Ahm, can I just point out, that for all the Massachusetts bashing

[TayTay]

there is out there on the web, that not one Massachusetts Senator or Representative to the House voted for the detainee bill. (we did have one Rep not show up, but he would have voted against it as well, had he been there.)

Not one. Ahm, I am very, very proud of 'my guys' here. Not one of them knuckled under to King George the Tyrant and his mindless threats. These people are very worthy patriots and I think that John Adams, John Hancock, Samuel Adams and all the other people who fought so hard for a system of laws, government restrictions and a bill of rights would be very, very proud of their later day sons. I know I am.

Every so often on the liberal web, some one comes out and bad-mouths Massachusetts and calls us some sort of freak show or something because we are an overtly blue state. Well, today, my little State can hold it's head up proudly. We stood up for freedom and did so with one voice.

[Mass]

1. This is a great delegation.

Even moderates like Lynch did not vote for the bill.

A big hurrah for the MA delegation

:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

(What happened to Meehan? He has been absent all week. Any clue).

[TayTay]

2. I think it's family and illness

But I'm not sure. I will try and find out. But Meehan was on record as saying he was a no to torture and to stripping away constitutional rights.

Seriously, I am very proud of these folks. They will have a lot of criticism for this and yet they stood tall for freedom and I am proud of them, proud of contributing to them over the years and proud to be a Mass Democrat today.

[rox63]

3. I'm very proud to call Massachusetts my home

And I'm proud of our entire Congressional and Senate delegations for standing up to * on this.

[karynnj]

4. I'm jealous

I love Massachusetts and wish this country could be more like it. I think Massachusetts may be what America used to be. I love that Kerry is doing all of his vision speeches in Faneuil Hall, where the spirit of John Adams, John Hancock, Samuel Adams is so evident. It's obvious that the Senator, rooted in Massachusetts history has the same pride in it that you do.

NJ really blew it on this one and the general level of corruption in the state party hurts everyone. (Menendez is not corrupt, I think - but the background of lower level officials being charged with corruption doesn't help.)

[beachmom]

6. Yep. Only one rep. voted against it in Virginia (well to be fair

I didn't see all of the Rep's votes -- just the 5 in my area, so maybe there were others). That person was the man I met two weeks ago -- Bobby Scott -- who called it right in his speech. Remember his name because he really was a great speaker and had so much to say about doing what is right and the immorality of the administration. In fact, I think Senator Kerry would like him!

But everyone who represents me voted for the torture bill. And they weren't even worth calling. They were beyond my reach.

At least for you, Karynnj, you still thought you had a chance to persuade them to do the right thing. For me it was hopeless, as soon as the "compromise" came out.

Great delegation, Tay -- Massachusetts is a great state!

[Blaukraut]

10. Massachusetts is what America was and is supposed to be

As an immigrant by marriage, not by choice, I can look at the US more objectively and with less national pride than those who came here from difficult circumstances, or those who were born and raised here. Historically speaking, and what the founding fathers had in mind for a great nation, Massachusetts fits that description almost perfectly. I say almost because even our state needs aa little more work.
But I've literally been all across the country with hubby being in the service and travelling for fun, and I can honestly say that I would not want to live anyplace else but here in Mass.
The important fight we face, all of us, from all states, is to turn this country on the whole into the ideal it was meant to be :-)

[babylonsister]

5. I'm jealous, too. I've never had a reason to be proud of

anyone in this state (except Sheila Jackson Lee). Sigh.

[wisteria]

7. Can't say the same in PA. And, as usual, Specter voted for it after

saying he wasn't going to when the cameras were on. He said,he figures the courts will clean it up some. You know, if this continues, I might just have to move out of PA.

Oh, and I am editing to add the obvious, Santorum voted for it without blinking.

[rox63]

8. We need more people up here in MA

Massachusetts has been losing population for years, and this may end up costing the state a Congressional seat or two after the next census. That means fewer liberals in Congress. :(

So if any of you are thinking of leaving where you live, we could use you up here. Plus as a bonus, you'd get to see a lot more of a certain tall, distinguished Senator. :)

[whometense]

9. I'm very proud too.

It was the one bright spot in a truly grim day.

Here's to Massachusetts:

[sandnsea]

11. Well our Dems held the line

So at least I've got that. They don't always, so this was good. Smith, on the other hand, was his usual Smithiness. Not to be the stereotypical shallow female - but my god - did you SEE that horrific 'ensemble' the man was wearng? A striped blue jacket and some hideous tie?? Even my husband commented on it and he wears bibs half the tim. Anyway, that weasel got up there and talked about the seriousness of suspending habeas, then fell right in line like he always does. The good news is, if we can get a half way decent Dem to run in 2 years, Smith just sealed his fate.

But anyway, yeah, Mass did good. You guys should be proud!!

[TayTay]

12. Ahm, once again, I don't know what to do with this

Ahm, Sen. Smith lack of sartorial sense is on display at the Long-term Debt hearing he had yesterday for the Senate Finance Committee. (At which, btw, the RM for the Dems did not show up but he did leave a statement. Sen. Bingaman, whose clothes sense is subdued, substituted for a certain other tall Senator who was otherwise occupied.)

Do you not have a certain transplant from the Bay State as a Congressman, a Mr. DeFazio? I am pleased beyond words that he has found gainful employment out west and managed to retain some of the horse sense he was brought up with. (Who says we don't share good Democrats with others?)

Ahm, I have only criticized Sen. Kerry a few times for his choice of clothing, and only one of those was serious. (And it preceeds by 8 years the start of this group, so I'm gonna let it go now.)

[sandnsea]

13. Sadly, our best Dems choose not to run

All the Dem voters in the state want DeFazio to run. But some see him as too liberal for the state and if we let that cat out of the bag, we might lose him in the House too. Blumenauer from Portland is another fantastic Dem, I don't know his background but he was one of the first to endorse the tall one. We also have our former governor, Kitzhaber, who would definitely get this nation a health plan, he's a doctor. He refuses to move to DC, although some of us think he should skip the Senate deal and go straight to 1600 Pennsylvania. He's as downhome as Brian Schweitzer with much better liberal credentials and without the corn pone. Those would be our shoe-ins, there's some others who would have a shot but it would be closer. Smith runs as a moderate, but alot of his votes in the last couple years show he's far from that. So we'll see, but I'm feeling better about getting rid of him all the time.