Lest we forget - The anti-war voices in Washington

[Lefergus70]

How about an awards ceremony for those "Cassandras"
in congress who opposed the war in Iraq even before it started
and correctly warned of its consequences? I'd like to stage it
in The Kennedy Center, but maybe a blog site would do. After
all, these are the people everyone should be looking up to now
with great admiration because they showed the wisdom, courage
and foresight that was lacking in the immense majority of
American leaders. They're the ones who can truly say, "We
told you so."

Who were they? After googling around with general searches
under "opposition to Iraq war" and following a
Guardian timeline, I'm surprised to find that I still had to
rely a bit on my own memory. That's a bad sign; it could mean
that they will be forgotten when this stage of history is
written. 

Anyway, my brief list goes like this:

1) Sen. Robert Byrd, the octogenarian Democrat from West
Virginia. On March 19, 2003, the day before the invasion of
Iraq, he delivered his "Arrogance of Power" speech
on the floor of the US Senate. Excerpt: "... this
Administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief
which emerged from the ashes of the twin towers and the
twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one
we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But, he is
the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war."

2.) Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Democrat of Ohio introduced, also on
March 19, House Concurrent Resolution 101 which would express
the sense of the Congress that Public Law 107-243, which
authorized President Bush to use military force against the
Baghdad regime of Saddam Hussein "is null and void."


3) Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (Democrat of Texas) who, on the
same day, submitted House Concurrent Resolution 102, which
says only Congress has "the sole and exclusive power to
declare war. She had called for diplomacy and not force to
resolve the crisis with Iraq, 

4) Rep. John Conyers (Democrat of Michigan), co-sponsor of the
proposed Jackson-Lee resolution. 

Did I miss anyone? If so, I'd love to add their names to this
list, and even expand on their roles. 

[MariaS]

1. Here is a list of the votes

Roll Call Vote in House on Iraq Resolution
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


he 296-133 roll call Thursday by which the House voted for a resolution to authorize President Bush to use military force in Iraq.

A "yes" vote is a vote to approve the resolution.

Voting yes were 81 Democrats and 215 Republicans.

Voting no were 126 Democrats, six Republicans and one independent.

X denotes those not voting.

There are three vacancies in the 435-member House.

ALABAMA

Democrats -- Cramer, Y; Hilliard, N.

Republicans -- Aderholt, Y; Bachus, Y; Callahan, Y; Everett, Y; Riley, Y.

ALASKA

Republicans -- Young, Y.

ARIZONA

Democrats -- Pastor, N.

Republicans -- Flake, Y; Hayworth, Y; Kolbe, Y; Shadegg, Y; Stump, X.

ARKANSAS

Democrats -- Berry, Y; Ross, Y; Snyder, N.

Republicans -- Boozman, Y.

(Continued)
<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/10/international/10AP-IROL.html?ex=1128657600&en=b0926b43aed9ebb9&ei=5070>

[livvy]

2. I love the quote from Byrd.

"... this Administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief
which emerged from the ashes of the twin towers and the twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But, he is the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war."

Excellent. Boy, he really hit the nail on the head.

I was glad to see my rep from Michigan voted no. I wish I had been paying better attention at the time. I would have written him a thank you.