Senators still not voting...

[ProdigalJunkMail]

I have been looking over the recent (and not so recent) Roll Call votes for the Senate and I have a big-time bone to pick. Sen. Edwards (and presidential contender) has missed something like 94% of the votes in the last three months. I know he is busy running a campaign, but dammit, he is my senator and I want him on the floor! He is supposed to be there to represent the people of NC and he is not doing his job. How can this be? Can it be stopped? Should there be some method (or maybe there is) where we, the citizens of NC, can require him to do his job...other than voting him out if he keeps this up?

Sorry, I know Edwards is popular with some here, but he is pissing me off completely with this complete inattention to the position for which he was hired/elected!

Thanks for tolerating my rant...
TheProdigal

[La_Serpiente]

1. Are there any votes you are interested in?

I know he has missed some KEY votes lately, like the partial-birth abortion one. Even though the Repukes won by a large margin, it is the fact he didn't put his posistion on the record.

But he did vote "No" in 1999, so at least he does have a record.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. no...i can see the ones I am interested in...

but I just want him to VOTE! I know and support his positions on many things, but his positions don't mean squat if he won't vote. He needs to spend a little time in DC and do his job.

I know the analogy is weak, but it would be like me being hired to do one job, and then spend all my time at 'work' looking for another one.

TheProdigal

[drfemoe]

3. He isn't running for re-election

so I guess you're s.o.l. Doesn't make me want to vote for him either. Especically since he skipped voting on the p-b abortion bill. :thumbsdown:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. agreed...

but how do we stop this from happening with the next person we put into office? Or can we? Is it something we have to live with?

TheProdigal

[mlawson]

6. Well, the NEXT person in that office

*might* be a repuke. In that case, I do not WANT him/her to vote.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. point taken...

TheProdigal

[mlawson]

5. I don't think much of it, either.

Especially since he is probably running for VP anyway. I have supported him for months, but this is not acceptable performance, in my book. But I do not think there is any Senate rule about number of votes.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. not that I can find, either...

just seems like something the citizenry will have to do something about. Of course, when I queried his office on the matter, I got the typical form response telling me how much he was doing for NC. I guess I shouldn't expect a valid response if he isn't there to begin with!

TheProdigal

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. What is more important?

For him to be in Congress and cast protest votes, or for him to be out campaigning, making the case to the American people that we need to boot Bush out of the White House?

I'd argue that as long as he is there for the close votes, it is more important for him to be campaigning.

Otherwise it would be impossible for anyone in Congress to successfully run for President.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

10. respectfully, disagree...

While it would be very difficult for someone to run for the presidency whilst in office, something needs to be done. My representation (and that of all NorthCarolinians) is diminished by his not being there. Is there a mechanism for a proxy or assignment of voting? Hell, I think they could vote remotely for that matter. I just want my representative to the Senate to be in the Senate doing what I helped put him there to do. This makes me seriously consider not voting for people with presidential aspirations...I am that hacked off about it.

TheProdigal

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. Makes me wish my Democratic Senator (Baucus) were running for President.

So he could stop voting with the Repugs. Maybe he would be too busy to help lead the effort to gut Medicare.

[flpoljunkie]

14. Edwards would be there to vote on any crucial bill, if his vote would make

a difference--just as the other Senators who are running for President.

[KoKo]

11. When you live in NC and are fighting here on DU and you fax Edwards, you

then realize he's not there....he's gone. And, Liddy Dole doesn't listen..so for now we in a hugely populated area of NC who are Dems don't have ANY representation. Not that he was Representation to begin with given his replies to my frequent faxes and phone calls. But, we don't have a Senator....we NC Dems. Edwards is gone.....

[ProdigalJunkMail]

12. hey KoKo...

sounds all too familiar. I just want to talk to someone in his office who can answer the question, "How is Sen. Edwards representing and working for North Carolina?"

TheProdigal