A "first" for Grassley

[progressoid]

The Fix: A Single GOP Vote for Sotomayor

The Most Important Number in Politics Today

One. That's the number of Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who voted for the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court today.

Both Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) cast "no" votes, the first time either man has ever voted against a Supreme Court nominee -- a fact that provides some sense for how partisanship has crept into the debate over Court nominees in the last few years. (Not a single Judiciary Committee Democrat voted for Samuel Alito although three Democrats voted for John Roberts.)

...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/28/AR2009072801638.html



Way to go Chuckles. :banghead:

[petersjo02]

1. His stand on health care makes me livid.

I'm going to call his office tomorrow, for all the good it will do.

[rurallib]

3. Calling his office does nothing. Write an LTTE and let thousands know

what a true scuz he is.
PM me if you need some help.
PS - I got a great one written all ready to go

[petersjo02]

4. If you wouldn't mind sending me your letter

and names of papers you're sending to, that would be great. I can use it as a model for a rewrite. Too much stress in my life right now to sit down and write (and rewrite) my own. Husband just diagnosed with diabetes. Also has a "big" prostate problem, so we're just getting through each day. Thanks, rl.

[progressoid]

5. Gaaah, it's so frustrating.

The last time I called one of his offices about health care, the person who answered the phone didn't even know what a public option was.

I think ruralib is right about letters. It probably going to be easier to change other people's minds about Grassley than to get through his thick skull. Hopefully, we can get his butt out of there in 2010.

[rurallib]

2. Response from Bob Krause - caandidate to oppose Grassley:

STATEMENT BY BOB KRAUSE

Democratic Candidate, United States Senate

Monday, July 27, 2009
U. S. Senate candidate Bob Krause says Grassley opposition to Sotomayer follows pattern of anti-women votes
It was with regret but no surprise that I learned this afternoon of Senator Charles Grassley's announcement that he will vote against the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice David Souter.

Senator Grassley's vote against Judge Sotomayor is the capstone to a long string of anti-women votes by Iowa's senior senator.

In combined 2007-2008 alone, he was rated at 40% favorable by the American Association of University Women (AAUW). This is actually his best in years. He was at 33% with AAUW in 2007 and just 10% in 2005-2006, just after his successful re-election. Perhaps next year, which is an election year, his women's vote rating will improve.

But I am not hopeful of that improvement. On the first significant civil rights bill of 2009, Grassley voted against closing a huge loophole in the equal pay for equal work statute. Had Grassley prevailed it would have remained very easy for large corporations to discriminate on pay to women and get away with it.

Thus, it is not surprising that Senator Grassley's first vote against a Supreme Court nominee in 29 years is against a woman.

I urge Senator Grassley to change his mind and vote "yes" to confirm a well qualified nominee for the highest court in the land. Not only is it important to women and Hispanics, it is important to all Americans as a reaffirmation of the great melting pot of humanity that we are.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, July 27, 2009



Contact: Keith Dinsmore

573-230-5360

[e-mail]

[47of74]

6. Hopefully future Senator Bob Krause

[progressoid]

7. I don't know much about Bob Krause,

but at this point I'd vote for a fence post instead of Grassley.

[SharonAnn]

8. I now know enough to send him some money. The DSCC called for donation today, and I said

"After watching Sen. Max Baucus and Harry Reid's behavior on Health Reform, I will no longer send money to any group that might support non-Progressive candidates. I will only contribute individually to progressive candidates, even if they're running against Democratic incumbents who are not progressive.

I will not enable any Blue Dogs, any "conservative" Democrats, and probably not even any "moderate" Democrats.

It's time to fish or cut bait. Without my support and the support of millions like me, Senators Baucus and Reid wouldn't even have any power. They would be in the minority. They only have power because we want Democratic ideals to be implemented. How dare they ignore us and legislate against us."