If the Senators contest today, we have Michael Moore to thank

[Used and Abused]

(among others) for exposing the cowardice of every last Senator in 2000. Last thing they need is another clip like that-regardless of whether Kerry conceded.

[purduejake]

1. Not to mention all the activists...

who do a LOT more than me. I'm in DC for the fun of it, but they have been working their butts off. Granted, I am here to send a message and will start getting even more involved, but it's a mini-vacation. :)

edit: I heard at a party for 51 capital march that BEFORE Kerry conceded, they had 8 senators. It was the first time I met the lady, so don't get too excited because I don't know how credible that figure is.

[whistle]

2. That should become a 30 second TV commercial

[Used and Abused]

3. that is what we should have done!

We should have had a 527 style commercial that showed the clip alongside facts about this year's Ohio voting irregularities. It would have the effect of putting pressure on the Dem senators, while also reminding (or showing some ignorant mofos for the first time) how Bush stole it the first time and how it's happening again.

[Vinca]

4. I was thinking the same thing last night.

If Senators stand, it's because of the footage in F911. There's one thing more persuasive than a few million emails and phone calls: bad publicity.

[katinmn]

5. You're right.

That shameful image of the Senate turning their backs on the Black Caucus was burned in our minds because of F9/11. Michael showed us what our country was becoming. He woke us up.

Thank you, Michael!
:kick:

[bunkerbuster1]

12. Of all the disturbing scenes from F9/11, that's the one that hits

me, personally, the hardest.

Semi-related: I just sent this message to Robert Byrd, asking him to consider his legacy. It's late, but it literally kept me up last night and I had to get this off my chest:

+++++++

Senator Byrd, as someone who is not a resident of your state, but who is a fellow American living in a state without a Democratic senator, I am asking you to do something historic for your country today, and for your legacy in years to come.

I am pleading with you, if given the opportunity via an official protest from a member of the House of Representatives, to sponsor a protest of the acceptance of electors in today's joint session.

I am well aware that this would not change the outcome of the election. I am also aware that we Democrats must choose our battles wisely. However, I do not think I could tolerate another national election conducted in the manner of the last one, without at least some very public debate at a time that's perfectly appropriate.

Senator Byrd, time is short and I must be blunt. You have said yourself that your obituaries are almost certainly going to include a reference to your KKK past. I am aware that you have done much that is admirable to atone for that past as a public servant.

But the most admirable thing you could do for the sake of your legacy, would be to take a historic stand for those disenfranchised Americans, particularly those of African descent, who were forced to take off work and stand in the cold and rain for eight hours or more in order to cast a vote.

It is unacceptable, it is disgraceful that the richest, most powerful nation on Earth conducts national elections in this manner. Something must be done, and I feel the best way to ensure that something will be done, is for you, as the most senior memder of the Senate, to sponsor a Representative.

Thanking you for the opportunity to voice my opinion, I remain

respectfully yours,
xxxxxxxxxxx

[Used and Abused]

15. beautifully done!

Very compelling. I hope he read it.

[bunkerbuster1]

19. thanks. I surprise myself sometimes. Byrd's staff will see it...(eom)

[yojon]

22. Wow!

Powerful letter! Fine writing!

[katinmn]

24. Very moving letter

Thanks.

:thumbsup:

[truthpusher]

6. I believe so. n/t

[Chimpanzee]

7. I pray that they stand up

on principle, not because they may be on the tele! I know that's asking a lot though...

[AirAmFan]

8. Great insight! But don't forget to credit John Conyers and his staff on the

House Judiciary Committee. Even without the official imprimatur of the Republican-controlled committee, Conyers set in motion on-the-scene forums where disfranchised voters, real journalists like Bob Fitrakis, and competent researchers at Penn and Berkeley could expose Republican election crimes in just one focus state (Ohio). And much of what the forums uncovered is documented in full in a Democratic Committee Staff report online at http://www.pdamerica.org .

[demo dutch]

9. I am watching him on Today show and thought the exact same thing

[AirAmFan]

10. Inside the mind of a bought-and-paid-for Democratic Senator is a scary place

to go.

At first, you'd think that any Senator who's seen F911 would feel an overwhelming urge to stand with Conyers et al. You'd think that, even at the last minute, even a Senator who hadn't though much about what Conyers was doing just could not keep from jumping up to support civil rights and a discussion of over a hundred years of suppression of African-American votes after hundreds of years of slavery.

But then there's the issue of "what would my corporate donors think" if a Senator questioned the legitimacy of a President's election, when he took the popular vote by several percent, in a time of war? Conscience versus funding concerns--which would be stronger? Only Senators with no concern for their future electability--like Byrd of West Virginia--would have the "luxury" of doing what every Democratic Senator knows is the right thing.

[henslee]

11. Fear of being posterized by MM is as good a reason as any to challenge!

[Oversea Visitor]

13. Please

tell me what happen so far. Just got back home from work and its 10.20pm here Jan 6th. Did any Senator stood up??

[henslee]

14. There is a link to an article from NOW which says she will chall.... there

are remarks from Olberman which said members of both House and Senate are going to challenge. And there's a post from Beverly from BlackBoxVoting stating that she knows that only OH will be the issue -- no where else and it won't be outright fraud per se. That's what I gathered so far -- and the NOW article sure does not seem conclusive. I will not get worked up over all this. Though its good to see thousands energized. on edit -- wow you are in Maylasia! How exotic What city?

[Oversea Visitor]

16. Kuala Lumpur

The capital city.
Been following this since Nov

[AirAmFan]

18. The Joint Session of Congress won't start for another three hours. at 1 pm NY

time (it's now a few minutes before 10 am NY time). I'm not sure, but http://www.c-span.org may be streaming its gavel-to-gavel coverage to Internet video. If you have a fast enough computer and enough bandwidth, you might be able to stay up and watch the proceedings. But don't stay up just on my say-so--go to the c-span site and see if they're going to stream it and if you have the equipment to receive the stream.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

17. Michael Moore is either a Deep Dem Spy or else AN IDIOT!!!

I've read three of his books, watched Roger & Me many many times, seen Bowling For Columbine with sadness for my country, and when Fahrenheit 9/11 came out I made bootleg DVDs and gave them away!

I loves my Moore -- seriously ...

BUT I really don't understand why Moore left out a KEY detail in the events of four years ago TODAY!

The bottom line is Gore and the Democrats was forced into a horrible situation where they had no choice.

Points most people don't seem to know:

1. There was a new congress sworn in on January 3rd, 2001 which changed the ratio of Rep/Dem
   
2. Unlike the congress, the Pres and Vice Pres are in office until January 20th, so he was still the President of the Senate
   
3. The rules for the electoral challenge is very specific:
   
   

   From US Code TITLE 3 > CHAPTER 1 > Subsection 18

   Same; parliamentary procedure at joint meeting

   While the two Houses shall be in meeting as provided in this chapter, the President of the Senate shall have power to preserve order; and no debate shall be allowed and no question shall be put by the presiding officer except to either House on a motion to withdraw.
   Pasted from http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode03/usc_sec_03_00000018----000-.html

   
   
4. For my money, the reason no senator stood was that the scenarios that could result might force Gore to VOTE HIMSELF INTO THE PRESIDENCY!

Gore was made out to be a mean robot blocking all those nice CBC people's objections.

I didn't know about this until seeing F/911 and my heart cried seeing it then, but then I did some more research to find the facts and to this day I still don't understand why MM would omit the above details. It's like a myth that has been propagated -- this lack of courage of the Dems and Gore's stern denouncement of the challenge.

It's my hope that MM did this on purpose for some strange reason, as seeing the context you don't think just FRAIDY CATS!

I've written up a piece challenging these myths if you care to check it out:
Here's the relevant secion "Why 2k?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=246054#246069

Steeled Against All,
FULL_METAL_HAT

[mycatforpresident]

20. I agree that MM has been a thorn in the side

of Dems and Repugs alike...HOWEVER.

The real credit goes to all of us who have been calling, faxing and emailing for weeks/months, without which MM message would have been pointless.

Congratulations Warriors of Democracy!

[seabeyond]

21. screw mm, and i love him

he is beautiful to me. yet,.........we the people. for two three months we have been told to shut up, and mm being one of them. we have us to thank.

[k8conant]

23. I got a busy signal now at Byrd's office...Now got through!

I wanted to remind them that I called and emailed earlier and that now Sen. Boxer will be challenging and that I'm waiting for what he has to say in his challenge.

On edit: they said they hadn't heard about Sen. Boxer, I said it was on AP. They took my name and said "You called earlier, right? Now you're calling back to enforce it?" YES, YES, YES