Senate OKs Hayden's nomination as CIA director (78-15)

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/052706dnnathayden.23d052ef.html

WASHINGTON - After hearing assurances he will be independent of the Pentagon, the Senate on Friday easily confirmed Gen. Michael Hayden, a career Air Force man, to head the CIA.

Hayden, a four-star general, currently is the top deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte.

Hayden, 61, would be the first active-duty or retired military officer to run the spy agency in 25 years. He was approved by a vote of 78-15.

Edit: Senate roll call vote will be here as soon as it's entered.

:sarcasm:

Why the hell can't the Dems even try to pretend to oppose the current administration? They certainly could have done it if they had wanted to. Look at the vote. It was 78-15 with 7 not voting. From the vote tally, 24 Dems voted "yea." Now, even if all of those Dems had voted "nay,", the vote tally would have been 54-39 and the end result would have been the same. Even if you add in the 7 that didn't vote, it would have been 54-46 and once again, the end result would have been the same. So, why the hell didn't the Dems stand up to Dubya and all vote "nay?" Hayden would have still been confirmed but the Dems would have come out looking a LOT better. But nooooo, they can't be bothered to put up anything even remotely resembling a fight. Instead, they cave in and vote in lock-step with the Repugs every goddamn time. They're nothing but GOP-lite. Fuck the Dems. I've had it with them. I'll vote third-party from now on. Hell, I'd rather vote for a Commie than a Dem any day. At least the Commies stand for something.

n/t

the power - and, I believe, the blackmail evidence for many of them via the spying - and so they follow orders. RFK Jr has said that 95% of the GOP and 75% of the Dem congress members are corrupt (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2999611), and I do believe he's right. And I'm not alone in thinking blackmailing is involved as one of the enforcement techniques of the Bush cabal: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x338735. The NSA spying has been quite useful for them, I'd say.

:sarcasm:

The craven congress members believe the Bushies have the power - and, I believe, the blackmail evidence for many of them via the spying - and so they follow orders. RFK Jr has said that 95% of the GOP and 75% of the Dem congress members are corrupt (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2999611), and I do believe he's right. And I'm not alone in thinking blackmailing is involved as one of the enforcement techniques of the Bush cabal: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x338735. The NSA spying has been quite useful for them, I'd say. If bribery and threats don't work, then blackmail can do the trick, and you can bet the Bushies have dossiers on all of them. In all too many cases, those will contain something damaging.

The only solution is to turn these craven, corrupt cowards out of office. To do that, corruption must also be rooted out of the election process. Meanwhile, the electorate is increasingly distrustful of Congress (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2307356), but how many of them feel "there is nothing I can do" and just turn on the TV to zone out? Political activism with true regime change is the only way out.

The problem as I see it is in the polls... You have a President that is polling as potentially the worst ever why doesn't our side stand up and shout more. I think that is what America really wants someone to call out the King. Stand up for us little people. John Kerry popularity grew when America started to see that he wasn't going to roll over and take it from Bushco. So would grow the popularity of a true Patriotic American Democratic Senator if they were to stand up and state we aren't going to take this anymore...

than the will of the people, doesn't it? Couldn't be much clearer, IMO. I am hoping that the elections will be honest enough to displace these hacks and criminals so the saving of the country can be started.

brown envelopes stored in safety deposit boxes anymore--the mere spectre of fundraising 'difficulties' probably goes a lot farther these days.

This is surprising...I read about this guy two weeks ago and ASSUMED he was toast. I assumed that given Bush's ridiculously low numbers, some of the GOP would have taken the opportunity to symbolically distance themselves from Shrub just for campaign purposes--it's an easy appointment to oppose by simply wrapping one self around the Constitution.

Boy was I wrong...none of them are thinking straight...why would they not simply oppose anything that Bush does at this point--it's not like the public isn't geared up some 'Bush bashing'.

In fact, under normal political SOP, the two parties would have BOTH turned this chump into a convenient piñata and blamed him for everything for either electoral gain or electoral survival.

Makes no sense unless ... well maybe you got a point after all

Based on past voting records, I suspect Clinton and Obama would have voted yes if they were not certain the confirmation would succeed despite a nay vote by themselves. Now they can use their Nay votes as political ammunition to distance themselves from the unpopulat Bush government in their campaigns, as you suggest.

to FORCE them to vote "Aye." YET! --> The Absent Senators didn't have the BALLS to follow their own knowledge base, moral conscious and ... what the hell THE OBVIOUS (This guy will be a valued member of our Chimperor's BushBotBorg insiders) to vote "Nay." :wtf: Loyal Opposition? :puke:

On Edit: Perhaps the Blackmail threats were beyond their person?

I cry for our lost liberties ... and now that Hayden's confirmed it will get MUCH worse for us average American Peasants. :cry: :grr:

They are all liars and crooks. Who was courageous enough to vote against him?

I expected it from Fienstein, Shummer and Biden.....they just are collecting an easy paycheck. :spank: :nuke: :scared: :puke:

They let a vote for a federal judge with no experience happen. They did not fight against Hayden, and now, only a handful vote against the Secretary of the Interior, a man that is against environment and for oil.

IMO. He voted to confirm him.
The only surprise for me on this Hayden vote was that Specter voted no. He caught me off guard on this one. He usually ends up voting with the rest of his party after he grandstands on questionable issues.

Military in charge of the CIA... This alone should have had more Senators standing up for principle especially after Gitmo and Abu Gharib. So now Democratic Senators align with Secret detention facilities and Torture. Why don't they challenge his supreme highness? The polls say challenge...

:puke:

Once again, a vast swath of Democrats have proven
that they stand for *NOTHING*.

Here is a man who clearly broke the law (FISA), almost
certainly violated the Constitution, and these clowns
vote to re-appoint him to another job.

Oh well, at least the powder's still dry.

Tesha

I'm wondering if these might be the same 7 who didn't vote on the Hayden nomination:

Boxer (D-CA)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dole (R-NC)
Inouye (D-HI)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Thune (R-SD)

Why should stopping fascism get in the way of a nice 4-day weekend? :grr:

...on second thought, wasn't Rockefeller practically falling all over himself to confirm Hayden?

Give 'em a hand... at least someone gives a f*ck.

Bayh (D-IN)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Obama (D-IL)
Wyden (D-OR)

And yes... one Republican.
Spector (R-PA) :eyes:

to vote with them.

This is a serious question, not meant as flame bait, but why isn't this an issue when we discuss potential 2008 candidates? The folks in the Senate who are (probably) going to run for President in 2008 have been unable or unwilling to form a coalition to vote against Bush, even when Bush's poll numbers are in the toilet and Conservatives talk about the "Open Rebellion" against Bush.

These Senators have had (at least!) five and 1/2 years to convince Republicans and other Democrats to join them in crucial votes - - and they have not been able to do it. Again and again we loose important votes with around half the Senate Dems voting with the GOP. How will these Dem Senators manage to get their agendas passed if they're President? What will make the Dems in Congress suddenly vote the party line? What will convince them that getting endorsed by the NRA or the Christian Coalition will hurt them politically?

Refusing to appear in photo ops with them? Blackmailing them over their illegal activities (if any)? Begging the Senate Majority leader to throw them off committees where they've got seniority? Bribing them with mega-fundraisers or pork barrel projects? What?

Most, if not all of the Dems running for re-election will win their Dem primaries. That means that the next Congress will be one of three things:

1.) This exact same collection of people
2.) Have a few more Republicans
3.) Have a few more Democrats

Even if it's #3, will it be enough Democrats to vote for a Dem President's agenda? As I said before, will the fact that the President is a Dem be enough to keep the conservative and moderate Democrats from voting against a "liberal" agenda?

(Case #1 is out, BTW: Jeffords is retiring so there'll
be at least one change of seat-warmer in the Senate.)

Even in your case #3 (Have a few more Democrats), we're
still likely screwed. I call to your attention those heady
days of 1993 when we controlled all three branches of
Congress. A fella named Clinton was trying to stir up
some interest in passing a pretty moderate plan to assure
that ALL Americans had health care. As you'll recall, a
bunch of these same "Democratic" clowns that we're still
discussing spent a whole lot of time talking down Clinton's
plan and, generally speaking, derailing what looked like
the start of a good time.

The Republicans then piled on and the rest, as they say,
was Whitewater, err, history.

Even if we do manage to take back a branch or two in 2006,
the same old clowns will just wander around trying to
figure out how best to advance themselves at our expense.

Tesha

Congress has become a joke.

What is that all about? Boxer? 'not voting' to me is that same as a yea vote here.

Alphabetical by Senator Name:

Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Allard (R-CO), Yea
Allen (R-VA), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Boxer (D-CA), Not Voting
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Yea
Burns (R-MT), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Chafee (R-RI), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Clinton (D-NY), Nay
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Not Voting
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Dayton (D-MN), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Yea
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Dodd (D-CT), Nay
Dole (R-NC), Not Voting
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Nay
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Nay
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Frist (R-TN), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Gregg (R-NH), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Not Voting
Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay
Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Nay
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Salazar (D-CO), Not Voting
Santorum (R-PA), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Nay
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Yea
Talent (R-MO), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Not Voting
Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Nay

...I find it very irritating that Byrd, an 88 year old man whose time on this earth is coming to an end, is making decisions that will possibly affect America for the next few decades and he won't be around to experience the impact of them.

Don't think I'm signaling out Byrd either. My dad LOVES Joe Biden and supported his 1988 presidential campaign. He also is eager to support a 2008 run but I hope today he takes a long hard look at him and realizes that he isn't fighting for America. Maybe he did in his prime but that was a long time ago.

Big surprise that the GOP's favorite Democrat Lieberman voted yea. :eyes: This man needs to leave. NOW.

Finally, Harry Reid has to go. Under his leadership the party has become a bunch of spineless, sniveling wimps. We need a new leader and I nominate Russ Feingold for that position.

And until recently, he had a contender for the oldest in the Senate (Thurmond). The state of West Virginia absolutely loves him, and he can still quote passages from the Constitution that keep his image as a protector of such going.

As far as Reid is concerned, he is not a coward--he, too is very protective of his state's interests, and he has also been outspoken on many occasions.

I really wish people who criticze some of these Senators need to gain perspective, and look at their whole record, and not the result of one, especially one as contentious as this one.

Has anyone ever thought that perhaps the plan (among Dems) is to allow Hayden to hang himself? There is a sense now that any and everything Bush does is going to be a trip to hell, regardless, and since people are already riled up about the wiretapping and snooping that planting Hayden is only going to anger more and more people, and that is a good thing come November? We need to see the forest as well as the individual trees in order to shape our strategy for the future. We need to allow Bush to continue to hang himself and all his cohorts in a way that ALL of America can see, regardless of what slant the MSM puts on things. They can no longer hide their misdeeds, and all of American has finally got the right idea.

board swing from one level to the other without looking at the whole picture. It isn't as if we would have won this vote even if every Dem had voted yes. But we can win in the long run by giving them enough rope. If the Dems had stood up about every issue you want them to *ss would never have gotten himself into this mess he is in now because he would have been blaming everything on the "terrible liberals who are forever keeping him from succeeding".

I love the Dems who stand up and tell it like it is: Bryd, Kennedy, Kerry, Feingold,Reid,etc. But there has never been a time when the whole group spoke out. Usually it is left to the speakers who are recognized as most effective. When Dems have the power in congress they will vote along party lines when needed and they will win. That is why I will vote for Dems in 06 & 08.

Right at the moment I am almost as afraid of the posters here as I am of *ss and his idiots.

Illegal domestic spying by the NSA? Why, it's a great step to winning the War on Terra!!! :sarcasm: Bush is quoted, but I don't have the stomach to include this. Needless to say, the WaPo doesn't mention Hayden's numerous lies to Congress.

Yeas:

Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Allard (R-CO), Yea
Allen (R-VA), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Yea
Burns (R-MT), Yea
Burr (R-NC), Yea
Chafee (R-RI), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
DeMint (R-SC), Yea
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Frist (R-TN), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Gregg (R-NH), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Martinez (R-FL), Yea
McCain (R-AZ), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Santorum (R-PA), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Sununu (R-NH), Yea
Talent (R-MO), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea

Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea

Jeffords (I-VT), Yea

Nays:

Specter (R-PA), Nay

Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Clinton (D-NY), Nay
Dayton (D-MN), Nay
Dodd (D-CT), Nay
Dorgan (D-ND), Nay
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Nay
Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay
Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Menendez (D-NJ), Nay
Obama (D-IL), Nay
Wyden (D-OR), Nay

Not voting:

Dole (R-NC), Not Voting
Thune (R-SD), Not Voting

Boxer (D-CA), Not Voting
Conrad (D-ND), Not Voting
Inouye (D-HI), Not Voting
Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Salazar (D-CO), Not Voting

the powder" on this nominee and he voted to confirm him!

Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea

Boxer (D-CA), Not Voting
Conrad (D-ND), Not Voting
Inouye (D-HI), Not Voting
Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Salazar (D-CO), Not Voting

but no, we couldn't have dems act like an opposition party. That could have been 30 "no" votes against having an active duty 4 star general leading the CIA.

My math is WAY off and I guess this wasn't a 2/3 majority type of deal, but this still is a bad move in an election year. People will remember this.

Doing the same thing over and over, in the belief that the results will improve or change.

This isn't rocket science--so why is it so hard for Congress to fulfill its duties?

Always the same...objections, objections...then roll-over..."sure why not? O.K."

Where is the friggen voting record!?!?

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00160

Now call your rep and make it count.

Democraps...losers.

craven cowards MUST GO. How clear can it be?

These corrupt, craven cowards MUST be removed from office. Continuing the status quo with the Dems, let alone the GOPs, will finalize the destruction of this country.

When RFKJr said last year that 95% of the GOP and 75% of the Dem members of Congress are corrupt (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2999611), I hoped that he might be wrong, but every day it's clearer that he was right.

Specter was the ONLY Republican to vote Nay on this BushBotBorg Crony. Hum ... :think: ;)

Makes ya wonder what that old boy may know that we DON'T know, aye?

Or perhaps Specter can't be blackmailed, cajoled or bullied into voting to confirm Hayden?

After all, he's faced "Mr. Death" (Cancer), so Rove-Co may not be a threat to him. Humm ... I wonder how long this Corrupt Executive Branch will wait until Specter is "dealt with"?

Word to the wise: Don't fly in any small planes Senator Specter! ;) :hi:

On edit: WHY would, of all people, Senator LEAHY vote to confirm this ghoul?

I tell ya ... something's going on under the surface and it stinks. :grr:

You're right, we must vote out all the budding fascist enablers A.S.A.P.

I am tired of his helping foster fascism in the government of this country.

chance. The Republicans were not content to have a majority, they wanted to completely destroy the Democratic party. It hasn't worked. We need to regain control of one house of congress then fight for fair treatment by the media.

landslide to overcome their dirty tricks. They (the elitists) have infiltrated the Democratic Party. If Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, all is lost.

elections. We have to let them know we are watching closely.

I'm not Hillary fan, but I learned a long time ago not to underestimate her. She was the political brains in the family. She is the one who helped Bill Clinton become the master politician. She went into New York, an outsider and won in a very conservative part of the state. I do not like her DLC leanings one bit, but do appreciate her political abilities.


One thing you must understand about the Clintons. There is always a method to the madness. We don't know if she is committed to the conservative positions she has taken, or if she is just laying the groundwork for the future.

We all desire honesty in our politicians, but we see that the honest politician, the one that tells the absolute truth loses and the ones who tell lovely lies wins.

chain of custody. The chain of custody breaks down in electronic voting machines. You can't account for the movements of each vote. With mail in ballots you do have something tangible. Your vote is private in that those who handle the mail do not know how you voted and would suffer severe legal consequences if found to have tamper with the mail. Our concern is the chain of custody once in the county clerk's office.

Cantwell voted against the NeoCon's for once and Murray voted in favor.

I have been a Democrat all my life but it is time for a really strong third party. We need to take our country back!

the elitists out of the Democratic Party. Kick out the Liebermann's, Cantwell's, Hillary, etc. They represent the major corporations and elitists of the Country.

That bitch should just take the mask off and reveal the neo-con she really is -- I've had enough. No vote for me or from my husband and two voting daughers!

I'm proud that both of my Senators voted no:

NAYs ---15
Bayh (D-IN)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Obama (D-IL)
Specter (R-PA)
Wyden (D-OR)

Interesting: Arlen Specter is the only Repub who voted against him. That's good to hear.

And we now have a partisan hack in the CIA that will do Bush's bidding on anything - thanks to ALL these YEA votes. We can't forget all the Repukes who marched in lockstep.

Give these fascists enough rope, and you'll find yourself in a huge dilemma. The time for rope has long gone.

not with a bang but a whimper.

And this jumps to the top of the list. Good for her on this.

to her corporate sponsors. She voted for and continues to support the war in Iraq.

and of course the other 30 are just worthless