Why did these 7 rethugs "get it " while 38 others did not?

[RiverStone]

From 6/11/07 - S.J.Res.14; a joint resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00207

Of the 53 YEAs, here are the 7 Republican's that voted with a unanimous YEA from every DEM that voted.

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

It is virtually impossible for me to try and think like a rethug, though given that this vote was yet another "non-binding" symbolic vote anyway, what could possible motivate all those other rethugs to vote Nay??? Are they so partisan, so stuck in lock-step with Shrub that they won't acknowledge that almost everybody (except them) see lying Gonzo as a ridiculous excuse for our country's AG?

I can't fathom it - even for a puke...


TWO FOOTNOTES: What a surprise (sarcasm)! Lieberman joined all the other rethugs and voted Nay. Why the fuck does the MSM keep referring to that prick as an "independent" DEM. Joe has drank and digested all the rethug kool-aid.

Biden, Dodd, and Obama did not vote. I assume they were on the campaign trail. Wish they were there!

[liberal N proud]

1. Karl Rove

These seven didn't listen to Karl this time. Or maybe they were token republicons to say the republicons believe in bipartisan ship.

[Mz Pip]

2. They are all moderates

except for Hagel, who want to distance themselves from BushCo. I think they are all also up for re-election in 08.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[bryant69]

3. If they voted what they actually thought, the voting would have been near unanimous

This was a party line vote, and most Republicans didn't want to piss off their candidencies.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[babylonsister]

4. Because they are ALL up for reelection and figured they didn't want

to provide more ammo to use against them.

[gratuitous]

8. Bingo on Gordon Smith

He's frantically burnishing his "moderate" credentials because he knows that any credible Democratic opposition next year in Oregon means he might have to go back to poisoning ponds for a living, and he really, really likes being Sen. Smith.

[central scrutinizer]

15. Exactly - they count votes then give a wink and a nod

to the seats they are in real danger of losing. It's win-win. These opportunists can go on "record" as opposing Bushco, nothing really happens, and if the Republicans regain power, they can return to their party-line voting.

[MADem]

19. No, not all of them. Most, yes (see post 17). But not all. nt

[peace13]

5. Specter sold us down the river long ago.

Maybe he has seen the light.

[Virginia Dare]

14. I'd like to think so too...

but sadly these are only glimmers that we seem to see from him from time to time. I guess it's better than nothing.

[LostinVA]

6. Because most are Moderates

And, some on that list are more Dem than some Dems in Congress.

[librechik]

7. the rest of them don't have to run next year

or are in safe seats.

[RiverStone]

10. So they still prefer to kiss Shrub's ass

(sorry - gross image)

...to walking with an ounce of integrity and voting NO confidence for an AG who has fully lost the confidence of the American people?

Damn, talk about broken government! :mad:

[librechik]

12. yup--they'll respond to their constituents later. Right now it's the corporate teat

and Bush's glutes they are interested in.

[AndyA]

9. I heard on Diane Rehm (NPR) this morning, that if the vote had been

a secret vote, 96-97 would have voted for no confidence.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. Four of those Senators are facing reelection in 2008

[MasonJar]

13. Mitch asked them to vote for Bush because there will be times

coming up when they cannot. Supposedly even though none would come out in support of Gonzo, there would be no repercussions. The 7 are running for re-election in blue or purple states.

[TwilightGardener]

16. Specter, I've heard, would have voted Nay if the vote was going to

be close--I'd like to think that wasn't true, and that he voted on principle (as a former constituent of his)--but sadly, I doubt it. Collins isn't up for re-election (I think), so her vote was probably on principle. Hagel (my Senator) gets in more hot water with the GOPers here in bright-red NE with every "Dem-favoring" vote he's been making lately, so he's either really standing on principle and just doesn't give a shit anymore what anyone thinks or about getting re-elected(according to a recent good article in the New Republic about his politically-suicidal tendencies), or he's just positioning himself for an indie prez run. The rest--probably re-election. Especially Norm Coleman. Still, would have been nice to see McCain and Coburn put their votes where their mouths were, instead of weaseling out of the vote to save face. Weaselly assclowns.

Oops--on edit--Snowe standing on principle, instead of Collins--Snowe is not up for re-election, apparently. Harry Reid needs to cut a deal with her to make her a Dem.

[MADem]

17. These people are NOT brave, they didn't 'get it'--they're VULNERABLE

Look at the calendar--guess who's up for reelection in 2008? There's no preservation like SELF-preservation:

Coleman (R-MN)-- Up for reelection in 08, quite possibly against Al Franken--the mockery alone will make the debates newsworthy on a national basis.

Collins (R-ME)-- Up for reelection. She'll probably win, as she's well liked. Then again, so was Linc Chaffee....

Hagel (R-NE)-- May not run in 08, but maybe he will. There's still that "VP thing with Bloomberg as an independent" rumor going around, or maybe he'll run for the top slot, who knows? But his SEAT is on the block, at any rate.

Smith (R-OR)--Running for a 3rd term in 08. The right Democrat could beat him like a rented mule.

Snowe (R-ME)--Not up for reelection, but she's clearly not stupid and knows her constituency. She also might not want to make waves for her junior partner, Sue Collins. ME has a Dem governor; they're not solid GOP despite their Senate make-up. And frankly, those two are more liberal than many of the Blue Dog Dems.

Specter (R-PA)--Not up for reelection, but he IS 'ranking' on Judiciary--hell, he HAD to vote that way--only a craven toady would go the other way. He's heard it and seen it, close up. He KNOWS it stinks.

Sununu (R-NH)--Up for reelection in 08. I think he STOLE the election the last time, and I hope Jeanne Shaheen goes back at him and whips the ever loving crap out of that bum. He's a bad as his old man...NH voters can be fickle, they've got a Democratic governor and they like him just fine. The Sununu baaastid CAN be beaten, IMO, with the right organization, teamwork, and if they don't jam the goddamned phones like they did the last time.

[RiverStone]

22. So what might it take to get that other handful of rethugs?

Ok, so they are vulnerable ---and your opinion is shared by most in this thread MADem---what in your view would it take for another 7-8 rethugs to join the wave of reason and dump Gonzo on his ass?

Or this very sorry excuse for a lawyer (let alone AG) may be doing DEMS a favor; what a good whipping boy going into the 08 elections! Sadly, that may be good politics though it's bad for our country and bad for freedom and justice for all. How can there be real justice when the fox is guarding the hen house?

[Bitwit1234]

18. No one SOUTHERN republican did their duty.

The southern republicans are so up bush's butt they can't see what the rest of the country wants. It is a shame that such a group of people can not or will not join the American people.

[jwirr]

20. Coleman is up for election and that is what he gets.

[driver8]

21. I cannot believe that weasel Coleman voted with the Dems...

He must really be worried about losing his seat to Franken.