Sherrod Brown's excuse is even worse than I thought!

[BurtWorm]

Brown explained his vote this way in an interview with MSNBC.com Thursday: "Unlike Mike DeWine, I'm willing to stand up to my party when they're wrong."

...

He said the detainees "are not soldiers, not combatants representing a government, these are terrorists."

He added, "I supported a compromise because I think John McCain, a former prisoner of war, understands what we need to do to ensure our soldiers are safe."

He added, "Some people just don't want me to agree with George Bush on anything."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15049251


Brown: If you "know" they're terrorists, why even go through the pretense of putting them on trial? What about this was a "compromise" (the one on your own principles not included)?

[bowens43]

1. That's bad. But we still need him to control the Senate.

[BurtWorm]

2. No shit!

I hope he didn't just blow that wide-open opportunity.

[mmonk]

6. He needs to go after 06.

He is not a friend of the US constitution or our rights.

[Bill McBlueState]

16. go where?

And who is the alternative?

[Leopolds Ghost]

20. Mike DeWine, unfortunately.

On issues of life and death, like Torture, there is no functional difference between a 50/50 Senate and a 49-51 Senate when 12 Dems support Torture, oppose impeachment, support martial law in New Orleans, support Alito, etc.

[orwell]

28. There is a great functional difference

...with a majority you control committees and more importantly you control the agenda. You can determine when and sometimes if bills even come up for a vote. You also have subpoena power and the power to investigate.

There is a huge difference.

[mmonk]

31. After 06. That means the next time he runs in a

a primary, he could face a real democrat and be defeated. bush dems are not our friends. They only get off the hook temporarily. Once that purpose has been completed THEY NEED TO GO in the next primary.

[BurtWorm]

32. It's not quite as simple in Sherrod Brown's case, though.

He's not a Lieberman style "Bush Dem." He voted against the IWR. He's for "fair trade" not "free trade." In most respects, he's a progressive. That's why this vote is so bizarre, almost transparently dishonest and cowardly.

[Leopolds Ghost]

9. He'll vote against any attempt by the Senate to undo this legislation

Think about that.

Did I mention He many others will vote against impeachment for war crimes as sure as night and day?

[Virginia Dare]

3. How do we know they are terrorists?

Who says they are, and why? What evidence do they have to back that up?

See the problem here, LAWMAKERS?????



:banghead:

[mmonk]

4. We don't. And not all of them are from what I've gathered.

I think around 55% in Guantanamo have no terrorist connections or haven't taken up arms against the US. This is from a university study I read.

[xchrom]

7. ya know ''lawmakers'' just seems all wrong some how.

''lawmakers'' conjures up images of wise judicious people -- highly educated.

progressive, thoughtful, looking to real information to make wise decisions.

there's nothing about our current situation that seems to connote ''lawmakers''.

[kath]

19. The term "violators of the Constitution" is MUCH more appropriate at this

point.
:cry:

[xchrom]

23. ain't that the truth.

[Old and In the Way]

10. I thought the exact same thing to myself was going to post that until I

read your comment.

There is no oversight on what constitutes a legitimate terrorist. If we had FISA/judicial review and a visible audit trail of legal proceedings to assure innocent people aren't being used as props in the great con game, I could accept that.

Take the word of this administration as to who is a terrorist? That is absurd.

[leftchick]

12. the vast majority were caught running away

and were caught and sold to Americans for bounties. There are a lot of innocent people in the hundreds of US prisons around the world. I don't suppose any senator happened to mention that this week?

[Leopolds Ghost]

5. What principles?

You can't compromise on principles if you don't have any.

He told reporters, “We’ve polled this extensively” and he argued that detainees and tribunals “are secondary issues to most people.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15049251 /

Marie Landrieu Redux, anyone?

[MrCoffee]

8. Shades of Holy Joe.

[mod mom]

11. My husband heard on an Ohio NPR station that this is back firing because

it will not swing dewine supporters and is alienating many on the left.

[BurtWorm]

13. I don't wish that on him or the people of Ohio.

But now he'll know, you don't get a do-over on a vote like this.

[Connie_Corleone]

14. He blew it in his first sentence. The Party is not wrong on this.

I am VERY upset by this. I'll reluctantly vote for him (I really don't want to after this), but he's not getting anymore of my money.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Hopefully, he'll have a chance to explain to the judges at the Hague.

One can wish.

[Bill McBlueState]

17. You know this, Burtworm, but not everyone here seems to get it

As disappointing as Brown's response is -- especially since most of the "terrorists" were kidnapped and sold to the US -- Ohio will have one of two men in that Senate seat come January.

It's either going to be Sherrod Brown or Mike Dewine.

Not voting for Sherrod Brown is just like voting for Mike Dewine.

[Leopolds Ghost]

18. "They may both support torture -- but Consider the DIFFERENCES!!" n/t

:eyes:

[MrCoffee]

21. My friend, if you show me the Democrat on that ticket, i'll support them.

ETA that I am NOT an advocate of the "there's no difference between the Dems and Pukes". Because I'm not.

I just have serious questions as to whether a Democrat who votes for the unconstitutional suppression of habeas corpus is, in fact, a Democrat.

[BurtWorm]

22. You have to understand people's frustration with Brown, though.

What a perfect opportunity to make the point, "I don't have to run from my party's position, because I'm proud of it." What a blown opportunity!

[Leopolds Ghost]

24. What makes you think he's proud of his party's positions?

He comes off sounding like just another Self-Hating Democrat.

[BurtWorm]

26. If he could pretend to be pro-torture he could pretend to be pro-Democrat

It wouldn't kill him. ;)

Chances are it might actually save him.

[derby378]

25. Gee, I miss Paul Hackett all of a sudden...

[BurtWorm]

27. I missed Paul Hackett when he blew that Texas twit out of the water

on Hardball. Then he said with utter confidence, when asked if he wished he were still in the race, "I'm for Sherrod Brown and I think you should be too." (Or something like that.)

[mod mom]

29. I would like to hear what Mr Hackett has to say about this.

[557188]

30. Ditto

I don't even like Strickland that much.