A Senate investigation of DSM - how does a senator make it happen?

[blm]

Since there are so many threads here filled with attacks on Kerry for sending a letter of inquiry around the senate and urging other senators to sign on to start an official senate investigation of DSM, I must assume that you have better ideas of how to start a Senate investigation. or at least how to force other senators to sign onto Kerry's letter.

Please share them with your senators here. This matter is too important to trust to senate protocol or procedure. And, remember, it must be something that can be forced through immediately.

[blm]

1. That's odd. I expected hundreds of better ideas.

.

[KittyWampus]

2. Forget It BLM, I've Concluded That DU Is Largely Filled With Bitching

whiners, disruptors and precious few intelligent people.

Sorry, but think of how many DU'ers fall for the mediawhores' crap time and again.

How many are trashing Durbin and yet couldn't be bothered to stand behind him forcefully over the last few days?

How many DU'ers know or even care that 9 billion is missing in Iraq, an issue 10x more politically damaging the the DSM in the short AND long term.

[LittleClarkie]

3. That's what got me today

CommonDreams posts what amounted to an opinion piece on Kerry, with the same damn talking points I heard on Rush just yesterday, from the that bastion of progressive thought, the Boston Herald.

I swear, Newsmax could find new friends here if they would just post a nice hit piece on Kerry. Suddenly, overnight, they'd become a credible source for progressive news.

Sometimes we mirror the freepers entirely too much, in the way our minds work if not in ideology.

[blm]

4. Hey, beat it youz. This thread is for BETTER IDEAS to get a senate inquiry

and we need all the bandwidth we can get for the hundreds of better ideas.

[LittleClarkie]

5. Righty-o

Ahem. So, are they all in a "better idea" brainstorming session?

Hmmm?

Oh right. I'm supposed to be buggering off. Right then. I'll just be going. Far be it from me to stand in the way of better ideas.

(snif) Seems a bit quiet though if you ask me...

I'm sure they'll be coming though. Just you wait. (pats blm on the head)

Here, something to pass the time.

:donut:

I hear crickets are also good eating.

I'll be back later to see how you're getting on.

[seabeyond]

31. bah hahaha you have mellowed me,

i might be able to get to bed now. oh, this is cute. yes do tell.

well, since i am not here to bash kerry, and allowing him the time he needs to do what he needs to do, so he isnt doing something half assed and truly missing an opportunity, i will leave this thread to all the brilliant and do able suggestions you are just sure to get

ta ta

[Blue_In_AK]

44. May I say once again...

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE JOHN KERRY, and I don't care what anyone says.

[David Zephyr]

6. I think that John Conyers showed how a senator might "make it happen"

I think that the silence by the Democrats in the U.S. Senate is un-American and reveals cowardice. Cowardice.

[kerrygoddess]

7. How long did it take Conyers to get his hearing off the ground?

Um seems to me he started working on it a couple of weeks before Kerry brought up the DSM.

But hey screw the fact the the repubs are in control and setting the agenda. Screw the people in this country who the Dems are trying to protect when they fight the Repubs on all the crap in the budget, etc.

Screw the people with out healthcare. Screw the environment. Screw the energy and the need to protect the earth. Screw everything and everybody, the only thing that matters is the DSM.

It doesn't work that way.

[David Zephyr]

10. I do not have even the slightest idea of what your reply to me was about.

Unless you are such a "kerry goddess" that you perceive any comment as an attack on him which is sad.

Your post seems to (with a hammer) imply that John Conyers and the other elected 105 Democrats in the House of Representatives really only care about the DSM and truly wish to "screw the people with out healthcare. Screw the environment. Screw the energy and the need to protect the earth. Screw everything and everybody, the only thing that matters is the DSM."

Is that what you think about every Democrat except John Kerry?

Whatever in my post merited your venom beats the hell out of me. I happened to have swallowed my pride and intellect and voted for John Kerry along with giving him thousands of dollars and volunteered here locally for him at election time.

However, John Kerry is a big disappointment in my eyes and will remain so now for the rest of my life. Still, my post had nothing to do with John Kerry. I was answering blm's question what any senator could do regarding DSM. Since the House is the counterpart to the Senate, I figured John Conyers courageous actions was a good example.

You need to deprogram yourself from the Kerry cult. I think Kerry would be embarrassed by your reply to me.

[politicasista]

13. Kerry cult?

She has a right to support and defend Kerry just like you have the right to do the same with your candidate. If you wanted to really add something, you should stop elevating Conyers while trashing Kerry. I am very proud of Conyers, but I don't go around using his or other Dems names to trash Kerry. That is why we will continue to lose elections and be the minority in Congress and the country period.

Have you called your senators about the DSM?

[David Zephyr]

16. Defend Kerry from what?

Explain to me how her reply to my post was rationale. Read my post and then her reply.

You wrote the following odd comment: "She has a right to support and defend Kerry just like you have the right to do the same with your candidate." Excuse me. John Kerry was my candidate. I don't have a candidate now. What was that comment supposed to mean?

Also, I did not "trash" John Kerry as you write, so don't say that I am. In fact, I am pretty sure I did more to help John Kerry's effort than you ever did including time and money.

I like how you blame me for Kerry losing the election. Kerryphiles like you do Kerry more harm than good. Kerry was once a great Democrat and then he voted for the Iraqi War, the Patriot Act, Homeland Defense Act and lost the election to George Bush where Al Gore had won.

And yes, I have called and e-mailed many Senators about the DSM including my Senators here in California.

[kerrygoddess]

19. The point was

That some people around here complain instead of admiting the man is actually doing something.

Furthermore, it took Conyers quite a few weeks to get something off the ground. So to call the silence in the Senate cowardice it tacky at best.

It's also obvious that around here some people only care about the DSM and don't give a rat's ass about the rest of the issues that our Senators and House members are fighting for every damn day, including John Conyers!

Courage is not measured by the scope of one or two acts but by many.

Your post had everything to do with John Kerry and the Dems in the Senate. You called them cowards. However, you fail to respect that they are fighting for you and everyone here every day.

Yeah, I support John Kerry. I have my whole life and will continue to. He's an American Hero in my opinion and in the opinion of many of his peers and counterparts in the House.

[LittleClarkie]

24. Kerry-krishna... Kerry-krishna... krishna-krishna... Kerry-kerry...

(pins a flower on David and dances back out)

Kerry-krishna... Kerry-krishna... krishna-krishna... Kerry-kerry...

[kerrygoddess]

27. Krishna Krishna Kerry Krishna

Hey I lost my tambourine dancing through the airport... Can I borrow yours?

[LittleClarkie]

29. Of course, my sister

feel free

[seabeyond]

32. lol lol you make me want to put flowers in my hair

hm

[kerrygoddess]

34. Got incense?

We need some Nag Champa! Pass the Nag Champa!

[kerrygoddess]

33. Woo Hoo! Kerry Love... Kerry Krishna!

Sorry BLM, momentary hijacking of your very serious thread for some Kerry Krishna love!

[LittleClarkie]

35. Yes, yes, come and get a a big hug from our glorious leader

All hail the Tall One.

[seabeyond]

37. now you guys

are just making me remember back to nov, when i had hope. look at that. i like kerry

[LittleClarkie]

39. That's him a couple of months ago in Texas

I don't think he expected the reception he got. He was so pleased. You can see it in his face. He's just glowing there.

[kerrygoddess]

41. Love that photo...

Geez... made me get teary eyed!

[kerrygoddess]

40. Got to have hope...

No matter how bleak it looks. Got to have hope. He's the Real Deal.

[David Zephyr]

54. You made my day, LittleClarkie.

Of course, we had the Kerry-rama last fall, too.

[LittleClarkie]

56. Sometimes, late at night

I turn into the court jester. I think it has to do with caffeine deprevation.

Glad to be of service.

Even if I *AM* one of those Kerry Krishnas in question.

[blm]

23. Conyers passed a letter to house members for a few weeks, didn't he?

Kerry said he'd bring the issue to the Senate. Last week he wrote up a letter of inquiry for other senators to sign onto. It appears he may be closing in on enough signers.

If that's where it stands, how is it so many have targeted Kerry on this?

They must have a better way of achieving the goal of a senate investigation....so...share it with us, so we can tell our senators a better way.

[Zensea]

8. The House impeaches, the Senate tries the case -- therefore

I think that because of "protocol" it is unlikely that there will be a Senate investigation until things move further down the road. It may take awhile.

It took awhile with Nixon also and his crimes were less than what Bush's appear to be. There were plenty of people who knew right away or believed right away once Watergate broke before Nixon got re-elected, that he was guilty but it still took almost two years for the whole drama to play out.

I'm relatively patient. I think these are historic events we are witnessing and the nature of historic events is that they tend to unfold at a pace that is not to the liking of everyone, but they do eventually unfold.

[karynnj]

11. Before Nixon got re-elected, the people who knew it would be important

were a small minority - sort of like the DU community without internet communication. I canvassed in a suburban NJ town, my friend and I found that mentioning Watergate was totally useless in getting anyone to consider McGovern. It was a really good way to get people to think you were crazy.

[Zensea]

14. exactly

I remember that also.
Of course Hunter S. Thompson was one of those people.
I remember him writing about it during the campaign in Rolling Stone, the articles which later became the book Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail.

[Hippo_Tron]

22. You forget, there was actual journalism back then

[obxhead]

9. had this thought earlier

Does Germany, France, or Spain have any docs to release that they would care to back up?
I'll take no more space now.

[berni_mccoy]

12. Two things can be done, but they are very VERY dangerous

First, have all the Democratic Congressmen and Senators Fillibuster EVERYTHING. NOTHING gets done, period, until IMPEACHMENT hearings are held. This will force the 'NUKE' option by the Republicans and the Dems can then clear themselves of any further bloodshed that follows. As they Repubs take the country further down the road to RUIN, their own internal battles will tear their party apart. They will start lobbying the Dems to help them in their causes. We will then have the reigns of leverage back simply by being needed by one side of the repubs or the other. But that leverage will not gain us anything UNLESS we use it to further splinter the republican party.

Second, FORCE the DRAFT issue. Democrats are already trying to force this issue and America is certainly NOT VOLUNTEERING for war. If this happens BEFORE 2006 elections, Republicans can kiss their majority GOOD BYE.

That's about ALL we have as far as leverage goes.

[LittleClarkie]

15. They can't force the draft issue

by putting out draft legislation like they did before. I kept hearing about how it was the Democrats who wanted it, not the Repubs. How the only legislation out was the Dems. It was not a good thing in my eyes.

[berni_mccoy]

18. If Republicans fight it then

They are doomed... Democrats can easily say: "But recruiting is at an all time low...and these Republican's WON'T SUPPORT THE TROOPS by sending them RELIEF or REINFORCEMENTS.... HOW UNAMERICAN of them... Bush and the Republicans STARTED this war, and BY GOD, THEY ARE GOING TO FINISH IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THEY DO, Young Republicans signing up FIRST"

We can bang them over the head ALL DAY LONG on this issue.

[MoonRiver]

17. I would think he/she should take to the Senate floor and make a case.

But not being a Senator I can't say exactly what should be done. Just this citizen's 2 cents, if Kerry is at all interested, which I doubt.

[kerrygoddess]

20. I would doubt that you know what he's interested in ...

unless perhaps you are Teresa.

[MoonRiver]

49. Of course I don't "know". But based on his actions I suspect he could

care less.

[kerrygoddess]

52. Really? That's why he's circulating a letter to Senate members...

Because he could care less. Get a grip. He's methodically doing what is neccessary to call for an investigation. Have you ever seen how Senate members and House members call for an investigation? They issue a letter and statement to whomever they are requesting the investigation from and a press release.

So sorry it's not happening they way "you" want it to.

[blm]

25. It appears senators don't react to other senators' floor speeches. Would

a senator be more likely to sign on to an investigation if they are asked on the floor of the senate or in one on one meetings?

The goal is to GET that senate investigation.

[kerrygoddess]

30. A request for an investigation needs to be in writing...

I believe. Makes sense. Speeches are great but like anything legal it needs to be in writing.

[MoonRiver]

48. A major Senate floor speech by Kerry would be broadcast by C-SPAN

and other networks would be forced to mention it also. Kerry is saying squat publically. If he wants to rally other Senators he needs to be publically aggressive. Getting on the Senate floor would be a good start.

[blm]

50. Oh, like newsies carried his major speech against Rice? Against Bolton? On

his child healthcare bill? On his call for Rumsfeld to resign?

[kerrygoddess]

51. Just like that! N/T

[Independent_Liberal]

21. Just remember guys...

Kerry is an experienced prosecutor. He knows what he's doing.

[Drnaline]

26. Can some one explain how protocol

OPERATES AS FAR AS HOW A HEARING IS FORMED?

[kerrygoddess]

28. Yes he is...

I would think that given the nature of the DSM, the best place to start raising a ruckus would be with the Senate Committee on Intelligence. That is I believe who the letter is being sent to.

Of course while a firery speech on the floor would be nice, a formal written letter, requesting an inquiry is most likely the way to proceed.

It just so happens that the Senate Committee on Intelligence is having two Closed Briefings on Intelligence Matters in the next two days. - http://intelligence.senate.gov/hr109.htm

[blm]

53. It's most likely that these meetings were called to discuss inquiry.

Why don't you post this in its own thread to inform the greater DU community here?

Many on this board would appreciate the heads up on these meetings. I'll bet they have no idea these meetings were even called. The media sure hasn't been watching very closely.

[seabeyond]

36. so blm are you suggesting it is not so easy as kerry walking

onto senate floor and raising hell. are you suggesting it takes more than just the balls to get up in front of everyone and throwing a hissy. not only would it not be productive, but probably against the rules

[LittleClarkie]

38. Indeed we need more than

a taller, thinner, cuter version of Sensenbrenner.

[kerrygoddess]

42. Yep! That's it...

Has to be all legal and such... Like Conyers did and it took him a while to pull off what he did.

[Carolab]

43. Why not just do what Bonifaz suggested?

Bonifaz and others ask that citizens of all party affiliations and backgrounds help support his request by writing to their Congressional leaders. They are also seeking other groups to sign on.

www.afterdowningstreet.org

[cestpaspossible]

45. I called my Democratic Senator and asked him to sign on.

[kerrygoddess]

46. Why not do it all?

[Carolab]

47. Really. Do anything/everything you can. n/t

[genius]

55. Follow Conyers's example