Only one Dem in the entire Senate had the courage to stand up and be counted this afternoon. In spite of the visible travesty of 2000 and in spite of the existence of sufficient evidence to be concerned that a similar travesty occurred this year, the Dems rolled over one more time this afternoon.
Couldn't ONE other Dem w/ a relatively safe seat join Boxer? How about Kennedy? How about Byrd? Hell, Russ Feingold just coasted to a 3d term after being the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act. Where was he today?
Forget about the merits of this issue. Forget about the fact that, if something isn't done to fix our voting system, the Dems will probably face many more years in the minority. Forget about the arrogance and the ugliness of the other side. How about sticking up for one of your own who chose to take a stand on basic principle?
When Nixon mined Haiphong Harbor and bombed Hanoi at Christmastime, 1972, a priest at my wife's (Catholic) parish in Hunstville, AL gave a homily in which he blasted this action. Given the military presence in Huntsville, this was an extremely brave stance. When I discussed it w/ the priest several years later, he said that he never forgot how the pastor accompanied him down the aisle at the end of Mass in a show of support.
It's important to have someone to cover your back in times of crisis. We saw today that there was no one in the Senate who was willing to cover Boxer's back. I will not support any Dem senator for prez in 2008 who was not willing to stand w/ Boxer today.
God, I miss Paul Wellstone today!