Does it make me a bad (Democrat, progressive, liberal)... [View All]

[IdesOfOctober]

... to ask why:

1. The Senate Democrats didn't filibuster the creation of the military commissions, at least until after November 7, 2006: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00259

2. The Senate Democrats didn't filibuster - or bottle up in committee, or delay the vote on - the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, at least until after November 5, 2002: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

I've taken a drubbing on this.

My basic point is simple:

1. We wouldn't have military commissions today, had all 44 Dems and 1 Independent filibustered: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm

2. A Senate filibuster (or, better still, committee hearings - with subpoenas issued by the Democratic Chairs) in 2002 would have forced the Administration to do more to justify invading Iraq.

I think it is the mark of a loyal and patriotic American to look at the actual votes, and to use the election cycle to hold our public officials to account for those actual votes.

So, does any thoughtful, rational, fact-based Democrat who dares to ask one of the YEA-voting (read: rubber stamping) Democratic Senators to explain his/her vote on these two critical matters risk being shouted down in the town square?

Ides