Democrats: Cowards or not?
A formal challenge would not affect the outcome of the election, because both houses of Congress are controlled by Republicans, who promise to certify Mr. Bush as the winner. But it would force lawmakers to abandon the ordinarily polite ritual, which takes place in the House chamber. Instead, the House and Senate would retreat to their own chambers, on opposite sides of the Capitol, for a two-hour debate and a formal vote on the objection.Screw John Feehery and Dennis Hastert and every intimidated Democrat who refused to stand up to them. I see how little they care about the concerns of the people who vote them into office. I am not at all hopeful for the future of fair elections in America. My trust is gone. Completely.
Such a debate could prove uncomfortable for Democrats, who do not want to be viewed as sore losers. But Republicans seemed eager for it.
"They are really just trying to stir up their loony left," John Feehery, a spokesman for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, said of the Democrats.
LINK
My dear readers, I no longer recognize the America I was raised to understand or to respect or to trust. Is there no one with a keen sense of virtue, honesty, or duty left in Congress?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE: 9:58 am- William Rivers Pitt:
"...just got confirmation from several sources: Senator Barbara Boxer will stand with House members to challenge the Ohio Electors. There will be a debate on what happened in Ohio, in all likelihood followed by a vote to accept those Ohio Electors.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But the messed-up way we run elections in this country is about to become part of a national dialogue, and you know what? It was the people who got this done. The calls, the emails, the faxes, the letters, the protests compelled this action. This is a big day in the history of citizen action.
More Senators may be coming later. Stay tuned.."
10:16 am Associated Press - (posted ONE MINUTE ago....)
A small group of Democrats agreed Thursday to force House and Senate debates on Election Day problems in Ohio before letting Congress certify President Bush's win over Sen. John Kerry in November..[..]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[..}"I have concluded that objecting to the electoral votes from Ohio is the only immediate way to bring these issues to light by allowing you to have a two-hour debate to let the American people know the facts surrounding Ohio's election," Boxer wrote in a letter to Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones D-Ohio, a leader of the Democratic effort."
John Kerry and "Boy Wonder" Barack Obama have disappointed me greatly:
[UPDATE 4pm Jan 6: I take back what I'd said about Obama. He stood up for Democrats today. Thanks, Senator O. ]
"On Thursday we need a senator to stand up. Either Dick Durbin [Illinois Democrat], Harry Reid [Nevada Democrat] or John Kerry himself as the candidate should stand up and support an investigation into Ohio's voting process," Mr. Jackson said.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A spokesman for Mr. Kerry said the senator supports examining voting irregularities, which is "crucial to our democracy, not because it would change the outcome of the election."
Mr. Jackson called on newly sworn-in Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, to support them. Mr. Obama said his staff is reviewing the Ohio resolution, but said he has not decided whether he will sign it.
"The election is over and President Bush won fair and square, [my emphasis added--Omigawd, I can't believe he said that!] so I don't think we need to challenge the election, but we continue to have chronic problems in our voting system,"he said. "Some of the practices in Ohio were clearly illegal and disenfranchised voters and, let's be real about this, some Republicans were denied their rights to vote as well."
WASHINGTON TIMES
From ABC's NOTE:
There was plenty of high-level Democratic pressure to talk Boxer out of doing this. They do not welcome the spectacle of Jesse Jackson and 'Granny D' holding little rallies outside the Capitol. [*My note: What a haughty and smug non-democratic statement.] And they acknowledge it makes them look like poor losers, since, after all, Bush did win Ohio by more than 100,000 votes. [*My note: According to Diebold? Triad? Hmmm...isn't someone totally missing the point here?]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Senate Democratic aides say few if any Democratic Senators will vote to support the challenge, with the exception of Boxer," ABC News' Linda Douglass reports. "Some Democrats, like Ted Kennedy, may make floor statements calling for election reform but not challenging the outcome of this election. It is not clear how many will speak, since many senators have already left town," Douglass reports.
"Republicans are delighted. A leadership aide calls this a 'golden opportunity to remind people that President Bush won and John Kerry lost. Bring it on.'"
Doug Chapin and colleagues at electionline.org (http://www.electionline.org) have a post-election report that's a must-read for anyone concerned about election administration. The Hill fronts the story: LINK
Rick Klein and Susan Milligan of the Boston Globe lead with Sen. Boxer's consideration of challenging Ohio's electoral votes. LINK
Conyers released a report on Wednesday outlining voter problems in Ohio, alleging that the irregularities were the result of deliberate misconduct, and urging the challenge of the state's electoral votes. LINK
Cam Kerry offers up an inside look at the forces marshaled on election night to watchdog and deal with voting problems and issues in a Boston Globe op-ed, arguing that while this election is over, the need to investigate and overhaul the system to make sure votes are counted continues. LINK
[My note:
Cam Kerry says: "Next time the electoral votes are tallied, every American citizen should be able to know that his or vote has counted."
...and this was the same cry 4 years ago. No, Sir. I'm convinced that if we don't stand up - - if not now - - then it will be never.
- Jude]
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William Blake: "On Another's Sorrow"
Noah's Ark : One of the best recognised stories from the Old Testament.
Matsya Avtaar : According to legend, the Vedas , which helped Bramha with creation, were eaten up by the demon Hayagriva.
Samudra Manthan : Enraged with Indra for rejecting his gift, Sage Durwasa cursed Gods, saying they would lose their powers. Lord Vishnu then advised them to persuade the demons to perform 'samudra manthan' i.e., churn the sea to bring out 'amrit' (elixir of life), which alone could restore their powers. Therefore, the 'samudra manthan' was carried out.
Sethu bandhan : As he led his army to Lanka, Rama reached the shores of the Indian Ocean. Rama then prayed to the ocean to provide him a passage. But after three nights, the ocean still refused to oblige. Enraged, Rama decided to dry up the ocean, and unleashed the Indra astra (arrow resembling a powerful thunderbolt of Indra).
Moses & the Red Sea : As a baby, Moses was put in a basket and floated down the Nile because the Pharoah had ordered that all Jewish male children be drowned. He was pulled out by an Egyptian princess and named Moses because he was drawn (mashah) out of the water.
Poseidon adventures : Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea, is one of six siblings who “divided the power of the world". Poseidon not only ruled the sea, he was also the god of earthquakes. Poseidon was relied upon by sailors for safe voyages. However, he was a moody God, and his temperament could sometimes result in violence.
The Legend of Atlantis : The island-nation of Atlantis is said to have existed over 11,000 years, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Apart from being abundant in natural resources, it was also a major centre of trade and commerce. It's people were described as well-educated, using advanced technology and fabulously wealthy. It is asid to have disappeared into the sea, due to an earthquake caused by gigantic submarine volcanic explosions, triggering off a massive flood.
