Saturday, July 14, 2018

Another Bad Vote In Congress-- A Bipartisan Attack On Americans' Basic Rights?

>


No One In Congress Remembers Dwight Eisenhower's Farewell Message To America?



Justin Amash (R-MI) has the least objectionable crucial vote record of any Republican in Congress-- 42.86. It's a better voting record than 7 Blue Dog "Democrats" have this cycle. Translation: Amash has voted more frequently for progressive positions on important roll calls than these monstrosities pretending to be Democrats (from bad to worst):
Stephanie Murphy (FL-07)- 41.53
Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05)- 38.14
Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01)- 38.14
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)- 32.20
Jim Costa (CA-16)- 31.53
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09)- 30.51
Collin Peterson (MN-07)- 26.89
No, this is not another post about how the DCCC has recruited another ghastly batch of Blue Dogs who they know will be just as bad in Congress and those 7 pigs-- Clarke Tucker (AR), Brenden Kelly (IL), Paul Davis (KS), Gretchen Driskell (MI), Dan McCready (NC), Kathy Manning (NC), Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Max Rose (NY), Anthony Brindisi (NY), Ben McAdams (UT). No, it's a post about why it's important to elect candidates who believe in American values and act on those beliefs in Congress.

There was a vote on Thursday for the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 and Justin Amash complained to his twitter followers that "Today, by a vote of 363-54, Republicans and Democrats in the House quietly reauthorized funding for intelligence agencies and activities that have been used to violate the constitutionally protected rights of Americans."

I asked one of the 46 Democrats who voted against it, what happened. By any measurement, he's one of the best Democrats in Congress and someone who is destined for a leadership role. "The vote seemed to take everyone by surprise," he told me, "and there was very little organizing to educate people about it first. I’ve been caught up in the Peter Strozk hearings so forgive me-- I wish I knew more." Like I said, he was one of only 46 Democrats to vote correctly on this. Amash was one of only 8 Republicans to do so. 222 Republicans voted terribly-- no surprise-- but so did 141 Democrats, led by Pelosi, Hoyer and the rest of their leadership team.

It was no surprise that Ro Khanna voted against it-- as did super-progressives like Barbara Lee, Judy Chu, Jan Schakowsky (IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ), Katherine Clark (MA), Jim McGovern (MA), Jamie Raskin (MD), Adriano Espaillat (NY) and Pramila Jayapal (WA). This morning Ro asked, rhetorically, "Where are the Russ Feingolds of our party-- the senator with the courage to vote against the patriot act. Where are the profiles of courage? How can Democrats not stand up for civil liberties?" Harsh! Thank God South Bay California voters elected him!

Labels: , , , , ,

7 Comments:

At 5:47 AM, Blogger Gadfly said...

People overrate this Eisenhower speech. His administration had worked to substitute the spooking-spying-overthrow complex for some of the military-industrial complex.

 
At 6:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"By any measurement, he's one of the best Democrats in Congress and someone who is destined for a leadership role."

If he's that good, he'll be gone before he ever sniffs a leadershit role. The money keeps its congress' leadershit pristine.

Like Lieu, if he ever starts up the ladder, you'll know he's sold out or agreed to look the other way as the money's lackeys (hoyer) do the heavy lifting.

And your guy endorsed Crowley for speaker... did you forget? you want us to forget... right?

 
At 7:10 AM, Blogger edmondo said...

"The vote seemed to take everyone by surprise," he told me, "and there was very little organizing to educate people about it first. I’ve been caught up in the Peter Strozk hearings so forgive me-- I wish I knew more."

Ever hear of multi-tasking? It's a valuable skill. So while the Democrats are focused on protecting a rogue FBI agent (my how times have changed!) they are ignoring the really important stuff that's happening under their noses. Remind me to give a shit if more Democrats get elected or not.

 
At 1:13 PM, Blogger DownWithTyranny said...

Anonymous at 6:34, I should probably just delete your comment but it's harmless enough. Ted Lieu did not endorse Crowley for speaker.I suggest you make up for incorrect assertion here

 
At 2:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your guy Ro did.

 
At 6:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Eisenhower waited until his bags were packed and the limo to take him to Gettysburg was in the White House driveway. I know of nothing he did while Commander in Chief to limit the drive toward global military dominance, which we know in his final months was directed toward overcoming a lie (that Russian missiles were far more numerous than American missiles). He thus failed to do his duty to defend the nation from all enemies foreign AND domestic.

 
At 6:31 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

DWT, how about doing something concrete about your misplaced devotion to YOUR guy Ro who absolutely DID endorse Crowley? And your constant appeals to support the democraps, whether holding nose or not, is incredibly harmful.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home