Republicans Are Shocked The Public Is Mad At Them For Voting Against Franken’s Anti-Rape Amendment
Republicans Are Shocked The Public Is Mad At Them For Voting Against Franken’s Anti-Rape Amendment
Last month, 30 Republican senators voted against Sen. Al Franken’s (D-MN) amendment that would punish defense contractors “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.” His amendment was inspired by Jamie Leigh Jones, who was gang-raped by her co-workers while working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad in 2005, and then had to fight her employer for justice.
The GOP senators who sided with defense contractors at the expense of women — such as John Thune (SD) — have been facing an intense backlash. David Vitter (LA) refused to give a rape victim a straight answer when she confronted him about his vote, claiming that he is “absolutely supportive of any [rape] case like that being prosecuted criminally to the full extent of the law.”
Politico reports that Republicans are now scratching their heads at why the public is so incensed about their “no” votes:
Privately, GOP sources acknowledge that they failed to anticipate the political consequences of a “no” vote on the amendment. And several aides said that Republicans are engaged in an internal blame game about why they agreed to a roll-call vote on the measure, rather than a simple voice vote that would have allowed the opposing senators to duck criticism.
As BarbinMD writes, “Seriously? They voted against an amendment that was prompted by the brutal gang-rape of a young woman by her co-workers while she was working for a company under contract for the United States government, after which she was locked in a shipping container without food or water, threatened if she left to seek medical treatment, and was then prevented from bringing criminal charges against her assailants. And they failed to anticipate the political consequences?”
Thune is also claiming that Franken doesn’t really care about Jones and other rape victims whose employers have blocked them from seeking justice; he and other Democrats just wanted to “create a vote which they could use to attack Republicans.”
So basically, the only lesson they learned is that next time, they have to hide their votes when they decide to screw over women’s rights. That way, they can support their allies in the contracting business and the public will never find out.
153 Responses to “Republicans Are Shocked The Public Is Mad At Them For Voting Against Franken’s Anti-Rape Amendment”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
frankly, no pun intended, i was surprised people didn’t make a bigger deal of this at the time. now i guess i’m glad they didn’t tip off the rethugs.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:28 pmHopefully the public appreciates the fact that GOP legislators are uniformly opposed to anything favored by Democrats – regardless of the merits.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:29 pmKumpletelee Klewless Republiklans.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:32 pm.
The G(no)P sounds embarrassed that they got caught. But really, sexism is an identifying character of a Fascist form of government.
.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pmThe lesson the Republicans should take from this is that there are a lot of people who are far more intelligent than Fox viewers and they have a sense of justice.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:34 pmIf Democrats acted like Republicans, Democrats would be calling the Republicans the Party of Rape. If the shoe were on the other foot, Republicans would be repeating it every chance they got. You would hear things like “how can we trust Democrats to fix health care, they are the party of rape.”
November 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pmJeebus H. Keereist are these phuckers stoopid!
And kraven! May they rot in he’ll
November 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pmPrivately, GOP sources acknowledge that they failed to anticipate the political consequences of a “no” vote on the amendment
_____________________________________________________________
They just assumed nobody would be paying attention, as they always do.
But this is an issue that can be grasped by the bright and the dim alike. Bright people understand that a “no” vote on the amendment indicates the lawmaker cares more about the profits and the convenience of the fat cat contractor (and the platoon of money-oozing lobbyists that go with) than he does about employees who get raped on the job. Dim people just see a “no” vote on the amendment as a “yes” vote to rape (the bright people see that, too).
They didn’t even bother making a lame argument for their side for the kool-aid drinkers to suck up. How do I know this? The trolls haven’t even come in here to argue that the world as we know it would go to h*ll in a handbasket if employees were allowed to take their case to court when raped.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pmEvidently The Republicans haven’t figured out that if you set yourself up as an obstruction or a blockage you get one of two things.
A very messy floor around you if you manage to succeed.
Or personal experience about how an armadillo in the middle of the fast lane feels when the semi passes through.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:38 pmThune is also claiming that Franken doesn’t really care about Jones and other rape victims whose employers have blocked them from seeking justice; he and other Democrats just wanted to “create a vote which they could use to attack Republicans.”
____________________________________________________________
Totally lame — is this the best Thune can do to explain himself?
If this was the Democrats’ plan, why didn’t the Republicans call their bluff and vote for the amendment — thereby depriving the Dems of this weapon?
November 13th, 2009 at 5:39 pmOK, the Republicans are shocked. And dismayed. But will they do anything about it?
My guess is no. Which means LOTS of fodder for the campaign ads of the Democrats next year.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:42 pmRepublicans are shocked over the public being angry because they voted against an Anti-Rape amendment. Wow…just wow!
What else are the republicans against, that the public should be angry with:
1-Against affordable health care and health care reform.
2-Against anti slave labor and child labor laws.
3-Against Pro-Choice for women.
4-Against Peace.
5-Against Diplomacy.
6-Against the Democratic Process.
7-Against President Obama as he tries to clean up the mess left by eight years of a republican president and 12 years of republican rule of the house.
8-Against any social programs which help or assist those less fortunate.
9-Against supporting programs for children once they leave their mothers womb.
10-Against any form of honest, truthful debate or reasonable discussion.
11-Against reining in any of the hateful, divisive, dangerous rhetoric being spewed by their own members and members of their propaganda mouthpieces like Fox and Rush Limbaugh.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:43 pmThanks, Mr. Franken, for revealing further things about these people.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:43 pmmissmolly,
November 13th, 2009 at 5:43 pmOf course Thune ran to Ms. Jones defense, YES?
,
Of course that “BIG TENT” looks very big once you’ve run minorities and women out from it, NO?
.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:45 pm“And several aides said that Republicans are engaged in an internal blame game about why they agreed to a roll-call vote on the measure, rather than a simple voice vote that would have allowed the opposing senators to duck criticism.”
___________________________________________________________
OK, question about procedure here. What would have happened if the Republicans DIDN’T agree to a roll-call vote? Would a roll-call vote have happened anyway if the Democrats wanted one? Or do both parties have to agree how a vote will take place, otherwise the item never comes to a vote?
I always thought that a roll-call vote was taken if a motion was made and seconded for one, regardless of party. But I admit I really don’t know for sure.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:46 pmMax Anax junius -1 says
November 13th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Of course that “BIG TENT” looks very big once you’ve run minorities and women out from it, NO?
_____________________________________________________________
Not to mention gays, non-Christians, political moderates, and anybody who doesn’t lean right of the John Birchers.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:48 pmRepublicans Don’t Think
Republicans Don’t Grow
November 13th, 2009 at 5:49 pmThese Republican fellers don’t seem to have gotten the memo that women have had the right to vote for some nine decades now. Guess that isn’t surprising for a party that seems to be a good century behind the times.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:50 pm#15 & #18, FLAGGED.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:50 pmRepublican’ts have no ability to put themselves in anyone else’s shoes… women, minorities, the poor, people harmed by big business, people without health care.. and on and on and on…
November 13th, 2009 at 5:51 pmHitler, Jamie didn’t get drunk and have sex, she was gang raped, then kidnapped. The fact that you think women who come forward after being raped just regret getting drunk and having sex tells us all we need to know about your social life. Is that how your mommy and daddy met?
November 13th, 2009 at 5:51 pmTo Troll was an idiot @18
November 13th, 2009 at 5:51 pmPlease stop boring us with the bad decisions you made last weekend. We don’t care.
Hitler Was A Leftist says:
————————————————————–
First of all, your moniker shows just how IGNORANT you really are.
Second of all, your sick, stupid, inflammatory remarks show that you are a misogynist and have the maturity level of a three year old.
Keep em coming you offensive, insignificant troll. Show the world how truly repulsive and ignorant the right really is.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:52 pmAnd Hitler, Jesus was a communist.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:52 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
HItler’s mom must be one big whore.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:53 pmIt’s good to know that the Republipimps are maintaining their public image of idiocy and stupidity. They’ve gone from being the party of ‘law and order’ to the party of ‘arbitration and ducking the consequences’.
I still wonder why some enterprising Democratic Committee Chair in the House or Senate hasn’t pulled in the CEO, etc, of Halliburton and KBR and perhaps a few other major contractors to get an explanation from those corporate heads and legal officers why they think they can submit a criminal issue to arbitration rather than do due lawful diligence. The managers who kept Jamie Leigh Jones locked in a transportainer instead of getting her back to the US and her attackers into legal custody are complicit in her rape. Civil contracts, such as an agreement to arbitration, do not supercede criminal law; criminal law trumps civil contracts.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:53 pmmissmolly says:
OK, question about procedure here. What would have happened if the Republicans DIDN’T agree to a roll-call vote? Would a roll-call vote have happened anyway if the Democrats wanted one?
The answer is that there are voice votes and Reid could have declared the bill passed. At that point, either party can move for a roll call vote. I would suggest that even if Reid said it passed on a voice vote, the Republicans would have forced a roll call vote. They are forcing roll call votes so that they can be used in reelection campaigns. This one backfired.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:56 pmLondra and hitler sitting in a tree
November 13th, 2009 at 5:56 pmTaking turns sucking each other’s flaccid weenie
They can’t get dates and they can’t get laid
cuz they’re ugly and they smell
and they can’t hold a job so they don’t get paid
Do we have Republican senators trolling on the board now? Hitler boy sure sounds like Vitter to me.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:57 pm@zzclowns! Party of no. No ideas, no cooperation, no solutions, no business in office.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:57 pmHItler’s first two sentences are lies-he isn’t sorry she was raped and he’s not looking at the facts.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:59 pmReport his as* till he’s banned.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:59 pmI gotta wonder if Hitlefty’s daughter wears skanky clothes…
November 13th, 2009 at 6:00 pmThe Dems (thanks to a smart freshman Senator, whom many discounted) saw a serious problem and corrected it.
The GOP isn’t used to solving problems it appears. They complain about how bad government is, were in charge for too many years and proved their own point.
The GOP, not really carrying about workers being able to file any claims about anything, even a rape charge, voted with the war profiteering companies. These companies have had little or no grown up oversight and certainly far too little accountability, while supposedly working for the US and getting paid by every taxpayer.
How some of these people can sleep at night is beyond me. But then some of them seem to be numb as a hake and unethical to boot. Send ‘em all back home!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:00 pmPity me. I live in a state with two Neanderthals for Senators. This is how Senator Enzi responded to my complaint about his vote:
“I took the same position on Senator Franken’s amendment that President Obama and the Department of Defense took.”
Yea, blame it on Obama. 1. Obama didn’t oppose it, although he wasn’t singing its praises. 2. As if the obstructionist Republicans would follow Obama’s lead on anything.
Still waiting to hear from Barrasso.
There is an effort to strip Franken’s amendment from the final bill since defense contractors don’t like it. We must keep up the pressure.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:01 pmGood point Rich H- sorry I engaged with that troll. I reported him, flagged him, now I will ignore him.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:01 pmThese sorry old white guys are so far removed from reality that their sense of self importance impedes them from being in touch with the rest of the planet.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:01 pmAnd these are the morons who are writing our laws?
The constant complaint from the Republicans and their trollish toads that they aren’t to blame for anything, that other people make them do things and look bad is getting more blatant by the day.
Waaaaa, the Dems passed a decent law and made us vote against it! Stop blaming us because we have to act stupid. Our Party tells us so!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:02 pmRUC, but say something mean about them and look out! Their feelings get hurt and they demand apologies until the cows come home. And then they fu(k em.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:03 pmThe Dems should really take advantage of this latest trend in Republican behavior. That of getting all huffy and stomping out in a childish hissy fit when confronted with facts and honest questions and opinions.
Maybe they could get all the Republicans to storm out of Congress and then some real work could get done in the quiet that followed.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:07 pmHitler Was A Leftist
flagged for being a ☭
November 13th, 2009 at 6:08 pmrepublicans have their heads way too embedded deep in their own asses to ever understand how a normal decent rational person might take their self-absorbed, flagrantly egotistical, misogynistic clap trap as vile, repulsive, and disgusting. republicans are such horribly sorry excuses for human beings it stifles the mind to try to even comprehend their loathsomeness.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:10 pm.
Dear Hitler lover,
Of course women should be dressed more appropriately…
… Like wearing a Burqa, for starters, NO?
… Because we all know the Burqa is designed to protect women from men’s inability to control themselves.
After all, it isn’t the man’s fault he rapes a woman…
… Because as we all know, men are NOT responsible for their actions, YES?
.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:10 pm@ 15 & 18. Schicklgruber was a …
So, if Hitler was a leftist, where does this leave Genghis Khan and Louis the Fourteenth? Are we supposed to think of them as a couple of commie marxists? After all, Hitler is usually deemed to be to the right of them. And that would mean that “Hitler-was-a-leftist” is really completely beyond the pale; how else to take a claim that Hitler was to the left of one’s self; so you’re a murdering megalomanical what(?), “Hiter was…”, some kind of super anarchic skin super thug? Still in your mom’s basement, are you?
November 13th, 2009 at 6:11 pmMyth: Hitler was a leftist.
Fact: Nearly all of Hitler’s beliefs placed him on the far right.
Many conservatives accuse Hitler of being a leftist, on the grounds that his party was named “National Socialist.” But socialism requires worker ownership and control of the means of production. In Nazi Germany, private capitalist individuals owned the means of production, and they in turn were frequently controlled by the Nazi party and state. True socialism does not advocate such economic dictatorship — it can only be democratic. Hitler’s other political beliefs place him almost always on the far right. He advocated racism over racial tolerance, eugenics over freedom of reproduction, merit over equality, competition over cooperation, power politics and militarism over pacifism, dictatorship over democracy, capitalism over Marxism, realism over idealism, nationalism over internationalism, exclusiveness over inclusiveness, common sense over theory or science, pragmatism over principle, and even held friendly relations with the Church, even though he was an atheist.
The full article can be found here.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:14 pmtards, hitler sounds like rhf!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:15 pmDo they have such disregard for women that this “treatment” is OK in their minds? Compassionate Conversvatives? Words fail me.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:15 pmF’n goddamn clueless misogynistic MORONS.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:17 pmTrue ethics have always been a difficult concept
November 13th, 2009 at 6:20 pmfor the GOP immoral minority to grasp.
But then, perpetual sucking up to corporate war profiteers
has got to warp your perspective on life, in general.
One thing I don’t understand…why aren’t all votes, necessarily, recorded? I saw in the health care debate, for example, about how a representative has to ask for a roll-call of the vote, why isn’t this mandatory? Don’t constituents have the right to know what their representative voted for?
November 13th, 2009 at 6:22 pmThere are times that even the GOP should stand up for what’s right and not look for a political angle. This was a hate crime and the GOP sided with hate. There’s no apology. They’re pissed there’s an audit trail for later.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:22 pmApparently the motivation among Republicans to oppose everything put forth by a Democrat is stronger than the motivation to do the right thing.
The Democrats could really capitalize on this. I recommend they bring forth legislation that honors mothers, condemns cannibalism, and declares torture to be immoral. Just to watch the Republicans disagree with them.
Oh, wait — the Republicans already decided there’s nothing wrong with torture, didn’t they?
November 13th, 2009 at 6:23 pm卐Hitler Was A republican卐
November 13th, 2009 at 6:27 pmNow all the Dems need to do is show the footage of these SOBs fighting for Big Business over the plight of a rape victim. Now only was it callous, it was immoral.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:28 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Well missmolly, they’d vote against that legislation, too. They don’t care about mothers (health care, unemployment, reproductive care, etc.), they’re eating their own so cannibalism is OK in the party of GNOP, and they approve of torture and fear the repercussions of the upcoming 9/11 trial.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:30 pmyeah, cause liberals support laws that let people get away with rape.
moron.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:31 pmTrollspotter and Skyler—I had some students like the trolls in my U.S. History classes. They were incapable of retaining information. When we had tests, they always wanted to know whether they could use their notes or their textbooks for “help” in passing the test ( perpetual cheaters). Therefore, we shouldn’t expect them to remember much of anything that they were supposed to learned in any history class.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:31 pmHubris, anyone? Even some of the neoCon sheep apparently draw the line at gang rape. The rest of them, if Jones had gotten pregnant, would be too busy making sure she couldn’t get an abortion to care about brutality and unlawful confinement.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:32 pmprove it liar.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:33 pmHitler was a Leftist? That is the most retarded thing I’ve read here all day, and with these trolls that’s really a stunning achievement.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:36 pmDon’t worry guys, the hitler lover isn’t smart enough to even hold a job.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:38 pmThat’s right, Hitler.
Fascism needs a big corporatist economy!
The “rightist” repugs and blue dogs are working hard with lobbyists
November 13th, 2009 at 6:39 pmto achieve that, as we speak.
This Thune character is a bad actor and just as much of a tool as Boehner+Co. And to think that David Brooks calls him the future of the GOP in 2012 in today’s NYT in a column that is about the stupidest love letter from a fawning journalist to a morally corrupt and intellectually bankrupt politician I’ve ever seen.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:39 pmThune: Franken doesn’t really care about Jones and other rape victims.
????? What as$holes Thune and the republiscum are.
These low life, scum bag, cretins just don’t get it.
And I hope the Don’t Get Voted Back In.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:44 pmThe rightwing NUTJOBS are SCRREAMING on Politico…
“She should have READ HER CONTRACT!!!
And is there a NUTJOB here AGAIN trying to claim Hitler was a LEFTIST.
What an unamerikkkan MORON.
Obviously a supporter of FASCIST TRAITORS Bush and Cheney.
LOL!!!!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:47 pmHitler Loved Prescott Bush the TRAITOR.
Prescott loved Adolf.
George W. sukked dix in college, according to Victor Ashe.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:48 pmA troll with the moniker ‘Hitler was a Leftist’??? I guess his choice for a tag says it all, am I right people?
November 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm@72, If you hate Hitler, why the name choice? Did you think you would shock us faint hearted progressives? Thst’a wierd Man.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:54 pm“My feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God’s truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter. In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. How terrific was His fight for the world against the Jewish poison. To-day, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed His blood upon the Cross. As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice… And if there is anything which could demonstrate that we are acting rightly it is the distress that daily grows. For as a Christian I have also a duty to my own people.”
-Adolf Hitler, in a speech on 12 April 1922 (Norman H. Baynes, ed. The Speeches of Adolf Hitler, April 1922-August 1939, Vol. 1 of 2, pp. 19-20, Oxford University Press, 1942)
November 13th, 2009 at 6:54 pmI wonder if this is the last thread for the day?
I’m thinking any comments or discussion
of degenerates would be on topic . . . .
What a field day for the trolls.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:59 pmHwaL, if Hitler was a leftist, why is he considered a fascist, a right-wing authoritarian ism?
I think you’re just here to party with Olby Sucks. He’d love you!
November 13th, 2009 at 7:03 pm@80, LOL! OH YEAH! Rewrite history you unintelligent ass. ‘That’s why I chose this name’. You are such a child. Shall we resort to, ‘I know you are, but what am I!’ What a chump!
November 13th, 2009 at 7:03 pmHow did this d!pshit Hitler troll come to the conclusion that Muslims – especially the fundamentalist terrorist wing – is leftist? Once again, an astounding lack of knowledge about both history and current events.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:03 pmHitler, circa 1940: “I am now as before a Catholic and will always remain so.”
People need to stop pretending Hitler wasn’t religious. He appointed a Reich Bishop for cryin’ out loud. How much evidence to people need?
November 13th, 2009 at 7:04 pmHitler Is A Liar….should be your handle…scum sucking fck head.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:04 pmThe National Socialist Party was not just conservative, but what we would consider far-right wing conservative. One of the ways they engendered hatred for Jews was to point out that so many of them were “liberals.”
November 13th, 2009 at 7:06 pmI wonder how this troll gets his shoes on the correct foot? Does his mommy paint one foot green and the other red and then do the same for all his shoes?
November 13th, 2009 at 7:10 pmHitler Was A Leftist does not piss me off. He amuses me, as I realize he did not learn anything in American or World History and must never use a dictionaary. Every history course I ever took says Hitler was a fascist, and fascism is a rightist form of government. The first definition in Webster’s dictionary says facism is “a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government — opposed to democracy and liberalism.” Go away, little man Hitler. You have no power here.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:13 pmYeah, about that…..what it does is make you look uneducated and well indoctrinated. Nothing more.
Read a book, think for yourself. Ask questions, don’t believe what falwell tells you from his crypt.
Stop being a dufus who shows everyone how little you really know. And stop insisting that you’re right. You’re not. You are wrong.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:13 pmThere’s a simple explanation: idiots like this particular troll don’t understand political nuance or even general definitions. All they understand is the Manichean good/evil duality, and in that context, anything that can be seen as “evil” is a synonym for “leftist”.
Saves them wear-and-tear on a brain that is overtaxed by operating a non-electric can opener.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:14 pmI think it’s time to invoke Godwin’s Law.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:16 pmOT but delicious:
FACT CHECK: Palin’s book goes rogue on some facts
This should be a best seller for a “how not to” book.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:16 pmWell, of course, Webster’s is liberally biased. Just like the Bible. That’s why conservapedia was forced to launch an effort to establish the Conservative Bible Project.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:17 pmThe republicans can do it but not liberals………
卐卐卐卐卐卐
November 13th, 2009 at 7:18 pmThis is Off Topic, But I’m pissed. After all his attention on abortion Chris(Tweety)Matthews didn’t even mention the fact that the RNC provided abortion services for their staff. How typical. For 18 years, the Repugs had that coverage from thier insurers, and Tweety failed to mention it. What a jerk.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:24 pmThat’s some serious lack of humanity right there.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:27 pmHitler Was A Leftist
I thought I’d seen every sick, disgusting type of troll on this site – until now.
This one takes the cake – I hope it chokes on it
November 13th, 2009 at 7:42 pmHitler Was A Leftist!??
Yeah Right. That explains why Hitler converted the German War Industries into a bunch of worker run Co-Ops.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:48 pmFred says:
OT but delicious:
FACT CHECK: Palin’s book goes rogue on some facts
Funny thing is another book is coming out at the same time called “Sarah Palin An American Nightmare“. Awesome.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:52 pmFred @ 92: Yes, OT, and yes! Delicious. The only thing stupider than Palin (Sarah, not Michael, whom I revere) is a Palin backer
November 13th, 2009 at 8:01 pmAmanda: Thanks again for pointing out how tin-eared these loons really are. They think that the Family (of “C” street fame) and their evangelistic fake backing make them impervious to be called stupid and it sticking…
It’s sticking – THEY ARE STUPID AND DESERVE TO BE STONED !!!….
November 13th, 2009 at 8:31 pmWhen Thune said Democrats wanted to “create a vote which they could use to attack Republicans” what he was really is saying is that Democrats wanted to show Republicans for what they really are, the party of no, more interested in political power than being responsible civil servants.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:38 pmHitler/Palin 2012!
November 13th, 2009 at 8:52 pmThis is the response I received from my Republican Senator, Roger Wicker:
November 13th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
The GOP is so out of touch, they didn’t realize they were out of touch.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:20 pm“Politico reports that Republicans are now scratching their heads at why the public is so incensed about their “no” votes”
And the Party of No are surprised by the anger by the public? Gee, ya think? A coconut can drop on these clowns’ heads and the GOP will never get it. The GOP are in tunnel vision and deaf ears to the American people’s issues and concerns which is why they look at buffoons and their party are falling apart by the seams.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:23 pmzxbe says:
The GOP is so out of touch, they didn’t realize they were out of touch.
No surprise. They have no feelings.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:23 pmHitler,
You claim Hitler was a leftist?
King George of England was leftist?
Stalin was a leftist?
All bad guys are leftist?
Let me guess, you have been listening to Glenn Beck again? I am warning you, Beck will rot your brain faster than any Kool-Aid you can find. You see brain rot all the time at this site, rotten troll brains, and it’s disgusting.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:31 pmI think most of them voted against it partly out of pure animosity towards Franken. They hate that he was elected; they hate that he’s proposed an amendment that passed so quickly; they hate that he sticks up for Liberal ideas.
They would rather vote against good legislation than see him succeed.
They put party before country and themselves before all.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:34 pmIf this hitler troll really wanted to name himself after the most evil man in recent history, he should have called himself ‘Cheney was a Conservative.’
November 13th, 2009 at 9:52 pmI find it amusing that these fine Senators are shocked that the public doesn’t understand the Republican set of principles. How could anyone ever question the motives of the Republican Party, they are above approach!
I am shocked that the Republicans don’t understand the appearance of their corrupt principles.
“The Emperor with no cloths on”
November 13th, 2009 at 9:53 pmlivelongandprosper says:
You’re right, they have no feelings, which is why they have no empathy.
November 13th, 2009 at 9:54 pmHitler likes to fondle choir boys reminds me of one “John Kerry” who chose his name because he thought he would win when we said bad things about John Kerry. This incarnation thinks he wins when we type “Hitler was a leftist”. Kind of like when his big sister would take his hand and slap him with it while she chanted “why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself?”
he can’t win an argument using reason, facts or logic, so he resorts to this level of infantile crap. typical republicant.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:11 pm“Thune is also claiming that Franken doesn’t really care about Jones and other rape victims.”
I’m convinced that Al and Frannie care about people and are adult and human.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:12 pmPeople in groups tend to share characteristics with those in the group.
Psychopaths/Sociopaths don’t much care about people.
Is Thune projecting his psychopathic self on to Franken and truly believe that no Homo-Sapien does or can care?
Is Thune the one who doesn’t really care?
Could GOP = Gathering/Group of Psychopaths.
This line of thought explains a lot of things to me.
Is my line of thinking wrong? If so, Please state why.
NRNRNRE says:
“…Is my line of thinking wrong? If so, Please state why.”
Nope. I think that you pretty well nailed it.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:16 pmRepiggies are mired in the 1950’s.
The citizenry is not.
The repiggies labor under the mistaken notion that the teabaggers represent the majority of the population.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:44 pmThe GOP Senators got blindsided because their outlook is so cold and calculated on every issue. Human emotion is an issue they are incapable of feeling. Think not, just look at how the local GOP is going after Sen. Lindsey Graham R-SC.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:44 pmHitler was a RIGHTWINGNUT
You are a liar. A stupid punkass troll and an ignorant pile of dogshit. Just go kill yourself. You are so stupid and disgusting it is the only possible good thing you can do for humanity
November 13th, 2009 at 11:54 pmConservaTROLL
Why havent you killed yourself yet. You fill all decent human beings with virulent disgust. Just STFU and do the right thing
November 13th, 2009 at 11:57 pmReally hitler was…are you that stupid? Are you really, really that stupid? When did you stop bed-wetting or is that they way you stay warm?
November 14th, 2009 at 12:25 amThose guys are basically dinosaurs. They are on their way out. Their inability to grasp the situation shows they are not well suited for the continued existence of their progeny. We humans can only hope they continue to infect their own kind with their in-breeding.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:32 amIf only Al Franken’s amendment was about child rapists and nailing them to a cross for their crimes, these GOP jokers would step over each other to look bipartisan in support of it.
If a woman gets raped by a friend or contributor of the GOP or just needs an abortion, they’re better off just working directly for the RNC. This kind of logic only magnifies why Sarah Palin is still a main attraction for them.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:32 amHitler Was A Leftist says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Fascism is NOT a right wing form of government. All conservatives stand against every form of fascism. You see libs, for fascism to work you need BIG GOVERNMENT, something we conservatives hate.
Obviously you haven’t read or understood a history book since elementary school. Look up the word fascism in the dictionary. Any dictionary. Tell us what that definition is please, because I doubt it is partisan. Do you also know what a totalitarian form of government is? Many people like yourself who cry fascism at every turn also confuse it with totalitarianism. China imposes totalitarianism in its suppression of the media, censorship of the media and internet, limit of free speech, state run of the media, so on.
When you want to stop wearing the I Am Patriot shirt with the arrow pointing up, with the words under that says “swallows neocon tripe whole above the neck” all you are is an uneducated tool.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:44 am@ 80. Hitler Was A Leftist says: This comment has been voted down. Click to read. I think it pisses liberals off to know that the most evil man in recent history ( knock on wood ) was a left wing liberal. That is why I chose this name. November 13th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
The only thing that pisses me off about your remarks, HWAL, is the fact that you’re here with an argument which has been beaten to death several times, which is demonstrably wrong, and which you, in you newbie arrogance, think is shoving it to a bunch of people of whom you know next to nothing.
What is a leftist, HWAL? Define it. Give us a link so we can check your references.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:55 amIn the late 50’s girls had to go to a back room and a dirty house where a woman would use a wire hanger to abort a baby. I remember listening to the police calls as my Dad was a police officer. They would find a girl dead. This was common in the inter cities and even white girls would travel over in the hood to use the service. Families with money sent their daughters overseas to get their abortions. Let’s say the numbers were more then those who died in 9/11. Many girls got infections or worse and some couldn’t have children again. Our Law Makers saw this crossed color lines and put a stop to it. Now history will repeat itself because the GOP don’t think it’s important. Now we’ll soon learn of some Law Makers who have paid for their ladies of the night to have abortions.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:15 am@102. Hitler Was A Leftist says: This comment has been voted down. Click to read. Fascism is NOT a right wing form of government. All conservatives stand against every form of fascism. You see libs, for fascism to work you need BIG GOVERNMENT, something we conservatives hate. November 13th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Contrary to the Bozo Libertarian doctrine which you use to wash the rock in your head, HWAL, Fascism, being an extreme form of Nationalism, is, by general consensus in the political community, on the Right. The same thing is true for Nazis; they espouse an extreme form of Nationalism. Big government is not a unique prerogative of the Left. Nationalist police states usually require big government, just like any other police state, whether it be left, right or center.
All conservatives do NOT stand against all forms of fascism. In fact, if you ever take the time to seriously study the politics and societies of the 20th Century, instead of slurping propaganda, you’ll find that the three major facist countries, Germany, Italy, and Spain, were both Nationalist in their politics and very conservative in their social policies, apart from the insane racism and ‘eugenics’ practiced in Germany.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:16 am@ 97. muzz says: “Hitler Was A Leftist” I thought I’d seen every sick, disgusting type of troll on this site – until now. This one takes the cake – I hope it chokes on it November 13th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Nah. One of these pops up every now and then; it might just be the same stupid kid with a new alias. Probably an adolescent libertarian that still lives at home with it’s parents and has no particular grasp of history or political science or economics, but it has a head full of Ron Paul or Ayn Rand or some other wad from a bullshit artist.
They or it always thinks nationalists, in the form of fascisti, nazis or falangists, are on the left, when they don’t even know where the left-right distinction comes from.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:24 amHitler Was A Leftist says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Hey bob, sorry she got gang rapped. But lets look at the facts. Would she have been gang raped if she was wearing appropriate clothing and not revealing skank clothes the liberal media pushes on women?
Would she have been raped if she carried a small pistol in her purse?
Just ponder those two questions for a moment, and get back to me.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:34 amYou’re a rape apologist, nothing more despicable than a rape apologist except an actual rapist…Instead of blaming rapists, you have to resort to blaming the victim. There is a reason why victims of rape do not report their crimes. It’s because of the victim-blaming that people like you engage in. You enable rapists and help foster the culture that degrades women. You should be proud..
Hitler Was A Leftist says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Fascism is NOT a right wing form of government. All conservatives stand against every form of fascism. You see libs, for fascism to work you need BIG GOVERNMENT, something we conservatives hate.
Why was it that the conservatives were the admirers of Mussolini and Hitler before they plunged the world into WWII? iF THEY were such liberals, wouldn’t it be the conservatives who were up in arms saying that we had to stop them?
November 14th, 2009 at 1:35 amSee how that works? Generally, they could get a LOT done by just voice voting (or not objections to “unanimous consent” requests) on things they KNOW have overwhelming support, but they choose to make Dems go through every hoop to slow things down and make it look like the Dems can’t get anything done. This situation illustrates the down side of it: every vote is on the record. Hoist on your own petard!
November 14th, 2009 at 1:41 amUosdwis, it really is funny isn’t it?
I admit that I can’t look away from watching them fail to even understand why they were wrong.
It’s like watching a crash in slow motion.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:45 amNRNRNRE says:
“Thune is also claiming that Franken doesn’t really care about Jones and other rape victims.”
Classic projection from the right as usual…They don’t give a damn about abortion but use it as a wedge issue anyway to attack Democrats and Progressives. If they did the 37 so-called “pro-life” senators would have voted to ban the EPA from using studies conducted on people, which include pregnant women with you guessed it, fetuses…
November 14th, 2009 at 1:47 amHitler Was A Leftist says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Most of the time “rape” is the womans fault.
If your mother, daughter, or sister happened to be raped, I sincerely hope you will utter that despicable line to them…
November 14th, 2009 at 2:12 amyou *will not* utter, sorry…
November 14th, 2009 at 2:38 amGood thing that the dim-witted troll who named himself “Hitler Was A Leftist” doesn’t realize that he makes himself look stupid in addition generally, by association, to make the Republicans and right-wingers also to look stupid.
From reading this blog it is quite evident that trolls aren’t the brightest bulb on the tree.
November 14th, 2009 at 5:14 amThe argument is about fascism. It’s about the belief that profits are more important than our morals. Now, some may argue that the right of a woman to refuse sex is something less important than a few extra dollars, those would be the people who voted against this amendment.
Republicans stabbed themselves in the neck with this one. They based their vote on the idea that the American people would prefer arbitration, and not that we all clearly see arbitration as the problem. It’s one thing if arbitration is used for petty things, or things that would be unlikely to see a good resolution from the case being public, but if rape isn’t a crime worthy of our justice system, just what would be the point of said justice system?
November 14th, 2009 at 9:08 amThe DOJ failed Jones resulting in only one of her attackers being prosecuted for the crime. No contractor’s agreement protects companies or employees from committing crimes. The amendment by Franken had nothing to do with justice and written to incorporate a broad scope of issues that would be eliminated from arbitration. The hypocrisy of this website and comments is beyond belief and the animals that committed this crime roam free. This amendment has nothing to do with justice. The animals who commit these crimes will continue to be protected by a justice system bankrolled by the legal lobby. Blindly supported by websites such as this.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:45 amtim.ned: “The amendment by Franken had nothing to do with justice and written to incorporate a broad scope of issues that would be eliminated from arbitration. The hypocrisy of this website and comments is beyond belief and the animals that committed this crime roam free.”
So, I take it you would rather Franken had not brought up the amendment and just ignored the situation? And, furthermore, I take it that you would rather Think Progress ignored the situation like your right wing sites have. Tell us, Tim. Which conservative web site or news operation has reported on this outrage? And, what would be your solution to this woman’s problem? You corporate apologists have jumped the shark on this one. Try to get it through your thick, muddled corporate skull that even if this is about a process, the process is corrupt and Franken is doing all good Americans a great favor here.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pmA woman was gang raped. The corporation responsible insisted on arbitration rather than legal proceedings. She was screwed and unable to find satisfaction in accountability for those responsible….
And “tim.ned” thinks this has nothing to do with “justice.”
Why is it often hard to tell the difference between “corporatists” and “sociopaths?”
November 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pmPeople. . . .people. . . .
Find: republican.
Replace with: rapublican.
Every one of the 30 who voted FOR rape should henceforth be referred to as a RAPublican.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pmMentally ill conservative troll: “Most of the time “rape” is the womans fault.”
How about when men get raped in prison. Is it their fault most of the time? Should they go into the shower fully clothed?
November 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pmHow do they get away with this?
Well, in Vitter’s case, media, even/especially New Orleans media, at first ignored the story. Then when the Times-Picayune finally reported on the rape victim confronting Vitter, they did so on Tuesday (the encounter took place the previous Saturday). Even then, the story was on Vitter’s response two days after; the reporter made no attempt to give the victim’s side.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:56 pmAnd in your justice system the other rapists escape justice. You support the fact that when criminal acts as this occur in a Muslim country like Iraq, where rape of a woman is nothing, that justice be dished out by local authorities? Are you out of your mind? The Franken paragraph addresses government contracts. It does not address the failure of our DOJ to protect American workers in a war zone. But on this website it is political as the discussion here should be if the financial compensation should be addressed in arbitration or court. The implications are a major step backwards for women’s rights and once again lawyers have kept the criminals out of jail.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:34 pmUncle Fester made a good list of repugs are opposed to. And I think repugs are oblivious to what is happening in America. I also, think that Progressives should demand more roll call votes. And then post the names of the Senators, in particular, on the WEB. Also, I think we need an article on the number of Obama’s nominations being held up by repugs. Its time we helped the president overcome the repug delays and stalls. It is not enough to say the repugs are obstructionists, we need to pounce on each issue they are opposing, and call them by name. Whether it’s Franken’s amend or the Veterans’ benefits bills, we need to know the progress of bills through the Senate and who are causing the delays.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:00 pmLet us not forget the website:
see mug shots here
And 9 of these perverts are up for re elctiion in ‘10.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pmtim.ned: “You support the fact that when criminal acts as this occur in a Muslim country like Iraq, where rape of a woman is nothing, that justice be dished out by local authorities? Are you out of your mind?”
Nice straw man, Tim. Evidently, in addition to your other superpowers, you can read minds. The issue here is that a woman was gang raped by KBR Christians, not Muslims and the American system of justice was circumvented by a corporate policy called arbitration. This is wrong. The woman deserved her day in court and those who raped her should be in jail.
You don’t agree. You evidently think the KBR employees should not be held accountable.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pmFranken got a two-fer here. He did the right thing, standing up for this woman’s rights, and for his efforts, America got a great little snapshot of Republican corporate values or lack there of.
Great, isn’t it, Tim?
November 14th, 2009 at 4:31 pmTim is very kooky. He thinks that standing up for a woman who has been gang raped is a setback for womens’ rights.
Very kooky.
November 14th, 2009 at 4:33 pmTim, stay on topic here. How would you have dealt with the problem of KBR trying to prevent Jones from going to criminal court? This isn’t about arbitration, notice Franken is not doing away with that system…as you would like for us to believe.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:31 pmAnd this is why I don’t get why many women (like my mom) vote conservative. Between this issue and reproductive rights (or lack thereof), you’d have to be pretty dense or blind or both to not see which party really has us women’s best interests at heart. But then again, Repubs seem to lack critical thinking skills, as seen by them voting for McCain in droves for no reason other than the idea that he represented “a more liberal form of the Republican Party”(unfortunately, I was one of them, but now I regret it after “thinking critically” about what McCain stood for and realizing that it didn’t fit with what I believed in).
November 14th, 2009 at 6:48 pmThis is the problem with you people. You read the propaganda from this site and don’t check your facts. Let me explain this clearly. Franken’s paragraph in this bill has absolutely nothing to do with criminal justice. Jones was raped in a foreign Muslin country by animals. Take a trip to Europe and have a crime committed against you. Criminal action is performed by the country and in the country you are in. CASE CLOSED. It took the DOJ years to take action and the result is one of the multiple criminals was convicted. Franken’s paragraph and arbitration has nothing to do with criminal law and only with personal lawsuit. In other words Money! KBR did not and could not prevent the case from going to a criminal court. How successful do you believe a female would be pursuing a prosecution in a foreign country like Iraq for rape? Only an idiot would support such nonsense. Since this is a war zone contract employees should fall under U.S. law and the criminal proceedings should have been handled by either our military our DOJ. This is the crime and now we have rapists of this young girl running free.
Let’s debate but please give me someone that can argue a point!
November 14th, 2009 at 8:59 pmSo it’s Franken’s fault that Thune voted “no” on the amendment?
Damn…what an ass****.
November 14th, 2009 at 11:47 pmTim, you’re the one who swallows the propaganda…Read the whole ordeal about how KBR tried to cover up the rape and the evidence and how they tried to push the issue into arbitration where they win 80% of their cases…Of course they want it in arbitration because the cards are stacked against those who need recourse and justice.
KBR wanted to put her through mandatory arbitration where the odds were stacked against her. Under her contract, she could not go to criminal court. THE POINT IS THAT KBR TRIED TO PREVENT HER FROM GOING TO CRIMINAL COURT, CLAIMING THAT HER RAPE WAS AN EMPLOYMENT AFFAIR…What part of that don’t you get?!
Tim has to resort to straw men by claiming that we want her rapists to be tried in an Iraqi court. No one is saying that. She tried to get recourse which would have come from an American court. Yet, he has to distort our arguments to suggest a ridiculous notion in order to make us look like naive, but well-intended fools. Can it be that he supports the right of corporations to silence their victims through arbitration when they should have their say in criminal court? Jones is trying to go through the American criminal court system, not the Iraqi. No one is suggesting we go to the local authorities. Don’t try to make yourself to be the good guy here. We don’t see your good intentions here.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:55 amSec. 8104. (a) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used for any existing or new Federal contract if the contractor or a subcontractor at any tier requires that an employee or independent contractor, as a condition of employment, sign a contract that mandates that the employee or independent contractor performing work under the contract or subcontract resolve through arbitration any claim under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or any tort related to or arising out of sexual assault or harassment, including assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, or negligent hiring, supervision, or retention.
[Page: S10070] GPO’s PDF
November 15th, 2009 at 2:03 am(b) The prohibition in subsection (a) does not apply with respect to employment contracts that may not be enforced in a court of the United States.
Read your own quote. “Tort”. This has nothing to do with criminal proceedings. Do you understand the difference between criminal prosecution and personal liability lawsuits? You keep saying criminal but this has nothing to do with criminal law!
November 15th, 2009 at 11:00 amKBR tried to silence Jones by preventing her from going to criminal court after her rape through the mandatory arbitration clause in her contract. According to them, the rape was an employment matter to be decided in arbitration. The amendment would have allowed defense contractors access to our court system in cases of rape and sexual assault. The amendment is talking about being forced into mandatory arbitration when it comes to rape, a criminal matter.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:31 pmany claim under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or any tort
November 15th, 2009 at 2:34 pmahhh, I see where I went wrong, but what is your problem with the amendment? There is nothing that should prevent an employee from taking companies like KBR to court in cases like rape and sexual assault.
November 15th, 2009 at 2:44 pmAre these jackasses married to women?? Republican woman can’t be to bright.
November 16th, 2009 at 12:33 pmWell, the GOP certainly had no pause when it came to Willie Horton, saying how can we trust the DFL when it comes to keeping us safe?
November 16th, 2009 at 2:29 pmNow they have pretty much decided to give rapists a pass. Gosh, gool ol’ family values once again by the party of no.