Keep up the Good Work Sen. Dole

At least Senator Elizabeth Dole is doing something good for our country. She isn't helping out our veterans, except to vote against their health benefits. She isn't securing the homeland, unless you have Vestiphobia. And, she isn't standing up against security leaks from this administration.

So, what is she doing for our country that is worthwhile? She is helping us reelect a Democratic Senate.

Republicans' 2006 Senate prospects sour
By Peter Savodnik

This is not how Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) hoped things would turn out. High-profile candidates she hoped could defeat incumbent Democrats are shying away from 2006, and some of her own Republican colleagues are looking vulnerable. On Monday, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) bowed out of a race next year against Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.). Late last week, Gov. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said he wouldn'’t challenge Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) next year.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which Dole chairs, has failed to recruit candidates it considers top-tier in Michigan, Florida and Vermont; no one is challenging Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.); and Republicans are embroiled in primaries in Nebraska and Rhode Island.

Tennessee, which has twice backed President Bush, is giving some Republicans heartburn, with the GOP Senate contenders attacking their opponents'’ conservative credentials while Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.) outfundraises his Republican rivals and aggressively canvasses the state.


"Nationally, overall, their recruiting has not been as strong as it was in 2002 and 2004," Republican pollster David Johnson said of the NRSC. "“They have missed a lot of chances in recruitment. But part of it also is with Senator Dole."
...
Democratic consultant Peter Fenn had a different take. "Republican recruitment this cycle has been nothing short of disastrous," he said. "They have been about as successful as General Custer calling in reinforcements. Democrats are in an excellent position to pick up a substantial number of seats and, possibly, take back control."

Now, I realize that last is hyperbole from our side, but how nice it is to hear some arrogance and confidence from Democrats instead of whining.

Thanks for the Info Senator Dole

Given my feelings towards Senator Dole, it seems funny to receive her mailings. I certainly never signed up for any mailings from her...or at least I never signed up for snail mailings. Also, I never "contact[ed her] regarding the judicial nominations process." Still, to the point, her letter is misleading.

While senators should not rubber stamp the judicial nominees of presidents they support, they also should not engage in foot-dragging or character assassination when nominations come from presidents whom they oppose.

But Republicans initiated a filibuster against a judicial nominee in 1968, forcing Democratic president Lyndon Johnson to withdraw the nomination of Associate Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas to be chief justice. Then-Sen. Robert Griffin (R-MI) recognized at the time that denying nominees a vote was already an established practice. "It is important to realize that it has not been unusual for the Senate to indicate its lack of approval for a nomination by just making sure that it never came to a vote on the merits...Cloture votes were also necessary to obtain floor votes on Clinton judicial nominees Richard A. Paez and Marsha L. Berzon in 2000, and Republicans attempted to filibuster the nomination of U.S. District Judge H. Lee Sarokin to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1994...The Republican-controlled Senate blocked approximately 60 Clinton nominees through other means.

Today the federal judiciary is facing a vacancy crisis...Due to lengthy delays in the judicial nomination and confirmation process...

Are Democrats Causing Delays in Court?
Contrary to a pro-Bush TV ad, Republicans share the blame for "empty courtrooms," and delays are shorter now than they were before Bush.
May 6, 2005
A multimillion-dollar ad campaign blames Democrats for the fact that "courtrooms sit empty." In fact, there are now half as many judicial vacancies as when Bush took office. And of the 46 federal judgeships that remain vacant, Bush has named only 16 replacements.

The ad also says cases are being delayed in federal courts for "thousands of Americans." Actually, official statistics show cases typically being decided more quickly now than they were in 1999, when it was Republicans opposing Clinton's judicial nominees.

Nice Lie, Senator Dole.

Senators should not be able to hide from accountability to their constituents.

With respect to judicial nominations, the most effective tactic in opposition has been to bottle them up in committee. In the later years of the Clinton presidency, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was controlled by Republicans, did not hold hearings for as many as 60 of his nominees, according to Democrats. They argue that this refusal to even consider President Clinton's nominees was just as effective in blocking them as a filibuster.

So, where is your accountability Senator Dole? Have you been so jaded by your decades in Washington that you cannot see your hypocrisy?

Dole Stands Up To...Oh Forget It, She's a Neoconservative Shill

Remember our compassionate conservative?

Dole called for civility in politics and a more compassionate government. "Reagan conservatism wore a smile, and it was contagious," she said.

Remember Elizabeth Dole, who called for accountability in our government...

Accountability is the cornerstone of what makes NCLB so bold and visionary.

Well, it seems as if what is good for the goose is verboten for the gander. In a stunning move, Elizabeth Dole has called forth the Republican Senate to protect Senator Rick Santorum from himself.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, Senate Republican campaign chairman, has assigned fellow Republicans to defend Sen. Rick Santorum from increasingly harsh Democrat attacks on the floor as he faces a tough re-election in Pennsylvania...Although Santorum is third ranking in the party's Senate hierarchy as Republican Conference chairman, his colleagues have not risen to support him. Under Dole's plan, a designated Republican senator will take the floor in Santorum's defense whenever needed.

Well, his colleagues have not risen to defend him. I wonder why? Senator Santorum has made some horrendous statements in the past year, alienating himself from Pennsylvanians far and wide as well as true Republicans. He has stolen money from his local school district, lied about his place of residence, and offered scorn to Hurricane Katrina victims instead of compassion. Yet, this is the man that Elizabeth Dole is calling on all Republicans to protect. I think it of the utmost importance that North Carolinians see what kind of Neoconservative Freak Senator Dole considers worthy of so much time and effort.

Click here to see a video of Just Weird Rick.

"What the Democrats are doing is the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in 1942 saying, 'I'm in Paris. How dare you invade me. How dare you bomb my city? It's mine.' This is no more the rule of the senate than it was the rule of the senate before not to filibuster." On the Filibuster...the FILIBUSTER!

“Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm.” That damn Paul Revere and his minutemen...

"I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties, candidly, on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving." On Hurricane Katrina SURVIVORS.

"In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest look at the budget, they might find they don't both need to."

"I would argue, this right to privacy that doesn't exist in my opinion in the United States Constitution."

In November 2004, a controversy erupted over education costs for the Senator's children. Santorum's legal address is in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, but he lives most of the year at his home in Leesburg, Virginia near Washington, DC. Santorum's five older children received education through the Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School with 80% of tuition costs paid by the Penn Hills School District.(His Penn Hills address is a two bedroom apartment in which a relative makes permanent residence.)

At a meeting in November 2004, the Penn Hills School District announced that it did not believe Santorum met the qualifications for residency status since he and his family spend most of the year in Virginia. They demanded repayment of tuition costs totaling $100,000. From Wikipedia

September 5th - Dole Finds Her Voice On Relief

It is now September 5th and the worst of Katrina has passed by, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Senator Elizabeth Dole has been unusually quiet, offering to Press Releases about Katrina. But, now, that the full human trauma and drama that is the Gulf of Mexico has become apparent - Elizabeth Dole makes her voice heard.

NORTH CAROLINA TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR PROVIDING REFUGE TO HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES

September 5th, 2005 - Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole today applauded President Bush for declaring that an emergency exists in North Carolina as the state provides refuge to more than 1,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees...“I am very pleased the President recognizes the generosity of North Carolinians and has pledged this aid to allow our state to best provide assistance to these folks who desperately need our help.”

Thank you Elizabeth Dole for your words on...the need for Hurricane...relief...in...North Carolina? Do you have anything for the Gulf? Or, do you agree with your fellow Republicans?

Barbara Bush said today, referring to the
poor who had lost everything back home and evacuated, "This is working very well for them."

"Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?" Rep. Tom DeLay

"What didn't go right?'" –President Bush, as quoted by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), after she urged him to fire FEMA Director Michael Brown "because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right" in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

"I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving." –Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)

"We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." –Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA)

September 1st - Focused Like a Laser in Times of Trouble

It is September 1st, 2005 - the worst of Katrina is upon us. The dead are floating in the street. Babies are dying. Women are being raped, men are being beaten. Elderly left behind are drowning. Hell on earth has occurred in the United States.

Elizabeth Dole is focused like a laser on America's Biggest Fear.

SENATOR DOLE WELCOMES DECISION TO INVOKE TEXTILE SAFEGUARDS

September 1st, 2005 - - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole today announced that the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) decided to invoke the China safeguards to limit imports on two categories, synthetic filament fabric and brassieres and other body-supporting garments. CITA extended until October 1, 2005 the deadline for making a determination on four other categories: cotton and man-made fiber sweaters; cotton and man-made fiber dressing gowns and robes; men’s and boys’ wool trousers; and knit fabric.

Once again, Eliabeth Dole safeguards our nation by serving as the Panty Police.

Elizabeth Dole Offers Support For Terrorists

In the last few weeks we have learned that Karl Rove gave information concerning a CIA agent to the press. Mrs. Joseph Wilson was a CIA secret agent, working for the agency with no diplomatic passport. What that means, is that whenever she traveled overseas, as a secret agent or just as a regular citizen, she could be detained and treated as a spy. In the worst case scenario, that means execution. This is what was at stake. But, it wasn't just Mrs. Wilson, it was everyone she has ever worked with. Over the years she has made contact with many valuable "resources" overseas. Now, every one of those contacts is broken, never to be used again by the CIA. Even if they aren't found and executed, the CIA will never be able to trust their information, knowing that their identities have been blown.
We ask Mrs. Wilson to work for us against the Axis of Evil countries, that Mr. Bush has said want to see Death and Destruction rain down on us all. Is there any doubt that such a country would kidnap or torture the family of a CIA contact in order to gain their cooperation? We have all seen the killings, the torture rooms, the mass murders, do we doubt that even now former CIA informants are being slaughtered throughout the Axis of Evil.
But, there is more. What was the reason for going into Iraq? WMD. Weapons of Mass Destruction. What was Mrs. Wilson's expertise as a CIA secret agent? WMD. Weapons of Mass Destruction. By turning Mrs. Wilson and all her countless contacts, informants, and innocents who might have interacted with her, we have severely disabled our ability to find and destroy those who would use WMDs to hurt our country, our families, our children.
This has all happened because Karl Rove did not like something that Mrs. Wilson's husband wrote - a truth that was admitted, grudgingly, several days later by Condoleeza Rice. So, what does our Senator Elizabeth Dole have to say about this action that, at best was stupid, at worst was traitorous?

The partisan attacks against Karl Rove are out of control and entirely inappropriate. He is a distinguished member of the White House and he is my friend. It is incredibly irresponsible for individuals and organizations to make accusations based on rumor and innuendo. It is unfair to the investigation and even more unfair to Karl Rove.

Democratic State Party Chairman Ken Meek had the following to say in response:
I find it interesting that Senator Dole is spending her time defending Karl Rove instead of North Carolina'’s working families. Her standards of distinction are pretty low: Politics led someone in the Bush administration to do a dangerous, potentially criminal act. The person responsible endangered a covert CIA agent'’s life and compromised our national security during wartime. It has become clear that Karl Rove was that person.

Rove said in 2003 that Valerie Plame was 'fair game.' Now, Karl Rove is fair game. What's worse, the GOP slime machine is in full gear, attacking anyone who is rightfully questioning our President'’s judgment and that of his top advisor. Sen. Dole should know that the Bush administration'’s conduct, much more than that of its critics, is fair game. It's becoming clear that the Bush administration isn'’t being cooperative with the investigation. Sen. Dole should be focusing on her duties rather than being an apologist for Rove and associating herself with this cover-up.

Elizabeth Dole, supporting the WMD network of terrorist organizations rather than Truth, Justice, and the American Way of Life.

Homeland Security Beefing Up Its Staff Thanks To Dole

We must thank Elizabeth Dole for increasing the staff of Homeland Security.

Now, these 72 officers won't be patrolling the border with Mexico, where al Qaeda agents are thought to pass into America.


No, not this.

And, they won't be inspecting shipment containers for explosives, nuclear devices, or biothreats.

Nor, will they be tracking down potential sleeper cells in the heartland of our country.

Instead, they will be counting the number of sheets and underwear brought into this country from China.


Yep, these.

Hooray...hooray...hip...hip..hooray...

Well, maybe terrorists won't try to attack us, maybe they've given up. It isn't like they are a patient bunch. I mean, after all, Osama attacked the WTC building the first time in 1993 and then attacked again in 2001. Oh wait, that was 8 years. So, it has been 4 years since the last attack. Gee, he's still out there isn't he? We kind of blew it in Torra Borra. Hmm. Maybe we SHOULD be looking in those shipping containers for more than underwear. I wonder what a dirty bomb set off in downtown Durham, or Detroit, or Dallas would do to those cities?

But, at least we'll know how many pairs of tighty-whities are coming into the country.

In all seriousness, textile manufacturing is in trouble in this country. But, couldn't you lay off the tax cuts for tycoons and heiresses for just ONE year and make our country safe again?

Let's Talk Straight About Race

Mrs. Dole,
I, for one, applaud your recent remarks concerning Frederick C. Branch, the first African American to be commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps. But, I cannot help but feel that this is a thinly-veiled attempt to court African-American voters, for which the Republican party has done nil. In particular, I feel you have a special duty to work for African-Americans, given the former Dixiecrat and segregationist Senator that you replaced. Senator Jesse Helms, rest his soul, had a long history of racist ideals and acts in Congress, which I believe culminated in his attack on Senator Mosely-Braun in a Capitol elevator. Senator Helms is alleged to have told your peer Sen. Orrin Hatch "Watch me make her cry. I'm going to make her cry. I'm going to sing 'Dixie' until she cries." (Gannett News Service, 9/2/93; Time, 8/16/93). Let us not forget that Senator Helms lead a one-man filibuster against Martin Luther King Day, participated along with Bob Dole in a battle to support Apartheid in South Africa, and was the leading voice against the Voting Rights Act.

Because of positions like these and more, I felt that when you took office you would strive to bring a calming to racial relations. But, in fact, North Carolina's African-American population is in greater trouble than ever before. Among the nation, poverty among African-Americans sits at 24%, while poverty among whites is at 10.5%. North Carolina was one of only seven states to increase the numbers of those in poverty in 2003. Yet, you have shown time and again that your morals are in line with the CorporaCons that control the Republican party and not with your Constituency here in North Carolina. You offer words when people demand actions. The only actions you take are to secure tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of education breaks for our children. The only actions you take support corporate welfare instead of child welfare. And, the only actions you take are to speak kind words of one African-American man while thousands of his peers go to bed hungry each night in this state.

Oh the Lies Won't Stop!

Senator, Senator, Senator. You have moved beyond disinformation straight into lies and deceit. In a recent press release, you stated that It is a fact that today—for the first time in our nation’s history—a President’s nominees to the federal bench are being required to receive a 60-vote supermajority, rather than the traditional majority vote that has been the standard for 220 years.


Have you forgotten the 1968 Republican filibuster?

Have you forgotten those 60 Clinton-era nominees that were bottled up in committee by Republicans, so that they never even received their Constitutional right to a vote?

Have you forgotten about the blue-slip rules that you used to block Clinton-era appointees, then changed the rules so it would not apply under Bush?

Our elected officials should not lie Senator Dole, and that is what you have resorted to in this and other cases.

Lack of Honesty on the Military

Dole once again has posted misleading statements on her web page. Elizabeth Dole specifically states that I am proud to support our troops, many of whom are based right here in North Carolina. Would if that were true. But, as posted here before, Elizabeth Dole has voted against Homeland Security, Veterans, and Soldiers, time and time again.

How can Elizabeth Dole release such lies when a quick view of the Senate Roll Call shows that she has voted against so many measures that would aid the common soldier?

Dole is Anti-Life

These are the votes that Elizabeth Dole has made that make her unfit to run under the "Pro-Life" umbrella.
1. Voted against increasing the minimum wage.

This vote causes low wage earners to continue working longer hours or multiple jobs just to make ends meet. An increase in the minimum wage would allow mothers and fathers to spend more time with their children. Time spent with children directly impacts their contributions to society, the chances that they will turn away from drugs, away from crime, and instead stay in school and make a better life. By voting against this bill, Elizabeth Dole has shown that she is anti-life and pro-corporation.

2. Voted against an amendment to expand access to preventative health care services that reduce unintended teen pregnancy.

I think this is self-explanatory. By voting against this amendment Elizabeth Dole proves that she is not pro-life, but merely anti-abortion.

3. Rejected a series of amendments on the bankruptcy bill including:
Kennedy Amdt. No. 70; To exempt debtors whose financial problems were caused by failure to receive alimony or child support, or both, from means testing.
Dodd Amdt. No. 67; To modify the bill to protect families, and for other purposes.
Corzine Amdt. No. 32; To preserve existing bankruptcy protections for individuals experiencing economic distress as caregivers to ill or disabled family members.
By voting against this amendment, Elizabeth Dole has proven that she is not pro-life, but indeed pro-corporation.

Dole Must Go

Elizabeth Dole recently sent a strongly worded letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. In it, she asked why Homeland Security was not doing all it could.

Was she attacking their lack of port inspections? No.

Was she questioning the porosity of the Northern and Southern borders to terrorists? No.

Was she asking why they weren't counting the number of T-shirts and linens coming in from China? Yes.

Huh?

It seems that to Elizabeth Dole, insuring that the Chinese stick to their import limits is more important than stopping terrorism. I know what it feels like to lose your income to China, my Dad lost his job when mining went oversees back in the 80s. But, as a Senator you have to make tough choices.

Where do you focus your resources, bombs from Baghdad or sheets from Shanghai?

For Sen. Elizabeth Dole the answer is clear, corporate profits ahead of city ports.

Dole's Priorities in Right Place

SENATORS DOLE, BURR PUSH FOR OREGON INLET FUNDING
Introduce legislation calling for $6.5 million for dredging vital waterway

Thanks be to good old Senator Dole. In this day and age of childhood poverty, decreasing education funding, death in Iraq due to improperly outfitted soldiers, and an economy on the downturn, Elizabeth Dole has her mind and her money on the right track. Helping out coastal businesses.

Now, I am not saying that these coastal businesses don't need help, they do. Dredging the inlet will surely provide some increase in traffic, or ease of traffic, and surely this will help business. But, just maybe there is another way.

Elizabeth Dole's strategy is this. Give tax cuts to the rich,to the wealthiest 1.6% of Americans, thereby gutting the income of the United States of America. Then, because there is no money, cut veterans funding, education funding, health care programs, Medicare, Medicaid, firehouses, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Then, cry and whine when the cuts actually effect your home state, which might hurt your chances at reelection.

Maybe the Federal Government wouldn't have to give out paltry loans to the Army Corps of Engineers, to airports and to firehouses if we funded them in the first place. Maybe we could fund them if we quit giving tax cuts to the rich that drive our economy into the toilet. Maybe in four more years Elizabeth Dole will be watching from the sidelines while we find a better way to run this country.

What hurts marriage more....

To Elizabeth Dole, it appears that marriage is under attack because homosexuals in some states may be allowed to marry.

I would contend that marriage is under attack by poverty.
• Between 2000 and 2002, comparing two-year averages, North Carolina median household income decreased by $1749, or -4.4 percent

• Two-year averages of the number of North Carolinians living below poverty grew from an estimated 985,000 to over 1.07 million between 2000 and 2002 – an increase of over 9 percent.

• The child death rate, though improving, is still below many industrialized nations with 22 of every 100,000 chidren dying each year in North Carolina. That is 2 of every thousand, that is two in each of our children's schools.

Why is it that Elizabeth Dole would rather focus on corporate welfare than child welfare(read down to see that Elizabeth Dole was one of many Republicans to support cutting foster care, adoption services, and children's medicaid)? Why is it that Elizabeth Dole would rather focus on banning gay families than bolstering poor families?

Obviously, Elizabeth Dole is in the pocket of big business and has been for many years.

Dole on Aging?

Elizabeth Dole recently touted funding of a senior center in Pitt County by declaring:

“I am so pleased that the Pitt County Council on Aging has secured these funds,” said Senator Dole. “As a member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am committed to serving the needs of our seniors.”

But, George Bush recently visited NC to tout his Social Insecurity plan specifically because, as the Raleigh News & Observer noted, He picks a state where the two Republican senators support his wishes to change what some consider the country's most sacred public program.

The AARP, which has recently supported Republicans over Democrats, argues that setting up private accounts would effectively scuttle Social Security. "Siphoning money from Social Security will not strengthen it," says David Certner, AARP's director of federal affairs. "It will just make the problem much worse."

In short, Senator Dole rubber stamps Bush policies that will ruin Social Security at the benefit of large corporations, while taking credit for monies received by a local agency and declaring her loyalty to the aged. What a load is Senator Dole?

Dole Leaves Behind Veterans

Senator Dole with NC Veteran
Senator Dole meets a North Carolina veteran during the celebration of the World War II Memorial dedication.
From Elizabeth Dole's Senate page

In a recent press release Elizabeth Dole made much out of NCs military population. Dole pointed out that Eastern NC is home to Seymour Johnson and Pope Air Force Bases, Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, ... Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point, [and] the Naval Depot. As such Senator Dole believes that Congress should consider expansion, not closure in NC.

Wow, that would be great. It is nice to see how much our Senator appreciates the military. But, wait. Does she? Let's see. She supports more troops in NC, she supports sending them off to war, she supports back-door drafts, but does she support the troops?

No.

Elizabeth Dole voted AGAIN not to increase funding for injured soldiers returning from war.

Shame on Elizabeth Dole, once again talking out both sides of her Janus head.