House Vote on Iraq (w/ poll)

Ed Perlmutter, indeed, rocks (4.00 / 4)

You called it right.  I would question whether even John Salazar in his tossup district really needed to vote No on the McGovern Amendment, but obviously the calculation here by both Udall and Salazar is that a No vote somehow plays to the middle.  Very disappointing in Udall's case because so much of his appeal comes from having voted against the authorization of force in the first place.

Ed Perlmutter, though, once again showed you can represent a tossup district (OK, we'll call it leans-Dem) and vote like a progressive.  Awesome!

Illegal is not a noun

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by: Luis @ Fri May 11, 2007 at 07:22:20 AM CDT

I am so glad I worked on his campaign. (0.00 / 0)

Keep kicking ass and taking names Ed!

If You Listen to Fools, the Mob Rules!!!!

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by: CO Democrat @ Sat May 12, 2007 at 14:06:29 PM CDT

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Udall (SfC-Eldorado Springs) (4.00 / 3)

Former Senator Gary Hart wrote an editorial in the summer of 2006 for Huffington Post which provided the most damning criticism of actions like Udall's.  In the editorial-- The Judgment of History --Hart discussed a June 19, 2006 vote on an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, which would have set a deadline of July 1, 2007, for redeployment of all U.S. forces out of Iraq.  Hart predicted, correctly, that the measure would fail.  He saved his most biting criticism for Democrats who failed to support the bill:

But the real spotlight of history now rests on those Congressional Democrats who support sinking deeper into the Big Muddy of Iraq out of fear of Karl Rove and greater concern for their own reelections than the lives of U.S. service personnel being destroyed by roadside bombs. What will history say of them? How will they account for their own silence, their own weakness, their own careerism?

There is something in life a lot more important than holding on, at all cost, to a Congressional seat. There is integrity, there is conviction, and there is courage. History's jury will sit in judgment today on those Democrats and will find wanting those without the conviction and courage to say "enough".

That criticism is even more valid today, in reference to Udall's shameful and cowardly vote. 

Ending the unnecessary, disastrous, and indefensible Iraq War is a watershed issue for me, and I cannot in good conscience support Udall, given his capitulation to political expediency.  Here's hoping that a true progressive mounts a primary challenge to Udall, and that progressives stop giving him a free pass just because of his political pedigree.

Casey Mulligan

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by: leveller @ Fri May 11, 2007 at 12:08:53 PM CDT

one would hope (4.00 / 3)

someone who runs for senator can vote with conviction and explain that vote clearly to his constituents.

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by: Zappatero @ Fri May 11, 2007 at 14:52:48 PM CDT

Onw would also hope (0.00 / 0)

that a self-styled "progressive" would not want constituents, who peacefully attempted to petition their Congressman (Udall) to sign a petition supporting the end of the Iraq Debacle and the withdrawal of troops, to go to jail for peacefully remaining in his Westminster office after being told to leave.  Yet, that is precisely what is about to happen.  These constituents--many of whom have busted their asses to get Udall to where he is now--face 30 to 60+ days in jail now, just because they were attempting to have the same kind of access that Udall's wealthy donors get on their pet issues.  But, money talks, and the rest of us are just supposed to shut our gobs and be satisfied with "talking" to a receptionist or a flunkie intern (I was one once, and the term is accurate).

Watch the news for more on this in the next few weeks.  And know that, if you consider yourself progressive, Mark Udall takes your vote for granted.

Oh, if we just had a John Tester here!

Casey Mulligan

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by: leveller @ Sat May 12, 2007 at 11:53:23 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'd settle for a Hart or Schroeder, (4.00 / 1)

Udall's been a colossal disappointment.

He'll try to stop the war if it doesn't interfere with his golf game.  And his golf game always goes late.

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by: lalo @ Mon May 14, 2007 at 18:10:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]