Two very brave souls, some chickens and some we should forgive

[onenote]

When you analyze the cloture vote, you see that two Democrats in particular acted with great bravery:

Dayton and Sabenow. Particularly Dayton. Both of them are up for re-election. Both barely squeaked by in 2000, getting less than 50 percent of the vote. And in Dayton's case, the two other principal statewide offices (other senator and governor) are both repubs; in Sabenow's case they're both Democrats, but nonetheless, I give her credit given her narrow victory in 2000. I'm not saying we don't salute the other Democrats who voted aganist cloture, but those two particularly deserve and should get our support this year.

Now for the chickens. To qualify, a Senator had to vote against cloture even though he/she won more than 55 percent of the vote in their last election and is from a state that currently has elected at least one other Democrat to a top statewide office.

The big chickens are:
Rockefeller (two Dems, 63%, not up for reelection)
Dorgan (one Dem, 68%, not up for reelection)
Baucus (one Dem, 63%, not up for reelection)
Kohl (two Dems, 62%, up for reelection)
Inouye (one Dem, 76%, not up for reelection)
Byrd (two Dems, 78%, up for reelection)
Carper (two Dems, 56%, up for reelection)

Slightly lesser chickens -- all up reelection -- we need them, but they also need to be sent a message:

Conrad (one Dem, 61%, up for reelection)
Binghaman (one Dem, 62%, up for reelecton)
Akaka (one Dem, 73%, up for reelection)
Lieberman (one Dem, 64%, up for reelection)

And finally, a few Dems who we should try to forgive:

Nelson (FL) (no Dems, 52%, up for reelection)
Nelson (NE) (no Dems, 51%, up for reelection)

A bit harder to forgive, but we need them
Salazar (CO) (no Dems, 51%, not up for reelection
Cantwell (WA) (two Dems, but very narrowly elected, 49%, up for reelection)

onenote

[Trevelyan]

1. Why forgive the DINOs The Nelson brothers. They have been they flies in

ointment of healing our nation long enough. If they are up for election, get rid of them.

[onenote]

4. and get republicans in their place?

I don't think so. I want to regain the Senate, not watch it become even more filibuster proof.

onenote

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. Dayton isn't running again

Just FYI... at least I think so. Amy Klobuchar is running for his empty seat I think.

[onenote]

5. thanks - I had forgotten that

[yurbud]

3. it's actually smarter to go out on a limb if you just squeaked by

why the hell would someone vote for a coward?

[onenote]

7. Because

If you just squeaked by, you probably needed cross over support

onenote

[sandnsea]

6. Empowering Republicans

Great way to win elections. I don't think it does a bit of good to scream DINO and think elections are going to be won on red meat rants. But they sure aren't won when you leave the population with the impression that Republicans are doing a good job or represent the will of the people, and that's what they did today. It was a stupid move. My preference is to continue to fight on the issues, and let the voters figure out which candidates really represent them.

[DELUSIONAL]

8. Sorry -- but Cantwell can go to hell

I've just sent her an email that she lost my vote forever!

We don't need her.

A better man is running against her in the Dem primary. HE has my support.

[onenote]

10. can he win the general election?

Because if he can't, he doesn't interest me.

onenote

[Matariki]

13. he can't win without support

this is why we're stuck with these people. 'the lesser of two evils' indeed. fuck Cantwell, she's shown her true colors far too often. from the iraq war to the patriot act to today.

[baby_bear]

11. I agree, Delusional

I sent her an email immediately saying that I would not support her in her re-election bid.

Is she that afraid of McSafeco?

Good grief.

I can't remember when I've been so disappointed in her.

b_b

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

9. Who Cares?

The point is we lost, and will continue to lose. Whether we have some or all of these dems, it will always be this sort of schitzoid party, which occasionally sides with the repubs, just enough so they continue to beat up on us.

It's a continual cycle. The next battles will be fought and lost between now and November, when once again the dems will come up just short enough, to declare a symbolic victory....and thereby earn 2 more years of consistently losing battles. I can't wait.

[Little Star]

14. You are so right OrangeCountyDemocrat

We should clean out this chicken coop asap. We need to find good true progressive dems to run against these dinos. Today they had the group for protection and they only cared about them self.
I say that we need to support any viable Dem that runs against them.

[Slit Skirt]

12. Salazar represents a huge minority here.......

he just knifed them in the back

[Cats Against Frist]

15. Yup -- wingnuts in CO shouldn't have gotten both votes

Salazar was wrong.

[baby_bear]

16. Sorry, but we don't need ANY of these wimps

To forgive them based on their personal risks of not being re-elected is not acceptable.

This confirmation, of this man, at this time, is way more important than any single senator.

That's what I wrote to my senators.

Unfortunately, Cantwell, being up for re-election this year, put her own interests ahead of mine, yours, and the country's.

No forgiveness is appropriate.

b_b