"The Senate Is Missing" and I just cried all over again.

[sunnystarr]

I don't think I'll ever get over the shame of the 2000 election. Watching on C-Span3 right now is so emotional. To see our Black Caucus stand up is so courageous and such a blight on a once great country.

[redacted]

1. Mike Malloy just played it also and he's all teared up

[IndyOp]

2. Mike Malloy just played it again on AAR and he is near tears, too. (n/t)

[autorank]

3. This is impossible to watch without profound anger and shame.

Not one person stood up, not one. It wasn't Gore's election to give away. You know, the excuse that "we didn't stand because Al asked us to not contest the election." This is extremely powerful to watch. I've seen it twice, real-time on C-Span and in F911. There was stunned silence in a theater of 1000 people when that came on...like a private recurring nightmare that is suddenly broadcast for the world to see.

Thanks for the reminder. We need to keep this in mind.

[glitch]

7. I saw it in real time. I have F911 but I haven't cracked the plastic yet.

Just unbearable to watch again. You nailed it:
"like a private recurring nightmare that is suddenly broadcast for the world to see"

[autorank]

14. Wait until a Senator(s) stands up. Then watch it. It's amazing!!!

Know just how you feel. I would normally see a film like that 2-3 times. Maybe I'll watch it after tomorrow.

[sd_UDO]

22. Kerry and others leave the Party

The Black Caucus IS the Democratic Party

All the so-called Liberal Senators stood down
on 1-6-01

We will see if Boxer or Obama have the strength
to say YES to Democracy tomorrow and NO to
the so-called leadership of the Party

Kerry got elected, was he ever a leader????

Let's support whoever has the courage to
stand up tomorrow and ask for a better
investigation of the Ohio vote.

The Supreme Court is not God. --- Jefferson was seated
as President by CONGRESS in 1801 after the electoral vote
was tied (He and Aaron Burr were tied). Hamilton eventually
threw his support over to Jefferson.

CONGRESS picked Jefferson to be President. Not the Supreme Court,
not the people, ot even the electors.

Any Congressman or Senator who DOES NOT stand up for the
Ohio voters tomorrow does not deserve to be there any more.
Vote out the Demo-chickens!

Let's set up UDOs in all 50 states and DC!

Victory 6 times a year!

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

Thank you!

[keithjx]

4. The worst for me is

that I was soooo ignorant of what was going on! I feel like I missed the boat and we're paying for it this time around.

Hope tomorrow leads us back toward the light, anyway.
KJ

[IndyOp]

8. I had nooooo idea anything happened last time until I saw Fahrenheit

9/11. Afterwards, my friend, G said she had seen it on C-SPAN. I feel a bit like we missed the boat -- but I also feel some relief that a whole lot more people know about what is happening now than knew about it then. Maybe not enough, but a whole lot more.

The DeanPeople website said that two Senators were interviewed shortly after the 2001 Joint Session and they were asked why they had not supported the Reps. They responded - at the same time - that no one had asked them. Those two Senators were Joe Biden and John Kerry. Representative Conyers' said today on AAR that the DC switchboards were on fire with calls. One DU poster said that s/he had called 45 Senators today. Many, many of the Senate staffers reported that they were emotionally and physically exhausted taking all of the calls requesting Senators to contest the election. No way will ANY Senator be able to say that no one asked them this time.

:kick:

[NVMojo]

16. The same happened to me, didn' t even know what had happened in 00

until I saw Farenheit 9-11 ....I've watched it four time now and I still get upset ....when that part comes on, the look on their faces ...as they pleaded ...they called Gore - President when they addressed him....a screaming, crying shame we are in the same position four years later in another state .....why always the focus on disenfranchising minorities?? That is so evil ....and goes against everything that decency stands for ....

[IndyOp]

19. Why always the focus on disenfranchising minorities?

I noticed two new things about the piece listening to it today. First, I noticed the applause that came when Maxine Waters said "I don't care that I don't have a signature." It sounded like more people than just the CBC -- maybe? Second, IMHO, some tenderness, respect from Gore to the people who spoke up - his 'quip' at Maxine Waters pisses me off every time I hear it but before that his voice revealed respect and thanks.

:kick:

[sd_UDO]

23. The Republican disenfranchise minorities and Dem Senators approve

It happened in 00 and 04

At least this time one or more Senators
should STAND UP for democracy!

If Democrats do not stand up for
the 2-3 million votes that were tossed
out by bad machines

they do not deserve to be called Democrats
anymore

Maybe Gray-publicans

Let's start UDO! in all 50 states and DC!

Ultra Democracy lives!

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

[keepthemhonest]

20. good point

I missed the boat last time and yes we are paying still.

that is why I am going to do everything I can to protect our democracy.I am no longer relying on others to take care of it.

[cry baby]

5. I've heard it twice today. My eyes leaked both times. n/t

[Klimmer]

29. I heard it once today on RR show, and this mist filled my eyes too . . .

I didn't know this occured in 2001, but we all do now that is for sure thanks to MM. And you know the Senators do also. We have called, emailed, FAXed and continue to do so. We have asked them this time, they have absolutely no excuses.

I really think when some stand it will move others to do so also. It will be a wave of emotion. I bet we get Republican Senators standing in addition.

[sabra]

6. This continues for 20 more minutes...

I truly wonder what was going through Gore's head when this was happening. Though his eyes do reveal alot...

[sunnystarr]

10. Oh I was just wondering the same thing ...

How incredibly hard it had to be for Gore and how emotional he must have felt. Many called him Mr. President and one said because you are my President. If we're this emotional 4 years later, I can only imagine how hard it must have been for him.

I sure hope at least one senator stands up tomorrow. I haven't lost the anger from 2000 and I truly believe we need one victory tomorrow to give us hope that this so called mandate can be flushed down the toilet like the shit that made it possible to be claimed but not earned.

[sd_UDO]

24. Higher than anger is LOVE and Victory (too!)

Whether one or more Senators do or do not
stand up tomorrow, we need to create
something great that lasts for centuries!

Maybe even greater than Congress!

Create UDO's in all 50 states and DC!

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/105/udo/

[Digit]

9. I cried when I saw it, too.

I was just beside myself with remorse as I watched.
Over and over...nobody else chose to take a stand.

[don954]

11. i just have to wonder, if Gore knew then what we all know now,

would he have done it the same way?

[sunnystarr]

15. No he would have had all of Florida recounted... and been

President. Wouldn't it be nice to turn back the clock and have the real winner take office?

[FreepFryer]

12. We will avenge this moment tomorrow, and Jan. 7, and November, 2008.

Maxine Waters' moment is one of many in the civil rights movement that bring me to tears... and then, to action.

Anyone remember Emmett Till?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

25. He was the young boy who was so brutally murdered, no?

[FreepFryer]

26. Indeed. The boy whose senseless murder started the civil rights movement.

Horrible moments impel great change. Epochs turn on them.

Maxine Waters' 2001 moment was one of them.

[Gloria]

13. "Nobody asked"- that really shows leadership, doesn't it?

Loudmouth Biden, Kerry angling to run....nobody asked. Knowing what happened, they had to be asked? Again, where was the DNC laying it out for every Democrat in the Senate and House so that there could have been a coordinated effort?

And, 4 years later, we still hear people like Reid who don't seem to want to know.

Not the way Repugs would be acting....come to think of it, they DIDN'T act that way at all...they just took control and steamrolled everything in their path. Including the fractured Democrats who don't believe in "safety in numbers."

[sunnystarr]

18. They can't use that "nobody asked" excuse tomorrow ....

instead it will be ... Kerry conceded and it wouldn't make a difference. I sure will take note of who stands up tomorrow. Dems better realize how much support they'll lose.

[tamtam]

17. I had no idea this happened

When I watched f/911 I cried at that scene. It filled me with anger and guilt. Guilt because I had no idea this even took place. I was never into politics until Bush took office and the war started. Some say Micheal Moore cost us the election. I say that scene in f/911 will help save a small part of democracy.

"The senate is missing". I will always remember that phrase every time I exercise my right to vote. That day was a very sad day in America and most Americans didn't even know it happened. I hope it doesn't happen tomorrow.

[FreepFryer]

28. It won't... because of what you felt. Great sentiment re: MM. :)

[bunny planet]

21. It breaks my heart every time I hear it. Randi played it twice this

afternoon.

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

27. There's more to the story than people remember...

From my own post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x242355#243233

Section 2: Historical Background and Context
-- Why 2K?

The situation left after the Supreme Court’s decision in December 2000, created an amazing opportunity to exploit the nobility of congress.

Many people are aware of the strange situation on January 5th, 2000, when members of the Congressional Black Congress stood up to protest the counting of the electoral votes from the state of Florida. They considered those electoral votes to be not “regularly given" due to constitutional infringements, under the 14th amendment, and in US Code:

Amendment 14 (1968)
... But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any ... citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, ... the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion ...

USC Title 3 Chapter 1 Subsection 15
... no electoral vote or votes from any State which shall have <not> been regularly given by electors whose appointment has been lawfully certified

The same subsection 15 states that such an objection brought up in the counting of the electoral votes, needs to be in writing, and have the support, through their signature, of one member of the House of Representatives and one member of the Senate. Briefly, the process at that point has the two bodies separate, debate for up to 2 hours and vote on the objection.

On January 5, 2001, there was a very precarious position in the congress as the House of Representatives had a Republican majority, but the Senate was tied with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. If an objection to the counting of electoral votes was called for, a tie in the Senate’s vote would have to be broken by the President of the Senate. This role is specifically defined in Article Two Section Three:

Article 2 Section 3
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.
Further, the 20th Amendment defines the terms of both the Congress and the Executive:

Amendment 20 (1933) - Section 1
The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January...

With a new congress and its equally balanced number of partisan members, the Senate’s deciding vote for the rejection of Florida’s electors, and thus the Presidency of the United States would have fallen to Al Gore, the Vice President until January 20th, and of course the very person who would be President with a successful challenge.

That kind of boxed-in situation, in which Gore could have vote himself into office left the Democrats in a terrible situation, since both Houses would need to vote for the objection. If the objection was allowed, there could be two possible scenarios. Either the Republican majority in the House of Representatives would vote against the objection, thus forcing the denial to the objection of the electors, and the Senate’s majority including Gore’s vote would be useless. However, if the House of Representatives voted for the objection, the Senate’s tie would mean the entire presidency would come down to one man’s vote.

It would seem that the entire power of Congress, and by extension, the power of the people to choose their own government leaders was voided by the potential of creating a hopelessly divisive government on the one hand, or a self-annointed President on the other.

[intensitymedia]

31. It's a simple choice: win, or be a loser

Democrats seem to love losing. It's unhealthy. We need to get rid of that strain in the bleeding heart wing of the party.

The men and women who fought for labor unions in the 1930's had courage and grit, and they won. Our soft attitude is losing back all their gains, and more, to a bunch of rapacious neofascist thugs who have no morals or compunction about seizing power in the most illegal and treasonous way.

Unless you identify the true nature of the enemy, there is no way to battle against it. Here, there are no rules. Accept it, liberals.

Al Gore gave away the country on 1.6.2000. We must never repeat that mistake again.

peace- but never give up the struggle

Che de Vera

[Niche]

30. I believe they will stand up this time.