule, there's nothing Leahy can do but wait for the 7days to run their course. Of course its ridiculous to us, but many, many, many people in high-up office could be implicated in at least scandal, if not full impunity of the law once Holder begins investigations. I believe there's a good reason so many Republican hacks are "retiring".

[NOW tense]

8. None we got rid of them. n/t

[patrice]

9. Will do and will report back when done. nt

[bluesmail]

11. I suppose Di Fi qualifies. I'm a poet don't ya know it. n/t

[OffWithTheirHeads]

19. Yep, Dianne Lieberman is a puke

[wellstone dem]

12. I only have Amy Klobuchar--she should get 2 votes.

[Raven]

14. Jud Gregg in New Hampshire. He's our next target. n//t

[October]

15. Well, we got rid of Santorum, but still have Specter her in PA /nt

[liberalhistorian]

17. I agree that Specter sucks, but, given a choice

between him and Sanctimonious Sanctorus, I'll take Specter, no contest.

[liberalhistorian]

16. While we're fortunate to have a great Dem senator,

our repuke one is as bad as they come. It's to the point where I can't even stand to hear his name anymore although, being the opportunistic credit-grabber that he is, it's almost impossible to avoid him. I let his office have it once about his SCHIP vote last year, when he said it was "unnecessary" and would be "harmful to private insurers" (yeah, the very insurers who are harmful to US, asshole! You know, the people you're supposed to represent, and not the corporations). I got back a statement that I "didn't understand the market". Fucker.

He represents the worst of this state's hypocritical anti-taxers, who hate taxes but who demand all of the benefits those taxes provide (farm and ranch subsidies, repairs and maintenance for heavily-agriculurally-used roads, disaster relief after blizzards and floods, etc., etc., etc.), and who claim to hate government but who demands that that same government stick their noses into people's private lives (abortion, gay rights, violate civil liberties, etc., etc., etc.). Oh, I could go on and on and on. So, I'm not sure just what good it would do to contact him regarding the AG, but I'll give it a shot.

[w8liftinglady]

20. Well,I have Cornyn and Hutchison-and we are on a first name basis

I have written and called them so much-especially about the War in Iraq.You can see where that's gotten me so far.

[elocs]

21. Nope. Two Dems. Kohl and Feingold. Yeahhh, I've got Feingold as a Senator

and I think he will be reelected here in WI for as long as he wants to run.

[Shiver]

30. Yeah

We're safe on the Senatorial front. Wonder if calling them and asking them to try and convince their colleagues would be of any help...

[ccinamon]

22. I just sent this in to rethug Cornyn..feel free to use all/part for your letter!

Senator Cornyn,

I just read a report about you holding up the Holder confirmation. You
are doing so because you want Holder to guarantee that he will not
prosecute any Bush administration for their involvement in torture.

I want to thank you for admitting that Bush, Cheney, and their
administration is guilty of torture.

The constitution states that you are supposed to defend against all
enemies foreign and domestic - so why are you against holding domestic
enemies accountable for their actions.

You went after Bill Clinton and his lies about sex, but you let Bush get
away with lies about WMD that started two wars.

Why do you hate the constitution you swore to uphold?

You sir, are not a patriot, but a political hack.

[w8liftinglady]

25. excellent.

[Catshrink]

26. Great letter

I will use it....although Jon Kyl has such a thick skin I doubt anything could penetrate it. Maybe I'll add a line "Why do you hate America?"

Thanks!

on edit:

I like to check my facts before sending letters to avoid acting and sounding ignorant. I haven't found (yet) a specific reference to Kyl saying he'd hold up Holder's confirmation. In December he said he saw no problem with it. The transcript of Kyl's questions to Holder during the hearings reveals questions about the legality of waterboarding and water torture and whether the CIA, etc. should be restricted in their techniques. I was looking for a statement from him but can't find it. So... I need to edit the letter more than I thought.

Here is the link to the transcript for senators' questions to Holder:

http://judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/AttorneyGeneral-EricHolder-QuestionsForTheRecord.cfm

on edit (again):

Vile Kyl did say that if Holder doesn't okay torture he shouldn't be confirmed in this Jan 9 interview:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/09/kyl-holder-torture/

"KYL: I think Eric Holder will have some problems. He has not been able to stand up to his bosses in the past, President Clinton when he wanted to do pardons that I think Holder must have realized were big mistakes but he facilitated. And he’s also made some very unfortunate statements about our interrogation of prisoners, terrorists, and other things that lead me to believe that he is not going to be supportive of the Patriot Act, the FISA law, and others. And if he can’t be supportive of those laws, then he shouldn’t be Attorney General."

Screw you, Kyl. Yeah, I'm writing you a letter.

[Catshrink]

31. My letter to Kyl, finally

Thanks for the inspiration!

Senator Kyl,

I urge you to support President Obama's nomination of Eric Holder for Attorney General. It is imperative that the United States and its government and military officials be governed by the rule of law to avoid questionable and illegal actions by individuals.

The constitution states that members of Congress are supposed to defend against all enemies foreign and domestic. Surely torturing individuals, regardless of how heinous their alleged actions, is an act contrary to the rule of law and the intent of our Constitution, thereby making torturers "enemies of the state."

Those who engage in torture techniques, including those who approve or order those techniques, must be held accountable and prosecuted.

The Congress had no qualms about going after Bill Clinton for lying about a private matter between him and a consenting adult. President Clinton's actions had no adverse affect on our international standing, national security, and our economy. I want to see the same scrutiny applied to those who have manipulated intelligence and lied to the American people about WMD that started two wars and the "connection" between bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

As Americans, we can show ourselves and the world that we value the principles our nation was founded on by holding lawbreakers accountable for their actions that violated the word and intent of our Constitution. I believe Eric Holder will do this and be a great Attorney General.

Thank you for your time.

[NoSheep]

28. Brilliant. I'm sending it to Richard Burr right now.

[CitizenPatriot]

29. this is utter crap

I am very disturbed by the Holder confirmation delay. We, as a nation, stood up for justice on Nov 4. Let's not let that mandate be obstructed by those who refuse to change.

Right now, at this moment, policy is being set by the Republicans, even though WE, the citizens of this great country, successfully mandated CHANGE. By obstructing Holder's appointment to the DoJ, they are basically creating policy where no one will be prosecuted for war crimes, because anyone who might do so will not be appointed.

Then, later, when the Dems refuse to prosecute, liberals will scream bloody murder about the lack of backbone of the dems, never recalling THIS defining moment, when policy was set. The Dems will be blamed for not acting on this, when they're being manipulated into a corner right now.

By refusing to confirm because of how Holder will interpret law in specific cases (cases the Republicans have a vested interest in; e.g., Cheney, etc), they are attempting to ensure that they will never be prosecuted for war crimes in the US.

The law should be applied to everyone the SAME. Regardless of party, wealth, status, etc. This is utter crap.

Let your reps know that you expect appointees to be confirmed based on their qualifications and not someone who was vetted because they promised NOT to prosecute those who authorized or implemented torture. This automatic get out jail free card the Republicans are wheeling and dealing for is NOT OK. Without enforcement of the law, there is NO justice. It's not OK to withhold confirmation because he says he might uphold the law and prosecute the Republicans' friends.

Write them. Call them. Remind them what the DoJ turned into under Bush. How DARE they continue to obstruct JUSTICE in this manner!

We need to flood the offices of Republican Senators and let them know we're paying attention. A few letters to the MSM wouldn't hurt, either.

This is how the myth that both parties are complicit continues -- People don't pay attention to things like this moment, and then they spend 4 years moaning and complaining about Dems like Pelosi (I'm not defending her necessarily, but we have to comprehend the larger picture before we go eating our own). It's OUR job to make sure these people understand what we voted for.

contact info:

http://www.house.gov/house/MemStateSearch.shtml

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/


While you're writing/calling, a general message about the tactics of obstruction the GOP is using might be helpful. Yesterday, it came out that they leaked a report on the stimulus package which turns out to not exist. It is this report that has the media up in arms and everyone complaining about Obama. Some report was done which was supposed to be confidential, as it was based on only a small part of the package and it was already outdated by the time it was sent out. It seems this is the data leaked by the GOP. Unbelievable in this time of GLOBAL crisis that they are acting like children. ENOUGH.

Edited to add: Yes, I have two worthless R senators, but I am writing them anyway. I am cc-ing what I write to the local papers, as well as a few blogs, etc. They will not do what I ask them to do, but I won't allow them to obstruct in SECRET anymore.

[Catshrink]

32. I also have two R senators.

I wonder what's the point in writing them because they don't give a rat's ass what I think. They are driven by their corporate sponsors and entrenched ideologies. Listen to the people they represent? Surely you jest!

But I did write Kyl this morning -- which I'm sure will go right into his trash can.

[CitizenPatriot]

33. me. too

but I'm cc-ing the papers, etc.

They make me gag.

[ljm2002]

34. Done!

Thanks for the reminder. Here's what I wrote to Senator Ensign:

Greetings Senator Ensign --

I am writing to let you know that I support the nominations of Hilda Solis for Secretary of Labor and Eric Holder for Attorney General of the United States.

May I remind you that, when President Bush made nominations, members of your party regularly demanded "an up or down vote". I expect that, as a man of principle, you will apply the same principle in this case and help ensure these candidates also receive an up or down vote without having their nominations held up in committee.

President Obama right now has record high approval ratings, and the Republican Party by contrast is languishing with record low approval ratings. You should perhaps consider this when making your decisions on whether to act in a bipartisan manner, as President Obama has asked all of us to do.

President Bush got all three of his nominees for Attorney General. Let's work from the principle that a President should get the cabinet he chooses. I understand that there are philosophical differences -- that is what defines different political parties. But the American people spoke loud and clear in the last election, and you should honor our wishes. Let your political opponents succeed or fail on their own -- if they fail, they won't be able to pin it on your party's obstructionist tactics. Whereas if they succeed, we all benefit.

We are in a crisis of epic proportions. It is time to come together to solve these problems in new and creative ways. It is certainly not the time to be obstructionist.

Respectfully,

--<my name here>

[Still Sensible]

35. Do I have a rethug Senator? Shit

I've got the asshole senator quinella with Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn!

[Arugula Latte]

38. Not anymore, thank the universe.

Buh Bye, Gordon Smith! Helllooooo Jeff Merkley! :bounce:

[blonndee]

40. "Not no more."

All New Mexico representation is Democratic now. :)

Lately this big change has had me remembering the scene at the end of Young Guns II, where Pat Garrett catches Billy the Kid unarmed and Billy is insisting that Pat ought to let him go:

***

BILLY: I'm still alive, Pat. And I belong here.

PAT: Not no more, Billy.

BILLY: The people like me here. They want me here.

PAT: Not no more, Billy.

***


The sorry repukes around here also still think the people still love them and want them, and that they belong; they're "of the people."

NOT. NO. MORE!!!

[backscatter712]

41. We got rid of ours.

Just a few short years ago, in Colorado, our Senators were Wayne Allard and Ben Nighthorse Traitor Campbell.

Campbell retired, got replaced with Ken Salazar. Salazar is now the Interior Secretary, so Governor Ritter appointed Michael Bennet in his place.

And Wayne Allard retired, so we replaced him with Mark Udall.

Damn, it feels good to live in a newly blue state!

[JeffR]

42. Two. And they don't give a tin-plated crap about anything I've complained

to them about over the years. Nor, for that matter, does the Democratic Congressman I helped get into office by an incredibly small margin.

[lonestarnot]

43. I have two of them bile and mcsame.

:puke: I will let them know how much I love that continue to try to destroy America. :sarcasm: Just in case.

[Avalux]

46. Boy do I ever - Cornyn. Scumbag Deluxe.

Writing and calling him does no good; I've done it for years and never get a response. He simply doesn't give shit and will be the pack leader for upcoming obstructionist behavior.

[OhioChick]

47. Hell, Voinovich doesn't care...he's leaving soon. n/t