Byrd droppings all over DU

[despairing optimist]

Just a few weeks ago the good senator could do no wrong. And now, because of his vote in favor of the new bankruptcy bill, has all of his political capital vanished? What about his eloquent speeches against the war in Iraq? And where's the praise for all of his equally eloquent defenses of constitutional government against the depradations of *, Cheney, Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, and Gonzales?

Was this swept away by the bankruptcy bill tsunami? If all it took to change adulation to scorn was one vote, where will the Democrats be in '06 and '08?

[Trajan]

1. I love Senator Byrd ....

But I am EXTREMELY PISSED at this anomalous vote ....

[Mass]

7. Why are you surprised

There is nothing surprising here?

[DebJ]

2. it is because I am so fond of Byrd that I must contact him to tell

him what a traitorous action this was.

[Toucano]

3. A lot of people want to use ONE issue or vote

to judge the character of a politician.

While I try very hard to have a broader outlook, it's really hard not to let this legislation become the yard stick by which all are measured.

It's such a fundamental concept: the fresh start, the little guy vs. the corporate giant, the fair treatment of all in the eyes of the law.

Why would any Democrat be so unwilling to stake their future on those principles? For a few measly campaign contributions they're unlikely to get anyway?

How does Landrieu defend her vote?
Byrd?
Stabenow?
Lincoln?

These Senators represent some of the poorest people in the nation.

[despairing optimist]

8. But remember how Feinstein was trashed, and yet she voted against this

Someone on another thread suggested that Lieberman voted against the bill because he knew the Reps didn't need his vote and he wanted to look more Democratic after his near endorsement of *'s SS "reform." Maybe Byrd is playing some sort of game too, and there will be some horse trading on SS legislation down the road. I don't know. I'm only speculating. IMHO, it's a dangerous thing to use one vote as a litmus test for anyone, politician or common citizen.

[Toucano]

12. I do agree about the litmus test.

But the lack of unity on this issue is actually a big part of the party's larger problem.

What do the Democrats stand for? What does it mean to be a Democrat?

The Republicans are pretty clear on that.

The bankruptcy bill is such an insult to working people, it violates what should be the core of our beliefs. We all knew it would pass even if no Democrat voted for it. Why not let it be a symbol of what we stand for?

What's missing is the leadership that should determine what legislation is critical not just to our own agenda and power struggles, but to the IMAGE Democrats must project in order to answer the question, "What does it mean to be a Democrat?"

Feinstein was trashed because she voted the bill out of committee. That was ridiculous because all the committee is saying is "Let the whole body debate and decide the issue," not "This should be a law." I would never criticize a committee vote unless it killed a good piece of legislation.

As to the necessary horse trading that must be considered, again I would say this speaks to the lack of leadership. This bill is every bit as destructive for the middle class as social security reform would be. Trade your votes for someone's bridge in their district, or whatever. We should not have allowed anyone to support such a clear violation of our most cherished principles and core constituency.

When the effects of this reform are realized in a few years and the people are looking for someone to blame, the Republicans will say, "It had bi-partisan support. Don't blame us," and they'll be right.

Here's an imagined "Meet the Press" as it could have been:

RUSSERT: Sen. Biden, why didn't you support the bankruptcy reform measures?

BIDEN: Well, Tim, the problem is the legislation carried a golden parachute for the rich. I certainly do not oppose reforming the bankruptcy rules in this country, but I'm not going to vote to enact legislation that treats rich Americans more favorably than working Americans. That bill was class warfare and we Democrats oppose that.



Maybe if that would happened, we could stop asking "What's the Matter with Kansas".

[FreedomAngel82]

22. If Byrd is playing a game

I think this is the WRONG bill to play a game on.

[Warpy]

4. Just bidness, folks

They're managing to stall the Dirty Air bill in Congress, and that might be the quid pro quo we're looking at.

Let's see, poisoning all of us versus financially ruining many of us.

That's some choice they made, huh?

[hootinholler]

21. Yes, I'm wondering about that...

Once there was cloiture, it was obvious this bill would pass, why not get some capital for a vote?

Sausage ain't pretty either.

-Hoot

[ultraist]

5. LOL! "Byrd droppings"

I think they take turns in promoting Repuke lite bills so that we don't all defect from the Democratic party at once.

If this swing to the middle continues I will WITHDRAW MY MEMBERSHIP AND DONATIONS to the Democratic party.

[despairing optimist]

11. Sometimes I think there should be only one party. Isn't that the Rep plan?

Maybe they should get what they ask for. It would be poetic justice.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. It worked for Nazi Germany...it can certainly work here.

[despairing optimist]

24. From the answers on this thread, there's one party already,

but since we're in a hall of mirrors, it looks like two parties. Years ago the John Birchers claimed that Democrats and Republicans were just wings of the Communist party. Were the Birchers on to something, only seeing it from a perspective opposite that of the left?

In my view, we're at the beginning of a historic political realignment that will go into full swing as a consequence of policies like bankruptcy and SS reform colliding with a major economic downturn. It will be rather like the Great Depression in reverse, with the unraveling of social welfare programs and the increasing impoverishment of large numbers of people, as well as rising levels of repression when discontent surfaces. What happens after that will determine whether there's a US left to salvage.

I know nothing, of course, but I suspect that scenario will be more accurate than not.

[Melynn]

25. Correction: The Dems are swing to the Right

The Democratic charge to the right is being lead by Hillary R. Clinton, who by the way was absent for this bankruptcy bill vote.

I really disappointed by Byrd's vote. I thought he knew better.

[Mass]

6. Not surprising

This is what happens when people have adulation for somebody. They cant stand any disappointment.

As all other senators, Byrd has excellent aspects (mainly the ones you quoted), but also extremely conservative aspects (FMA, bankruptcy act, ...).

He should be judged on the total, and people can chose what is the most important for them. Obviously, it is not the case.

For me, there was no surprise in his vote, so no disappointment.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

16. I bet I've been watching Byrd and the political process a lot longer....

...than you have. Yes, this is a major disappointment for Byrd to essentially turn his back on the people that have supported him throughout his career, just as he has supported them throughout his career. Naybe you weren't surprised by Byrd's actions, but I bet the vast majority of his constituents are more pissed than he can imagine.

The bankruptcy bill is going to do major damage to the middle and lower classes at a time when they simply can't absorb any more damage. Social Security is next...after that, common Americans will be left with nothing but the vision of literally working every day until the day you die.

[KoKo]

9. At least Byrd has tried to do other things...like stop Iraq Invasion.

What has Lieberman done? What about Harry Reid and the others? Lieberman voted no this time...but voted yes to go to Iraq.

I giver Senator Byrd a pass. I don't know what his reasons were. I'll check out his Senate site one day and see if he explains it.

But, he's hauled the weight of the Senate's conscience around on his back, he's old and has whatever reasons he has for voting for it. :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

10. OUT! AND I too admire his spirit! But he's out of touch with this one!

OUT OUT OUT!

[raysr]

13. This is basic

democratic ideals that he has brused aside. My Senators Cantwell and Murray didn't support it.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. I thought the world of Byrd before he did this. Sorry, but voting for....

...the bankruptcy bill will have a far greater impact on middle and lower class Americans than anything he has done positive in the past.

Right now, based on the voting patterns of some of our top Democrats, they will be the only ones left in the party by 2008.

Piss on 'em...I'm done.

[raysr]

15. Absolutely

this is one they should have have held their ground on, none should have caved. You bet, one wrong vote, fuck him.

[drummer55]

18. repeat after me...no federal elected official.....

can be held to the will of the people because they can operate however they wish without fear of being removed from office until election day and even then all of the cards and more are in their favor.

3 ways for a federally elected official to be removed from office

1. they die
2. they resign
3. they are impeached - last time that happened in congress was a
senator from tennessee in 1797 -
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/impeach.html


Our country is for the corporations, by the corporations and bugger the common citizen.

how hard is it for these ticks of society to be removed?

http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/cost.asp
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Vote2004/story?id=186300&page=1

[CountAllVotes]

23. yep Byrd is real good at quoting the Constitution of the United States

No wonder it took him 20 years to get his law degree. I once thought the world of this man but now, after this, its cyl Bryd. I don't want anything to do with him any longer.

He has no worries. His health problems and his wife's health problems are all 100% covered.

For, he too is a multi-millionaire.

It is to bad he has forgotten what reality is like for the American people, we the people of the United States. We the people that have fought and worked for our country.

And, only to have it stolen away but a bunch of greedy corporate sell-outs on BOTH SIDES! :grr:

:dem: :kick:

[Tsiyu]

19. We are being sold out

Wake up.

[Cleita]

20. I'm terribly disappointed that he did that.

However, it hasn't made me give up on him. I mean when you think of our Democrats who have consistently voted against our interests and maybe once they voted for it. I will give Byrd more support than Feinstein any day.