Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Cravens, Courage in the US Senate today

RAGE! That was my first response to the news that the US Senate today was unable to pass even less-than-universal background checks for firearm purchases -- even with a majority, and even with the vast majority of Americans, even gun-owning Americans, even NRA members -- in favor. Now comes discouragement. How will we progress as a country, if over ninety per cent of us are ignored? Only the gun manufacturers and their toadies get their way.

Here are the nays, from http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00097#position:

Alexander (R-TN)
Ayotte (R-NH)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Begich (D-AK)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX)
Enzi (R-WY)
Fischer (R-NE)
Flake (R-AZ)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heitkamp (D-ND)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (R-WI)
Lee (R-UT)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Portman (R-OH)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reid (D-NV)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rubio (R-FL)
Scott (R-SC)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

I want to call out the Democrats who voted no, as a Hall of Shame.

Senator Baucus of Montana, for shame.

Senator Begich of Alaska, for shame.

Senator Heitkamp of North Dakota, for shame.

Senator Pryor of Arkansas, for shame.

Senator Reid of Nevada, so much shame on your head.*

I can't begin to express how much disappointment and sadness you have brought to me.

On the positive side, there were Republicans who bucked their party, and they should be called out as well. These Republicans showed as much courage as the roll above earned shame today.

The Roll Call of Courage:

Senator Susan Collins, of Maine, thank you.

Senator Mark Kirk, of Illinois, thank you.

Senator John McCain, of Arizona, thank you.

Senator Pat Toomey, of Pennsylvania, double thanks to you.

Thank you to all of the heroic victims of gun violence who spoke up, who worked, wrote, raised money, and lobbied for gun safety. Thank you to all of you in the majority who voted for gun safety.

There is so much more I want to say, but while feeling so full of rage and sadness, I will refrain. We must be the change we want in the world.

*I've heard that this NAY vote was "merely procedural." I guess time will tell if that is true or not. However, by not reforming the Senate rules when there was a lot of momentum to curb the power of the minority, Harry Reid set the stage for this heart-breaking vote today.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I'm just as floored as you. In all honesty - I really don't think these human beings quite understand the cards they have shown with this vote.

This is one more piece of a puzzle that comes together to show the mass of mentality bought and paid for, like Prostitutes. The only difference is that you'd see a legitimate Prostitute feed her neighbor's kids at the same table with her own, after making that money 'under the table.'

This vote will coincide with a Farm Bill that will be shot down just the same. Sooner or later - people in this country will begin to feel a common pain resulting from a crashing domino effect. And when that happens - our nation's government body will find its second head reaching back to inflict the fatal bite. Because God always gets the last word. And it's always in line with turning all the bad into good for those of us with proper hearts.