Senator Mary Landrieu shouts LET US VOTE!

Iraq War discussion - United States Congress - all night Senate session

Republican senators from Kentucky and Tennessee suggested the procedural move that forced an all night session was a Democratic stunt. They said we should accept the 9/11 bipartisan report’s assessment, if the leadership of the Senate stands down and the President stands down, we might get the votes needed to work together.

Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana (D) didn’t appreciate the various veiled attacks on patriotism and she yelled at Republicans for calling Senators doing their job a stunt.

She went on to make a passionate speech about the Senate, democracy, and argued that “the Senate minority leader should let us vote”

“This is not a stunt” said Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisana (D)

I don’t see any fountains, or glitter, I take issue with the Senators from Tennessee and Kentucky who suggest this is a stunt.

“Tonight is not a stunt, it’s a statement!”

It is time for a vote and the minority leader won’t allow us to do so.

She referenced the recently released intelligence report that suggests Al Qaida has become a threat and is as strong as it was when September 11th happened.

I brought a picture tonight so I could remind the president what he looks like:

The Senator posted a large photo of Osama Bin Laden with reward, and said:

“He is not in Baghdad, this is not Hollywood, this is the Senate of the United States. Saddam Hussein did not attack the United States, Osama Bin laden did and he is still alive, and now there is terrorism in placed that there weren’t before. He is the leader and we need to find him. I don’t think spending one night on the floor of the Senate is too much to ask.

I hope no one comes to my state and accuses me of not supporting my troops in uniform. Every time people disagree with the President, we’re accused of not supporting the troops, the direction we are going is not right and we need to change course, fight smart, tough and go where the enemy is to protect America. We’re not doing that right now and that is what this debate is about. “

Lieberman responded by saying he exercised his right within the tradition of the Senate to stop the political passions of the moment from sweeping across congress into law and altering our future permanently. He also says he believes that withdrawing from Iraq would be horrible for the country’s national security interest. Lieberman also talked about bipartisanship and how disappointed he was that Senators in Congress split along party lines.

“Death to America,” shouted Joe Lieberman. “That is what our common enemy is thinking,… they don’t distinguish between Democrats and Republicans!”

Without having to watch the rest of the Senate ’stunt, I’ll clue you in on what to expect from both sides:

Democrat

1. Americans don’t want the war, the President has had 5 years
2. Al Qaida is as strong as they were when they carried out 9/11
3. Iraq is in the midst of a civil war, it is not our war
4. Osama bin Laden is not in Iraq, he is dangerous we need to find him
5. Disagreeing with our president is not “unamerican or unpatriotic”
6. the Senate was elected to do a job, we can’t just sit idly and let the President do whatever he wants.
7. Republicans suck, but Bush really really sucks and it’s all his and the Republicans fault.

Republican

1. Democrats are just playing partisan politics, it is all a game to them
2. we should stay in Iraq because it is right, not leave because it’s unpopular
3. these people hate us they won’t stop until we are all dead
4. we didn’t start the war, they did, 9/11 provoked this attack
5. Al Qaida wins if we pull out
6. Anyone who votes to withdraw will make us fail,
7. Losing is unacceptable, if we fail in Iraq, we fail our troops and America
8. Al Qaida is directly linked to Iraq!
9. We must support our troops (e.g. vote our way or you’re unAmerican)
10. Democrats suck, but losing the Iraq war really, really sucks and it’s the Democrats fault

Rinse, repeat!

Fred Soto is an Attorney and Entrepreneur from the Silicon Valley.
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