The DU Democratic Senators Hall of Shame

[Walt Starr]

Those Democrats who voted for cloture on the bankruptcy bill:

Biden (D-DE)
Byrd (D-WV)
Carper (D-DE)
Conrad (D-ND)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Stabenow (D-MI)

Edited to add: I believe DU should have this as a regular feature every time a key vote comes up and a few Democrats prove too spineless to stand up to the Republicans. Shaming these people into doing the right thing might be our only answer.

[Ninga]

1. How could Stabenow vote for cloture is beyond any understanding.

[etherealtruth]

6. Like you I was astounded when I saw her name...

Is anyone aware of an explanation for this behavior?

[booksenkatz]

17. The few times at DU I've proffered that Stabenow is a waste of space

and doesn't seem to get much accomplished for the Dem platform and that she should be replaced with a Dem who will fight, I get clobbered, so I shut up.

[meganmonkey]

20. As a Michigander I am sorry to have to agree with you.

I have much more faith in Levin than Stabenow, that's for sure.

No clobbers from me. :)

[MrScorpio]

27. All I can say is, Wow!

You guys back home need to keep the pols in line if you ever stand a chance of me coming back.

[GiovanniC]

28. Here Is My Letter to Her:

Senator Stabenow, I am frankly shocked and dismayed by your actions concerning the recent bankruptcy bill in Senate.

Credit card companies spent millions of dollars to screw over the poorest, the weakest, and the most voiceless among us, and by allowing that to happen you are complicit. You are responsible for a "reverse Robin Hood" -- assailing the poor to help the rich. There is positively NO EXCUSE for the miserably bad decision you made.

In late 2001/early 2002, after a combination of a lost job due to Bush's mismanagement of the employment market, nosediving investments due to Bush's bungling of the economy, and loss of home due to both of the above, I moved back in with my parents and fought to scrape together enough money to file for bankruptcy. I was one of the lucky ones -- having received a discharge of debt, I have maintained financial stability. Now that I am back on my feet financially, I repeatedly refuse the predatory credit card offers I continue to receive. I am credit-card-free and intend to stay that way. I am now living fairly comfortably on my own, am just months away from completely paying off my student loans (which were not discharged), and even have enough money for modest savings. Without the safety valve of bankruptcy, it's impossible to know where I would be right now.

It pains me to write this letter, as I have always been proud to call Governor Granholm my governor and Carl Levin and yourself my senators. But your actions regarding this bankruptcy bill offend me on a very personal level. If you had your way a few years earlier, I shudder to think what my living situation would be like today.

I sincerely hope whatever the credit card companies and financial institutions paid you for your soul was worth it to you. I have lost all respect for you and your office.

[vanboggie]

36. Just reamed Debbie and thanked Carl

I asked her for an explanation of why she would vote against our interests. I was surprised at the number of Pugs calling the Washington Journal this morning speaking out against the Bankruptcy Bill. I took time to thank Senator Levin since he seems to be the only person looking out for West Michiganders now.

[Eagle_Eye]

2. I am disappointed in the performance of my senator

the Honorable Bill Nelson of Florida. Sometimes he just seems to forget he was elected to be a DEMOCRAT, not whimpering stooge for the administration.

[acmejack]

4. He remebers his most genmerous campaign donors...

Bought and paid for with lobbyist dollars. Until you can donate a couple hundred thousand, you will continue to be ignored.

[Eagle_Eye]

11. I haven't written to Mr. Nelson for a couple of months,

but I'm writing a letter tonight. The letter will be in the mail first thing tomorrow morning.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

3. shame shame!

everyone knows your name.

i am suprised by byrd?
anyone have any insight into his decision?

[bluestateguy]

5. I can't even excuse a red state Democrat voting for this

It's one thing if Mary Landrieu wants to vote for ANWR drilling, or Ben Nelson votes for the "partial birth" abortion ban. I can cut them some red state slack as those were popular bills in their states. But this? Is there any groundswell of support for this bankruptcy bill in the red states? None that I see.

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Have we lambasted them with emails yet?

They need to be set straight! They need to get the hell out of this party. What is wrong with BYRD? What's this all about with him? I just don't get it. Damn traitors.

[blondeatlast]

8. When the bill comes to a vote, it's time to cut the herd.

Vote YEA, and don't expect ANY dollars or volunteer time from the grassroots. I'll be happy to donate to your primary opponents.

Count on it.

[Mad_Dem_X]

9. I'm ashamed to be from DE

Both our Senators voted for this. Damn them!

[Itsthetruth]

16. Not Spineless

I don't think it has anything to do with spine. They support the legislation. Follow the money. Find out what corporate interests back them and finance their election.

[katinmn]

31. opensecrets.org has all the info on each senator

http://www.opensecrets.org/

I looked up my Rethug senator and saw that he had a couple dozen donations from credit card compnies and banking lobbies.

I was surprised at Biden thiough. He doesn't accept PAC money -- so why is he turning his back on the people on this?

[cyberpj]

22. Ditto. Banks own us yet yesterday announced they're moving more jobs away:

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/03/08citigrouptomove.html

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. Where do I get these asshole's email addresses?

They need an email from me. I'm in the mood to let 'em have it. This ain't gonna be pretty. :grr:

[Eagle_Eye]

12. Try here

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. Thank you! I sent an email to all of them.

They aren't going to like it much, I suspect. ;)

[etherealtruth]

13. Here:

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

[confludemocrat]

14. Under what perverse collectively-arrived-at rationale

was this done? Please someone tell me. I am heartsick over it. It will not be easily reversed in my lifetime. My wife and I have high incomes now, but we know as anyone should, that but for the grace of god (figure of speech here) go we...

This should not be forgotten.

[Padraig18]

15. Neither of my senators voted for cloture.

:)

[ohtransplant]

18. If anyone hears any rationale for this - good, bad, or ugly,

please post it. I can't see it myself. I don't like it but Delaware is the corporate home of many banks ( MBNA anyone?). That might explain two votes but what about the rest?

[Drifter]

19. Why isn't Clinton on this list ...

She puts her head up AWOLs ass way too often for me. The most significant is giving AWOL a free pass to fuck up Iraq.

Cheers
Drifter

[eissa]

21. Lieberman's on the list?

Why I'm shocked, I tell you, just shocked :eyes:

[Ms. Clio]

35. He's so progressive--why does he get unfairly attacked here?

It's just a mystery--now stop it all you far left loonies.

:crazy:

[cyberpj]

23. Delaware senators are owned by banking industry - AND YET

Yesterday's paper says Citigroup and MBNA are continuing to move jobs away from Delaware!

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/03/08citigrouptomove.html

[KarenS]

24. You missed Co's supposedly D Salazar,,,,

so far he's been a huge disappointment,,,,,

someone needs to remind me again just WHY I volunteered for his campaign and why I voted for him

:think:

[Lone Pawn]

34. He isn't a Republican?

I'd really rather have a half-ass Dem than a full-blown Rep.

[davidinalameda]

26. how about those senators that voted for the war

for Bush's appointees; and just throw Dianne Feinstein because she's the biggest DINO in the whole bunch

[madmark]

29. Agree, print off the list, remember it

[Ganja Ninja]

30. Exactly! That what the Republican's do.

and when someone keeps crossing the line they find someone to run against them in the primaries. Keeping score of who's a regular turncoat is a damn good idea.

[katinmn]

32. Check out this list of editorials from across the country

Once again what's good for citizens is being ignored.

Doesn't seem the bankruptcy reform bill is popular anywhere.

We don't have Wellstone to filibuster and we don't have Clinton to do a pocket veto this time.

http://www.nacba.org/news/update.asp

[wryter2000]

33. I wonder

I wonder why Feinstein isn't in there. Was she missing yesterday?