Regardless of their motives, Clinton and Obama did the right thing last night

I see many people here piling on to them even though they voted the way we wanted them to vote. The charge that they waited until the bill had the votes to pass before they voted lacks merit. The bill was going to pass easily anyway, for this was well-known long before the vote was taken.

I think many people here were setting up to trash Clinton and Obama, fully expecting them to vote yes. But they voted no, and some people were disappointed in this, and decided to trash them anyway. Were there political calculations behind their votes? I'm sure there were, as was the case for the other 533 members of Congress. But I submit, "so what?" Democratic primary voters demanded a no vote from these two senators, and they got what they wanted. That's called representation and democracy. All but one of the Democratic presidential candidates either voted against the bill or publicly opposed it, as did one Republican presidential candidate too.

I was disappointed that they didn't show any leadership in doing so. Both of them would like my vote to be president. I've seen more nerve at a church board meeting than either of them displayed with this nearly silent "no" vote.

I expect leaders to lead, not slip in the side door, cast a ballot, then skedaddle. I hope both of them do better in the future, but this was disappointing.

If you are going to vote NO and want to make a statement then say NO very loudly and demonstrably with corresponding press conferences and press releases.

I recall having to say NO a lot of times to my Sailors but I never said NO without giving them a reason and how they might affect a future yes vote.

Apparently Romney and McCain tried to give Obama grief over his vote. TPM Election Café has part of his response here:

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/may/25/obama_rips_romney_and_mccain_mocks_mccains_baghdad_stroll

This country is united in our support for our troops, but we also owe them a plan to relieve them of the burden of policing someone else's civil war. Governor Romney and Senator McCain clearly believe the course we are on in Iraq is working, but I do not.

And if there ever was a reflection of that it's the fact that Senator McCain required a flack jacket, ten armored Humvees, two Apache attack helicopters, and 100 soldiers with rifles by his side to stroll through a market in Baghdad just a few weeks ago.

Governor Romney and Senator McCain are still supporting a war that has cost us thousands of lives, made us less safe in the world, and resulted in a resurgence of al-Qaeda. It is time to end this war so that we can redeploy our forces to focus on the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 and all those who plan to do us harm.

________________________

Much better, Mr. Obama. Very much better.

I (naively) was holding out hope against hope that the bill would not pass. As the pressure continues to mount on the dumbfuck republicans that may be the next scene in this tragedy. bush whining for another blank check and congress coming up short.

for political expediency......

A right vote is right no matter the reason....kinda of like I don't give a shit why you don't beat your wife, if you don't.

The wackiest candidate bashing yet.

It's the same vote Kerry had to fight in 2004, he 'voted against the troops'. The same people who are bashing Obama & Hillary now, did not have Kerry's back over that vote in 2004. So fuck 'em, they're idiots, they need to pull their heads out, the Republicans are STILL the problem.

I am thrilled for the no vote, but wonder why, at 6pm eastern, you could call Senator Obama's office and be told that he has "not announced his voting intentions yet"?