A Contingent of Bedwetters

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.

10 Comments

BooMan on September 19, 2007 at 12:50 pm

Email from Leahy:

Comments of Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,

On Republican Filibuster Of Amendment To Restore Habeas Protections
September 19, 2007

“The vote today showed that a majority of the Senate supports our efforts to correct the historic mistake made in last year’s Military Commissions Act, but there is still more work to be done to overcome the Republican filibuster. Like the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the elimination of habeas rights was an action driven by fear, and it was a stain on America’s reputation in the world.

“This bipartisan initiative has brought together Americans who call themselves conservatives, Americans who call themselves liberals, or libertarians, or evangelicals, or independents, and I am proud to be associated with them in this effort. We will continue to work for what is right and what is just.

“Senator Specter and I came to this Floor to offer this amendment back on July 10, when this bill was initially being considered, and thereafter. I thank him for his work in this effort. I also want to express my appreciation to Majority Leader Reid, Chairman Carl Levin, Senator Dodd, Senator Menendez, Senator Bingaman, and others who have participated in or facilitated this debate.

“We have brought this to the Senate Floor not because it is politically easy or popular, but because it is the right thing to do. This has been a debate that has invoked constitutional principles, legal precepts, Latin phrases, and historical precedents. This is an issue that lends itself to politically provocative distortions. Constitutional principles need our defense not so much when it is popular to do so, as when it may not be popular or easy to do.

“It is difficult to defend the higher ground by taking the lower road. The world knows what our enemies stand for. The world also knows what this country has tried to stand for and live up to – in the best of times, and the worst of times.

“It is from strength that America should defend our values and our way of life. It is from the strength of our freedoms, our Constitution, and the rule of law that we shall prevail. I thank and commend Senators who joined with us to stand up for a stronger America, for the America we believe in, by voting to invoke cloture on the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. We will not give up on this important effort.”

MikeInOhio on September 19, 2007 at 2:14 pm

This should be a lesson to the 34 Democrats in the House and 12 in the Senate who caved at the time and approved the MCA. While it still would have passed with the unanimous Republican support, giving it a bipartisan caste added nothing positive to the Democrat’s arguments against it. If those spineless representatives had stood on principle and not on fear at that time, there might be just a smidgen more credibility in pushing for the habeas corpus restoration now.

This country cannot even begin to be restored until this heinous injustice has been corrected. No more caving in to fear, please!!! Stand up for what is right.

on September 19, 2007 at 2:20 pm

This is a stain upon the history of 702 years of history of the writ of habeus corpus (first recorded use: 1305). This is amazing.

MikeInOhio on September 19, 2007 at 2:37 pm

But giving any credence to history is sooooo European!

And you know how much this administration reveres the European sensibilities.

billjpa on September 19, 2007 at 2:41 pm

From a historical point of view, there will be endless arguments regarding who is worse- the goopers as a whole for the Habeus vote or john warner for his fraudulent performance regarding the Webb bill. The saddest thing is that I am sure and I will never learn the truth as to whether warner played Webb! It is beyond belief. And lets watch the dems tuck tail.What a shame.

MikeInOhio on September 19, 2007 at 2:56 pm

McCain said he and Sen. John Warner (R-VA) have teamed up to put together a “sense of the Senate” amendment to express “very clearly that we all want all our troops home and we understand the stress and strain that’s been inflicted on the men and women in the military and the guard and reserves.”

Translation: We know we’ve thrown you into an impossible civil war through our perpetuation of lies and fear and we know it’s very hard on you and your family and for that we feel really, really bad. But we’re not going to do a F@#&ING thing to help you or your family. If you would just do a better G@$DAMN job of fighting you might not be stuck over there so long. So just suck it up while we find the most surefire way to cover our political asses and run out the clock.

Brendan Skwire on September 19, 2007 at 3:54 pm

That’s When I Reach for my Revolver…

TarheelDem on September 19, 2007 at 4:26 pm

The vote was about cloture, that is ending the debate. How about we continue the debate already until the Republicans want to vote on the issue.

Sheesh. This nonsense about needing 60 votes to pass anything is getting out of hand.

If the Republicans want to filibuster, let them filibuster. Then the Defense Appropriations Bill can’t come to the floor.

But no, no, no. That would be too un-Democratic. We must pursue bipartisanship at all costs.

The debate is technically still going on. Call your Republican Senator and tell them to change their vote.

Serena Blaiz on September 19, 2007 at 6:55 pm

Shouldn’t Inhofe be bolded?

jawbone on September 19, 2007 at 10:23 pm

The ID behind Liberman’s name does stand for “Idiot,” right?

BooMan on September 19, 2007 at 12:50 pm

Email from Leahy:

Comments of Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,

On Republican Filibuster Of Amendment To Restore Habeas Protections
September 19, 2007

“The vote today showed that a majority of the Senate supports our efforts to correct the historic mistake made in last year’s Military Commissions Act, but there is still more work to be done to overcome the Republican filibuster. Like the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the elimination of habeas rights was an action driven by fear, and it was a stain on America’s reputation in the world.

“This bipartisan initiative has brought together Americans who call themselves conservatives, Americans who call themselves liberals, or libertarians, or evangelicals, or independents, and I am proud to be associated with them in this effort. We will continue to work for what is right and what is just.

“Senator Specter and I came to this Floor to offer this amendment back on July 10, when this bill was initially being considered, and thereafter. I thank him for his work in this effort. I also want to express my appreciation to Majority Leader Reid, Chairman Carl Levin, Senator Dodd, Senator Menendez, Senator Bingaman, and others who have participated in or facilitated this debate.

“We have brought this to the Senate Floor not because it is politically easy or popular, but because it is the right thing to do. This has been a debate that has invoked constitutional principles, legal precepts, Latin phrases, and historical precedents. This is an issue that lends itself to politically provocative distortions. Constitutional principles need our defense not so much when it is popular to do so, as when it may not be popular or easy to do.

“It is difficult to defend the higher ground by taking the lower road. The world knows what our enemies stand for. The world also knows what this country has tried to stand for and live up to – in the best of times, and the worst of times.

“It is from strength that America should defend our values and our way of life. It is from the strength of our freedoms, our Constitution, and the rule of law that we shall prevail. I thank and commend Senators who joined with us to stand up for a stronger America, for the America we believe in, by voting to invoke cloture on the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act of 2007. We will not give up on this important effort.”
MikeInOhio on September 19, 2007 at 2:14 pm

This should be a lesson to the 34 Democrats in the House and 12 in the Senate who caved at the time and approved the MCA. While it still would have passed with the unanimous Republican support, giving it a bipartisan caste added nothing positive to the Democrat’s arguments against it. If those spineless representatives had stood on principle and not on fear at that time, there might be just a smidgen more credibility in pushing for the habeas corpus restoration now.

This country cannot even begin to be restored until this heinous injustice has been corrected. No more caving in to fear, please!!! Stand up for what is right.
on September 19, 2007 at 2:20 pm

This is a stain upon the history of 702 years of history of the writ of habeus corpus (first recorded use: 1305). This is amazing.
- MikeInOhio on September 19, 2007 at 2:37 pm
  
  But giving any credence to history is sooooo European!
  
  And you know how much this administration reveres the European sensibilities.
billjpa on September 19, 2007 at 2:41 pm

From a historical point of view, there will be endless arguments regarding who is worse- the goopers as a whole for the Habeus vote or john warner for his fraudulent performance regarding the Webb bill. The saddest thing is that I am sure and I will never learn the truth as to whether warner played Webb! It is beyond belief. And lets watch the dems tuck tail.What a shame.
- MikeInOhio on September 19, 2007 at 2:56 pm
  
  McCain said he and Sen. John Warner (R-VA) have teamed up to put together a “sense of the Senate” amendment to express “very clearly that we all want all our troops home and we understand the stress and strain that’s been inflicted on the men and women in the military and the guard and reserves.”
  
  Translation: We know we’ve thrown you into an impossible civil war through our perpetuation of lies and fear and we know it’s very hard on you and your family and for that we feel really, really bad. But we’re not going to do a F@#&ING thing to help you or your family. If you would just do a better G@$DAMN job of fighting you might not be stuck over there so long. So just suck it up while we find the most surefire way to cover our political asses and run out the clock.
Brendan Skwire on September 19, 2007 at 3:54 pm

That’s When I Reach for my Revolver…
TarheelDem on September 19, 2007 at 4:26 pm

The vote was about cloture, that is ending the debate. How about we continue the debate already until the Republicans want to vote on the issue.

Sheesh. This nonsense about needing 60 votes to pass anything is getting out of hand.

If the Republicans want to filibuster, let them filibuster. Then the Defense Appropriations Bill can’t come to the floor.

But no, no, no. That would be too un-Democratic. We must pursue bipartisanship at all costs.

The debate is technically still going on. Call your Republican Senator and tell them to change their vote.
Serena Blaiz on September 19, 2007 at 6:55 pm

Shouldn’t Inhofe be bolded?
jawbone on September 19, 2007 at 10:23 pm

The ID behind Liberman’s name does stand for “Idiot,” right?

A Contingent of Bedwetters

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