I bet it's Senator BYRD who stands up. Any takers?

[autorank]

Here we are, a critical point in our history on 1/6/05. Which of our 44 Senators will stand up and be counted by endorsing the Conyers complaint.

I believe it will be Senator Robert Byrd. This is the type of high drama the event calls for -- a liberal Southern Senator who made one mistake in his early youth that's dogged him ever since (joining the Klan). Of all the Senators, Byrd has the greatest historical appreciation of our democracy and its place in world history. He's gotta be the one!!!

Keep the faith

[donheld]

1. If anyone will Mr Byrd will

He's the only stand up kinda guy we have left.

[liberalnurse]

2. If he doesn't then .......

he has only been blowing off steam. Impressive steam to give him credit....but now, it is the time to put the icing on the cake of his career. If he remains silent...he becomes just one of the boys soon to be forgotten. They'll rename all the bridges in WV......

[Pam-Moby]

3. You maybe correct, but

I would just jump for joy if they all stood in union. I do not think that would happen. But that would be awesome and we would stand strong and be thankful.
Sorry just daydreaming!:tinfoilhat:

[autorank]

5. God, I hope you are right!

It's a great day dream. How about this, they all stand up in unison because they've "got the goods" on "the man." Hahahaha. Rich, rich irony. I do hope Byrd does it. It would cap a career that has involved a lot of service and seal the deal for him as one of the true defenders of the constitution and our republic!!!

Holding my breath near DC...

[EVDebs]

15. Love it ! That's the "Rope a dope" strategy....

the Repubs think the Dems don't have ANY BALLS AT ALL ! Unison would be too much for them and the media to handle...much weeping and gnashing of teeth time !

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[TexasChick]

19. ROFL!!! n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. What a great way to bring closure to his Klan mistake

I would love to see him rise and stand against the racist voter disenfranchisement and the election fraud. Fighting for voting rights and exposing the thuggish tactics used to suppress them would be just about the polar opposite of everything the Klan stands for.

He has taken firm, outspoken stands against corruption in our political system. His long career is near its end. This is the time for his final, biggest fight. If he does NOT stand, I will be very disappointed.

I am hoping that more than one senator will stand, and I'd love for at least one of them to be a member of the Republican party. We need all people of integrity who care about the future of democracy in this country.

[autorank]

8. Great user name. I concur completely.

If I get to 86, I'm sure there are things I deeply regret doing in my very early years (I can think of a few right now). I've watched Byrd's legislative career, his C-Span lectures (which are priceless), and followed his defense of democracy since * came in. It is inspiring. I'm not one for idols but I could use one right now, a lightening rod for ***voting rights*** and clean government.

[Nothing Without Hope]

20. The gateway is standing before him, let's hope he walks through n/t

I do believe that he will regret it if he doesn't take on this fight now. Surely he has received thousands of pleas to do so.

Yes, he made a bad mistake in following the Klan for a time. Now it's time to take a stand for justice.

[jdj]

9. The thing is, what do you prefer, someone in the Klan

50 years ago, or a whole congress full of current clan members.

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. Too true. The wingnut Rethugs are KKK in all but name. n/t

[HeilChimp]

32. Byrd for Senate Democrat Leader!

He doesn't need to bring "closure" to his KKK mistake, we're talking about an incident that happened over 50 years ago. The Repugs need to get over it. The fact he voted against Clarence Thomas is more than enough proof he's working to pervert African-Americans from being sold out by uncle tom's.

Byrd was Senate Democrat Leader back in the 70s and 80s. We need him back there again. Now THERE'S a red-state Democrat senator with SPINE!

I hope the old man runs again in 2006. The Repugs had Storm, we have Robert C. Byrd!

[lovuian]

10. Why couldn't be Kerry isn't he a Senator???

But yes I would bet Byrd or Levin!!!

[Tacos al Carbon]

11. I'll take that bet

Not a chance. Byrd is a political survivor and an opportunist. He won't stick his neck out alone.

[autorank]

13. Welcome to DU!!! Tacos al Carbon, what are we betting?

[Tacos al Carbon]

42. Oh, how about something friendly

If Byrd stands up, I'll change my avatar to a Raiders logo for a month, if he doesn't, you change yours to a 49ers logo. Agreed?

[autorank]

43. You're on. My Sig pic stays the same. The Raiders logo will be

a nice addition. People recognize it as a sign of class and sportsmanship all over the country. And, how can you beat our motto, "We are the criminal element of the NFL."

DEAL. Talk to you on the 6th! or I'll just check out your logo (haha).

Later

[autorank]

45. Friendly link...get ready for your new look.

I realize it has to be Byrd. Thought you might like this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=218168&mesg_id=218168

[annabanana]

12. The closer to retirement, the more likely...

because whoever has the courage to do this will be pilloried mercilessly by the corporate media.

[autorank]

16. That's why it has to be Byrd. There is a story there, a compelling one.

The media would be in a bind -- give him crap (as they are supposed to do) or feature the great story of racial-political reconciliation. It think the story would blow peoples minds.

[EVDebs]

17. and we get to ask the media why they are complicit ! n/t

[autorank]

27. Welcome to DU!!! Great, great username.

I grew up listening to family stories about what a great man and leader Debs was. Quite a tradition!!!

[davsand]

37. I see more and more Debs fans here and it makes me happy!

I've been carrying Debs in my sig line for quite a while. I change it out every once in a while just for the sake of variety, but I always come back to this one quote. They recite this quote at the start of the Eugene Debs dinner every year...

If you haven't seen it already, do check out the Eugene V Debs Foundation website at:

http://www.eugenevdebs.com/

If you heard a lot of Debs stories as a kid you must have been in a house full of pretty enlightened folks! Well met! If you ever get the chance, be sure and tour the Debs house and see the murals. They really are amazing if you know much about labor history, the social justice movement or the history of the Socialist party.


Laura

[ElkHunter]

40. davsand...

...for inspiration every couple of years I re-read Ray Ginger's biography of Debs, The Bending Cross. That book got me through the Reagan years and hopefully it will get me through these fascist Bush years as well. Debs was indeed one of greatest political leaders that America has ever produced. He was the Martin Luther King of the labor movement and he remains my political hero to this very day.

[EVDebs]

46. autorank, Davsand... Thank you very much ! I was impressed by

the fact that Debs got 1 million votes for president once even thought he was behind bars ! Too bad Michael Moore or hollywood for that matter hasn't made a movie of Eugene Victor Debs' life (or another great hero, who saved us from fascism, USMC Gen. Smedley D. Butler, the whistleblower on the "Plot to Seize the White House" from FDR...book by Jules Archer, and TV documentary little shown and little known.)

In the old days, Henrik Ibsen's play "An Enemy of the People" was a great starting point too. Even Steve McQueen got radicalized by that play.

[karlrschneider]

18. Never in my 62 years have I more wanted to be wrong....but

I have a gut feeling no senator will. I probably oughta be shot either way. :eyes:

[Nothing Without Hope]

34. Go to this thread and you will have a pleasant surprise

about the senator question. It surely surprised me!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x218168

The thread title didn't reveal the surprise, but it's right there in the text of the first post. He doesn't mention Byrd, but...

And you most certainly should NOT be shot. Any way this goes, we've all got to pull together to get this country back on track again.

[GreenInNC]

21. not a chance

None of them will.

[SammyWinstonJack]

39. They should all stand together!

If only for redemption for Not one Senator standing in '00.

[NV Whino]

22. Byrd's the best best

It's rumored that Boxer will. If they all stood up (dare we hope) that would be the best strategy. It would be really hard to target ALL the senators.

[LeftyMom]

33. She'd be my guess too nt

nt

[DemGirl7]

24. I doubt anyone will

I'm sorry, but I don't think any Senator will, not even those in the blue states, like my home state of New York. Yes, It would be pretty sweet if Byrd would stand up, especially since he has a not so pretty past, even through I admire him for stance on the Iraq War and on many Bush policies, in not caving in like so many other Democrats, but I feel sadly that it will just be a repeat of 2001.

[The empressof all]

25. Not one will stand

and this formerly moderate Democrat will go so far as to say that we are faced with a situation where our two parties are just different sides of the same coin.

Not one will risk what they fear -- public ridicule.

[autorank]

28. You jut answered the question: why are no Senators on DU.

...they fear the ridicule in this illustrious forum. Wimps!

[The empressof all]

29. Their core is the status quo

They will not risk deviation from the group. It's the same with the Republicans. What I have learned most in the past year from both Democrats and Republicans is that the Party comes before the Country and the Constitution.

[porkrind]

44. Yep. None will stand.

It will be just another day on the hill.

[Stinky The Clown]

26. In my little world of personal fantasy

The whole 44 of them will stand in unity. Either they'll all take the heat together or there will be no heat to take. Since the entire gesture is just that - a gesture with no real consquence or hope - the world will go on as ordained by the cabal, but at least we'll have our day.

[Pam-Moby]

30. LOL

here I was talking about standing there with all the senators standing and backing Conyers in union...now look-hehehe
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=218168#218212

[Mz Pip]

31. No one will

The time to do it was in 2000. If no one did it back then, it sure won't happen this time around.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[LeftCoast]

36. I think I'll fall over if even a single (D) senator speaks up

[Mz Pip]

41. From one left coaster to another

I'll fall over, too. Ain't gonna happen. No one will put their ass on the line for this.

The only chance would be someone who isn't up for re election and even then, I doubt it.

It's fine to claim fraud but if there is no proof, no outrage, no anything, it isn't going to happen. Mainstrean Dems have caved on this. In all honesty, it appears that no one really gives a shit, except for us and, sorry to say, we don't count.

Happy New Year and heaven help us all.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Southsideirish]

35. Obama could be a mega hero for years to come if he would do it.

[Disturbed]

38. I expect none will but....

have a tiny hope that at least one will.Why not Kennedy?