CAFTA PASSES IN THE HOUSE(In Bush Win, House Narrowly Approves CAFTA)

[meganmonkey]

217-215 per c-span

link:
WASHINGTON - The House narrowly approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement early Thursday, a personal triumph for President Bush, who campaigned aggressively for the accord he said would foster prosperity and democracy in the hemisphere.


The 217-215 vote just after midnight adds six Latin American countries to the growing lists of nations with free trade agreements with the United States and averts what could have been a major political embarrassment for the Bush administration.

It was an uphill effort to win a majority, with Bush traveling to Capitol Hill earlier in the day to appeal to wavering Republicans to support a deal he said was critical to U.S. national security.

Lobbying continued right up to the vote, with Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record) and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez tracking undecided lawmakers.




http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050728/ap_on_go_co/cafta_18

[K8-EEE]

1. Shit!!

What Dems defected?

[Erika]

4. The majority of the country was against Cafta

Well, here goes our standard of living on the slide again.

We're getting closer to a third world all the time except for the wealthy globalist stockholders. They profit, we lose.

[deadparrot]

9. If that's true...

then millions of soon-to-be-unemployed Americans have reason to turn against CAFTA's proponents.

Small comfort for massive job loss, I know, but it could help in 2006.

[wli]

18. that's why they've got machinery for mass imprisonment/slavery in place

Before Bush took office they were supposedly ready to take on 20 million, and the word is Bush has been on a nonstop building frenzy.

[deadparrot]

23. Don't know exactly what you were referring to there...

:shrug:

[wli]

25. Rex 84 internment camps

They're real. In fact, the WTO protests have seen them used, google for "Guantanamo on the Hudson."

[deadparrot]

26. Ah. I see. Sorry, I was confused.

:)

[54anickel]

55. "Are there no prisons...

"Are there no prisons... and the Union workhouses, are they still in operation?"

[wli]

67. Rex 84 is some rather disturbing stuff

They're huge, empty prisons meant to hold American citizens. They've been coming out recently (google for "Guantanamo on the Hudson").

[54anickel]

71. Everything that's been going on is disturbing stuff.

CAFTA being railroaded through
Bolton most likely will still be "annointed" to the UN position
Cheney defending torture in the name of National Defense
And that's just this weeks headlines...Something's going down - can't explain it, just doesn't smell right.

Roberts and that sudden take up of the NRA bill over the Defense Dept bill just seems like diversionary tactics. And I don't think the diversion is just to save Rove...feels like there's something more to it. I imagine Rex 84 will come into play before the sh*t makes it to the fan.

[wli]

72. they've already been used

The Pier 57 internment camp used during the 2004 RNC convention was one of these, and they've featured prominently in post-Seattle WTO protests.

[54anickel]

74. Ya, I read about that at DemocracyNow...eom

[katsy]

20. Half right...

15 dems voted for CAFTA. How is it going to help us in 2006 if their constituents vote them out?

[deadparrot]

22. What if they vote in Republicans like the ones who voted "nay" tonight?

I'd take a RINO over a DINO any day. And I'd take a DINO any day over a DeLay clone.

I don't like to condemn Democrats, and if those 15 Dems are running against more Bush-esque opponents, then of course I'd go with the Democrat. But, as we've seen tonight, just because someone has a (D) next to their name doesn't mean they're good for America. Unfortunately, the way our country is set up, it really is a decision, in many cases of the lesser of two evils.

[anitar1]

32. David Sirota has the list of Dems on his web site.

9 of them almost always vote with the Pugs. The other six are not much better. He is calling for everyone to vote them out. Calls them backstabbers, which they are ,IMHO.

[still_one]

34. I don't care anymore

if you cannot distinguish democrats between republicans on their voting record what does it matter whether they are voted out or not?

[howmad1]

24. Bet Thomas L. Friedman is thrilled.

Oh what the hell, he thinks the world is flat. What the fuck does he know? ;(

[dbeach]

2. FASCISTS

the scion of privlege and deceit gets whatever he wants..dems
who defected can stay with the piggies..

[ogradda]

3. Public servants my ass.

Our politicians are a joke.

[liberaltrucker]

5. Hopefully

A Dem Senator will grow a set of balls and filibuster the fucker:mad:

[jefferson_dem]

11. too late, i think. it's already passed the senate 55ish - 45ish.

[sadiesworld]

6. One step closer to slave planet.

:woohoo:

[dbeach]

7. soon vitamins will be only govt approved

I posted this about codex and catfa and how the vitamins and supplements will be put under govt control..and was debunked from
high riders at DU..

stash my herbs now before the prices go up..

[gate of the sun]

60. this is really frightening

we should have some say so.....but if it is going to hurt the hmo machine and the pharmaceutical machine forget about it.......your vitamins are toast......

[meganmonkey]

8. Link:

How fucking appropriate the first one I found was:

http://www.foxnews.com/

Banner headline.

:puke:

[TahitiNut]

10. "The Best Congress Money Can Buy"

:puke:

[enigmatic]

12. We're going to have a class-war

very, very soon; mark my words.

[DaveinMD]

13. hope so

when this country gains some class consciousness, it will get its collective head out of its ass.

[meganmonkey]

14. I sure hope so!

[Tux]

16. LOL

So much for the culture war.

[meganmonkey]

17. Yeah - "Right to Life" will refer to having FOOD to eat

Ugh.

[enigmatic]

21. I think the Neo-Cons want a culture war

because they can manipulate it to their advantage; a class-war is the last thing they want.

[wli]

19. what do you think riot control ray guns and huge empty prisons are for?

They're ready and waiting, and are very well-armed.

[Strelnikov_]

37. We've Been At War For A While Now

And all those that are not in the top 1% are losing.

[necso]

15. "Hello? Hello?"

"Ben? Ben who?"

"Oh, that Ben."

[name not needed]

27. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK GODDAMNIT FUCK

:grr:

[Whoa_Nelly]

65. Totally agree

Double that FUCK for me!

[Betsy Ross]

28. With CAFTA goes any organic, non-GMO food

Clause in CAFTA says the US will sign on to the EU food rules which says animals should be treated with antibiotics and GMO foods do not have to be labeled.

[Maple]

29. The EU is opposed

to GM food, and any use of antibiotics.

[theoceansnerves]

31. under CAFTA

mandatory labelling laws will be considered "burdensome" to free trade and therefore disallowed.

[gate of the sun]

58. just one small ,but really large reason to dissent

these trade agreements hurt us the US and they suck in general........

[gate of the sun]

59. of course

this has to do with corprate benefit......nothing to do with individual benefit like healthy food......fuck them.......

[fooj]

30. "tracking undecided lawmakers." WTF?

:cry:

[The Sushi Bandit]

33. Way to go Dennis Kucinich... MY MAN!!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/27/AR2005072701195.html

<snip>

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), who thundered: "CAFTA is for multinational companies who want to make a profit by shutting plants in the United States and moving to places with cheap labor."

<Snip>

A bitterly fought trade accord with six Latin American nations won House passage by the narrowest of margins this morning after Republicans held the vote open well past the usual 15 minutes to muster enough members of their party to ensure approval.

When time for the vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement expired at 11:17 p.m., the nays outnumbered the yeas by 180 to 175. But, a few minutes past midnight, the GOP leadership, ignoring Democratic protests that the rules were being violated, had rounded up enough votes to win by 217 to 215.

<Edit> THIS VOTE IS NOT VALiD!!!!!!

[still_one]

35. Kucinich one of the last patriots left

[anarchy1999]

36. Is anyone really surprised here? I'm not. We all knew this would come to

pass. Dennis is a hero along with many others, but we all knew with the vote scheduled as it was it would go the way as in the past.

What NOW?

We give.......

It really does appear to be a rather hopeless situation, but then we knew this in December of 2000 when Bush, Jr. surrounded himself with relics from Iran-Contra and told us he would bring back respectability, honor and integrity to the White House. We are not surprised, just sick.

[Theres-a]

38. I want to cry.

I knew what I'd be reading this morning,but I really hoped it wouldn't happen.Nothing is too much for them.They will not be happy until we have Third world conditions here. We are CAFuckedTA.

[Tesla]

39. My friend is losing his job to a company going to Mexico.

He has to train the Mexican's that they have brought here to do his job in Mexico.
You say quit?
Yeah, but there aren't any jobs in this area on the CSC machine he is on.
They are all closing and heading south.

He used to be Repug, no more.

[William Bloode]

41. I know the feeling......

When my last job was petering out i was asked to go to the new plant in Mexico to train their workers so they could replace us. I was offered quite a bit of cash, but i could not do it out of principle.


As far as this CAFTA thing goes......i weep none to gently. In fact i am in a hell of a rage. We have been betrayed! :mad:

[meganmonkey]

43. RE: The vote not being valid

I thought it needed and absolute majority of 218 to pass - what happened? I know he slammed the gavel before anyone could change their vote, but how did they call it with 217?

Anyone know?

Thanks!

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. WTF!

:wtf: "When time for the vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement expired at 11:17 p.m., the nays outnumbered the yeas by 180 to 175. But, a few minutes past midnight, the GOP leadership, ignoring Democratic protests that the rules were being violated, had rounded up enough votes to win by 217 to 215."


So they lost before they won? Fucking repukes changed the rules AGAIN! How the hell do they get away with this crap? :grr: :mad: :nuke:

[Zorra]

50. Yeah, DK is the best we have. n/t

[donkeyotay]

52. Whatever it takes. The GOP is above the law.

When time for the vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement expired at 11:17 p.m., the nays outnumbered the yeas by 180 to 175. But, a few minutes past midnight, the GOP leadership, ignoring Democratic protests that the rules were being violated, had rounded up enough votes to win by 217 to 215.

At least the Amercian people still have Kucinich, so it's not like our interests aren't being represented in corporate headquarters.

[eridani]

56. Everyone who wants Kucinich to keep standing up on issues like this--

--needs to send him money. www.kucinich.us

[Toucano]

40. Helper Monkeys!

15 Democrats are monkey helpers, or Helper Monkeys.

[meganmonkey]

42. Careful with those broad brush statements

about monkeys :P

Sorry, trying to laugh. It's tough.

:cry:

[Toucano]

53. Oops!

Present company excluded! :)

[sleipnir]

49. We should refuse to support those 15 Dems next election.

I've had it with these Vichy Dems. We need them out now, if that means even not supporting them in the General election, then so be it. Let them rot in the cold without any money and lose to the Republicans. They are no better than the enemy we are fighting.

[Toucano]

54. Bravo!

They're DEAD to me.

[brentspeak]

61. Then you have a responsibility to support decent Dems in primaries

Just saying "we're not supporting these traitor Dems" means you end up working for the Republican Party; a positive action would be to seek out and encourage replacement Democrats in the respective districts, help them defeat the DINO incumbents, and then help them again to defeat their Republican opponents.

Anything less is Republican.

[sleipnir]

62. Well, if no replacement step forward, I'll sit out that one.

The problem is, it seems from my reading that a majority of the traitors are in safe districts and have good re-elect chances. I'll support anyone to get rid of these DINO's, but we as a Party are having a hard time mustering up decent alternatives. No, I won't help the Republicans, but I won't help the DINO's either.

[peacetalksforall]

44. I hope he dips from 41 to 11. Eleven is a good number for him. n/t

DeLay will now be the next State Dept nominee for the UN or head of the CIA. What do you think his reward should be?

[Darranar]

45. I guess all the devastation the US has wreaked on Central America...

still isn't enough for those who make an obscene profit off these things.

[ananda]

46. is it law?

Doesn't the Senate have to vote on it to make it official?

Sue

[meganmonkey]

47. Senate already passed it

I think 55-45

The only thing left is a signature from the pResident.
:shrug:

[Baclava]

66. You are correct.

The time for debate is over...it's passed.

[Wabbajack]

51. Call our 15 "Democratic" traiotrs and thank them for sending jobs overseas

[Zorra]

75. Article: Targeting the 15 Democratic Sellouts Who Passed CAFTA

We now know who the 15 Democrats are that each undermined their party and America's middle class by casting the deciding vote for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The bill passed by one vote, meaning each of the 15 Democrats cast the deciding vote. When 27 Republicans vote against their own party leadership as they did on CAFTA, Democrats have only these 15 sellouts within their ranks - and groups like the DLC that pushed CAFTA - to blame for the fact that the Democratic Party has been relegated to permanent minority status.
snip----
Starting with bankruptcy, we get the list whittled down to 12: Bean, Cooper, Cuellar, Hinojosa, Jefferson, Matheson, Meeks, Moore, Moran, Ortiz, Skelton and Tanner.

Moving to the bill that limits citizens' legal rights and protects corporations that abuse ordinary Americans, the list gets whittled down to 9: Bean, Cooper, Cuellar, Hinojosa, Matheson, Meeks, Moore, Moran and Tanner.

These are the 9 Democrats who are the difference between House Democrats being in the majority and the minority - they are the people who undermine the vast majority of honest/courageous Democrats who fight for ordinary people in Congress everyday. They are the ones who make it consistenly impossible for Democrats to deliver a message that they are the party that stands up for ordinary working people in this country. The fact is, if Democrats are going to be in the minority for the forseeable future, it would be better if these folks were defeated, because they do more harm than good to a party that desperately needs unity to let America knows what it stands for.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0728-21.htm

[Orion The Hunter]

57. Here are the Democrats who voted IN FAVOR of CAFTA:

Here are the Democrats who voted YES--and to whom no one should give another cent in campaign contributions:

Senate:

Bingaman, N.M.
Cantwell, Wash.
Carper, Del.
Feinstein, Calif.
Lincoln, Ark.
Murray, Wash.
Nelson, Fla.
Nelson, Neb.
Pryor, Ark.
Wyden, Ore.

House of Representatives:

Melissa Bean of Illinois
Jim Cooper of Tennessee
Henry Cuellar of Texas
Norm Dicks of Washington
Ruben Hinojosa of Texas
William Jefferson of Louisiana
Jim Matheson of Utah
Gregory Meeks of New York
Dennis Moore of Kansas
Jim Moran of Virginia
Solomon Ortiz of Texas
Ike Skelton of Missouri
Vic Snyder of Arkansas
John Tanner of Tennessee
Edolphus Towns of New York


If one of these is your rep, I STRONGLY suggest you contact their office(s) and let them know how you feel.

[Pachamama]

63. Cantwell & Murray of WA? WTF? Those are two women I've given money to!

DINO Feinstein is not a surprise, but the other two are...

Feinstein (my Senator) lost my vote on a multiple of issues a year ago and the straw that broke the camels back was when she introduced Condi Rice at the confirmation hearings for Sec of State.

Can someone explain this vote, please? :shrug:

[Zorra]

68. Maybe. Cafta makes fruit sales to some Latin American countries duty

free.

The fruit industry, particularly the apple industry, is a major part of the Washington State economy.

I strongly suspect that this is why Senators Murray and Cantwell voted for Cafta's passage.

"The DLC embraces CAFTA and sells admission to its conference to corporate lobbyists," Jesse L. Jackson

[Pachamama]

77. Don't forget Microsoft....

;-)

[txb]

64. O.K. Now I'm Pissed.....7 months watching, and now....

...I'm jumping in with two feet, and a helluva lot more functioning brain cells than most would assume, and certainly WAY MORE than a few cabinet chairs of the current administration combined. And while I'm tootin', I'm blessed by PRIDE, GRATITUDE, and KARMA guiding me in times of trouble....I know I'd never sacrifice a brother or sister for gain, furthermore I'm here to bag sand, kiss babies, blow minds, make grilled cheese, burn cds, stuff envelopes, twist jah, and anything else it takes to keep others from straying into the darkness.

No more lurkin'....stop their hurtin'.....it's a Holy Ghost Revival

can I get an amen on my first DU post? A M E N !

here's sum tuff luvin' to a formerly esteemed Senator of CALIFORNIA!

Senator Dianne,

Is your money that good? Can it buy you forgiveness, do you think that it should?

It would've been much easier to take a Republican voting for CAFTA rather than someone like yourself who slithers about CLAIMING to represent the working people. You and I both know how many thousands of days, not to mention MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, have passed since your heroic deeds when the people of the great city of San Francisco needed you.

You've come along way, baby. Unlike those emulating the trendy waif models in the Virginia Slims ads however, the cancer YOU ENDORSE will be knocking on the doors of working men and women without the gilded walls of protection that the Feinstein family enjoys....those same hallowed walls that will also prevent you from ever thinking twice about the oppression YOU GRACIOUSLY BROUGHT to those who need it the least, our 'trading partners' in Central & South America.

I hope whatever backroom deal you brokered for your personal & family interests is good enough to help you forget the nightly process of narcotic consumption that it must take for any reasonable person to sleep soundly after tossing a brick to peoples overboard looking for HELP. That *IS* why you were initially called to public duty, no? HELPING THOSE IN NEED?

Or is that just for the first couple of decades and THEN you work to pad the accounts of friends, fiends, and loved ones who can enjoy those ill-gains and never, ever, get misty-eyed thinking of you putting yourself OUT in the name of those in need.

Your deeds have become repugnant & disgraceful. Please stop this charade of being 'one of the two female California Democratic Senators'! While such billing may get you some face time on Sunday morning with fat white guys, those of us who remember you when you were fab can't stand to watch the carnage of your deceit.

You've aligned yourself with the most corrupt and morally bankrupt administration in our nations history. You've done irreversible damage to a once proud legacy.

Have you no shame?

_________________
CAL

[sadiesworld]

69. AMEN!

Great DiFi rant, I hope you plan on sending it to her.

Glad you came out of the shadows and Welcome to DU!!!

:hi:

[meganmonkey]

70. Right on!

Love your passion and style!

Welcome into the world of posting on DU!

:toast:

or :smoke:, whichever you prefer ;)

[robcon]

73. CAFTA is a win-win for the world.

The momentum for reducing trade barriers continues... NAFTA, WTO, U.S.-Chile, U.S.-Australia, CAFTA.

I hope the treaties continue to expand the free trade area: more economic growth, more jobs, more prosperity in the world, less economic disparity in the world.

The New York Times editorial has it right:

"In the wee hours yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement by a sliver of two votes. Fifteen Democrats joined 202 Republicans in voting to open up trade between the United States and El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. Anyone who believes, as this page does, that the benefits of free trade outweigh those of protectionism should give a pat on the back to the Democrats who chose principle over politics and defied their party's leaders to vote for the trade pact."

[Orion The Hunter]

76. RE: NY Times is your source?!

Yeah because the NY Times is so well known for its leftist leanings

/sarcasm off

Please, look at where some of those folks are fom Robcon, and you will note that quite a few of their constituents are not in favor of how their representatives voted.

[robcon]

78. I don't disagree with you, Orion.

1. The NYT is not a leftist source.

2. Many constituents disagree with how their representatives voted on CAFTA.

But my post had nothing to do with either of these two points. I believe free trade agreements are the most prosperity-generating and peace-generating documents we can develop. I believe if the EU changed its protectionist stands on agriculture, the effect on the third world would be immediate and spectacular: within a harvest or two, humger would be reduced in many third-world countries.