Here's how they voted: Thank the brave 13 who voted to end the war

[WildEyedLiberal]

Dear WildEyedLiberal,

Just hours ago, the Senate voted on the Kerry-Feingold proposal to redeploy American combat troops out of Iraq by July 1, 2007. Thirteen Senators voted for it.

It was an important step towards ending the administration's aimless, open-ended course in Iraq and having Iraqis stand up for Iraq.

When Jack Murtha stepped up to the challenge of leadership in the House on Iraq, he was alone. Last week, 140 House members voted to support his leadership.

When we in the Senate began the fight to change course in Iraq, we too were almost alone. Today our numbers grew -- and that is progress you made happen.

First and foremost, Russ and I thank you for your support. Over the last few weeks, hundreds of thousands of you have joined our effort to bring our combat troops home. Once again, the johnkerry.com community has shown its deep commitment to fighting for a better course for America.

We ask you to join us now in honoring the strength and leadership of the Senators who stood with you:

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), co-sponsor
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT)
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), co-sponsor
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Please call, write, or email these Senators and acknowledge their leadership on Iraq.

Let me be absolutely clear. Russ Feingold and I would have forced this vote even if the outcome were going to be 98 to 2. Ending the Bush administration's disastrous approach to this war isn't about counting votes. It isn't about legislative strategy or electoral calculation. It's about applying constant pressure to change a broken course.

It's about utterly rejecting the desperate tactics of cowardly political operatives like Karl Rove who, as John Murtha pointed out, have no qualms about telling our soldiers to "stay the course" from the comfort of their air-conditioned offices at the White House.

It's about doing what's right.

Karl Rove may worry about losing votes. It's our job to worry about young Americans losing their lives. It's our job to provide a new vision that offers real security for America while giving the Iraqis their best chance for a stable Iraq.

I will keep doing what's right on Iraq, and I won't stop until our troops are home and the future of Iraq is in the hands of the Iraqi people.

I know you'll keep working right alongside me.

Sincerely,

John Kerry


***********************************************************************************************************

Only 13 Senators had the courage to vote to bring our troops home. They deserve our thanks. Contact them here:



Akaka, Daniel K.- (D - HI)
141 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.akaka.senate.gov/email.cfm



Boxer, Barbara- (D - CA)
112 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.boxer.senate.gov/contact



Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)
332 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm



Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)
731 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm



Inouye, Daniel K.- (D - HI)
722 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html



Jeffords, James M.- (I - VT)
413 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.jeffords.senate.gov/contact.html



Kennedy, Edward M.- (D - MA)
317 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm



Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)
324 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.lautenberg.senate.gov/webform.html



Leahy, Patrick J.- (D - VT)
433 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]



Menendez, Robert- (D - NJ)
502 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm



Wyden, Ron- (D - OR)
230 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.wyden.senate.gov/contact.html






And be sure to send an EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU to the John Kerry and Russ Feingold, the leaders and sponsors of this amendment. They are true leaders and patriots.



Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
Web Form: www.kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.html



Feingold, Russell D.- (D - WI)
506 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
[phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]


:patriot:

[Lerkfish]

1. cool.

lessee....Clinton?....Lieberman?....Buehler?....Buehler?

[laruemtt]

2. no Byrd?

[BlueCaliDem]

33. No Feinstein? Up for re-election, and she refuses to vote with the...

...thirteen most courageous Senators in Congress?

I guess that 7 billion dollar Iraq-war contract Bush had seen to it her hubby got, which also bought her, her luxurious 13 million dollar mansion might make her seem hypocritical.

Or does running as a Democratic candidate while voting and/or alwaysleaning to vote everything the Bush Republicans in Congress make her so?

Oh why, oh why didn't Cindy Sheehan pursue ousting Feinstein this coming election???

And why in the hell did Barbara Boxer plead with Sheehan not to challenge Feinstein for her seat??

What in the hell am I missing here??!

[Lasher]

46. I was surprised at that too

I checked out the record of the roll call vote just to make sure this information is correct:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00181

Wonder what Bobby was thinking? Maybe I'll contact his office to find out.

[Beaverhausen]

3. I was watching on C-Span and getting very depressed

so much for Obama in 2008. Screw him

[WildEyedLiberal]

6. I emailed him about the vote yesterday

I really do not get his politics at all. Yes, he is an eloquent speaker, but I really couldn't tell you what he stands for, specifically, on the issues. It's disappointing to be sure. :(

[rosesaylavee]

36. I've been upset with him

regarding this until I went to his website to read his position:

http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060621-floor_statement_of_senator_barack_obama_on_iraq_debate/index.html

What is needed is a blueprint for an expeditious yet responsible exit from Iraq. A hard and fast, arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field, and our diplomats in the region, insufficient flexibility to implement that strategy.

For example, let's say that a phased withdrawal results in fifty thousand troops in Iraq by July 19, 2007. If, at that point, our generals and the Iraqi government tell us that having those troops in Iraq for an additional three or six months would enhance stability and security in the region, this amendment would potentially prevent us from pursuing the optimal policy.

It is for this reason that I cannot support the Kerry Amendment. Instead, I am a cosponsor of the Levin amendment, which gives us the best opportunity to find this balance between our need to begin a phase-down and our need to help stabilize Iraq. It tells the Iraqis that we won't be there forever so that they need to move forward on uniting and securing their country. I agree with Senator Warner that the message should be "we really mean business, Iraqis, get on with it." At the same time, the amendment also provides the Iraqis the time and the opportunity to accomplish this critical goal.

more at website...

[ProSense]

4. They deserve lots of thanks. n/t

[spag68]

5. I sent e-mails

Yesterday to my sens. yesterday and today expressing my anger. Not that it will do any good, but it felt good to rant. Why didn't clinton and schumer come up when I posted?

[Blaukraut]

7. done! Took a while, but it was worth it :-) n/t

[TayTay]

8. Love is on the way

I thought they would get 8 votes. They more than doubled the votes from last week.

That is progress.

E-mail love on the way!

[WildEyedLiberal]

9. I am tempted to send an email to Sen. Reid

Asking why, as a former fighter, he is so deathly afraid to take on the RW on this issue. Why is the majority of the Democratic caucus so paralyzed with fear at the thought that Karl Rove might say something nasty about them?

There is a systematic effort to undermine courageous Dems like John Kerry and Russ Feingold, from the NYT hit piece to the craven manuevering on the part of Reid and Co. We must not stand for it. The netroots needs to stand solidly behind John Kerry, Russ Feingold, and every other Democrat who has learned that the only way to defeat the RW noise machine is to take it on and shut it down. Harry Reid and company will continue to stick their head in the sand to their peril.

[_dynamicdems]

28. I did contact Sen. Reid. "When our senators stop representing us..."

Harry Reid is the minority leader in the Senate. He should be listening to the people of Nevada and to Democrats across the country because we all look to him expecting the leadership that our minority leader should display. He needs to be reminded, "Hey Harry, it's not about you."

It wasn't fear that infected the Democrats today, it was self-interest. They were playing politics. They didn't stand behind Kerry and Feingold because they don't like that Kerry and Feingold listen to us. That's a bitter pill to swallow, but it's true in many cases. Our party doesn't really like us all that much. They want our vote, but do they really want to represent us? Does the word "liberal" embarass them? Sometimes I wonder.

"We the People" means just what it says and any legislator who forgets this should be reminded in no uncertain terms. The people of this country overwhelmingly support withdrawing our troops from Iraq and our senators should have reflected this in their votes. They did not. When 74% (give or take depending on the poll) of the country support withdrawing our troops and only 13% vote to do just that, there is a problem. We expect this problem from the Repugs but it is a wake up call when we see on our side.

Our leaders should be careful because when they cease to represent us, they cease to be our leaders. Our votes can and will reflect that. The Repugs are going to learn the hard way. Democrats can also be replaced by other Democrats.

[partylessinOhio]

10. What about those women Senators that were yakking it up on LKL last night?

With the exception of Boxer - where in the hell were they today? Aren't some of them mothers? Aren't they against death of our soldiers? Do they visit the live remnants of war at Walter Reed?

Don't they have a heart and some brains and a backbone to stand up?

I guess not.



These women make me sick.

[spag68]

12. women sens.

Come on, I understand your frustration, I live in NY And have been e-mailing schumer and clinton all week. This is just not the time to give up,and hopefully when they get a chance they will do the right thing. BTW, I'm a 64 year old man and I say it's time to give our Dem. women more of a voice in the gov.

[partylessinOhio]

14. I am woman, hear me roar!

These woman are not roaring. This is serious business but they seem to be out to lunch.

These women have the position, they have the power and they have the vote. They threw it away on this one.

Fox news said it all: Today the Democrats were divided while the Republicans were united.

It was/is important for the Democrats to be united, they blew it.

[pookieblue]

11. Done n/t

[WildEyedLiberal]

13. Can we get this on the greatest page, folks?

Everyone needs to thank Kerry, Feingold, and the rest of the brave 13 who stood up for our soldiers today!

[fedupinBushcountry]

15. K&R

IMO this deserves to be on the HOME page.

:kick:

[Blue_Tires]

16. k+r

[politicasista]

17. kick and recommended!

:kick: :patriot:

[robbedvoter]

18. Procedural question: are sponsors precluded from voting on their

own amendment? Is that why kerry's and feingold's names are not on that list?

[karynnj]

21. They did vote for it

my guess is that this is Kerry and Feingold's email suggesting thaning those who voted. Asking that they be thanked as well would be strange.

[Hippo_Tron]

42. Yea, they voted for it

I was asking the same thing, then I counted the names on the list in the e-mail. There's 11 names on the list, Kerry and Feingold make 13.

[toad12]

19. Proud to be a Vermonter today

both of my senators voted for it. I am going to send them both emails right now thanking them.

[karynnj]

22. Proud to be a New Jerseyan

[ProSense]

31. Me too! Done!

Thank them all!

[TayTay]

24. Proud to be a Bay Stater today

And I imagine our good Hawaiians are proud as well.

Thanks Sen. Kerry & Kennedy. I am proud of you.

[Jim Lane]

40. Proud that I was at least born in the Bay State

Currently, however, I reside in New York. :(

[demdiva]

27. Proud to be an Illinoisan (at heart!)

[Laurab]

20. Thanks, W.E.L. for posting the emails

I will be thanking them all. I hope to see Kerry and Feingold working together on other things, as well. They're my favorite senators, and the ones who seem to speak for me the most. Together, they have a stronger voice, and could provide the leadership we need so badly!

[WildEyedLiberal]

26. You are welcome

Kerry and Feingold are two of the strongest advocates we have in the Senate. You can always count on them to follow their conscience instead of playing politics. They are being actively marginalized by the weak, ineffective leadership and deserve all the support we can give them. Let's let them know we stand alongside them! :kick:

[SerutNorellet]

23. Done!

And proud that *my* senator, Barbara Boxer, is on the list!

[faithnotgreed]

25. its rare that they really deserve it but this is good and necessary

step

thank you each and every one - these are the ones who have actually stepped out from under the shadow
this issue is getting attention and to put up and vote on this amendment at least puts some action behind the endless words
and keeps this crucial situation in the news

[_dynamicdems]

29. Thanks for posting! We need to show apprecitation!

A tribute for our 13 heroes. This poem has always been a favorite of mine. It reminds me of these honorable senators who stood up today when the others sat down.

Nobility by Alice Cary


True worth is in being, not seeming, --
In doing, each day that goes by,
Some little good -- not in dreaming
Of great things to do by and by.
For whatever men say in their blindness,
And spite of the fancies of youth,
There's nothing so kingly as kindness,
And nothing so royal as truth.

We get back our mete as we measure --
We cannot do wrong and feel right,
Nor can we give pain and gain pleasure,
For justice avenges each slight.
The air for the wing of the sparrow,
The bush for the robin and wren,
But always the path that is narrow
And straight, for the children of men.

'Tis not in the pages of story
The heart of its ills to beguile,
Though he who makes courtship to glory
Gives all that he hath for her smile.
For when from her heights he has won her,
Alas! it is only to prove
That nothing's so sacred as honor,
And nothing so loyal as love!

We cannot make bargains for blisses,
Nor catch them like fishes in nets;
And sometimes the thing our life misses
Helps more than the thing which it gets.
For good lieth not in pursuing,
Nor gaining of great nor of small,
But just in the doing, and doing
As we would be done by, is all.

Through envy, through malice, through hating,
Against the world, early and late,
No jot of our courage abating --
Our part is to work and to wait.
And slight is the sting of his trouble
Whose winnings are less than his worth;
For he who is honest is noble,
Whatever his fortunes or birth.

[IndianaGreen]

30. The Senate voted to put more names on the Iraq War Memorial

That's what this vote was all about. That's what John Kerry pointed out during his debate with John Warner. I applaud all the Senators that voted for the Kerry-Feingold-Boxer exit from Iraq resolution. I hiss at the rest of them for lacking the courage to save lives, and for following the same path that past Congresses did when they failed to end the war in Vietnam.

[Divine Discontent]

32. that took a whilllllllllllllle (see why)

AND YOU SHOULD ALL DO THE SAME


this is the WAR we're talking about - the #1 ISSUE! and these folks just voted to END IT!

I wrote about 8 of them from a dial up (I'm poor).... and to write LAUTENBERG take off the webform info....


please write too!



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <--- Top Anti-Bush, Pro-Dem 06 08 stickers & shirts!

[Joey Liberal]

34. They are the true Democrats

I'm so disappointed in Hillary.

[laylah]

35. No Obama????????????????? n/t

[_dynamicdems]

37. Not only did he not vote for the Kerry-Feingold Amendment, but

Sen. Obama stood up and said he was not for an "arbitrary" deadline.

[progressoid]

38. One is mine! I'll contact him now!

[annm4peace]

39. Can we find out why.

* has been very disheartening that our midwest, MN Sen Dayton did not vote for Kerry/Feingold's admendment. At first I get angry, then I say why? Why is he not signing to Bring our Troops Home.
Why have these incredible, some Progressive, Senator's decided not to vote for the admendment?

We need answers.

[Hippo_Tron]

43. Dayton is really odd

Some days he's spot on, some days he's dead wrong. I really think that he doesn't have a very good grasp of politics and that's a big part of why he's leaving the senate after only one term.

[Hippo_Tron]

41. Only thing is I wish this hadn't been the same time as the Levin amdnement

Unfortunately, this detracts from the story that the Dems were fairly united on the Levin amendment. That said, the 13 that voted for the Kerry amendment had some serious balls. Ten years from now America will realize that these 13 were right and that the other 87 were wrong.

[DarkmoonIkonoklast]

44. I noticed, or rather FAILED to notice, neither Senator from Washington...

... was on the list. Murray, I'm not really surprised, but I expected to see Cantwell, looking at a vicious challenge from State Repugs, more vigorous in opposing the outlawry and thuggery in D.C... or perhaps, that should read I HOPED to see Cantwell more vigorous... :(

Sadly, I've given up EXPECTING anything from con-gressives... guess she figures her base will NEVER allow a Repug to win her seat, so why should SHE bother being moral/ethical in her votes?

:dilemma: Problem is, at this late date, where could we find a QUALIFIED Dem to challenge her, and how could one such mount an effective campaign, this late in the campaign year?

DAMN! :grr:

[obreaslan]

45. GO Jersey!!!!! Both of my Senators are on board....

Sent them thank you letters already. Let's hope Menendez can pull off the win in November.

:patriot: