Reasons for senators to stand in opposition. Reasons for senators to sit

[wiggs]

A helpful list, which I think indicates why every dem in senate should stand. Please add more...

REASONS TO SIT:

Scared of be labeled tin foil hatter
Scared of losing seat (lame)
Scared of losing campaign contributions
Scared of losing committee appointments and influence (they have none anyway)
Believe campaign and election was clean and fair (ostriches only)
Don't believe campaign and election was clean and fair, but don't have a problem with Bush as President concentration of wealth at the top, imperialism, corporatism, and rape of the environment are good things

REASONS TO STAND

Campaign and election integrity are unclear. Electoral vote may be inaccurate.
We know that challenge of the electoral vote is supposed to be based only on vote integrity or lack thereof, but the opportunity is taken to make a huge statement to a dangerous, rogue administration that we're not going to take it anymore. This opportunity is one of the very few chances for power that the democratic congress has.
Tired of BA abuse of democracy
Tired of BA lies and secrecy
Believe that congress should represent the people, not self interests
Show trust and support to the more fully informed Conyers
Time to do the job they were elected to do
Tired of playing nice and losing while the other side plays dirty and wins


I think it is safe to say that the ones that remain sitting are scared and timid. The ones who stand are the ones trying to do their jobs and who have a future in the party.

The more I think about it, the more I think the dems in congress CANNOT pass up the opportunity to stand in unison and, at a minimum, slap this administration on the wrist for misdeeds, arrogance, blunders, and claiming false mandate. This is a HUGE opportunity.

[Pegleg Thd]

1. Of all those in the senate

we will see -up close- how many really represent us!!!!Those who do not stand up should be recalled!!!

[katinmn]

2. the Dems can rightfully claim that they are following the will

of the many constituents who have asked them to contest the Ohio electoral votes, provided WE have done our jobs by:

Signing the petition
Sending personal emails and faxes
Placing phone calls to their offices
Delivering orange flowers to either their DC or home offices.

If each Dem senator and represenative receives thousands of requests, they must do what they are elected to do.

[SueZhope]

3. another REASON TO SIT:

scared of a Rovian campaign to discredit them for life.:scared:

[fooj]

4. Where did that evil bastard come from?

did someone break his favorite toy as a child, or what? My God...what an insidious worm!!!!!

WHAT ARE THEY HIDING????

[blue neen]

7. WHAT ARE THEY HIDING????

That is so awesome that you keep repeating that in your posts. It really needs to become our meme.

:yourock:

[fooj]

11. Care to join in?

just a constant reminder...we discussed it a few nights ago in a thread...thought it was a great way to keep our message alive!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!:party:

WHAT ARE THEY HIDING???:think:

[blue neen]

15. Yes!

WHAT ARE THEY HIDING??????????

[Clark2008]

16. Ummm...

[skysurfer]

5. A Reason To Stand

If they don't confront this issue now, they will be in danger of losing their seats in 2006. Not because they will lose votes, but because of the e-voting systems. E-voting has been declared a success so I expect that more and more states will use it. I have no doubt that from now on, we will see all "close" elections magically swing toward the Republican candidate. Are the Democratic senators so foolish as to believe that their Republican counterparts won't continue to grab as much power as they can? Did they sleep through the whole Tom Delay debacle in Texas? Were they looking the other way in 2002 when Georgia was robbed and Max Cleland was booted out? An electoral challenge is the perfect opportunity to expose the problems with our current system and begin to work on solutions. If the Democrats just stick their heads in the sand and pretend everything is alright, they better not be surprised come 2006.

[coreystone]

6. Patrick Henry - "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death" - 3/23/1775

"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=Patrick+Henry&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D217460511adbfc75%26clickedItemRank%3D2%26userQuery%3DPatrick%2BHenry%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Flibertyonline.hypermall.com%252Fhenry-liberty.html%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPTop%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Flibertyonline.hypermall.com%2Fhenry-liberty.html

"They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year?"

[Carolab]

8. Paid off and part of the problem

"I think it is safe to say that the ones that remain sitting are scared and timid. The ones who stand are the ones trying to do their jobs and who have a future in the party."

Or they remain sitting because they are just tools of the corporations, bought and paid for by special interest lobbying firms, like their Republican counterparts.

[wiggs]

14. Sadly, I agree.

Sadly, the obvious explanation for the last 4 years of rolling over is that our democratic leaders in congress are part of the problem, part of the entrenched power, part of the wealthy at the top, happy with the way things are.

It's taking a lot of denial on my part to nurture a flickering vision of congresspersons doing the right thing here.

[Carolab]

9. So the question is...

What are THEY hiding?

[Stuckintx]

10. For what it's worth

I doubt any senator will stick his/her political neck out for a candidate who has (at least publicly) quit fighting. IF Kerry openly challenges the Ohio results - news conference, unconcedes etc - then there might be a chance. Unless that happens, they'll all sit.

But then again, I'm a cynic.

[salin]

12. Reason to stand:

We are sending young men and women to risk their lives in Iraq - ostensibly so the Iraqis have the right to vote and have their vote be counted...

Just one Senator needs to be willing to risk his/her career to make sure that we have the right to know that our votes are counted.

[wiggs]

13. I don't see much of a risk to senators' careers. nt

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

17. SILENCE ON PURPOSE ...

I actually think "Stealthy Team Kerry" is zoning in on the kill.

Here's a post I made with my enthuisastic argument:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x216096

[nymd81]

18. I'd bet

that most if not all will sit. If they stand, their life may not become their own.