Sherrod Brown steps up to relieve Bernie - thank goodness there are 2 good men left in the Senate

[ThomWV]

but only 2.

[stray cat]

1. Filibustering?

[ThomWV]

3. Yes, the real thing, not a fucking Republican threat of one.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. We always have to work twice as hard to get half the results that they're guaranteed.

[OHdem10]

2. Thank you Senator Sanders and Senator Brown.

[TornadoTN]

4. Just about the only 2 in the Senate worth anything to the American people

2 out of 100. That is what this country has been reduced to.

[tridim]

10. Franken. nt

[Donnachaidh]

5. Tag Team Baby!

:rofl:

[aquart]

6. Sent this to my senators: Schumer and Gillibrand

Now would be a really good time to show outstanding courage and patriotism and join Sanders and Brown in fighting this abominable capitulation to blackmail.

[Hepburn]

7. No other Dem Senator is helping them????

WTF??? :mad:

[Marr]

8. But I've been repeatedly assured that filibusters aren't like Mr. Brown Goes to Washington.

I've been told they're quiet, immovable things comprised of nothing more than a statement of intent over a friendly game of golf.

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. It's beautiful to see. I hope Franken joins in. n/t

[pleah]

11. K&R

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[ComtesseDeSpair]

12. Don't forget Franken!

I also like Boxer... but that's about it, I think...

[ThomWV]

14. He would be a lot easier to remember if he would stand up with Bernie today

[Tatiana]

13. Hopefully Franken joins them.

Sadly, I don't trust my own Senator Durbin to be of much help in this act of patriotism.

[bobbolink]

15. Thank you for reporting this. I'm calling BOTH their offices to thank them, and also calling my

lousy Senators (Udall and Bennett) to ask them to join in the fillibuster. Udall said he is against the Obama Tax Cuts, but he doesn't have the spine to join Bernie.

Now, if Bernie and Brown would just spend this much effort on poverty, I could be REALLY excited.

But, they won't. It's only "the middle class" who they care about. I'm going to mention that, also, when I call.

Toll-free Capitol Hill Numbers:
1-800-828-0498 1-866-388-1015 1-866-220-0044 1-877-851-6437

[mod mom]

16. Just contacted my senator, Sherrod Brown, to thank him for his stance

and for doing the right thing.

[Hepburn]

17. I emailed Barbara Boxer...

...asked her to get up there and help and bring the other liberal Dem Senators with her!

[madmom]

19. Why do the dems have to do a REAL filibuster? Why wasn't the threat enough to make

the rest run scared, like for the repugs?

[rucky]

22. A: They're not blocking. They're negotiating!...

Letter from Sen. Brown to Harry Reid:

Dear Leader Reid:

The tax package announced by President Obama and Congressional Republicans includes some important provisions that we strongly support, but also a deeply misguided allocation of resources at a time that the United States does not have resources to waste.

The Senate, however, can make it better. We ask that you ensure an opportunity for the Senate to vote on an amendment that will give the American people a clear choice whether they would prefer to give bonus tax cuts to the very wealthiest among us, as the package currently proposes, or to use these resources to strengthen Social Security.

Success in America should rightly be celebrated, but the very wealthy do not need bonus tax cuts and America cannot afford to give them. As you know, the agreement would require American taxpayers to borrow over $50 billion in order to give, on average, $100,000 in additional annual tax cuts to people earning over $1 million per year. These bonus tax cuts are on top of the $43,000 per year that millionaires will receive in tax cuts on their first million dollars of income. The Congressional Budget Office ranked these tax cuts dead last in terms of effectiveness in boosting economic growth and job creation. In a time of urgent national needs and long-term deficits, we believe the country has higher priorities than these huge tax cuts for the very wealthy.

Specifically, we propose to amend the package to restore tax rates on income over $1 million per year to the Clinton-era rates, and to dedicate the resulting revenues to shoring up the Social Security trust fund. The President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform noted that in 2037, Social Security will exhaust its trust fund and be unable to pay full benefits, and consequently proposed a number of benefit cuts for seniors. Improving Social Security’s finances is, in our opinion, a more important national priority than directing tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer money to a relative handful of families.

We have grave misgivings about the recent tax agreement. We hope that the Senate can improve on it. We look forward to working with you to ensure a vote on our amendment to strengthen Social Security in lieu of bonus tax cuts for people who are doing quite well. Thank you.

http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press_releases/release/?id=87D80E8F-DE70-4F2A-BD03-F3ADDC53C6D1

[pauldp]

20. K&R ! I contacted my CA senators and told them to join in.

[pauldp]

21. Landrieu just joined Sanders!

[FrancisTreptoe]

23. She is in bed with Big Oil, totally two faced.

[pauldp]

24. so you are saying it's politically motivated? I'm shocked!

I don't give a shit about her corporatism. The point is the PEOPLE are getting through to these "public servants".

[FrancisTreptoe]

26. All i am saying is that certain politicians say one thing but do another.

[pauldp]

27. agreed.

[Poboy]

25. My good for nothing Senator is actually doing something good?!

Oh my!

[Roland99]

28. Is Franken opposed to the tax deal, too?

If not, I'm going to be very disappointed in him.