From Dictionary.com, here's some definitions for capitulation:
- the act of capitulating.
- the document containing the terms of a surrender.
- a list of the headings or main divisions of a subject; a summary or enumeration.
- Often, capitulations. a treaty or agreement by which subjects of one country residing or traveling in another are extended extraterritorial rights or special privileges, esp. such a treaty between a European country and the former Ottoman rulers of Turkey.
Some things to consider after the fold:
Lincoln (D) Yes
Pryor (D) Yes
Feinstein (D) Yes
Salazar (D) Yes
Carper (D) Yes
Nelson (D) Yes
Inouye (D) Yes
Bayh (D) Yes
Landrieu (D) Yes
Mikulski (D) Yes
Klobuchar (D) Yes
McCaskill (D) Yes
Nelson (D) Yes
Conrad (D) Yes
Casey (D) Yes
Webb (D) Yes
These are the 16 senators who chose to capitulate on the FISA bill last night.
Of the 233 Democratic members of the House, only 178 181 members voted against the FISA capitulation bill. That means that there were 55 Democrats who either voted for the capitulation bill or chose not to vote.
For those who voted for this bill, I personally will give no support for them. As far as I'm concerned:
- They are Democrats in name only. They should be thrown out of the party. This isn't purity, this is about allowing the government to spy on it's own people. Period. If they choose to let this corrupt and criminal administration spy on us, they should join the party that supports such actions.
- We don't have a majority in either house of Congress. We should start today by running Democrats and progressives against each person calling themselves Democrats in the primaries, and as independents as the case may be (I think some congressional candidates are still selected by convention rather than primaries in some states).
- We shouldn't support the national Democratic fundraising organizations. We have ActBlue and similar ways of supporting true Democrats. Supporting the national Democratic organizations allows some of our monies to go to people who are Democrats in name only. If the Democratic Progessive Caucus wishes to set up a fundraising arm in lieu of the general national party fundraising apparatus, and it pledges not to dontate to Democrats in name only, then I would support such a fundraising arm.
- We need to realize that a D next to a person's name doesn't automatically make them progressive or make them fit for support from progressives. I support the Democratic Party being a progressive party, I'll even support moderate Democrats. I will not support Democrats in name only that choose to support the current administration. It looks like none of our presidential candidates supported this capitulation, so I'll be able to support whoever wins in the current nominating cycle.
The fun from the 2006 elections was an illusion. We've seen it before and hoped it wasn't true, but the last two days should shatter any illusions we had. It's time to work for a Democratic Party that stands for the people of this country. I think we've had a good start, but we're not nearly as far along as we thought we were.
Update: Changed 178 to 181 Dems voting against the bill.