Alito Filibuster "Thank and Spank" - Bill Moyer

[helderheid]

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Alito Filibuster "Thank and Spank" February 3, 2006
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Thanks to your activism, there was a fight to resist Alito's confirmation. We now have a clearer understanding of who are our allies and are not. We want to reward the TWENTY-FIVE DEMOCRATS WHO STOOD UP against cloture, as well as to "spank" the NINETEEN DEMOCRATS IN THE HALL OF SHAME who voted for cloture.


First of all, let's recognize it was a serious accomplishment to go from ZERO to 25 Senators willing to take a stand against Alito--from zero to ONE-FOURTH of the Senate!--in just in one week. This astounding transformation is largely owed to the work of tireless activists.
Regardless of any of the 25 Senators' political motives for taking a stand, to do so involved political risk--great risk for some, less for others. That risk, and willingness to listen to the grassroots and STAND UP, must not go unrecognized.
Thanks to our wonderful "mistress-of-information" Cathy Fulton, we have new easy to use forms for both the Spine Thank-You and the Spineless Citation ("spank you"). You can use them to either send a fax or send by mail. Thank you Cathy, and thank you Backbone Campaigners. Let's keep leading and eventually the leaders will have no choice but to follow.

Bill Moyer
Executive Director
Backbone Campaign




THANK with Spine Thank You
click here to look up local addresses at vote-smart.org

Evan Bayh (D-IN)
SR-463
Washington, D.C. 20510-1404
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE)
SR-201
Washington, D.C. 20510-0802
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
SH-112
Washington, D.C. 20510-0505
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
SR-476
Washington, D.C. 20510-3204
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Mark Dayton (D-MN)
SR-123
Washington, D.C. 20510-2305
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)
SR-448
Washington, D.C. 20510-0702
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)
SD-332
Washington, D.C. 20510-1304
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Russ Feingold (D-WI)
SH-506
Washington, D.C. 20510-4904
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
SH-331
Washington, D.C. 20510-0504
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

James M. Jeffords (I-VT)
SD-413
Washington, D.C. 20510-4503
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
SR-317
Washington, D.C. 20510-2101
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

John F. Kerry (D-MA)
SR-304
Washington, D.C. 20510-2102
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ)
SH-324
Washington, D.C. 20510-3003
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT)
SR-433
Washington, D.C. 20510-4502
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Carl Levin (D-MI)
SR-269
Washington, D.C. 20510-2202
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
SH-502
Washington, D.C. 20510-3004
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
SH-503
Washington, D.C. 20510-2003
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Patty Murray (D-WA)
SR-173
Washington, D.C. 20510-4704
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Barack Obama (D-IL)
SH-713
Washington, D.C. 20510-1305
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Jack Reed (D-RI)
SH-728
Washington, D.C. 20510-3903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Harry Reid (D-NV)
SH-528
Washington, D.C. 20510-2803
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD)
SH-309
Washington, D.C. 20510-2002
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
SH-313
Washington, D.C. 20510-3203
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Debbie A. Stabenow (D-MI)
SH-133
Washington, D.C. 20510-2204
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Ron Wyden (D-OR)
SD-230
Washington, D.C. 20510-3703
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

SPANK with Spineless Citation
click here to look up local addresses at vote-smart.org


AR Blanche Lincoln
355 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington Dc 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.

• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

AR Mark Pryor
257 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

CO Ken Salazar
702 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 2004
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CT Joe Lieberman
706 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

DE Tom Carper
513 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 2000
elected Governor: 1992; re-elected: 1996]
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

FL Bill Nelson
716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 2000

• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

HI Daniel Akaka
141 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• Appointed by Governor John Waihee (Democrat) 16 May 1990, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Senator Spark M. Matsunaga (Democrat): 15 April 1990; elected to finish out the term in a Special Election: 1990; elected to full term: 1994; re-elected 2000

• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

HI Daniel Inouye
722 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1962; re-elected: 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004.

• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

LA Mary Landrieu
724 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

MT Max Baucus
511 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1978; re-elected: 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

ND Byron Dorgan
322 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1992; was induced to take the oath of office: 5 December 1992 when the seat became vacant upon outgoing Senator Kent Conrad (Democrat) having taken the oath of office for the "Class 1" seat from the state; re-elected: 1998, 2004.
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

ND Kent Conrad
530 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected to the "Class 3" seat from the state: 1986; was not a candidate for re-election in the 3 November 1992 General Election; Elected to finish out the "Class 1" term in a Special Election: 4 December 1992 ; elected to a full term: 1994, 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

NE Ben Nelson
720 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

NM Jeff Bingaman
703 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1982; re-elected: 1988, 1994, 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

SD Tim Johnson
136 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

WA Maria Cantwell
717 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

WI Herb Kohl
330 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1994, 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

WV Jay Rockefeller
531 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1984; re-elected: 1990, 1996, 2002
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2008

WV Robert Byrd
311 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
FAX: [phone]
• First elected: 1958; re-elected: 1964, 1970, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1994, 2000
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006








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email: [email protected]
phone: [phone]
web: http://www.backbonecampaign.org
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[Matariki]

1. cool. i like Bill Moyer n/t

[emulatorloo]

2. kick and nominating n/t

[Lorien]

3. K & R

Thanks for posting this!

[Warpy]

4. I told Bingaman's office that I'd work for his opponent

this year if he voted for cloture.

I mean it. I will. If he's replaced by a pubbie, small loss. Yes, there's a big difference between him and most pubbies. However, if he can't stand with the female 51% of the population on such an inappropriate USSC appointee as Scalito, then I can't stand him.

I will not participate in my own destruction. Spineless wimps who won't stand up for my rights can go fuck themselves, and he's caved on too many important issues.

Enjoy your fat pension, Senator.

[rurallib]

5. What to do about Harkin? ( voted 'Present' I believe)

took away from the 60 needed to stop cloture but a really gutless vote.

[cascadiance]

10. Actually I'd call it "prudent"...

If someone is in a borderline or tough state, doing the "abstain" strategy isn't a bad one, as it substantively does what we want them to do and yet tries to protect their re-election hopes. It's the people that vote for cloture which were doing damage to the overall fillibuster vote, and they are the ones that are actually damaging the party.

It wasn't as strong a voice, but it didn't hurt the Democrats, and I'd much rather he be re-elected than some Rethuglican there. It's bad enough that they have Grassley now.

[Iowa]

18. Harkin is a gutless wonder...

We hounded him and this was the best he could come up with. Before the cloture vote, he was sending out emails touting his intent to vote "against" confirmation while intentionally not mentioning the cloture vote - as if his constituents were idiots. It was clear he was trying to have it both ways - pretend to be fighting the cause when speaking to the base, while in reality just laying down on Alito. I'm convinced he would have voted yes on cloture had he not been pummeled with calls. He did the absolute minimum - and he did that only because we forced him to do his damned job. Although his abstain was as good as a no on the filibuster, he should be held to a much higher standard. A real Dem would be helping to lead the charge against a guy like Alito! Yeah, he sure is better than a pub - but that just doesn't cut it in these times. Screw Harkin. He'll abandon the needs of the "little guy" in a heartbeat to serve his own interests.

Regarding Moyer's blurb... I love the guy. But the idea of thanking Dems for filibustering Alito leaves me cold. Dems should be expected, at the very minimum, to fight like hell against a Nazi like Alito. Fawning over Dems for a half-ass, too little too late, fumbling, bumbling attempt to stop Alito is ridiculous. It's their job - and with a very few exceptions, we had to prod their lazy asses off the couch to do it.

[depakid]

6. Hate to disagree with Bill

but I don't see the "political risk" in standing up to Alito. Hell, the Republicans stood up and blocked Clinton's nominees and blocked all sorts of reasonable legislation. What did they get for their efforts?

Control of the House & Senate for 11 years.

As far as I'm concerned- that statement by Moyers is part of a consensus trance and has little to do with the reality of the situation... in which the reverse is very likely true.

The political risk, so to speak- was in rolling over again.

And the consequences of that are just beginning to be felt.

I expect them to resonate throughout 2006.

[radio4progressives]

7. I agree with you...not with standing certain information we are not privy

to... like losing military defense projects and the like..

on edit: for clarification, talking about quid pro quo "risks"..

[Iowa]

19. Yes! Exactly right. Good post as usual by Depakid. (n/t)

[Botany]

8. The dirty 19 = Neville Chamberlain Democrats

Chamberlain after getting Hitler's signature on a peace treaty ..... (he gave Hitler the a few
small countries) "Peace in our times." It worked so well for him and the world.

The worst of the 19 are the 15 that voted yes on cloture but no Alito.

[fiddlestix]

9. Cool website!

I love Bill Moyers...

[2Design]

11. anyone of the final list with the 58-42 vote

who voted for confirmation and who voted against

[ellenfl]

12. who is bill moyer?

i know (and love) bill moyers but who is bill moyer?

ellen fl

[fiddlestix]

15. ooops, not the same guy, eh?

And this is my 100th post!

[FreedomAngel82]

13. John Kerry should be thanked for giving us this insight

:loveya:

[_dynamicdems]

14. Absolutely right!

Senator Kerry stood up for us and now he is taking the heat for it from both sides of the aisle and from the slime-ball media, as well.

The degree to which the filibuster Dems deserve a pat on the back varies greatly. There were a couple of the Dems who ended up voting against cloture, but had to be led by the nose to their decision. They did the right thing in the end, but they were so whiny about it, I wanted to slap a couple of them. Kudos to the strong and a slight nod for the ones who came around with persuasion.

As for the cowards: IMHO, anyone who planned to vote against Alito but who didn't vote against cloture, should be drummed out of office. Just look at the difference in the number of senators who voted for cloture but against the nomination. That's a disgrace. If they knew the guy was bad for the country they should have had the courage to FIGHT to block his nomination. Their one paltry "no" vote isn't going to absolve them in my book. Not my a long shot.

[Wordie]

16. A thread w/info on how to write just one thankyou w/ free online Fax/email

I completely agree that we should write letters to all of them. They really were courageous to stand up for us as they did. Kudos to Moyers for reminding us. And "thank or spank" is really funny!

:rofl:

Once you follow the below link to the DU thread, the link in that thread will take you to a page where you can either thank all the Senators who voted "No" on cloture with just one letter that you write, or, you can write a personal letter to each one, or just some, by selecting check boxes next to their names.

Here's the link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=283486

Recommended.

And I made a page to write the traitor Senators, too. I'll post it in another reply.

[Wordie]

17. And here's a link for free online fax/email to the traitor Senators:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=281279

[jillan]

20. Hi Wordie!

I thanked, and spanked.
Thanks to you :)
You make life sooo much easier!

thx!

[Wordie]

21. Glad to be of assistance. That site is so cool.

Have you looked around? You can get all kinds of info on your reps, just by entering your zip. It's all under the "Elected Representatives" tab. Way more than just their contact info.

And I like it that you don't have to keep filling out webforms everytime you want to email your own reps and/or other ones. You can just do it once. What a great idea!

[jillan]

22. I tried to get on that site last weekend

but even with high-speed internet it was too jammed.
(which was a good thing) so tonite was the first I saw it.

I'll have to bookmark that,
it will come in handy within the next 3 years!