Senator Bernie Sanders: "It's Time to Stand up and Fight Back-PREPARE-To Keep Senate Open 24/7"

BuzzFlash Exclusive from Senator Bernie Sanders: "It's Time to Stand up and Fight Back." "If Republicans want to keep backing the president through obstructionism (they set a new record last year for filibusters), we should be prepared to keep the Senate open 24 hours a day, seven days a week."


BuzzFlash Exclusive from Senator Bernie Sanders: "It's Time to Stand up and Fight Back"
Submitted by BuzzFlash on Thu, 01/10/2008 - 10:34am. Guest Contribution
A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)


Remember the Rumble in the Jungle? In the 1974 heavyweight title bout, Muhammad Ali absorbed furious body blows from George Foreman for seven straight rounds. Then, in the eighth round, Ali dropped the exhausted Foreman and reclaimed the championship. In the Senate, this year should be our eighth round. This should be the year when Democrats stop playing rope-a-dope and put up a fight for people who are hurting. Caseworkers in my Vermont office are sensing a level of desperation among low-income people that has not been seen for a very long time. Similar scenes are taking place all across the country. Homeless shelters are running out of beds. Food banks have depleted their supplies. Many elderly and poor people will soon be going cold in their homes because a federal program is running out of funds to help pay record-high heating bills.

In other words, in the United States of America in the winter of 2007-2008, a significant and growing number of our people are hungry, cold and homeless. Many of them also lack access to doctors, dentists or adequate childcare for their young kids. The average working family has seen a decline in their real income during the years since George W. Bush took office. This is America, not some struggling Third World country.

.......

If Republicans want to keep backing the president through obstructionism (they set a new record last year for filibusters), we should be prepared to keep the Senate open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Republicans should be given all of the time they need to explain to the American people why they want to continue spending $12 billion a month in Iraq, why they want more tax breaks for millionaires, and why they believe the U.S. should trail the rest of the world in addressing the crisis of global warming – among many other issues.

The Senate Democratic caucus cannot control the actions of the White House or Republican senators. What we can do is make it crystal clear to the American people that senators want to move this country in a different direction, and who wants to maintain the status quo. It is impossible to predict what kind of legislative success an aggressive approach like this will have. At the very least, it will clear the air and let Americans know that some of us are aware of reality outside the Beltway, and are prepared to stand up and fight.

more at:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/node/4067

I want to see the Dems work for the people!

Spring Break and July 4th break.

When do they come back from their VERY LONG vacation anyway? They've been off since before X-Mas!

:patriot:

Fight the Bush/Cheney regime with every ounce of your being.

Do NOT let them accomplish one more thing. Because any thing they accomplish will be at the expense of ordinary Americans.

We can expose the Republicans for what they are without shows like this.

Here's hoping senators support Sanders in his call. Will they?

At least one Senator is serious about doing the job he was elected to do.