So wait! Byrd = Bad, Biden = Good?

[neverevergivein]

Because of this one (albeit very disappointing vote), we are saying we will work to defeat Robert Byrd and send money to support Joe Biden? Sorry, I just can't buy that logic. I'm as hurt as anyone in here, but you'll never convince me that the Senate is better off with 51 Joe Bidens and zero Robert Byrds. There is no way.

[blue cat]

1. Why did Byrd vote for the dark side?

Just asking, I think he must have been promised something.

[Dr Fate]

2. I like the idea of targeting on 2 or 3 fake DEMS to make examples of.

I would give Byrd a pass only b/c of his correct stance on Iraq.

Which 2 or 3 DEMs should be the sacrifical lambs?

[blue cat]

7. How about that chic from Mary L., from Louisiana?

She is toast anyway, and is a DINO. BTW, when I called Biden's office, he was undecided at the time. I said to his aide who was nice that I couldn't believe that he was able to go on TV all the time, but scared to stand up for our rights. I guess he figured out the netroots will kick some ass.

[ladjf]

10. If she didn't realize after Katrina that the Republicans had

screwed Louisiana big time, she's just plain dumb. We don't need her.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. What Byrd did today was unconscionable.

He saddled us with an uber right wing judge who will work to roll back our civil rights, as well as women's rights. To me, that is worse than anything Joe has or hasn't done.

What sickens me the most about Byrd is that Alito was instrumental in upholding laws that reduced the efficacy of mine safety, and we all know how well that worked.

[MrSandman]

4. Replacing him with Manchin would really work out...nt

[Hippo_Tron]

5. I hope you're joking about replacing Byrd with Manchin

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. My question is why did they do that?

Why kiss Republican ass till the end? What's wrong with these people?

[GreenArrow]

8. they are playing charades

one has aspirations, the other does not. Biden's vote was a sop to the "base" as he hopes to woo it for a possible Presidential run; Byrd won't be affected by his aye vote. They both understood the fillibuster wasn't going to be affective.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. So Byrd LIKES Alito's thinking, and Biden thinks he will be prez?

A**holes doesn't even describe it.

[seabeyond]

9. let byrd go. focus on two. i say lieberman and cantwell

both in blue states. both have opposition. we make clear why we are actively behind opposition and if our dems chose to vote repug, this is what will happen to them in 2008

[wiggs]

12. Exactly

While it is a positive thing, I think, that more and more people recognize that not all dem leaders are neccessarily on our side, this one particular vote does not tell us which congressmen are helpful and which are not. Byrd was one of the stalworts that could be counted on and it is a mystery why he did what he did today.

Similarly, it has been a mystery why dem leaders have passed up opportunities, voted the wrong way, been silent, not taken advantage of having all the issues, and generally been complicit during the last five years.

There are patterns that can be discerned..such as DLC tending to lean this way or that. But the overall pattern I come away with is that dem opposition always seems measured, weaker than possible, divided, muted, disappointing, fleeting and usually just barely enough to look significant but never enough to cause real trouble. Issues are hardly ever framed the forceful way they should be by dems.

Yes, there are some speeches that sound good and get the base excited.....but no follow up. Yes, it was great that Reid invoked rule 21, but we have lost all momentum on that one too. The dems hold some great briefings in the CH basement that are shown on cspan for a while, then.....what exactly? Elections, bankruptcy, deficits, environment, torture, white phosporous, 9/11, medicare, education (I'm sick of thinking of all the misdeeds that have slipped from the national discussion or even from dem leader discussions)....all these should be part of every dem congressman's day and speeches. But no. Response is careful and often apologetic...the opposite of republican approaches (I saw 20 seconds of Meet the Press....Frist was saying that democrats have no principles and no ideas).

That's the biggest pattern I see. Can't figure it out....but there it is. Today is not a surprise...it fits with the last five years.

[emulatorloo]

13. Because Byrd basically flushed his little constitution down the drain

by voting for Alito

[globalvillage]

14. No, Biden's a huge asshole.

Byrd may be senile?

Biden may have voted against cloture, but after his gig on Imus today, he's on my list. Huge smarmy opportunist, IMO. He'd just a soon stab Kerry in the back as look at him, and that's beyond inexcusable.