Heads up...Byrd speaking now!

[goobergunch]

Realplayer link: http://play.rbn.com/?url=cspan/g2cspan/live/cspan2-g2.rm&proto=rtsp

[goobergunch]

1. Starts by talking about "The Emperor Has No Clothes"

by H. C. Andersen.

[JNelson6563]

2. thanks for heads up

watching now

[patdem]

3. Talking about the Emperor Clothes

[goobergunch]

4. Byrd: We were told that Iraq had WMD, we would be liberators

but we are occupiers....no flowers appeared.

Led to believe 9/11 connection....no evidence produced.

16 Words: Empty air.

Frightened w/ "Mushroom Clouds"....not so.

101 Americans have died since Major Combat over declared from "Emperor in New Clothes"!

HE'S CALLING BUSH AN EMPEROR!! :bounce:

[goobergunch]

5. Byrd: Those who have questioned war have had patriotism questioned

Fabrications made by Bushies re Iraq wrapped in flag.

Right to debate and dissent under attack. Drums of war beaten louder to drum out dissent. Senate traditions are even being snubbed. This spending bill has been rushed thru in just 1 month, 3 open hearings on $87 Billion...$87 for every minute A.D., with no outside witnesses called. Bremer refuses to return to Approp. Cmte. because "doesn't have time".

[jbfam4]

7. He never used the word

lies.

[proud patriot]

6. Thanks

I'm watching .

[goobergunch]

8. Byrd: Despite callous stiff-arm of Senate...

few dared voice opposition to rushing bill. Perhaps intimidated. The time has come for the sheep-like activity to come to an end.

The Emperor has no clothes. This has been based on PROPAGANDA and MISINFORMATION. $87B is too much for false-hood based war. This is travesty, tragedy, most cynical act...v. dangerous to truth. Having mislead American people, Bushies must sustain policy predicated on hype. We misinformed and insulted allies, and * is having trouble getting help from them. The single-minded obsession of administration and continuing propoganda from WH is distracting from Afghanistan and other terrorist-hiding countries.

[Hogarth]

9. He's so good!

n/t

[goobergunch]

10. Byrd: Have we forgotten that worst attacks occured at home?

However, homeland security is neglected for Iraq security.

Mr. President, I have twice tried to separate reconstruction money from this bill. I offered an amendment to have a plan to get the UN in and the US out. Twice tried to rid bill of authority making bill a blank check. We provide more foreign aid for Iraq here than for the entire world! I tried to divert funds for better use. But at every turn, I was thwarted by the vapid argument to support the "Commander in Chief".

Policy based on PROPAGANDA and HYPE. Debt will have to be paid by our children and the troops. I cannot support outlandish tax cuts that plunge country in disastrous debt while troops fight. 4 more died today....

[never cry wolf]

11. This guy is great.......

he is spot on with everything!!

[goobergunch]

12. Byrd: I cannot support this policy.

I cannot support politics of ZEAL and MIGHT MAKES RIGHT that has NEW AMERICAN ARROGANCE in this administration. Disabling doctrine of pre-emption turns U.S. into reckless bully.

The Emperor has no clothes, and our allies were the first to see it.

Mr. President, I began remarks with fairy tale. I close with a horror story from NUREMBERG DIARIES (Goering: It is the leaders of country who determine policy, and it is always easy to bring the country along. In the U.S., only CONGRESS can declare war. But the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. All you have to do is tell them is being attacked, and they will follow.)

[never cry wolf]

13. Ended with the Goering quote on pacifying a nation thru fear

puke stevens is responding.

[NNN0LHI]

15. I dout that has ever happened in our Senate before n/t

[jbfam4]

16. Stevens doesn't know how he got there

I sure don't either....When is he up for election?

[Guaranteed]

14. And then he quotes Goerring....

It's so ON.
Repukes- you....are...going....DOWN.

[nostamj]

17. BYRD is WHIPPING that POS stevens

this is MUST SEE TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[goobergunch]

19. Here's my transcript of what he said

taken from the Senate Watch thread.

Stevens has no monopoly on supporting the troops. I was supporting the troops before Sen. Stevens ever came to DC. I've been supporting the troops for over 50. Let the Record not stand with the Senator's words. I defy that statement and I hurl it back into his teeth! I support the troops. Every Senator supports the troops. So don't throw that canard over here. I regret the Sen. from AK takes that view.

Mr. President, I close by congratulating those Sens. who have the courage to speak there will and for the men and women in Iraq that didn't ask to go there.

FIE ON THE DOCTRINE OF PRE-EMPTION! That's a dangerous doctrine. Those who vote against bill are voting against doctrine. So don't be ashamed of it.

I close with the words on the statue of Ben Hill: He who saves his country, saves all things: himself, and all things bless him. He who lets his country die lets all things die, and all things curse him.

VOTE TO SAVE YOUR COUNTRY. No commander in chief brought me here, and none will take me. The Constitution says I have a right to speak the peoples will. There are many people who believe we speak for them. I'm proud to do it! I'm one of the 23 who voted NO on the war and I'd vote the same way again ten times a hundred times! Fie on that doctrine!

I yield.

[mrgorth]

23. I'm crying

God bless Senator Byrd!

[ewagner]

24. I second that!

That was the finest presentation by a Senator I have ever seen. I feel absolutely privelidged to have watched Byrd in action. No matter what that man's past, I think he is the finest example of patriotism in the Senate today.

Sen Byrd! Thank you Sir!

[otohara]

18. Steven's, This President Did Not Lie

I've never heard such criticizm of a president while he's out of the country -

Byrd back up - defending himself - attacking a country who did not attack us - do not be ashamed to vote no

Call Stevens, 202-224-3004

[kentuck]

20. "Ten times a hundred, I would vote against it ! "

That's a Senator ! Expressed my viewpoint exactly!

[berry]

21. I think Byrd spoke several times today--earlier he angrily tore in half

his copy of the appropriations bill. It was amazing.

I sure hope someone gets the transcript of everything he said all day today, and spreads it everywhere. This was amazing stuff. And the Repukes just sputtered.

(I myself have never been able to figure out how to get to the Congressional Record. Any advice?)

[goobergunch]

22. The Congressional Record can be found here

http://thomas.loc.gov/r108/r108.html

Plus, Byrd usually posts his remarks on his website fairly promptly. It'll be up later tonight at http://www.senate.gov/~byrd

[0007]

25. I hope someone burned a CD

of Byrd today. Great courage I've seen on the Senate floor in many moons.

[tom_paine]

26. Byrd is our Cicero!

Let us hope he has better luck than the unfortunate Cicero when he went up against the Caeser Crime Family.