Here's to Senator Leahy, in the face of vicious attacks and smears by the hillyfans

Senator Leahy isn't perfect, but he's been a terrific progressive voice on numerous issues for over 3 decades. And he's stuck his neck out for progressive causes and for the truth many times. He was kicked off the Intelligence Committee for getting the truth out there about Iran Contra. He's fought media consolidation. He's the leading voice in the Congress for a worldwide ban on landmines, and he's written and sponsored legislation to ban the use of cluster mines in civilian areas. Leahy wrote and sponsored the Habeas Corpus Restoration Act, and he wrote the strong War Profiteering Prevention Act, which unfortunately has not been brought up for a vote. He's largely responsible for Gonzalez stepping down. He singlehandedly stripped immunity from the JC version of the FISA bill. And that's just for starters.

And here's a clue: Leahy was simply speaking his mind yesterday on VPR about what he thinks is best for the dem party. He stands to gain nothing from his comments: He has a 70% plus approval rating in Vermon, and he's Senator for as long as he wishes. He has no ambitions beyond that position. He has not become wealthy in his 34 years in the Senate, in fact he is the 96th wealthiest Senator. He already has seniority and is one of the most powerful dems on the Hill. He simply said what he believed on VPR. Oh, and anyone who thinks those comments will hurt him in Vermont or in the Senate is simply delusional.

Some people identify as Edwards democrats or Dean democrats or Obama democrats. I'm a Vermonter and I've long identified as a Leahy democrat. He may not have charisma, but Leahy has long worked on issues and for causes I deeply believe in.

Leahy was sent anthrax, and told to go fuck himself by Cheney for his sharp criticism of Cheney over his Halliburton ties. He's long been a favorite target of the right wing, and now the hillcamp has decided to join in. The whiners who complain that Obama supporters are attacking Joe Wilson and General Clark- something I've never done- are engaged in the worst kind of rank hypocrisy.

How disgusting.

So here's to Pat Leahy, as good a dem as you'll find in Congress.

who even don't think "chickening out" will happen..Anti-Hillary folks want her out because they think she might pull it off and from what S and B said.."the publicity is good for her"...Bring it on!

Unlike so many hillfans, I've never criticized anyone for speaking out on her behalf or against Obama. Not Clark or Wilson or anyone else. The attacks on Leahy and on Kennedy and Kerry by your ilk are vile.

his statements.

I actually heard his full remarks both on VPR and later in the day. They're completely consistent.

...should be deeply ashamed.:thumbsdown:

love his Cheshire cat smile :-)

First he goes negative on Gonzales - now Clinton. What's next?

When Leahy went on national TV and made his statements of course I was not happy with it. That being said, he has his opinion and I have mine. He can demand Hillary drop out of the race and I can tell him to go take a walk off a short bridge. Call it attacks, call it what you want, but, I have a right to disagree with Leahy. You can support his decision and I can disagree with it. This is our constitutional right. That said, good morning my favourite Obama supporter. :hi:

I've no problem with your disagreeing with Pat- I've disagreed with him myself at times. But calling him a liar and a sexist and other crap is just smearing, and there's been a lot of that.

even though Bernie is an Indie, wonder if he might endorse Obama.

:kick:

Democrats in Congress and Senate. Rank and file voters seeing
him trying to push HRC out just might interpret this a lot differently
than activists interpret it.

Whether we like it or not the protection and free passes given
Obama remind Joe Sixpack of Affirmative Action.

The Liberal Media have never understood why they have been called
the Liberal Media and it stuck.

The GOp are working on their way to take back the House and Senate
. Real American Solutions. Their 94 rout.

The Media and Democrats in Congress have never understood that more
Americans like the Clintons than not. The Hilary Haters are the
Media and the Fundies. The Fundies are only about 20% of the Evangelicals.

I am saying this as a liberal who sees out party getting ready
to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It is not HRCs fault.

Obama has not been given any free passes or anything approaching any form of affirmative action. He's been attacked constantly over the past couple of weeks in the MSM, and hilly hasn't exactly gone easy on him with her kitchen sink strategy. And sorry, but large numbers of Americans, including dems and indies do not like Hillary, and she's not Bill. Even Bill's ratings have been sinking among dems. Repukes hate Hillary.

As for the Congress, dems are still in good shape regarding our prospects.

He held the hearings that resulted in Gonzo being publically discrediting and resigning.

He was responsible for ushering subpoenas for Rove and Bolton throught the JC.

He wrote and sponsored the habeas restoration act.

He wrote and sponsored the war profiteering prevention act.

He stripped immunity for the telecoms out of the FISA bill

He spoke out on the Senate floor about Sept 11th and how the admin could have stopped it.

He wrote and co-sponsored the legislation that would have restricted the use of cluster bombs in civilian areas.

And that's just a partial list. Of course you'll be unable to respond in any kind of cogent way.

Oh, and Hilly isn't a tenth the Senator that Leahy is and she'll never ever measure up in anyway. She's a pygmy compared to Leahy.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

His asking Hillary to get out of the race was in poor taste.. Leahy releases a statement asking her to withdraw and Dean is on the Today Show at the same time saying it's a virtual tie between Clinton and Obama and there is no clear winner yet. If Obama was as strong a contender as everyone seems to think he is, he should have closed her out of the race by now. He is not a closer. The more people see and hear about Obama, the less they like him. He's not the man people thought he was.

Hilly dear is done- and not just in this presidential race, but in any future race. Time for her to return to being a pedestrian Senator who would be a backbencher if she didn't bear the name Clinton.

:bounce: :toast: :woohoo:

He's one of the good guys, always has been. :patriot:

others have every right to disagree with him if they feel he is wrong. Disagreement does not equate attacking and smearing. I have looked at a few threads discussing Leahy's statement and I see very few of the "viscious attacks and smears" that you are so upset about.

a pink tutu dem, and a sexist are smears. And here's a thread with many such comments.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5302042

If we had a Congress full of Leahy-types, maybe we would have an honest government. He may not be perfect, but he's a breath of fresh air to me and the longer he can nip at the Repugs heels, the better.

We are so fortunate to have the Kennedy-Biden-Kerry-Dodd-Conyers-Leahy types fighting our battles. We should be walkin' proud. I sense they have been working hard behind the scenes to build on the evidence and bring out some eye-openers once this campaign truly gets underway. Perhaps that's why they want to remove the roadblock and get the show on the road.

I sent both Leahy and Conyers a "thank you" yesterday for their efforts on the Siegelman case and hope many more of you will do the same. They get enough criticism from the Repugs. Let's give credit where credit is due.

Here's to Pat Leahy.

Cali, I remember arguing (generally very civilly) with you back when I was for Edwards and you were still undecided. I'm glad we ended up on the same team.

He's great. That says it all.

LoL

Leahy is great.
I wish I had a Senator with half the balls of Leahy.
Instead of one big closeted sissy boy Senator named Craig who only wants to rub everyone else's balls.
And the infamous Invisible Man, Senator Crapped Out.

I know it's too much to hope that a dem will.

We don't have our primary until mid-May.

The way things look now is that the race is going to come down to LaRocco for the Democrats and somebody else for the Republicans.

At this point in time, the Republicans are in such disarray that I honestly can't predict who they will elect to put up against LaRocco in the fall.

However, if Obama is our nominee, I think LaRocco will have a very good chance of becoming the first Democrat Senator for Idaho since Frank Church.

Ok, dance in the little dirt lane that passes for a street, but still...

They're getting trashed too. :toast:

now I'm even hearing that it was evil Dean that forced Edwards out. It's beyond ridiculous.