Democrats prevent vote on Stark Reprimand

[Enrique]

Source: The Politico

Democrats Prevent Vote On Stark Reprimand
By Patrick O'Connor
Oct 23, 2007

(The Politico) House Democrats prevented Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) from forcing a vote Tuesday on his resolution to officially reprimand Democratic Rep. Pete Stark of California for suggesting last week that U.S. troops in Iraq "get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

Democrats voted, 196-173, to table the measure shortly after Boehner offered it, preventing their members from having to cast a vote to protect the outspoken California liberal. Boehner and his Republican colleagues were hoping to re-ignite coverage of Stark's controversial remarks.

After the vote, Stark apologized to the House and the president for his inflammatory comments last week.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/23/politics/politico/thecrypt/main3398117.shtml

[rodeodance]

1. Topic subject Remember how outraged we were by Mean Jean Schmidt's comments about

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Remember how outraged we were by Mean Jean Schmidt's comments about
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2117194#2117194
2117194, Remember how outraged we were by Mean Jean Schmidt's comments about
Posted by cali on Tue Oct-23-07 01:39 PM

Murtha? That was her opinion that she expressed, just as it was Stark's opinion that he expressed. You can agree with opinion, but you cannot exalt it as some universal truth.

Now, I'm sorry that Stark had to apologize, but it was easy to predict it would happen. Once you start making personal slams on the floor of the House, you're gonna get hammered. And yeah, we hammer them too for comments like that.

The trick, if you're a congress critter is to edge as close to that line as possible while not stepping over it into the shit. I will grant you that repukes seem to be awfully good at that.

[dickbearton]

21. Bonehead should be hung along side Bush and Chaney for treason.

[frylock]

2. gee, what a nice gesture..

how big of them.

[rodeodance]

3. Topic subject Accusing the President of sending soldiers to their deaths for amusement is bad form.

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Accusing the President of sending soldiers to their deaths for amusement is bad form.
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2116703#2116703
2116703, Accusing the President of sending soldiers to their deaths for amusement is bad form.
Posted by Buzz Clik on Tue Oct-23-07 01:05 PM

It kinda makes you look unhinged.

(I hope this isn't a bad time to point this out.)

[lonestarnot]

16. Nope not a bad time.

[rodeodance]

4. Topic subject Stark Apology Update Via Firedoglake: 'Stark told before vote - if no apology, censure

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Stark Apology Update Via Firedoglake: 'Stark told before vote - if no apology, censure would pass'
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2117186#2117186
2117186, Stark Apology Update Via Firedoglake: 'Stark told before vote - if no apology, censure would pass'
Posted by Hissyspit on Tue Oct-23-07 01:38 PM

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/10/23/dear-speaker-pelosi/#comments

Update: From reader Cynthia R.:

I called Stark’s office in DC to complain about his apology. The person answering the phone told me that Stark had no choice; Stark was told before the vote was taken that should he not apologize, the vote to censure would pass. According to his office, that is the only reason he apologized.

I guess we better stop saying the House leadership can’t get anything done.

- Jane Hamsher

[lonestarnot]

17. well if this doesn't just suck ass!

[rodeodance]

5. Topic subject What are Dems thinking? re:Pete Stark

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject What are Dems thinking? re:Pete Stark
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2117106#2117106
2117106, What are Dems thinking? re:Pete Stark
Posted by monktonman on Tue Oct-23-07 01:32 PM

I cant belive the Dem leadership made Pete Stark apologize.
After stating his own "insignifigance" and whiping away tears after he left the podium,
it is all too obvious he was FORCED into an apology.
Why did they have to HUMILIATE this good man?
If anything, the controvesy surrounding his statement could have been turned around on pukes and used to the democrats advantage.
Why arent Obama, Edwards, Clinton on television saying the following:

REPUBLICANS lost two wars.
REPUBLICANS looted the treasury.
REPUBLICANS crushed our economy.
REPUBLICANS defeated health care for kids.
REPUBLICANS politicized the DOJ.
REPUBLICANS etc, yadda-yadda.
And now, after the REPUBLICANS have run the most disasterous regime in US history,
all they want to talk about is PETE STARK! Dont be fooled America, all the REPUBLICANS
are trying to do is hide their MISRABLE FAILURES and hope you dont notice.
well I'm here to tell you.......etc.

Even a ten year old could turn this situation around and use it as a weapon
to crush the republics. So I ask again, what the fuck are they thinking?
your thoughts?

[rodeodance]

6. Topic subject Rep. Hoyer called Stark over the weekend, says apology was appropriate: "He didn’t sug

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Rep. Hoyer called Stark over the weekend, says apology was appropriate: "He didn’t sugar-coat it."
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2117021#2117021
2117021, Rep. Hoyer called Stark over the weekend, says apology was appropriate: "He didn’t sugar-coat it."
Posted by sabra on Tue Oct-23-07 01:27 PM


http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/10/rep_stark_apologizes_for_sharp.html#more

<snip>

Stark, 75, returned to the House floor this morning and asked to be recognized.

"I want to apologize to, first of all, my colleagues, many of whom I’ve offended; the president, his family, to the troops … and I do apologize," the 18-term congressman said. "I think that we have a serious issue before us – the issue of providing medical care for children, the issue of what we do about a war that we’re divided about how to end.

"I hope that with this apology I will become as insignificant as I should be and that we can return to the issues that do divide us but that we can resolve in a better fashion."

Stark’s voice broke as he yielded back the balance of his time; the mostly empty chamber broke out in applause.

Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, who said he called Stark over the weekend, said the apology was appropriate: "He didn’t sugar-coat it."

[goclark]

20. Are you saying that our fearless "leaders" applauded

when he made his "I'm So Sorry" statememt.

I am so sorry that this good man, who finally spoke the truth, has to beg like a baby for their approval.

Where is the justice.

Cheney tells a fellow member of the house, FU and nothing, absolutely nothing was done and nothing - to my knowledge asked for --- by our leadership.

I am so angry with the way our leadership handled this and other issues.

Flame me, I don't care!

[lonestarnot]

18. I have no fucking clue!

[Highway61]

7. I can't stand that friggin Boner

assmunch is what he is...nothing better to do in congress other than kiss up to this friggin Repug bunch?

[rodeodance]

8. they sure do whine a lot

[rodeodance]

9. REC

[rodeodance]

10. Topic subject Wow, just wow. They *MADE* Stark apologize. I am really not liking the leadership of t

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Wow, just wow. They *MADE* Stark apologize. I am really not liking the leadership of the party now
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2117774#2117774
2117774, Wow, just wow. They *MADE* Stark apologize. I am really not liking the leadership of the party now
Posted by berni_mccoy on Tue Oct-23-07 02:21 PM

As someone posted here on this topic, Stark's staff is saying he was forced to apologize or be censured. When the part leadership won't even allow Bush/Cheney/et al to be censured, let alone Impeached I have to ask WTF?!?!.

I *almost* bought the argument that Pelosi took Impeachment off the table for the greater good (i.e. take away the threat of Impeachment so the Democratic Agenda can be moved through Congress). I believed that for about 5 minutes, about as long as it took Bush to threaten a veto on anything passed by Congress, most particularly, the Stem Cell Research Bill. That didn't work out so well, did it?

When's the last time a Republican rep has been censured for saying outrageous shit?!? Oh, yeah, never, and they NEVER fucking apologize. Why is Craig still allowed to be a Senator? Why is Vitter? These jack-asses should be thrown out on the street for breaking the law.

I know we don't have enough Democratic representatives to override veto and the traitor GOP reps continue to work as a single unified block against anything good that can be done.

So STOP COOPERATING. How hard can this be?!?! If the Repubs are blocking everything you can bring to the table, you don't allow ANYTHING ON THE TABLE, including war funding. This is a unique opportunity that is being bungled by the Congressional leadership. I have to say, I'm completely confounded and disappointed in my party.

[rodeodance]

11. Topic subject Guys? Could we stop being so hyper about stupid shit?

Forum Name General Discussion: Politics
Topic subject Guys? Could we stop being so hyper about stupid shit?
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3637662#3637662
3637662, Guys? Could we stop being so hyper about stupid shit?
Posted by Rhythm and Blue on Tue Oct-23-07 02:16 PM

Okay, I know for those of us in the ol' echo chamber, the Stark business seems Really Really Important. So does the General Betray Us ad, and so does symbolic resolutions regarding Iran.

Do you know how much all of that matters? Zero. Look, I know it feels like a huge loss when the Republicans call us names. But that doesn't affect anything, change anything, or do anything to anyone.

And it certainly doesn't change the fact that Nancy Pelosi's house has registered the highest recorded level of opposition to a President ever, so stop calling the Dems wishy-washy and pushovers, because that simply ain't true. The reason we haven't managed to get everything done we wanted to isn't that Nancy's a coward, it's that the Republicans have blocked, filibustered, or vetoed our best proposals. And that's the same stuff we did to them, so don't get outraged about that. The solution isn't to give up and go home, the solution isn't to whine about Pelosi, the solution is to elect some more goddamn Democrats.

She's doing a good job overall. Don't get mad that she's not afraid to hold us to the same standard of decorum that we want to hold the other guys to. So please, just calm down.

[lonestarnot]

19. I am not liking how she treated pinkers for doing they're damnedest to stop the war.

[Benhurst]

12. To be fair, U.S. troops in Iraq don't "get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

They get their heads blown off for his and his family's profit.

[soothsayer]

13. I still think they chuckle about it behind closed doors. They strike me as EVIL.

And don't forget that Babs is literally the bastard child of atheist Aleister Crowley, the result of sex rituals. Bizarre but true!

[Benhurst]

14. True. But we don't know for sure what they do behind closed doors.

I wouldn't be surprised, though. On the other hand, they may indulge in their often displayed false piety, nodding in the right direction to the sacrifices being made by those sent to protect their profits.

[sam sarrha]

22. so that is why * is into.. 'my pet goat' ....i read a description a guys first encounter with a

crowley party.... he walked into a steaming orgy.. on stage was Crowley's wife being mated by a large goat... at the goats climax its head was lopped off with a sword, the blood collected in a large chalice and passed around the orgying revelers..

my pet goat.. figures

[movonne]

15. After being threaten by his own party...hoyer and the dlc...

[Enrique]

23. the post which claims the democrats allowed the censure vote is at the top of the greatest page

with 180 recs.

Time to kick this thread which contains the facts.

[Vidar]

24. Sad.