Kagro X had a front page diary today about the filibuster that whimpered. It's superbly written, with great passion, verve and clarity.
Inspired by this diary, I fired off e-mails to Boxer and Feinstein, my two senators. I peppered comments on Kagro X's diary. I fretted. I fumed.
Then I realized that I'm also puzzled.
Why did senate Democrats let this thing go by? If Kagro X is right, any one senator could've put up a hand and stopped this. Unanimous consent was required, which means every single Democratic senator rolled over and played dead. Why?
Think about it: Webb sponsored this amendment, talked a lot about it leading up to yesterday's vote. He's passionate about, and his son is enlisted. He could've forced an actual filibuster, kept this in the public's eye. He let it go.
Kerry has spoken passionately about related issues, is a former soldier himself, and could've stopped it. But he let it go.
Chris Dodd has been on fire lately, forcing his colleagues--especially Obama and Clinton--to show a little spine in standing up for progressive values. He could've stopped it, but he let it go.
Obama and Clinton, not to be outdone in showing their passionate embrace of progressive values, have been talking a very fine game lately. As the primary season heats up, they each recognize the need to fire up the party's base, and they have been delivering...well, rhetoric, at least. On civil rights, troops' welfare, national security, healthcare, rule of law...they've been stepping up to the plate on each of these. Yet they let this one opportunity to stake out a position in stark opposition to the Bush mafia go by.
Kennedy. Boxer. Leahy. Feingold. Whitehouse. My memory fails, but there's a long list of progressives who have proven themselves willing to stand up to Bush and Cheney. Reid himself has recently backed away from his compromising (pun intended!) posture, straightened his back, and promised to stand firm against the Global War Forevah! republicans.
And they all let this one go by.
What I don't understand, and what Kagro X and others do not explain, is WHY???
Each individual senator's complicity is inexplicable. Their collective silence is utterly, totally stunning!!
Can anyone here help me understand? I promise to summarize and update this diary.