The following senators voted not to invoke cloture on S.Amdt. 2022 to S.Amdt. 2011 to H.R. 1585 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008), which would have restored habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. Those up for and seeking reelection are in bold.
NAYs —43
Alexander (R-TN), Allard (R-CO) retiring, Barrasso (R-WY), Bennett (R-UT), Bond (R-MO), Brownback (R-KS), Bunning (R-KY), Burr (R-NC), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Coleman (R-MN), Collins (R-ME), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Craig (R-ID) retiring, Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Dole (R-NC), Domenici (R-NM), Ensign (R-NV), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Gregg (R-NH), Hatch (R-UT), Hutchison (R-TX), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Kyl (R-AZ), Lieberman (ID-CT), Lott (R-MS), Martinez (R-FL), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Murkowski (R-AK), Roberts (R-KS), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Stevens (R-AK), Thune (R-SD), Vitter (R-LA), Voinovich (R-OH), Warner (R-VA), retiring
Not Voting – 1
Chambliss (R-GA)
This is probably the most shameful vote of the year. Maybe there is some kind of residual civil war split between the south and the north, although I find it confusing. It was, after all, southerners that were the victims of Abraham Lincoln’s decision to suspend habeas corpus. You’d think they might be a little more sensitive. And what happened to the great independent libertarian streak of the Mountain West and Southwest GOP?
One thing is certain. Collins and Coleman stick out like geographical sore thumbs. This vote will do untold damage to their political careers.
For some reason this sad spectacle brings something to mind.
Bluto: What the fuck happened to the Delta I used to know? Where’s the spirit? Where’s the guts, huh? “Ooh, we’re afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble.” Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I’m not gonna take this. Wormer, he’s a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer…
Otter: Dead! Bluto’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
Bluto: We’re just the guys to do it.
D-Day: Let’s do it.
Bluto: LET’S DO IT!
Of course, the senator to wet his bed from the Democratic caucus was the much revered Joe Lieberman.
