Update: Cornyn's amendment to condemn Move On

CORNYN EARLIER IN THE WEEK

Republican Sen. John Cornyn wanted the Senate to declare a liberal group out of line for criticizing Iraq war Gen. David Petraeus in a newspaper ad.

Instead, Cornyn's amendment was ruled out of order.

Reacting on Tuesday to a MoveOn.org ad that ran in the New York Times, the Texas senator called on Democrats to join him in denouncing the ad and the liberal group.

CORNYN NOW

I was just watching a little C-SPAN after work and Senator Cornyn (R) was on the floor offering an ammendment to condemn Move-on for the General Betray Us ad.  Senator Durbin  was challenging him to include the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth slandering of John Kerry.  

Senator Cornyn charges that the Swift Boat Veterans BS is OK because that's typical politics.   Spears all politicians choose to take.  (As if General Petreaus isn't in the back pocket of GWB.)

Barbara Boxer, in her usual refined and totally indignant way, sufaced that she wanted what happened to Max Cleland to be included.  Again, Cornyn thinks that this is different.  (Or so he says.)

These damned republicans are voting down giving the military a decent ammount of down time and then covering their tracks with these stupid ammendments that are, face it, political, crass and cruel.

Can we say, FLAG AMMENDMENT and TERRY SCHIAVO!  They need to get a real job.

I hope this diaries fits all the rules because I want Cornyn to get an earful about his "ceremonial" respect for the military that is nothing but self-serving to the republican party and if anyone has more
information I would love to hear it.

Update from the Huffington post:
Cornyn's sense of the Senate resolution comes on the heals of the Republican Party's filibuster of an amendment, put forth by Senator Jim Webb, D-VA, requiring that troops be given the same amount of time at home as they spend deployed abroad. A call to Cornyn's office to determine whether a vote against his measure would be regarded as a vote against the troops went on answered.

•  Three Cheers for MoveOn.org!

  What do you call a General who lies to Congress and the American public?

  Definitely not a patriot.

  by Opinionated Ed on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:19:51 PM PDT

  •  definitely not a traitor either

    the "betrayus" thing was dumb as hell. The longer we talk about it, the happier the right gets.

    by AnnArborBlue on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:21:49 PM PDT

    •  Cornyn might want to be

      getting to much traction.  Boxer and Dorgan are asking him to honor all military people and he doesn't want to honor or protect any democrats.  

      by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:25:28 PM PDT

      •  honor all military people

        RNC Chair Mel Martinez says that even resting troops is demeaning to them.

        http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

        by William Domingo on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:32:14 PM PDT

      •  Amendment

        Never had the double M, but it's a quite common mistake 'round these parts.

        In a diary title, however, it crosses the line.

        Fix it (so I don't get any more obsessive-pendantic), please.

        by Dem In VA on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:14:01 PM PDT

        •  OK - But I might drive

          you over the edge when I tell you I'm not sure how to do that.  In the meantime the republicans are screwing the country over!

          by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:24:59 PM PDT

        •  Gottit!

          by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:30:55 PM PDT

    •  Right

      Let's be sure that we talk about only those things that don't get the right up in arms.

      by SVDem on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:31:52 PM PDT

      •  politics is as much

        about knowing what battles not to fight as it is about winning those that you do fight.

        by AnnArborBlue on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:35:04 PM PDT

        •  Criticizing Generals

          Criticizing Generals is Just Alright: For Conservatives that is.

          Michael Ledeen attacks Gen. Abizaid on the pages of the NRO because he had the audacity to say that we could live with a nuclear Iran because we survived the Soviet Union.

          http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

          by William Domingo on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:46:04 PM PDT

        •  The Problem...

          ...is that our side so often seems to lack the tenacity to fight any difficult battle, let alone to fight one all the way to victory.  How many examples can you think of in which Dem leaders in Congress, or anybody else on the left, made a bold, courageous move and fought doggedly in a bare-knuckled, relentless fashion to achieve political victory or sway public opinion?

          The Moveon ad simply took a nickname that Petraeus' own troops and colleagues bestowed on him long ago, and used it to underscore a fundamental truism -- i.e., that he is a useless hack who most definitely is betraying his troops and the best interests of the country so that he can advance the interests of the enormous ass presently sitting in the White House.  It was a bold move by Moveon, to be sure, but it was the only real message that anybody from our side of the aisle delivered that actually cut through the lovefest that everybody else in Washington and in the media was so busy giving that jackass.  

          I don't give a flying fuck that the Republicans are all up in arms about it.  In fact, the fact that they are so pissed off only proves the efficacy of the ad.  Had they sat around silently instead, we would have known that the ad was impotent and useless.

          by SVDem on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:52:28 PM PDT

          •  only proves the efficacy of the ad

            Bush has lost all credibility on the war in Iraq, and Republicans were hoping that Petraeus could lend him some. Now they're pissed that Moveon.org dropped a turd in their punch bowl by exposing Petraeus' bias on the issue.

            by William Domingo on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:07:53 PM PDT

            •  It also illustrates how adept and sometimes

              desparate the republicans are at turning the debate around on ceremonial bullshit.  The are better suited to be kings, queens, princes and princesses because they are not working to make things better but to keep their thrones.  They twist and turn things so insidiously that the people that are on the right (correct) side of the equation are squeezed so badly it's tragic.

              by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:13:48 PM PDT

        •  my point is

          there is no battle here.  it is just the right frothing.  

          by ratador on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:06:59 PM PDT

          •  playing to the base n/t

            The base on either side holds sway.

            by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:11:56 PM PDT

            •  but the unwashed

              "middle" wins elections.  IMHO.

              by ratador on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:58:09 PM PDT

    •  the ad never implied he was a traitor, and I

      think that having that ad out there is brilliant. Everytime I hear his name now, I can't help but hear the words, "betray us" and I've heard a couple of people slip and get it mixed up already - that's what memes do. He did betray us, the troops, and America....call it what it is.

      by Rumarhazzit on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:43:15 PM PDT

      •  And the saying originally

        came from the military!

        by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:45:07 PM PDT

      •  traitor-one who betrays

        by DemocraticLuntz on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:45:59 PM PDT

        •  well, ok then. I stand by my admonition...

          call it what it is.........

          by Rumarhazzit on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:49:19 PM PDT

    •  If we go along with Republicans...

      ....we'll have been punk'd again.

      by metal prophet on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:03:57 PM PDT

    •  Maybe not a traitor...

      ....but an "ass kissing chickenshit" is probably an apt description. We play right into Republican hands when we rail about MoveOn. Do you see Republicans shitting all over their base?

      by metal prophet on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:05:21 PM PDT

    •  much ado about nothing

      in my book.  I dont know anyone that gives shit about this issue. the right has nothing so they grasp at straws.  let them grasp.  the only folks that care are folks that would NEVER vote for a dem anyway.

      by ratador on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:04:23 PM PDT

      •  They are always trying to

        resonate with their base.  That's why they are calculatingly putting off voting for what they know is right until perfectly politically timed.

        by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:10:12 PM PDT

        •  problem for them

          is their base is about 30%  !!!!!!!!!!

          by ratador on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:57:08 PM PDT

  •  Dems don't let Dems vote Green

    by aaraujo on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:25:19 PM PDT

    •  Dems don't give Dems *reasons*

      to vote Green.

      by corvo on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:58:49 PM PDT

      •  You're goddamn right

        Democrats would be wise to NOT PROVE RALPH NADER RIGHT.

        by metal prophet on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:06:48 PM PDT

    •  Dems don't nominate Hillary

      by Opinionated Ed on Thu Sep 20, 2007 at 07:17:00 PM PDT

  •  You have hijacked the tip jar. n/t

    by DemocraticLuntz on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:37:10 PM PDT

•  They humiliated Cornyn today

  That is exactly how this should have been handled.

  by LeftHandedMan on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:20:09 PM PDT

  •  I am interested

    in how they humiliated Cornyn.  I don't think this is a done deal yet.  Cornyn is using it to derail some other legislation.

    by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:23:40 PM PDT

  •  Oooh - I hope they re-broadcast.

    I'd enjoy seeing him humiliated by more than himself.

    by madgranny on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:29:38 PM PDT

•  I betcha Cornyn voted against the Webb bill

  Cornyn has betrayed the troops - there should be a vote to condemn him. I can't believe what a big f'ing deal these repubs and the rightwing media are making out of the MoveOn ad. Where's the outrage about the f'ing war?  What a bunch of "morans"!

  by moose67 on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:23:00 PM PDT

  •  It seems to me that

    they may have overreached with this one.

    by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:24:14 PM PDT

•  PATHETIC Dem Chickenshitism is Problem, NOT

  moveon.

  the fascists do the moveon attack cuz of RayGun's attacks and Bush Senior's attacks (willie horton, card carrying member ...) and Gingrich's attacks and the harry and louise attacks and the decider attacks and the swift boat attacks ...

  they do them because the fucking pathetic chickenshits crap their pants and roll over and let the fascist whomp the shit outta them !!!!

  PERIOD.

  do anyone REALLY need a 4 year degree or an advanced degree in political science to fucking undertand that?

  IS there anyone on the Dem payroll who does NOT understand it, cuz

  they should be fucking fired.

  rmm.

  by seabos84 on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:31:02 PM PDT

  •  I think the problem

    is the republicans and we need a lot less of them rnning our country.

    by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:09:39 PM PDT

    •  IF we fought, there'd be less. we whimper, snivel

      cower

      we lose.

      we need people who aren't gonna whimper, snivel and cower,

      OR, we'll keep losing to the fascist bastards.  

      they are NEVER going to change cuz they don't give a flying fuck about any of us except as serfs and cannon fodder.

      rmm.

      by seabos84 on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:27:54 PM PDT

      •  Tell me exactly

        what you would do as a dem in congress?

        by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:16:29 PM PDT

        •  NOT my Job! 140+ million americans working, 100

          senators, 435 congresscritters

          all ELECTED to lead.

          IF I had run for 'leader', I don't have the job.

          in fact, like tens and tens of millions of that 140+ million,

          even IF I do MY job well, if I do break my butt gettign better, I could still be crap canned on a wednesday for something I don't even know that happened on Monday, cuz they need a scapegoat!

          and, see, unlike in the movies, in a few months of losing my job I could be living in my freaking car!

          we the peee-ons keep getting peee-d on cuz our 'leaders' suck, and, instead of looking for YOU to do their job, I'm gonna try to convince people to get rid of 'leaders' who ain't leaders...

          Cuz, I already got a job that is taking its pound of flesh.

          rmm.

          by seabos84 on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:29:50 PM PDT

          •  I guess my point is

            we all have jobs that anyone could walk in and say we're fucking up if they were so predisposed.  I fear that the frustration of the situation that, make no mistake Bush created, creates such anger that we want to believe that this could be changed and changed right now if someone did something right.  Well the people who need to do something right are ther repbulicans as far as I am concerned.

            by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:45:27 PM PDT

•  What a joke these joking jokers are

  by Patel1946 on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:33:39 PM PDT

•   I diaried this a while back:

  Senator Cornyn charges that the Swift Boat Veterans BS is OK because that's typical politics.   Spears all politicians choose to take.  (As if General Petreaus isn't in the back pocket of GWB.)

  Barbara Boxer, in her usual refined and totally indignant way, sufaced that she wanted what happened to Max Cleland to be included.  Again, Cornyn thinks that this is different.  (Or so he says.)

  I said the exact same things in a diary I wrote a while ago in response to Sen. Orrin Hatch's condmenation of MoveOn.

  Good on Boxer and Durbin for calling out the hypocrisy - the Republicans only defend people in the military if they're people the right controls.

  The case of Cleland is "different?" That's absolutely outrageous. A man who lost multiple limbs serving his country in Vietnam is slandered by being compared with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein- not by any 'independent' group but by the campaign of a Republican candidate- and that's somehow "different" from Petraeus being name-called in a single newspaper headline? Give me a f*ing break.

  by BlueTape on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:34:57 PM PDT

•  The R spin machine is breaking down,

  and the box turtles have taken over.

  The time to pull this stunt was eight days ago, before the general's appearance before senators.

  To be meta about it, Cornyn's tardiness is very good news.

  by ticket punch on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:38:09 PM PDT

•  Cornyn: Another Texas fascist. What DO they....

  put in the water down there????

  by Hornito on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:44:07 PM PDT

  •  PS: Not to self ... Send Rick more money.... n/t

    by Hornito on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:45:39 PM PDT

    •  I can get behind that.

      I can only imagine Rick's reaction to this reprehensible performance from Junior John.

      JJ's all for protecting the fine reputation of our fighting forces and veterans... Except the ones who are Democrats.

      Oh, and if you'd like to help with our fundraising push through the end of the quarter on 9/30, we'd sure appreciate ya.

      by boadicea on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:05:57 PM PDT

      •  I've already contributed all I can to Rick...

        until next month.

        by Hornito on Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 10:31:20 AM PDT

  •  What do they put in the water down there?

    Actually, it's the way they Gerrymander down there. They break Democratic districts up so they no longer exist.

    by William Domingo on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:27:07 PM PDT

    •  It's such a good idea they want

      to break up the electoral college in California.  But only California.  They may not be brilliant at governing but they sure are clever.

      by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:30:09 PM PDT

      •  The only way they can win is to cheat n/t

        by William Domingo on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:38:15 PM PDT

        •  Unfortunately they are really good at it n/t

          by astoundedstill on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:10:55 PM PDT

    •  While that's a big problem in Texas

      As well as every other damn state with more than one Congressional District, Junior John is elected by the whole state as a U. S. Senator.

      by boadicea on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 07:36:46 PM PDT

•  It's about Iraq

  It's not about General Petreaus.

  Everyone knows Rosy Scenerio is in critical condition.

  She will die soon and our troops can come home.

  by Sam Wise Gingy on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 04:50:34 PM PDT

•  Goose meet Gander

  Swift Boat Veterans for Truth = OK?
  Max Cleeland = OK?

  Thank you for your time,Senator Cornyn, we can now see that you and this amendment are completely full of shit. Have a seat.

  by TheGeneral on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:10:26 PM PDT

•  The man votes against

  restoring habeas corpus to boot.
  Not much of a believer in democracy there.

  by vivens fons on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:17:02 PM PDT

•  Can I aMend your title?

  And can i write an amendment to get John Cornyn sent back to the Third Rock From the Sun set?

  by Little on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 05:22:44 PM PDT

•  Anyone remember when movies were

  trying to get "banned in Boston"? You could make lots more money if you were "banned". I remember reading a newspaper article where the reporter went out and asked people why they were standing in line to see a particularly bad movie. (By "bad" I mean, critics didn't like this particular film.) Most of the answers were, "If it's too dirty for Boston, I want to see it."

  My point is, I can see an add with  a picture of Cronyn, and a picture of the original add, captioned "Cronyn doesn't want you to see THIS! Find out WHY?"

  Just off the top of my head, I'm sure an ad-person could do better.

  by Jacques on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 06:29:44 PM PDT

  •  The ad possibilities are endless

    Voiceover guy:

    When Texans sent John Cornyn to Washington, did they know that he'd spend his time on the Senate floor debating silly things like what someone writes in a newspaper ad?

    Rick Noriega wants to represent you in Washington by taking care of business that matters. Too bad John Cornyn doesn't.

    by think2004 on Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 07:03:08 PM PDT