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-Short Attention Span Theater-
House approves Iran resolution 405-1
2009-06-19
TheHill.com

The House overwhelmingly approved a resolution Friday in support of Iranian dissidents as that country's top cleric warned protesters to end demonstrations.

The resolution was approved in a 405-1 vote, with two members voting present. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) was the only lawmaker opposed to the resolution.
Proving that Ron Paul is a worthless sonofabitch.
Reps. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and David Loebsack (D-Iowa) voted present.
Proving that Ellison is no true friend to his fellow Moslems who are being roughed up by the mad mullahs' goon squads. I don't know what Crapsack Loebsack's excuse is.
Note: even the likes of Murtha and Pelosi and Hoyer voted in favor of this. It may not be a sincere vote of support, but if they don't really mean it they're at least smart enough to realize how politically stupid it would look right at this moment to be seen as failing to support the oppressed people of Iran against their tyrants.

Of course, not everyone has a clue:
In Washington, the debate has centered on whether President Obama should be more forceful in criticizing Iranian authorities, and in showing support for the demonstrators. The issue has put Obama in a tough spot, with conservatives
(moderates, liberals, and decent people in general)
blasting him for not showing more support for demonstrators, and his new Facebook friend Ahmadnejad Iran criticizing the U.S. and Obama for meddling in its affairs.
"Let's see: do I side with the oppressed people of Iran, or their oppressors? Such a hard call! Nothing I learned at Harvard or Columbia prepared me for such a difficult moral dilemma. Alas! my first-class temprament has forsaken me! Oh, what to do? What to do? . . ."
Posted by:Mike

#9  Got motivated enough to look up Loebsack's webpage, and sent him a missive. (He only accepts them from his constituents, how nice.)

Here's what I wrote him:

Dear Representative Loebsack,

I am extremely disgusted that you could only bring yourself to vote "present" on the resolution supporting Iranian dissidents.

I know that it probably wouldn't have helped them. That's not the point.

The point is, there are people who are literally dying to have their votes count....and instead of standing with them, as 405 of your colleagues did, you took the coward's way out by voting "present".

Your vote has put me in the strange position of actually respecting Ron Paul more than you. I don't like the way he voted, but at least he had the moxie to stand on his convictions.

Edmund Burke once said "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."

I do believe that you are a good man, but you truly did nothing with your vote when it counted.
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2009-06-19 23:14  

#8  Loebsack is my representative, unfortunately.

He doesn't always vote present. He was very very happy to vote for TARP, the stupid enforced volunteer bill that passed awhile back, and many other pieces of pork.

If they would have porked this one up, I'm sure he would have voted for it. Pathetic weasel.
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2009-06-19 22:56  

#7  at AOSHQ - the mere mention of the POS WHO SHOULD NOT BE NAMED™ drew Paulbots in like flies to shit. Why not get the Jim Jones Koolaid out and satisfy these masochistic idiot's needs quickly and relieve us all of their crap
Posted by: Frank G   2009-06-19 21:02  

#6  Re Paul: Sometimes the lone voice crying in the wilderness really is just a loon. I'd vote for Rue Paul before I's vote for Ron Paul.
Posted by: Gomez Graing8130   2009-06-19 20:54  

#5  For the first time ever, I have something to thank Rep. Tammy Baldwin for.

I have also written my senators, asking whether the senate is also considering such a resolution, and asking whether they'd ask Mr. Obama to take a stronger stand. I'll get boilerplate back from Kohl; but with Feingold, you never know. Usually he sends boilerplate, but sometimes he sends useful information.
Posted by: mom   2009-06-19 20:22  

#4  Second that Bullshit.

1. You, as elected public official, are supposed to be there.

2. You, as elected public official, are obliged to convey the opinion of your constituants.

therefore, vote of present is bullshit.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2009-06-19 19:31  

#3  definition of "Realism"
the process of turning rubes into neocons
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2009-06-19 18:41  

#2  Seeing the nearly unanamious support for this statement from the House, The One will nod his head and say "That's just what I said last week". I wish he would prove me wrong, but with his ego, he can't help but take credit for someone else's initiative - if it's popular enough.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon   2009-06-19 16:23  

#1  This voting present is bull! At least the loon Ron Paul has the stones to stand up and be counted. We did not vote our reps into a country club, we vote for them to represent us, to be counted. We should eliminate the voting "present" crap!
Posted by: 49 Pan   2009-06-19 16:06  

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