Tell me why this Gonzo vote is so important???

[LSK]

It does nothing to answer anything about the USA scandal.

Bush wont give 2 craps about it.

Its non-binding and legally does nothing to Gonzo.

Why is this vote the "end of the world" for some here?

[TwilightGardener]

1. If Democrats can't take down an obviously incompetent, uncouth liar like Gonzo,

it pretty much means we're screwed as far as going after anyone in the admin. It's not that the vote would have had immediate impact, but more that it signifies that Repubs will never, ever bend to reason or show respect for the law or the constitution if it goes against Chimpy's wishes--and we can't make them. It's a sad situation, but I'm glad the Dems tried, anyway.

[LSK]

3. all you have to do is watch CSPAN for a week to know

That the Repukes will never bend against the Chimp too drastically.

I have said numerous times that there is no way in hell you will get 17 GOP votes in the Senate to convict an impeachment.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I had hopes for enough votes to impeach (but not necessarily convict) Chimpy--

now with Joe Turtleman casting votes against Dems out of spite and the R's not even willing to censure a complete loser, I have no hope even of that.

[AndyA]

5. Hopefully, the Dems have learned a lesson from this.

And going forward, hopefully, they will stop trying to show how they are trying to be friendly and bipartisan toward the Republicans, and stomp the SOB's into the ground first, then apologize later.

Kind of like the treatment we got from them when they were the majority.

They set the standard, the Dems should just follow it. Stop trying to be nice, get it done.

[On the Road]

8. How Do They Go About

a)stomping the Republicans while simultaneously

b) getting more Republican votes to overcome filibusters and vetos?

[AndyA]

14. How about playing the game the way the GOP does.

None of their bills make it to the floor until they demonstrate they are ready to act in a bipartisanship way. NOTHING makes it to the floor that the GOP wants.

That should be good for a start.

[On the Road]

15. I am Not Familiar with All the Legislation That Comes Out

but other than the war funding, I think this is pretty much what they're doing. What GOP measures have come up?

The war funding was depressing, but leaving the troops without money could have been catastrophic. I wish it weren't so, but I'm afraid it would have played out that way.

[BootinUp]

2. End of the world no but

Crystallizes the shame of the republican party just a little bit more. Actually a vote blocking cloture may hurt them more than they realize.

[aquart]

6. Did you see the Dallas Morning News thingy?

<http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/points/stories/DN-dreher_10edi.ART.State.Edition1.43481c7.html>

NOT a liberal paper. Real disgust. Still unable to admit this is the norm rather than otherwise for the Republicans, but something to behold nonetheless.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. Other than the 'it would be nice' factor, there is the very real

result, whichever way it went, of getting the senators on record in defense of or supporting an AG who has blatantly broken the law and violated the constitution - when when it comes cown to cases in future months, candidates can point to this vote and say "And my opponant supported Gonzales".

It's something at least.

[JDPriestly]

9. It is a statement against corruption and against

violations of the Voting Rights Act. Voting no confidence on Gonzales is a means through which Democrats can show their leadership in a positive direction away from the dirty politics of the Bush administration.

I am horrified that Obama did not vote.

Why did Rosa Parks sit in the front of the bus? It was an empty gesture. The authorities arrested her. Her act, in and of itself didn't really change anything. Or did it? And if so, how?

She set an example. Her action was a statement. She took the lead on protesting something that was wrong. Her act alone did not have meaning, but what her act meant to others had meaning. Because of her act, other people found the courage in themselves to challenge a system, centuries of customs and laws that were wrong.

Gonzales has abused his power as attorney general. He has refused to cooperate with Congress and lied to Congress over and over again. This vote was very meaningful. I will not vote for Obama, Biden or Dodd -- because they did not take a stand and vote with their colleagues in the majority in Congress. Had they voted, we would have been much closer to the 60 votes needed. Their failures to votes -- their lack of courage -- said volumes about then and, in the eyes of the MSM and the American people ultimately counted more than the 53 courageous senators who voted for this motion.

Not voting and voting No on this measure were cowardly acts -- betrayals of our democracy.

Not voting was a vote for Bush. I am particularly horrified that Obama, a lawyer, did not bother to vote on this measure.

[pinto]

10. It's not the end of the world. It's a political move to put the Senate on the record,

and highlight the opposition to Mr. Gonzales' continued tenure as AG. In that view, it succeeded. Was there any real chance of it coming to an open floor vote? Perhaps, slim as it was - needing 60 votes for cloture to move for a vote.

That said, I was glad to see it brought up.

[blondeatlast]

12. Gonzo may not act so reactionarily knowing that he lost even R support, too.

I'm glad that even knowing the moce would likely fail, that the Dems had the courage to proceed.

[pinto]

13. Here's the 7 (R)'s and 1 (I) voting yea:

Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Hagel (R-NE)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Sununu (R-NH)

Sanders (I-VT)

[RufusTFirefly]

11. It's a bit like shooting at fish in a barrel. And missing

The case against Gonzo was pretty goldurned obvious. And the "no confidence" angle should've spoken to those who felt queasy about something with actual teeth.

There are few things more discouraging than deliberately lowering the bar and still failing.

[Solly Mack]

16. It was something to rally around

if I may be so unkind as to suggest as much

When you're drowning, even a twig looks strong enough to lift you above the water

The people *need* something - anything - at this point to keep them believing that things will get better; that there will be justice.

I've got an extremely cynical view (and hypothesis) about the test vote and probably not the best person to answer this question.