I understand playing politics, but Kyl/Lieberman is more than symbolic.

[blondeatlast]

I love the Democratic Party. I was born and bred a Dem and cannot fathom ever changing. I'm actually pretty average--but today, I'm angry and I want some rational explanation for the K/L vote.

I am gravely disappointed in HC's vote but even more disappointed that Obama didn't bother.

I'm a pretty average Democrat; here on DU, I've been called a DLC er more times than I'd care to count--yet I campaigned and voted for Kucinich in 2004 (I'm not convinced by anyone yet in this cycle).

I'm distrustful of most media, know propaganda when I see it, and try to keep up on issues. I understand some of the machinations that occur behind the scenes, but dammit--this was public. This vote is what the non-wonk voters see..

K/L may not be binding, may not even truly be a declaration for war, but is quite obviously designed to rile the masses to supporting a military engagement with Iran. There are quite a few threads that point that out--we can see it clearly, so why can't my representatives? It beats the drum and puts Iran (as a nation) on notice--and for what?

I have been a most forgiving Democrat in the past, but I'm furious that this passed, because it ADVOCATES A MILITARY ENGAGEMENT, even if it doesn't expressly say that.

Members of my party in great numbers have terribly let me down and I'm angry. They have pushed the possibiliuty of WAR even further for appearances' sake.

I am a fourth generation yellow dog raising a fifth (and marrying another, my immigrant spouse has registered Dem) and have been loyal as a puppy up until now. I'm still loyal to the party, in fact. But I'm owed and explanation by each and evey Democrat who voted "aye" today--and especially those that are running for President. I want an explanation, too, from Obama--this was a vote to beat the drum for war, yet he can't be on record?

Help me understand, please, so I can help the people I know who have relied on me to keep them informed. I really don't get how anyone could have voted in favor of this, much less any Democrat.

[ShortnFiery]

1. It impedes if not "closes off" diplomatic avenues ... it's poison - Webb has it right. nt

[blondeatlast]

3. Diplomacy? What's that? I've heard the word before... nt

[H2O Man]

4. Exactly n/t

[G_j]

17. "poison" is the correct word n/t

[Justitia]

2. I'm with you and I want to understand WTF happened???? -eom

[EFerrari]

5. Maybe their thinking was that Bush doesn't believe he needs

Congressional approval in the first place. If he wants to bomb Iran, he will regardless of what they do.

If that's true, now they are on record seemingly diligent in the effort to protect this nation from big bad Iran. If things turn out "badly", then they can always blame it on bad intelligence.

Political expediency: 1. Human life: 0

[blondeatlast]

6. This is the PUBLIC face of this vote, DU--that's my biggest concern.

Thank you for the posters above who understand my concern--I'm bitterly, horribly, sickeningly, disappointed and frustrated.

[smokey nj]

7. You're not alone, his scares the shit out of me.

[tnlefty]

8. I share your anger and frustration,

but I can't help your understanding of it as it makes no freakin' sense to me, either.

[blondeatlast]

12. I keep hoping to hear from some of the more knowledgeable DUers, the ones who understand

the machinations. I need, well, reassurance, and I'm not getting it.

I simply see this as a disaster and none of the explanations I've seen yet help.

We are going to go in and kill a bunch of my sister-in-law's people--and the Senate passed it as if it were a provision to honor Thomas Jefferson. God have mercy.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

9. People are working on pulling this together to provide an answer.

There are several authorizations, EOs and other activities impacting the actual impact of this latest Senatorial amendment.

I am not one of them because my 'intuition' or whatever you want to call it (e.g. WAY over-informed) has me feeling too scattered to pull it together. However, I DO KNOW this cabal plans and executes in a deceptively calculated way,...and this cabal has PROVEN its allegiance to PNAC,...and this cabal has PROVEN its willingness to exercise reckless behavior to get what it wants through whatever means with NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUFFERING BY THEIR OWN PEOPLE,...and this cabal has PROVEN its belief in it own supreme value/worth/judgment.

I also know Lieberman ain't too bright and is needy NEEDY in the realm of self-importance (who could blame him,...just LOOK at him). This weak and needy politician has been hooking on the heals of what he believes could make him "important". The other sponsor of this "thingy" is Kyle for crying-out-loud (NEED I say more about that off-balanced, dark shadow of a human being,...really).

The Imperial ones are playing differently than they did with Iraq because the environment is somewhat hostile.

Bah. I just feel posting all my reasoning is too damn much work when we are being RULED/ABUSED/DICTATED by an IRRATIONAL regime that utilizes any and every thing, OTHER than reason (i.e. raw emotion), to get what it wants. "They" PUSH fear/danger/death to incite people while I spin my wheels offering boring facts to change their minds? It's a waste of my fucking time.

[blondeatlast]

10. "...this cabal plans and executes in a deceptively calculated way,..." You and I

and the other 3-400 regular posters here do--why can't our representatives get this?

It's the frustration--and trying to explain how the hell this happened that makes me furious.

I get it, you get it, anyone with half- a questioning, broad-thinking brain gets it--but me reps don't.

FWIW, one of my senators is Kyl and you know who is the other one, so calling them was useless, but I called an awful lot of Senators in other state.

God-fucking-dammit. And I'm a Christian.

[sandnsea]

11. Obama is in NH

Maybe the campaign miscalculated that his vote didn't matter because both were so lop-sided. He should have voted, but I will accept a strong and clear statement as well. Clinton, otoh, there's no doubt left with her. She is not on our side.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/ObamaHQ/

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. Having your eyes opened...

to the truth of your own party is a painful thing.

I have been a Dem my entire life, a true blue Dem, who
believes 100% in the ideals of the modern Democratic Party.

But the last 10+ years have been a real education. I went from
being a starry-eyed Bill Clinton groupie to watching the
majority of the Democratic Party virtually ignore an election
that was stolen, voted away our civil rights time after time,
enable the administration of a war criminal time after time,
suck off the same rancid, corporate tit the Republicans have
fed off all these years, and (the worst) future Democratic
presidential candidates vote on a resolution to save their
political futures.

I have been left with few illusions about the Democratic
Party.

The Democratic Party has been infiltrated. Call them
"Blue Dogs", DLC, New Democrats or whatever you
will, they and their hawkish, pro-corporate, socially backward
views are killing the Democratic Party. The Party still has
some amazing, principled people who I have the utmost respect
for and I am proud to associate myself with. But, after much
soul searching, I now choose to support individual candidates,
and not just anyone with a "D" after their name. 

My political activity will now not only be aimed at the GOP,
but also unseating Dems who I can longer support. 

I'm sorry it had to come down to this, but they have really
given me no choice.

[blondeatlast]

14. For me, it's almost like having a family member let me down for the last time.

One of my in-laws is Iranian and I have to explain this to her--and I can't anymore. And I can't defend the party anymore--how can the party let this happen?

I lost my religious fairh once and gained it back, but it put me through an emotional wringer.

I'm at that point again--it's that serious. My nation and the rest of the world have to come before my political ties.

This is literally painful for me, but unlike the politicos, I have to do what I consider to be the moral thing. I cannot stand with the party anymore--and dammit, it's painful as hell.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. I truly understand...

how painful it is. :hug:

It's funny you mentionesd having lost your faith at one point in your life. I went through 12 years of Catholic school and had my innate spiritual nature practically crushed under the weight of the dogma I was taught. Eventually I had to walk away from the Church and religion completely in order to heal and to reconnect with "God" as I understand it.

This does feel much like a betrayal of faith -- probably because it is. :) We are members of a particular political party because we believe we share certain values, hopes, goals, and understandings with the people that make up that party. And when, as a group or individual, we find out they don't share those values or -- even worse -- actively work against those values, it is devastating.

Honestly, I don't know how much longer I can hang with a party that continues to move away from what I believe to be core Democratic values. Like my relationship with the Church, it may need to come to an end at some point. Which would make me very sad, but also leave me with a more clear conscious.

[Skidmore]

16. Webb was right...it is a backdoor declaration of war. And

whether it is binding or not, the nutcases in the WH will interpret this a permission to proceed.

I admire your tenacity and loyalty, but the Dems just lost my promise of fealty to the party (I'm also a 4th generation Dem) if one more front is opened in this fiasco created by the neocons. Pelosi is absolutely wrong about the war belonging to * and to the Repulbican senators. It belongs to them all. And I will actively work to unseat incumbents who support the neocon agenda--regardless of which side of the aisle they are on.

[blondeatlast]

18. K for some hope or something. nt

[blondeatlast]

19. K