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Courtesy of MSNBC:“Having worked in the Senate for seven years, I think the Senate remains a great institution which has done much, much more to be proud of than the rare occurrences that it should be ashamed of. I don’t usually think that when a vote doesn’t go my way in the United States Senate that the Senate should be ashamed of itself,” said O’Donnell in Tuesday’s edition of The Last Word.
Despite impassioned pleas from decorated veterans Sen. John Kerry and Sen. John McCain, the vote to ratify to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) fell short on Tuesday, 61 to 38. All of the opposing votes were from Republicans.
The CRPD was modeled on the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law passed by the Senate 22 years ago. Similarly, CRPD promoted nondiscrimination and accessibility measures, making sure things like sidewalk ramps and handicapped accessible restrooms are up to par with U.S. standards.
O’Donnell accused these GOP senators of failing one disabled person in particular: former Republican Majority Leader Bob Dole, himself a disabled veteran, who was sitting in a wheelchair on the chamber’s floor.
“Bob Dole reached into their hearts and today found…nothing,” said O’Donnell. “With one word–no–they failed their old friend. They dishonored themselves and they dishonored the United States Senate.
I have to admit that in the last twelve years I have become more an more cynical, but this incredibly distasteful display of cowardice by the Republican party has shocked me. And the truly puzzling part is that I cannot think if a reasonable excuse for their behavior.
It is as if they are hand me down puppets and anybody, with ANY political clout, is welcome to pull their strings.
Here is another observation.
I don't know how many of you bother to visit over at Fox, and I am certainly not suggesting you do so, but if you did you would notice that the "pundits" over there are forever worked up over something. The "War on Christmas," Obama's socialist policies, Benghazi, etc., etc., etc..
However it always feels to me as if they are playing a part. You know, as if they simply don't believe in ANY of it, but know that it fires up their audience and attracts their dimwitted viewers like moths to an open flame.
I do not have the same opinion of the folks over at MSNBC. Which is perhaps why I choose to watch them almost exclusively.
They are true believers.
When Lawrence O'Donnell goes on one of his rants, you can feel his passion. When Rachel Maddow zeroes on on a story and then explains it in terminology that makes a complicated issue accessible to the audience, you know it is important to her that you understand. When Chris Matthews cries out in frustration that the President blew his first debate, you feel that his anguish was real. The same goes for Al Sharpton and Ed Schultz.
In other words they are not simply on television to gin up ratings or sell their books, they are there to inform, to correct, and to inspire the viewer. And I have to say that they do that quite well.
This is why from now, until the 2014 mid-terms, lists of the action and the names (like these 38 R's), should be kept and used in 2014 to show the electorate the litany of the things that Rethuglikans can't allow themselves to do, and won't do for the electorate.
ReplyDeleteThey are SCUM!!!!!
Treasonous traitors. I'd like to see them tarred and feathered and run out of Congress on a rail. Would that be too harsh? I'd throw in waterboarding too.
DeleteThis is the Tea Baggers at work, using scare tactics.
ReplyDeleteThey got all the home schoolers riled up, contacting their congressmen and urging a no vote.
Never mind that this has NOTHING to do with domestic U.S. law and would change NOTHING in the U.S.
Nope. The baggers are all about making sure no one has anything. Apparently not even the right to piss in a public bathroom.
Fuck them all.
And they dishonored, by extension, the United States of America. But that is what the so-called "Tea Party" is all about, the dismantling of all that is great and good and generous about this country. When the Koch Brothers, who are the heart and soul of the "Tea Party," this country will be a fascist state. The "Tea Party" is the tool of the Koch Brothers and their hangers-on and they are traitors one and all.
ReplyDeleteWhile I would never in my life vote for a Republican, I must say that I also feel ashamed by this vote in the Senate yesterday. And I am very fearful for what is to become of this country if the "Tea Party" is allowed to continue to control the minds and hearts of legislators whether in state legislatures or in the US Congress.
Beaglemom
Hear! hear!
ReplyDeleteDid it have to pass by a 2/3's majority? Because it was a treaty?
ReplyDeleteOkay, the answer is yes. If that fact is in the article I skipped right over it, but I knew Dems hold the majority in Senate.
I thought I'd aleady sent my comment in as a uestion already, so I just added to it.
Looks like the RW nuts won this one by listening to Frothy Lube Santorum and his ilk.
I miss Keith Olbermann. I'll be HE has something to say!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, yes! I miss Keith very much.
DeleteWhy on Earth is the Republican Party so afraid of the United Nations, NATO, and any group that would represent more than one nation? Good grief, people, America is one country of many. Yes, we are the most armed, and the biggest bullies, but do we have to be the biggest idiots as well? Unless and until we recognize that God put ALL the people on Earth, not jsut the rich white male cheaters and liars, and realize that what we do affects more than just the rich and white, we are truly doomed. And when that party cannot even grant ONE concession to the left on ANYTHING, the GOP is the group leading us to the end.
ReplyDeleteSally, the GOP is not afraid, they just want everyone else to be so they can pretend to protect us. Of course it's a huge load of hog wash considering the greatest terror attack in US history happened on their lame ass watch, but that's not their point. The more they can scare the shit out of the morons who elect them (over and over again) the more power they can accumulate and money they can collect from the rubes.
DeleteBottom line, like everything else it is and always will be about the Benjamin's.
Like, many times over.
DeleteSince the GOP is leading us to the end, may they get there (to the end) first and the rest of us can put on the brakes and stop just after they (the GOP) annihilate themselves. Then maybe we can be a country of honor again.
Surfpnsbch
That is shameful. Bob Dole recently was in the hospital but this treaty was so important to him that he showed up in congress. those bastards that shook his hand and then turned around and voted against the treaty, thus stabbing Dole in the back, will get their just rewards someday. Bunch of heartless, self absorbed pricks.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I watch Rachel and Lawrence every night. I listen to Ed on Sirius on my way home from work. Between them and Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert (who I also watch every night) I'm pretty well informed!
ReplyDeleteme too...
DeleteI also listen to Stephanie Miller and Randi Rhodes. I would add Martin Bashir to my favorites at MSNBC. He inflicts psychic pain on Conservatives every day.
DeleteDeni, That's about the best way to stay informed. You won't get much from any newspapers and the mainstream traditional media is next to worthless. MSNBC + Jon Stewart + Stephen Colbert is the best way!
DeleteBeaglemom
Shameful day in the Senate for sure, but highly instructive. Thanks to Ailes Murdoch and the Kochs, and their fake "tea party", and the cowardice of Republicans, the Congress is being held captive by a group of vicious dopes. This really highlights why the President must not negotiate with them on the fiscal cliff or anything else. They are not rational. Time for Democrats to hang real tough and stand up to mindless fanaticism. This is our moment.
ReplyDeleteGryphen, your eloquent assessment of the reporters you like in your comment above is what used to called plain journalism.
ReplyDeleteThe simple fact is that today too many "journalists" are interested in only the bottom line in their wallets or purses.
Journalism is a passion for those who are exceptional. Witness Rachel. That woman is excitedly passionate about everything to do with her job. The research. The facts. The very presentation. The honesty.
Now, few can aspire to her level of perfection (some people are just BORN to a field!), but apparently too few in the field today are interested in that dedication.
Too bad. It makes fantastic viewing!
I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I'm older than probably a great majority of you but, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI remember Bob Dole. Bob Dole was an asshole. Hear me out, please.
He was very quick witted, but his humor was sharpened by old-fashioned meanness when it came to Democrats. He viciously attacked Jimmy Carter when he ran with Gerald Ford in '76. His attacks were unrelenting ugly and out-of-bounds. When he ran against Bill Clinton in '96, he was absolutely at his best when he was making mean, ugly attacks on Bill and Hillary.
I remember this well. He was an 'attack' senator first and foremost.
However, the man did very honorably serve this great country and he did do his time in the U.S. Senate.
What his fellow Republicans (I can't separate them from 'Christian conservatives' for the life of me) to this man was despicable yesterday.
Yes, I've had my problems with Bob Dole (And his attack wife, Elizabeth), but the man deserved more respect than he received on the floor of the Senate. It was painful to watch.
I don't know much about Dole, but was appalled at how he was treated while in the Chambers of the Senate. He was not recognized and when he was wheeled out there was again no recognition of his leaving.
DeleteHe's a former member! What is wrong w/those folks back there. Obviously there is no respect shown by any of them to anyone. They all need to be voted out of office and new, younger folks put back there. There needs to be tenure and their pay and benefits need to be dropped to be more in line w/the average American.
I think they are jerks and the majority of them totally disgust me.
I don't know how President Obama maintains his cool - he is just amazing!
Well said to both of you on your comments!
DeleteDid Alaska lawmakers vote on this, and if so, which way did they vote?
ReplyDeleteLisa Murkowski was one of the 8 Republicans to vote yes.
DeleteTry as hard as I can, I could not figure out how the homeschoolers felt this was going to affect them in any way. I visited a homeschool page and it said that if this passed they would make them all put handicapped ramps, braille, etc. in their homes. How in the hell did those idiots think that. And it tells me that they are too stupid to be "teaching" their children at home. The last thing this country needs is more stupid people like them. For most of those kids, there is no hope.
ReplyDeleteI read Rick Santorium's article saying that if this passed his daughter's life was in jeopardy. Again...HOW? No one could make him kill his own child. I read on another site that perhaps he was channeling his secret wish in that statement. I thought that was harsh, but perhaps a kernel of truth.
One of my Senators (Rob Portman, Ohio) voted nay. I sent him an email telling him how ashamed I was of him. I am so proud that my other Senator is Sherrod Brown.
If the children who are being home-schooled use wheel chairs, chances are their homes already have ramps. Supposedly the home-schooler concern was related to disabled children being homeschooled. The ignorance of these parents and, obviously, of Rick Santorum, is simply mind-boggling.
DeleteBeaglemom
There was another layer to this that I didn't see addressed in the media today and that was the involvement of the anti-choice folks. They certainly had their tin foil hats on for this treaty...sheesh!
Delete"Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, has previously noted the pro-life concerns, saying abortion advocates put language in the treaty in Article 25 that requires signatories to ‘provide persons with disabilities… free or affordable health care including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and population-based health programs.’”
“Translation: the global community could force America to sanction sterilization or abortion for the disabled–at taxpayer expense” he said. “Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) tried to neutralize the threat during the mark-up in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Unfortunately, his amendment (which would have stopped the treaty from forcing abortion policy on countries that sign) was thwarted by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) after a debate.”
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/04/u-s-senate-defeats-crpd-treaty-that-would-promote-abortion/
Bob Dole has no power in the US Senate at this time. "Friendship" means nothing to these people.
ReplyDeleteThe saddest part is not that they did a disservice to Bob Dole. It's that they did a disservice to the majority of voters to please a niche group. That niche group won't always be enough to elect them.
A two party system of government is bad enough. A one party system of government is not a government at all.
You are spot on Gryphen. MSNBC provides viewers education on what is going on in politics today. I especially love watching Rachel, Lawrence and Al Sharpton. Chris gets very emotional but knows one hell of a lot with his political background. I've learned so much from all of them.
ReplyDeleteAs to FOX, the Republicans in Congress, John Boehner and Sarah Palin - they are embarrassments to the United States of America.
How many of these jerks claim to be Christian?
ReplyDeleteHow many of these jerks claim to "support the troops?"
I was very moved by Lawrence's essay and terribly saddened by the actions of a minority of the Senate, which makes the U.S. look stupid and ineffective. They clearly do not understand the damage they are doing to our reputation in the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you physics mom. They are clearly carrying on their spite and hate against the majority of americans, and the world is noticing it. They can sit in their bunkers and shun away the best of americans and the rest of the world, they are going to come down tho, this, I truly believe. The majority of Americans will stand up to this indecency. It's very shameful. It's actually unbelievable!
DeleteAs a veteran homeschooler of 10 years, I want to slap Mike Farris up side the head. Who is Mike Farris? He is the founder and former president of Home School Legal Defense Association. (HSLDA) He is constantly instilling fear in homeschoolers so they sign up for his "legal" service for $115 per year. I showed my lawyer the "contract" and he called it a scam. See also: http://hsislegal.com/
ReplyDeleteHe took the money he collected from homeschoolers and started Patrick Henry College. Google about this college and shutter.
Most homeschoolers are not members of this organization. The best estimate of the secretive HSLDA membership is 10% of the homeschooler in the US are members. Nothing starts an argument quicker than a newbie asking about HSLDA on a public forum for homeschoolers. The majority of homeschooler dislike the organization.
Farris has been drumming up opposition to the treaty for years. It makes him money by increasing fear in his sheeple.
I have been telling people for years that homeschoolers need to speak out against HSLDA or we will be painted with the same brush. They do not represent homeschoolers, just fundemental sheeple homeschoolers.
Mel68
Thanks so much for chiming in. I learn so much from Gryphen's blog posts, and by reading the comments.
DeleteThe Homeschool Legal Defense Assn (HSLDA) nutjobs were agitating, making increasingly-hysterical threats that if this passed, parents with disabled children would see their children taken away and raised by the state. There was a full-scale war waged against this by those who blubber about how "pro-life" they are.
ReplyDeleteGryphen: How did Lisa Murkowski vote on this issue? I don't trust her as far as I can throw her and have NEVER voted for her.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I saw her name as a YES vote.
DeleteI googled it and yes she did vote to pass the treaty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/us/despite-doles-wish-gop-rejects-disabilities-treaty.html
*Alicat
ReplyDeleteThis is the lunacy that killed it in the Senate. The inmates are not only running the asylum, they’re trying to pull people off the street inside as well.
==========
http://www.hslda.org/docs/news/2012/201211270.asp?src=slide&slide=UNCRPD_2&pos=1
On Monday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) stated that the Senate would begin consideration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A vote could be as early as Thursday, November 29.
We need you to call your senators’ offices (even if you have already done so) urging them to stand against the CRPD and protect U.S. sovereignty.
If the CRPD is ratified, Article 7 of this treaty would establish the “best interests of the child” legal standard. This would override the traditional fundamental right of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their child with special needs.
Hidden Dangers
Many senators are under the misconception that this treaty will not harm Americans or change U.S. law. They believe that due to certain Reservations, Understands, and Declarations (RUDs) in the treaty that American sovereignty is protected. This is just not the case; there are massive loopholes in these RUDs.
For instance, a disability is not defined in the treaty. Who is affected by this treaty is left undecided and could be left up to the determination of some UN bureaucrat. You can read about the loopholes in the RUDs in more detail online (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader ).
Proponents of this treaty admit that the U.S. has the best disability laws in the world, but urge the U.S. to ratify the treaty so our nation “has a seat at the table at the UN to advocate for disabled people.” HSLDA believes that our nation already is a strong advocate for the disabled and that risking our nation’s sovereignty and threatening parental rights is not worth a position at a discussion forum.
Sounding the Alarm
On Monday afternoon, Senator Mike Lee (UT), Rick Santorum, and HSLDA’s Mike Farris held a press conference on Capitol Hill warning of these dangers. Mike Farris stated that the “CRPD is a warm-up act for other UN treaties, chief of which is the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The United Nations and globalists are determined to impose their agenda on American families.”
“This is a direct assault on us and our family to hand over to the state the ability to make medical determinations and see what is in the best interest of the child,” Santorum also remarked .
HSLDA is grateful for the strong leadership of Mike Lee (UT), Jim DeMint (SC), Rand Paul (KY), and Pat Toomey (PA). If one of these senators is from your state, please thank them for standing against the UN and for parents and American sovereignty.
We cannot give the United Nations the power to decide what is best for our children. We need you to call both of your U.S. senators right now and urge them to oppose the CRPD. You can call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your senators or use our Congressional Directory to find your senators’ contact information.
Take Action
Please give them some or all of this message:
“I urge you to oppose the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This treaty surrenders U.S. sovereignty to unelected UN bureaucrats and will threaten parental care of children with disabilities. Our nation already has laws to protect disabled Americans. This treaty is unnecessary and will hurt families. If the Senate ratifies this treaty, it would be the first time ever that the U.S. has ratified a treaty that obligates us to recognize economic, social, and cultural entitlements as rights under domestic law.”;
Then, please contact your friends and family and urge them to call as well. Please also share this information on social media to help get the word out to every parent and freedom-loving person in America.
For more information on the dangers of this treaty please visit our CRPD page .
I am ashamed for my coutnry.
ReplyDeleteI am too. Too bad most of the Repubs have no shame. When are the people that vote these people into office going to wake up to the reality that they are souless?
Delete*Alicat
How many of the 38 nay votes were by senators who were voted out of office?
ReplyDeleteNot only were the republican "no" votes shameful but they were ignorant. Clearly they had notice of the vote and just as clearly they either chose to NOT read the treaty and make an educated vote or they chose to believe the right-wing propaganda put forth by people who had an agenda of their own. Either way....lazy and ignorant. Speaking of shameful. Let's hope they all hear from their progressive constituents at their next performance reviews!!
ReplyDeleteIf the people at Faux were truly nothing more than greedy entertainers playing roles for personal gain I would actually have more respect for them.
ReplyDeleteAs it stands, I'm convinced that while they ARE aware that most of what they promote is at best misleading, at worst fraudulent, they truly believe that the ends justify the means and they absolutely DO believe in those ends.
We're not dealing with greedy thespians, we're dealing with militant ideologues. People so consumed with their own point of view that they will lie, cheat or steal if it is to their advantage, regardless of the collateral damage.
This is utterly disgusting! This fucking tea party is going to totally kill the Republican Party. These old assholes in congress that have lost their way need to lose their seats, and fast! Because if the tea party takes over the republican party, things are going to get nasty and ugly. I call these old bastards a bunch of cowards, that is what they are, nothing but fucking cowards.
ReplyDeleteSorry but this really pisses me off.
I watched this last night on a few shows, but no one put it into perspective as eloquently as Larry O'Donnel.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally with your assessment of Fox news and your observations of the contrast MSNBC shows in comparison. It's something called "Integrity", holding yourself to journalistic standards and truly enjoying what you do.
Do they get passionate? Make Mistakes? Get things wrong? Oh yes, but the difference between Fox and MSNBC is they'll admit their mistake, apologize sincerely and take full responsibility for their words. Ed Shultze actually stopped doing his show for awhile to show how much he meant the apology.
This is a disgrace. They tossed some kind of word salad defense about this limiting how parents can homeschool their disabled children, and those five traitors deserve whatever bad karma the universe holds for them.
This treaty would have improved the lives of many in the world who, unlike the United States, are defined and held back because of their disabilities.
This was so bad, even John Mc Cain made sense!