The Democratic Daily Salutes Senators Kerry and Kennedy, et al
by Pamela LeaveySenators John Kerry and Ted Kennedy stood today and led a valiant fight against the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. That fight was a fight for the rights of the little people.
The fight is not over… We will continue to stand against the oppressive leadership that currently rules on the Hill.
Please join The Democratic Daily in thanking John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and all the Democratic Senators that stood today on principle.
As John Kerry said in his statement on the outcome of the cloture vote posted below, “This was a debate worth having, and a debate we had no choice but to have today.”
UPDATE: Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake has a wonderful Thank You to John Kerry here.
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Thank you John Kerry and Ted Kennedy for having spine. I wish it was contagious.
I still don’t understand why more debate and conversation were objectionable. Just for their manufactured moment.
My thanks, always, for your caring and public service.
Thank you John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. I appreciate what you did very much and won’t forget it in the future. I can vouch for at least $230 donated to Friends of John today as a direct result of your efforts.
Thank you, Senators! I wish things had gone differently today, but I know I will never forget the conviction and leadership you both showed today.
Thank you Senators. I too wish things had turned out differently, but your leadership has created a light in the middle of a dark road.
Keep fighting the good fight. We’ll always have your backs.
Pamela, Ron, everyone else at DD…kudos to YOU guys and YOUR efforts on behalf of Kerry, Kennedy and those who care about the shredding our Constitution is about to undergo. You kept the drum beat going and, I’m convinced, helped many of the 25 Senators to actually sign on and commit to the filibuster.
Ultimately, Alito’s confirmation vote tomorrow will be the thinnest since Clarence Thomas skated by in ‘91 with 52 votes. Put it this way: more than 41 Senators will vote against him tomorrow, which illustrates the shame of those who voted to cut off the debate today.
Still kudos again to Kerry, Kennedy and the DD.
Todd
Thank you – so many worked hard around the blogosphere.
And really we are not done fighting.
Thank you Senators Kerry and Kennedy. This was a fight that had to be fought even if we lost. Thank you both for enduring the taunting and ridicule of classless people in the media who wouldn’t know a principle or a real value if it bit them. Just know that we take courage from the fact that both of you continue to fight and to stand for the values you have sworn by for your whole lifes.
Life would have been so much better for everyone with a President Kerry. (Not to mention the country and world would be impressed with our wonderful first lady)
I agree. Kerry did a wonderful thing. He at least tried and fought so hard for us. God bless him and Kennedy. I’ll never forget their battle.
Thank you, Senators Kerry and Kennedy for fighting the good fight and having a spine. We’ve “got your backs;” never give up the fight!!!
Thank you John Kerry and Ted Kennedy for fighting, from the younger group of aspiring politicians.
“If we wish to be free–if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!” and little encouragement from Patrick Henry (March 1775) in these dire times. . . Thank You again senators.
Thank you Sen. Kerry and Sen. Kennedy for going out on a limb for this one. I cannot tell a lie that I don’t feel discouraged tonight, that so many colleagues from our side of the aisle didn’t see how important this vote was. But I am hoping that this effort by the blogosphere is noticed, although at first glance to me it appears we were not as effective as I thought we would be. I may have doubts about blog power or disappointing Democratic Senate votes, but there is NO doubt in my mind that you stood for what is right. No one can ever take that away. Thank you again.
Write your senators and representative that you demand they increase the minimum wage.
http://www.usalone.com/cgi-bin/petition.cgi?pnum=148
Thanks to Pamela and everyone else here at DD, and around the blogosphere, for fighting so hard for a miracle today. We didn’t get the miracle we started out looking for, but I think we did see a miracle in the energy and engagement of so many citizens in the fight.
For Senators Kerry and Kennedy, I’ll repost here what I wrote on jibsail’s thread over at dailykos, because they’re the best words I can come up with at the moment:
**************************************
Thank you so much, Senators.
You’ve made me incredibly proud to support both of you.
This was a crucial moment to make a stand, and it was you who had the guts to step forward and lead.
We didn’t have the numbers to carry the day today, but we will continue to fight, and this battle has made us stronger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We made a promise we swore we’d always remember
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter’s night with a vow to defend
No retreat, believe me, no surrender.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We will remember – and never surrender.
**************************************
Thank you, Senator Kerry, for your leadership. Although this was an uphill battle from the start, it WAS a battle worth fighting. Well done, sir. My John Kerry bumper sticker remains on my car, in honor of the fight that continues.
I’d like to thank everyone in the netroots who spent their time trying to promote this cause. Your calling, emailing, faxing and persuading made a difference.
I hope Kerry and the netroots realize the power of this experiment. Yeah, we may have lost today, but we just proved how impressive our efforts can be if we work together.
A few days ago we had nothing. One weekend later we had Biden and Reid and Clinton forced to take a stand.
I hope this is a sign of things to come and welcome the continued improvement of this new force for democracy.
Unleash the Hounds for Democracy Senator Kerry!
Thank you Sens. Kennedy & Kerry. You did what the good citizens of Massachusetts elected you to do, stand for the Constitution and stand for equal justice before the law. I am so proud of you!
I am also very, very pleased with the outreach that you did to the netroots and to the ‘base’ of the Democratic Party. This is just the beginning of that effort and I applaud you for doing this.
Thank you wholeheartedly Senators Kerry and Kennedy for your courage, strength and determination to continue your fight for the little, ordinary American. Your fantastic energy was felt each moment I worked to see a united Democratic Alito filibuster. These were moments I will not forget. John Kerry and Edward Kennedy, YOU ARE THE CHAMPIONS. God bless you both with health, happiness, and many more years of service for our country.
Thank you John Kerry for illuminating the smallness and insignificance of so many people in our United Staes government. You have successfully diminished them as you always do.
If anyone missed Kennedy’s beautiful outrage right before the vote there’s a video link in this thread (I just added the video) –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1801
People, next time you fax, email or call a senator or representative, include this in with your demand:
Until the legislation or action I demand gets done I will boycott products from Republican contributors Walmart, Wendy’s, Outback Steak House, Dominos Pizza, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Eckerd, CVS and Walgreens, Curves for women health clubs, GE and Exxon/Mobil.
Join the revolution for progressive legislation
http://www.boycott-republicans.com
Thank you so much Senators Kerry and Kennedy! We all appreciate so much your efforts, standing up for our Country and its citizens. When you both began not long ago, there were only two of you. Then, through your and all of our efforts, more Senators were convinced, embarrassed or badgered into standing up to do what is right, not just what is safe.
We only truly fail, when we fail to try! Keep fighting for us and we will keep fighting for you!
BTW, could one of you please pull my two NJ Senators aside and give them a little message for me. WTF were you both thinking for even hesitating on this!!! I was shocked and angered that you both weren’t immediately on board with the good Senators from MA! I could not believe that I actually had to fax and call your offices TODAY, TODAY, on a matter such as this! Doing the right thing has been a given to me with my Senators the last few years. Don’t make me start contacting Rush Holt demanding that he bring a primary challenge!
I don’t know Menendez well yet but based on Jon appointing him to fill his seat, I expected better. Jon would not have hesitated on this. What was it Frank and Bob, because Alito is from NJ. WTF??? That’s just an embarrassment. We have toxic waste in some parts of NJ too and I’m not proud of that either! I wouldn’t care if Alito was my next door neighbor or a member of my immediate family. I would still demand you did everything possible to keep him from being seated on the Supreme Court!
An irritated NJ voter who can’t believe it took until late in the day of the cloture vote to learn for sure how both his Senators would vote. I still love ya, but you’re both on probation for now…
Thank you Senators Kerry and Kennedy for being brave enough to travel uphill. We have a long way to go but having leaders like you make it all worthwhile. This party means a lot to me, so much that I can’t seem to find any way to understand the decisions of the 19. More particularly those who are voting against Alito’s nomination but for cloture. There is no political goal, agenda, promise…that can ever explain this to me. Even the excuse of no sense of enough public outcry is not acceptable. The principles laid out for not voting for Alito definitely represented the views of enough Americans (and Democrats) to fight this until the bitter end.
I know you all are gentlemen and will ultimately respect the decisions of your fellow colleagues. However, I truly hope they realize the error in their ways, whether it be at the polls or as Alito’s decisions come thundering down. They must recognize the negative impact their decisions have on the morale of so many Democrats. It was their job to assist in this effort and for some reason they seemed unresponsive, unsure, and even afraid. Why? I don’t want this type of message to negatively affect our parties efforts. I hope you all and others can help reshape this perception before it turns some away.
Thank you again. Thanks for the inspiration! Please stay visible…you all shine a light so bright and it is much needed.
Hurray for Judge Alito and the GOP
http://leftindependent.blogspot.com/2006/01/hurray-for-judge-alito-and-gop_30.html
Maybe now that Alito is guaranteed a seat on the Supreme Court the Democrats will realize that they can’t achieve leadership by mimicking GOP policies, parroting right wing rhetoric and alienating the left and moderates by incessantly pandering to the GOP for votes.
(snip)
Unfortunately, it will now take another thirty-six years to clean up the mess left to us and our children by right wing Democrat sheep and their extreme right wing GOP sheep herders.
How do we beat the media and ballot box fraud? Just a little nightmare inducing thought. No energy for citizenship in this country.
Anyone have a video/audio of Kerry’s speech. I know the lion had his roar, but I missed our guy.
Thank you Senators Kerry and Kennedy for standing up to bush, rove and the gop/media war machine. With the media in the GOP pocket your efforts was more daunting and yet more courageous.
No matter how the whitehouse and media spin it I truly believe you tried to fillbuster for the right reasons. Now keep the gloves off and knock em everychance you get.
To the rest of the dem daly group did anyone read the wapo article in Sat. paper titled “Blogs attack from the left as Democrats reach for center”
They had a quote from James Boyce who wrote on the huffington post and I think senator Kerry would be please with the comment.
“John Kerry is beginning to bring the traditional democratic leadership in Washington together with the untraditional net roots activists of the country” “A man often accused of being the ultimate washington insider looked outside of the beltway and saw the concern, infact, the distress among literally millions of online democrats”
As for the other dems Boyce said “triangulated, fabricated, postulated and capitulated”
That pretty much sums this altio fight.
Thank you Senator Kerry for looking at us outside of washington and understanding the anger, fustration of alot of people who are shut out.
Now you blogger who have picked on the senator in the pass leave him the hell alone at least he kept his word.
I don’t understand why anyone is thanking Kerry and Kennedy. During the commitee hearings neither one was adequately prepared and did nothing but make long winded speeches that might boost their own political fortunes. They should have stood firm and asked meaningful questions. Oh, that’s right, the hearings were right after the holidays, they didn’t have the time to prepare properly. If they can’t do their jobs effectively then we need senators who can. I have voted Democratic for more than 30 years, but after this fiasco I will not give one more minute of my time, not one more dime of my money and not one more vote to a Democrat!
Kerry wasn’t part of the committee hearings. He was visiting disaster stricken Pakistan, India, Palestin, Israel and Iraq.
Alito was coached not to say anything, and he didn’t.
James, Kerry isn’t on the committee and He wasn’t there so there is no way he could have made a long winded speech.
Get your facts straight.
He wasn’t in the country because of a 12 day trip oversees to Iraq, afganistan, Israel, India and Paksistan.
This is a thank you post if your are not going to thank the senators post your critcisms on another entry.
Pamela= don’t mean to take over your job as moderator but one thing I can’t stand is people not getting their facts straight and being critical of another person because of it.
Pen
Have at it my friend! You’re on the money, James obviously doesn’t know what he is talking about.
Marjorie G
I have not found any video of JK. I couldn’t get any of myself. Hopefully the Senate website will have it tomorrow. They are rebroadcasting some of it on C-Span I think.
Kerry was out of the country during the hearings, why wasn’t he in DC working behind the scenes to support those fellow Democrats on the committee? He knew the hearings were coming up – and he left the country. That is not the kind of leadership I admire. Yes, Kerry did make a long winded speech but it had nothing to do with what was important to the country – the Alito confirmation. It’s apologists like those of you on this post that keep the Democratic Party where it is, on the losing side. If more people said enough, stand up for what is right, then the Democrats might take notice. Instead you congratulate them for losing. The Democrats have been embarassing during this entire episode.
James
Kerry was out of the country on a diplomatic mission to 12 Middle East countries. Many Senators from both parties were out of the country on similar trips during the hearings. Blame the leadership for NOT holding the hearings when the full Senate was in session.
What’s embarrassing is that some people don’t recognize leadership when they see it and can’t seem to say anything nice.
We don’t tolerate bashing here, so take it somewhere else. You have not got a clue what you are talking about and I sincerely doubt you even listened to Kerry’s speech today. It was all about Alito and the rights of Americans – here you go – go read it, because like I said it’s clear you did not watch it – http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1800
OH I watched it, I just didn’t buy it whole line and sinker. It’s people like you that are putting the Democratic Party in it’s grave. With more Democratic victories like the ones they’ve had lately, I’m sure you and your bloggers will be just delighted.
Go head Pam with yo bad self!
James
Actually it’s people like you who like to eat their own that are putting the democratic party in their graves.
It’s a sad statement on what’s wrong with this party, that people can’t get past themselves to respect those who are fighting for us. So, please carry on pissing and moaning somewhere else, because it’s not welcomed here.
Indie Liberal
Like this – Pamela Leavey Says: January 30th, 2006 at 10:44 pm?
LOL!
What’s your definition of leadership James? Is it running around ranting and raving like a fool?
NO, my idea of leadership is taking a stand on an issue and doing everything you can to support it. Making a grand speech AFTER you have done little or nothing to support an issue, and after that matter has failed is NOT leadership. If kerry had made such an impassioned speech before or during the confirmation hearings, then I would have supported him and congratulated him. That’s the problem with the Democratic leadership, they wait until it’s too late to make a difference before they decide to take a stand. They knew for the past 5 years that this day was coming and they were illprepared.
Guys, sorry if I offended anyone but I am sick of politicians, and this includes the Democrats which I have supported with time and money, who say what they think will look good on TV but don’t back up with actions.
Senator Kennedy was amazing today. Nothing anyone can say or write on a blog can take that away.
James
When do you propose he should have made such a speech? He’s not on Judiciary so he could not do it there. He spoke out last week on the Senate floor the first day the debates started with a very passionate speech.
Fact is he had been lobbying for a filibuster for days. You don’t announce a filibuster weeks in advance James, then the opposition knows what you have planned. Filibusters are always announced a short time before the actual vote on the issue or nomination is going to take place.
Kerry actually said in ‘03 he would filibuster any nominee against Roe v Wade. Guess what he did.
For the record here’s some links for you on Kerry and Alito:
John Kerry on the Nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court
Monday, October 31st, 2005 -
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1004
John Kerry – Stand with Us: No on Alito
Monday, January 23rd, 2006 –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1722
John Kerry Nails Bush: President Fails to Explain Why He’s Above the Law
Monday, January 23rd, 2006 –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1724
From the first day of the Alito debate on the Senate Floor –
John Kerry on His Opposition to Judge Alito’s Nomination to the Supreme Court
Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 (link to video included) –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1749
More on Kerry Backing Filibuster
Thursday, January 26th, 2006 –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1759
John Kerry Supports Filibuster on Nomination of Judge Alito
Thursday, January 26th, 2006 –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1761
Filibuster Alito
Posted by John Kerry
January 26th, 2006 @ 4:52 pm
Do I support a filibuster? The answer is yes. –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1762
John Kerry on the Alito Nomination: The Time To Stand Is Now
Friday, January 27th, 2006 –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1774
Fighting the Good Fight, Knowing When to Pick Your Battles
Saturday, January 28th, 2006 –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1784
John Kerry: The Vote Of A Lifetime
Sunday, January 29th, 2006 –
http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1796
You read through those links James, because it’s clear Kerry backed up his actions. He fought for us today.
We’re all sick of the sorry rhetoric and the mess we are in — but you know what, if you want to be mad about this — tell those who voted to stop the debate today. They are the Democrats to be mad at, not John Kerry!
James,
“Making a grand speech AFTER you have done little or nothing to support an issue, and after that matter has failed is NOT leadership.”
Your claim that Kerry has done little or nothing on this issue is untrue. Kerry has spoken out on these issues frequently. He has been talking about leading a filibuster in a case such as this since 2003.
James,
” During the commitee hearings neither one was adequately prepared. . .”
Your comment that Kerry was unprepared during the committee meetings is particularly absurd considering that Kerry isn’t even on the committee.
Bravo, Pamela & Ron! As if there were ever any doubt that you have John Kerry’s back.
How I wish we were going to listen to President Kerry tonight instead of our nation’s worst president ever.
Cali Dem
I have a post I’m going to put up soon, a sort of prebuttal to the SOTU from JK.
OK everyone, duck for cover!!!! JAMES!!!! I got your number, and now is the time for school. I have a pile of books to throw at you. DO NOT, talk down John Kerry, when he has carried the party!! You want a livid conversation, you got it!! Take your trash down the road. Sorry fool, but he has stood up with the good Sen. Kennedy, and did the right thing. Don’t even go there!! PS-kiss my A** you undercover GOP whore!!
Donnie
James is just a little confused…
Well Pamela, James likes Grand Speeches! Well I hope he enjoyed this enough.
Here, here Donnie.
Look, I understand alot of people’s fustration with the dem party and after the 04 election I was ready to put independent on my voter registration. Then I started checking out the blog world and saw that there were people who still believed in the candidate I voted for and i didn’t feel so bad anymore.
That said I don’t appreicate James or anyone else coming here and telling the people who write in this blog that we are the reason the dem party is going down the tubes.
The dem party is struggling for a lot of reasons but Kerry isn’t one of them neither are the dems who fight back.
The GOP has been preparing for this before Kerry even got to the senate so if you want to blame somebody go back to the 80’s and those dems who voted for the regan revolution.
And if James is a GOPer then go to one of their sites and leave this one for those who want to have dialogue and find a way to get back on the right track.
Pen,
Your testimony echoes mine.
Go Pen!