51

[pecunium]

That's the number of the beasts.

The number of those senators who voted to repeal habeas corpus, to make the president (and the president alone; though he can delegate it) capable of deep-sixing anyone in the United States, or abroad, for as long as he likes.

Those are the number who recreated the Star Chamber, only this time it's allowed to kill it's victims, not merely break them.

Those are the lawmakers who think torture is an acceptable means of treating the accused, and the merely imprisioned.

Those are the legislators who think more power to the executive is, if not a good idea, an acceptable one.

Here are the names.

Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Allen (R-VA) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Burns (R-MT) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) Crapo (R-ID)

DeMint (R-SC) DeWine (R-OH) Dole (R-NC) Domenici (R-NM) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Frist (R-TN) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Kyl (R-AZ) Lott (R-MS)

Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Murkowski (R-AK) Nelson (D-NE) Roberts (R-KS) Santorum (R-PA) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Stevens (R-AK) Talent (R-MO) Thomas (R-WY) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA)

Ben Nelson was kind enough to make it possible to avoid having the Vice President break the tie.

The other 49, who voted against it, are no better. A filibuster ought to have been possible. the could have said this was a principle on which they were willing to stand, or fall. They could (rightly) cavil, saying, this was too important to be rushed in the last minutes of the legislative posturing which is an election year.

But they didn't.

So they deserve plaudits and brickbats.

The others, they deserve more, but they need to be turned out of office, and not elected to anything, ever again, not so muh as crossing guard.

Comments

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I am still not up on the politics here in Iowa but was very dismayed (although not suprised I guess) to see an IA on that list.

For what it is worth, I wrote him an email. Every time someone tells me of an issue to worry about here, more stuff comes up. (Two big races here I guess in November.)

[geekchick]

The other 49, who voted against it

It was 48, I believe. I've seen in a couple of places that Olympia Snowe didn't vote.

[elf]

Sigh.

768 days and counting.

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

I feel sick. This is not my beautiful country. This is some sick, twisted, grotesquerie masquerading as my country.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

Hrmn... that's iffy. Where was she? It might be that she needs to be added to the 51.

TK

[geekchick]

Dunno. She's listed as "Not Voting" on the last five votes here (covering yesterday and today).

[waterlilly.livejournal.com]

It saddens me that both of my senators voted for it. I have voted against both of these people every single opportunity I have had. I write them and tell them what I want, and how disappointed I am in them, too. But they're Republicans, not representatives. It sickens me what they endorse in my name.

Living in TX and having a political conscience these days means being essentially disenfranchised.

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

Everyone I can vote for voted against this. Coverage of what may be the final version is so much worse than I had feared.

[tongodeon.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if you'd be willing to help me with a project. (http://tongodeon.livejournal.com/535795.html)

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I don't know how to do it, at least not in the terms you describe.

TK

[sploof.livejournal.com]

Question - this is the vote on the amendment to remove the habeas provisions, right?

As far as I know, there hasn't actually been a vote on the whole bill yet. The habeas provisions are a monstrosity, but the bill would still be a monstrosity even without them. It's almost certainly futile, but I'm still haranging Senators to filibuster the whoe thing.

[tongodeon.livejournal.com]

I've been able to piece together a scenario that seems like it would be pretty unpleasant, but I'm not sure whether that scenario is the actual scenario.

[geekchick]

It passed earlier this evening.

Question:  On Passage of the Bill (S. 3930 As Amended )
Vote Number: 	259	Vote Date: 	September 28, 2006, 06:37 PM
Required For Majority: 	1/2	Vote Result: 	Bill Passed
Measure Number: 	S. 3930
Measure Title: 	A bill to authorize trial by military commission for 
violations of the law of war, and for other purposes.
Vote Counts:	YEAs	65
	NAYs	34
	Not Voting	1

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the list, Terry -- I'll save it, though it's only partial. Eventually I'll come across a complete one of both House & Senate members who voted for and against -- and print it out as a _memento mori_ of a once-great nation and ideal.

[wyldraven.livejournal.com]

H. R. 6166 (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll491.xml)
S. 3930 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00259)

http://wyldraven.livejournal.com/234193.html