CNN: Silencing Elizabeth Warren backfires on GOP.

[pnwmom]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/07/politics/elizabeth-warren-silenced/

Washington (CNN)The Senate has silenced Elizabeth Warren.

And by doing so, majority Republicans just handed the liberal firebrand a megaphone -- further elevating President Donald Trump's fiercest and most prominent critic in the Senate and turning her into a Democratic hero.

SNIP

"She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted," the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor, delivering an instantly classic line -- the kind liberals imagine being replayed ad nauseum in TV ads in a future presidential campaign.

It couldn't have come at a better time for Warren, who is up for re-election in 2018. On Tuesday, she announced she hired an aide who is an expert on national security, a move that could help burnish her expertise in that area, as well as the publication of a new book, which will become available in April.

SNIP

[Sherman A1]

1. The don't care

The GOP is above the rules and above the Law.

[BannonsLiver]

2. Who cares that they don't care?

I know I sure as hell DO NOT.

[DownriverDem]

13. Maybe not

but it is we the people who are going to be hurt big time.

[progressoid]

44. +1

[hibbing]

28. That's right, they don't care n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. And her male colleagues read the letter and weren't shut down.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/politics/jeff-merkley-mark-udall-elizabeth-warren/index.html

[2naSalit]

4. A tattle-tale sign of

overt misogyny. I saw a thread, haven't read it yet, that claims Schumer has spoken out against the silencing. I hope this is the last straw for Dems to come out swinging each and every day.

[groundloop]

5. Come out swinging each and every day - HELL YEAH !!!

We might currently be outnumbered in the House, we might currently be outnumbered in the Senate, an an illegitimate repuke might currently be occupying the White House - but we MUST NOT make it easier for them to pass right wing agenda by staying silent and not fighting. Let's never forget how they treated President Obama and let's return the favor ten-fold.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

33. "[L]et's return the favor ten-fold."

Amen to that!

[Hayabusa]

54. I saw it more as a form of

"The cat's already out of the bag" than that, but that was me.

[lastlib]

45. well, they weren't uppity women!

That makes all the difference to the Troglodyte Party.

[burrowowl]

46. Udall is my Senator!

Good for him!

[Hekate]

6. Good

[blue neen]

7. McConnell tried to silence two women.

Elizabeth Warren and Coretta Scott King.

Bad move, Mitchie.

[titaniumsalute]

8. Almost 8 million views now...lol

[DinahMoeHum]

9. That fucking asshole couldn't give her a better compliment.

Just sayin'

[volstork]

10. Thank you, mitch!

Keep firing up our opposition to you, you scrotum-faced asshole

[MontanaMama]

30. I had to heart you just for coining

"scrotum faced asshole". THAT made my my whole damned day!!

[volstork]

41. Thanks, Mama!

Back atcha!

[keepthemhonestO]

11. Exactly

I want them out of office. All of them that voted against her. They blocked her from reading but then later allowed two men. I want them all out of office but definitely McConnell. He is going.

[Augiedog]

12. His chin pouch has gotten almost as big as tRumps ego. Musta smacked him in the head, he's

acting so stupid as to do this to Senator Warren. Maybe he should wear a helmet to protect himself and those nearby.

[3catwoman3]

56. Chin pouch.

Thanks. I've been wondering what would be the best term for that "thing" hanging there under his weak chin. Too voluminous to be called a turkey wattle.

I shall be making use of this.

[Augiedog]

57. Wish I could claim originality but I read it here on DU a few weeks ago and it stuck in my head

[3catwoman3]

59. Well, kudos to whoever thought of it.

I wish the visual image of it were not stuck in my head. Ick!

[jaxind]

14. Yes...

Yes, unfortunately it doesn't count as shaming because neither McConnell nor the rethuglican base feel ashamed! We are the only ones that feel it!

[Lucinda]

15. KNR

[NewJeffCT]

16. hmm - new book? National Security aide?

sounds like she's preparing to run for president.

[keithbvadu2]

21. I hear that Bannon and Flynn come bigly recommended.

I hear that Bannon and Flynn come bigly recommended.

[cstanleytech]

32. I hope she decides to, she would wipe the floor with Trump. nt

[maxrandb]

17. Any Dems still going to vote to confirm Sessions?

I'm looking at you Manchin, Daniels and Tester

[MontanaMama]

31. I called Jon Tester today - again.

He'd better not. It's a deal breaker for me and I told them so. LEAD on this issue dammit. I'm withholding my donation envelope until I see what he does.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

35. EVERY Democratic Senator and Representative ...

... need not only to hold their ground, but to actively oppose this crisis-laden regime. If they do not, we have to act swiftly and harshly to ensure they know the consequences of their actions. This sends a message to both them and the regime that the they have a fight on their hands.

Resist!

[DFW]

49. Same here

I have supported him in the past, as the alternative was always worse, but if he votes for Sessions, he has become the alternative.

[MontanaMama]

60. You're correct, DFW. Thanks for the nudge.

If these yahoos do not vote NO on the worst of the worst appointees, it is a deal breaker for me. No question. As you so aptly put it, they are the alternative.

It seems that lazy Dem Reps and Senators like to instill fear in constituents pressuring us to keep them in office because of the scary alternatives that could take their place...while there's a grain of truth to that, in the end, its BS. If they are not representing our best interest, they are damaged goods and they need to go. I'm done being politely patient. Our country and very lives are at stake.

[Ruby the Liberal]

38. Manchin did

[japple]

18. Bernie Sanders posted this on his page.

https://www.sanders.senate.gov/

"It is unconscionable that Republican Leader Mitch McConnell silenced Sen. Elizabeth Warren because she read a letter from one of the great civil rights leaders, Coretta Scott King, in opposition to Jeff Sessions. When I read the same letter, no one prevented me from speaking. And when I asked to enter the entire text into the record, nobody objected. Sen. McConnell owes Sen. Warren an apology and of course she should participate in this important debate. In the U.S. Senate, you don’t ban a senator from engaging in debate. Donald Trump and Republicans are quickly moving us in an un-American and authoritarian direction. This cannot be allowed to take place in the Senate."

[shireen]

19. interesting ...

was it before or after Warren's speech?

I guess McConnell was taking a nap when Bernie was on the floor.

[pnwmom]

24. Maybe it was at another meeting. I read that he was at the debate with Cruz

when they had the vote to silence Warren.

[klook]

20. Good statement from Sen. Sanders.

Glad he is supporting his brilliant and effective colleague in the wake of this travesty.

[keithbvadu2]

22. Repubs whine about rules after they change rules to pass Trump's nominees.

[MadCrow]

23. Just called Manchin's office

That DINO is voting to support Sessions.

[uponit7771]

25. Fuckin bastard

[Raster]

26. But of course he is....

...the term DINO fits Manchin TO A TEE!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

36. Let him have it.

Is recall an option?

[MadCrow]

40. As a loyal WV Democrat

I know that there is a movement afoot to find someone to challenge him in this state. He is not well liked by the Dems I know. I have been to the WV Democratic Convention in both 2012 and 2016. WV went for Bernie in the primaries. I'm retired and in my county most of the Dem. Leadership is of my generation. We need new blood and the only ones really enthused are the young Bernie supporters. I can include my own grandchildren in that group. As Democrats we need to bury the hatchet and concentrate on the 2018 election. I'm not sure when Manchin comes up for reelection, but he needs to be primaried when he does. Hopefully, the discouraged and disenchanted people of my state, not necessarily deplorable, will wake up and realize what a disaster Trump is and go back to their historical Democratic roots.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

43. As much as I would like him primaried ...

... I would much rather have an immediate consequence for his actions. Actions louder than words and all that. Does your system have an option for recall?

[fiorello]

27. When was the last time the Senate "silenced" someone?

I see that the "silencing" rule was put in in 1902 after a fistfight. But I could not find any actual silencing. The famous one, from a different rule, was related to the "gag rule" back in the days of slavery-it was made, and it was used, against John Quincy Adams , to prevent him from reading letters about the horrors of slavery. Very appropriate that today another senator from Massachusetts is taking up the call against racism.

[panader0]

29. Liz--The Lioness of the Senate.

[Cha]

34. Boooom! How the hell could it not.. these are the silencers.. who among

the gop didn't vote to Silence Elizabeth?

Look at all the gop women who did..

Link to tweet

Thank you for this, pnwmom~

[stuffmatters]

37. By this rule, Senators can't impugn other senators nominated for Cabinet positions ?

It seems to me that McConnell and other Republicans, in addition to the hyper repugnance of their actions ...especially as this Republican authoritarian suppression happened during hearings for the chief defender of civil rights... also completely misused this
Rule.

How could it possibly apply to senators being vetted and opposed for (extra senatorial) cabinet positions? If it did, that would mean that no senator could impugn (criticize) another senator during his nomination process for any job outside the Senate.
McConnell really misapplied this old and only-used -once before rule to silence Warren and her legitimate attacks upon Sessions' dire
history of serial anti civil rights agenda.

This is a rule I presume that was passed to keep some level of civility among senators in their body. But once Sessions accepted the nomination for AG, he stepped outside of any "protections" against factual criticism or exposure by fellow senators.

I hope Warren takes this to the mat...perhaps charging Mcconnell with some kind of violation of her own civil rights. The more this story stays in the news, the better exposure for all Repub voters to see their sickeningly oppressive senators in action.

[Ilsa]

39. Joe Scum thinks McConnell did it to help Warren

Win the Dem ticket in 2020. McC thinks trump is a shoe-in against her.

[electron_blue]

42. No - they won. They shut her down and confirmed Sessions.

Nothing is sticking or backfiring on them.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

47. McConnell, by his action, admits King's letter is real and damaging. . . nt

[Beartracks]

48. I found it interesting to learn where Rule 19 came from.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8617348

=======================

[nkpolitics1212]

50. Warren opposed Sessions confirmation because she wanted Sessions to remain in the US Senate nt

[pnwmom]

52. She opposed him because he has an awful record and would make a terrible A.G.

If she could choose, I'm sure she'd like him to retire. But he can do less damage as one out of 100 Senators than as Attorney General.

[barbtries]

51. Stephen Colbert

rule 18: bros before ho's

[Scarsdale]

53. McConnell

Imagine what he would do if his wife, Elaine Choo(?) got this treatment by her colleagues in the Labor Dept? Mitch would really get his knickers in a twist. The GOP should remember what happened to Eric Cantor. He thought he was bullet proof, then he was voted OUT of office!! Lost his do-nothing job, with all those perks. Who will be next, I wonder?

[Gothmog]

55. This was a stupid move by the turtleman

[pnwmom]

58. I sure hope so. We'll have to see what happens in the long run. nt