Leave Sen. Obama alone, do you forsake Al Gore b/c he gave his vote to

[NNguyenMD]

send Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court in a confirmation win by the narrow margin of 52/48?

Do you forsake our beloved Paul Wellstone who voted for DOMA, PATRIOT ACT I, the invasion and daisy cutting of Afghanistan (when it was known that the Hijackers were from Saudi Arabia)?

Don't let me get started on Clinton, what do you think of him now after he pushed DOMA, NAFTA, Free Trade with China=Walmart having a profit margin larger than the GNP of most countries?

Obama is a politician, he has ZERO political capital right now having served a whole 2 weeks in the senate. I gurantee you if he had voted a symbolic no, knowing that Rice is going to get confirmed anyways, it will only make things harder for him down the road when he needs the GOP committee chairmans to move whatever legislation and amendments that he wants to support. He's a freshmen guys, he's got to build a relationship with the folks in the senate, yes even the Republicans too, otherwise you could kiss him goodbye in 2010 when the Illinois GOP accuse him of being a "lost-cause" idealist who never nailed any successes on the board as a senator.

He needs to choose his battles carefully, and this is not a good one that would have produced much other than isolate him from the rest of the senate.

Don't be naive, this is the UNITED STATES Senate you're dealing with here, you got to give a little, to get a little. And one day when he's picked up enough public and congressional support/popularity he can take bigger swings at the bad guys. Its a notoriously slow process.

You don't squirt your water gun at the guys who own real ones, you pretend to make friends with them and then steal theirs.

[tx_dem41]

1. Good post!

[NNguyenMD]

4. thanks!

[K-W]

2. Thank you. EOM

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[stray cat]

12. What are you? And how many colors of dogs are there?

[obnoxiousdrunk]

14. Damn I should

have voted for Alan Keyes.

[TeacherCreature]

5. Past mistakes do not excuse present ones.

Obama did more than just vote for her.

He kissed her ass repeatedly in public.

He made me sick,

[cvoogt]

8. he was subtly critical

mentioning at one point that he will support Rice because he believes a president has a right to choose his cabinet, and that people elected Bush and trust him (somehow). He actually said "somehow," a little under his breath. I think it was very clear he was being skeptical and did a good job putting the heat on Condi. I can understand him needing to tread carefully as a freshman - a symbolic gesture by him would not carry that much weight at this point

[TeacherCreature]

11. Too subtle. I know it's his first hearing and all but...

I was hoping for leadership.

Time will tell, but to me at least, this was a bad start.

[Justyce]

9. Unfortunately, I agree with you. Had hopes for him.

[Pam-Moby]

6. I agree that Obama done well today.

He may have voted yes, but I feel he has to at this point. I called his office and thanked him for helping show the truth about Condi. He is doing well for a new senator. I feel he will be a good senator and a Strong democrat for us. Ok guys smack me around a little for this. But its the truth.

[LSparkle]

7. Bravo!

Now that they've delayed confirmation by the full Senate, he may feel safer voting "no" in a large group if more facts come out in the debate -- when you're one of only 18, you really have a target on your back.

[truebrit71]

10. Sorry but that is just grade-A bullsh*t...

Screw political capital, screw being a freshman, he was sent there to do a job, and that job was to represent the people of Illinois and the Democratic party.

He did not do that.

Voting with the republicans has the same effect as being a republican, the vote goes for the republicans.

"You don't squirt your water gun at the guys who own real ones, you pretend to make friends with them and then steal theirs."

No..if you're a Senate Dem you get bullied by the guys with the real ones and ask them not to hurt you too much when they bully you again....

With the exception of Senator Boxer and Senator Kerry the rest of them can go and pound sand.

ALL of them.


Oh, and BTW Al Gore was NEVER let off the hook by me for his vote for Thomas. Never will be.

[RedSock]

13. amen

you either do the right thing or you do not ... simple as that.