Bernie Sanders' Filibuster
I don’t care where you live. This is your Senator. By standing up on the Senate floor for more than six hours (at this writing) and speaking for the American people, he has put himself squarely in the cross-hairs of the Republicans for 2012, when he will be running for re-election for his Vermont Senate seat. Remember him, and support him in any way you can.
Mr. Sanders Goes to Washington. Let’s keep him there.
Click HERE to watch the live stream.
Call your Senators and tell them to support Bernie Sanders, and join the filibuster.
Lisa Murkowski 202-224-6665
Mark Begich 202-224-3004
The Tax Deal, in One Chart
http://www.good.is/post/the-tax-deal-in-one-chart/
I live in Vermont, and I cannot say enough good about Bernie. Unfortunately, because he has made himself a target of the Republicans, he is going to have a tough fight come re-election time, and will need all the support he can get. Here is a link to his donation site: https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/contribution.aspx?X=O38xUCC6cZGMCzykoyZBBDEu3ipe1B7SZQNYC+ODF5o%3d&b=464121
Please contribute any amount, and consider it a stand for the common person.
I also wanted to include a portion of Bernie’s most recent newsletter:
“One of the most under reported parts of this deal is a cut to the Social Security payroll tax. In just one year, over $120 billion of revenue will be cut from Social Security under the President’s compromise plan, weakening the program and virtually guaranteeing benefit cuts in the future.
Make no mistake about it. Social Security has not added one dime to the national debt and this cut will only embolden Republican attempts to privatize the program and increase the age of retirement. Social Security is a vital safety net for all Americans and a cornerstone of our commitment to protect the middle class.
We are not alone in standing against this compromise. Republicans are holding the middle class hostage and the American people know it. I come from a small state and last week my office received thousands of phone calls on this issue, with over 95% of them in opposition to this deal.
Clearly the American people want Democrats to stop this deal and fight for the middle class, working people, senior citizens and the unemployed while making sure that millionaires and billionaires are not given massive tax breaks.
Make sure Congress gets the message — Join the fight now and sign the petition opposing this so-called “compromise.”
Thank you,
Bernie
o-o-o-o-o-…I got my filibuster on! runn’n down the road the alaskan highway!…got my filibusterer on! i’m running down the road got “daddy frank” on my side!!..oh! i got my filibuster on!..2x’s..got my filibuster on ..oh papa mirkowski take me to the top, cause i got my filibuster on….
“i feel like gong down town-(club paris)-FED-BLDNG..and change my last name to SANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Go Bernie!! Sen. Sanders has repeatedly stood on the floor of the Senate and told the truth about the gross economic inequities of the country and Federal policies. We all need to support him (with cash) and Peter DeFazio, who led the backlash in the House Dem caucus.
The “deal” put forth by Obama simply stinks. The analysis by Krubozumo is dead on; the most insidious part of the deal is the trap it lays for one and two years from now and the beginning of the destruction of Social Security. Just demonstrates yet again that Obama doesn’t have a pair. I’m sorry I voted for him.
Bernie is my Senator. I have some Reps also. Peter DeFazio, Oregon, Raul Grijalva, Arizona, Ellison, Grayson, Pelosi…
We need a framework for the long-term. We are not getting it.
God bless Bernie Sanders. I wish he was younger so HE could run for President!
I remember when GWB was appointed Potus by the Scotus,Orrin Hatch made a nationwide plea to Dums not to use the filibuster on any of Bush’s judicial nominees. Since Obie took office,there have been a record number of filibusters by Rethuglicans. Mr Sanders, you make me wish you were a Dum. I’ve been pleading with them for years to do something,anything to make me want to vote for them. Any reason at all. Well sir, you have just given me one. Thank You very much.
I love Bernie and I love that he has the courage to do this. I realize that this isn’t technically a “filibuster” and isn’t delaying any votes. But I am ashamed that no other Senator joined him in helping to inform the American people how they are consistently being screwed over by giveaways to the rich.
About this current tax “compromise” – I am on the fence. I really do not believe that we could have gotten a better deal with the new Congress in January and may indeed have gotten something much worse. At least those who need the UI benefits right now will not be held hostage to political theater any longer and that is a good thing. But I don’t understand why this vote could not have been held BEFORE the Nov election, when it might actually have given Dems a better outcome in the election at least – Repubs so patently for the rich and powerful, etc. would have been shown exactly for what they are.
What also dismays me is that our wonderully uninformative and biased MSM keep referring to Bernie as a “Socialist” when, in fact, his political designation is “Independent.” Referring to him as a “Socialist” is just another way to discredit him in the eyes of those who mistakenly fear the “S” word, IMO.
I wondered why they did not make the GOP follow thru on the Filibuster.Make them stand for hours and talk.Thought that was the idea behind it.
When your right your right
I’m watching a replay of Bernie Sanders on C-Span now. He is truly awesome. By speaking on the floor isn’t all of this part of the Congressional Record? Rather than just talking on TV shows or giving speeches to small groups, Sanders is putting all this information out there in an official way. I especially like that he is including stories about the struggles of real people. I don’t know how the repubs can be so incredibly heartless.
I’ve always considered that Sanders is one of the few courageous voices in the Senate, and here we have proof of it.
It’s funny, but I listened to Thom Hartmann today for his usual Friday “Brunch with Bernie” and found that Sanders was on floor talking. Most of Hartmann’s show was given over to this. Afterwards, on a hunch, I turned to CSPAN radio (I don’t have cable TV) and, sure enough, there he was. It was absolutely mesmerizing. He didn’t start to repeat himself until about 8 hours in. A perfect distillation of what’s wrong with the way things are going these days. Iknow that he called for people to call their Senators and Congresscritters a couple of time during all this. I hope you all do. If you look at my name, you know that I don’t have anyone to call. . . Do it for ME, please?
I listened to the last three hours. I loved that he didn’t just read the phone book, but gave actual facts and figures, showing how passing the tax cut for the wealthiest 2% would hurt the rest of the country. I live 3,000 miles away from Vermont, but I emailed Sen. Sanders to thank him for the job he did on behalf of the entire country. I wish more people had his courage and determination,
I’m more and more convinced that the right has actually elected sociopaths. Seriously, they show all the classic symptoms: no real real human connections, the only temporary happiness they can attain is “to win”, and they cannot see another’s humanity or point of view (or even admit that there is one).
I have several well-meaning rightwing friends. As much as I like them, the next time I hear, “I don’t agree with the GOP leadership about x, y, or z”, I’m going to point out that it doesn’t matter if they themselves are fine, compassionate people, they voted in these smash-the-system clowns, and they need to own it. We shouldn’t let them off the hook, because their votes caused this.
Maybe he could read Sarah Palin’s books aloud… That should nauseate the audience…
There are plenty of reasons this compromise should not be passed.
#1 is that it does not accomplish what is needed now, if tax cuts for the wealthy are extended two years the same battle have to be fought again in two years, makes no sense. Worse it doesn’t really help anyone except the wealthy. Worse it doesn’t help the economy at all. A little walking around money for the vast majority of people is like a kiss on the cheek for a gunshot victim.To the unemployed all 15 million of them (or more) it is absolutely meaningless.
#2 Other provisions of the proposal and sinister and or mean spirited in the extreme. The unemployment insurance extension does not apply at all to the estimated 2-3 million people who will have exhausted all unemployment by the end of this month. In other words it is an extension only of the existing federal supplements that extend coverage up to 99 weeks. So even with this proposal those millions of people will still end up with no income at all by Jan 1. and that number will continue to grow, month by month.
#3 The insidious part is the 2% reduction in payroll taxes. It is a sham, it is the thin end of the wedge of republicans efforts to dismantle social security. As economic stimulus it is very weak tea. It only lasts one year, so at the end of 2011 and with the beginning to the 2012 election cycle the republicans can begin screaming about tax increases if it is allowed to expire. Better still (from their point of view) if it is not allowed to expire (which is almost a certainty) they will have successfully worsened the long term solvency of social security. In the simplest possible terms it is taking money out of your retirement accounts.
#4 Probably the worst provision of all in this compromise without negotiation is that it allows the republics to dodge the bullet of obstructing what should be done, i.e. extend the tax cuts for those making less than $150,000, and actually *increase* taxes, not just allow current rates to revert to pre-2001 levels but increase them say 5% on all incomes over $250,000. That is what the democrats should be proposing with no strings attached. No peripheral issues. If the republicans are adamant about increasing the suffering of those millions who will fall through the safety net by Jan. 1, they should be made to own it.
I think I understand why Obama is willing to make this comprise but I do not think he realizes how misguided he is on the effects. As the sayiing goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. My reasoning is this: If Obama insists that something *must* be done to avoid infliciting more suffering on the middle class, then compromising with those who were most responsible for the suffering in the first place, because he is confronted with the certainty of even more intransigence in the next congress, is a fool’s errand. They don’t care about the american people, they will still do their worst. And this capitulation will only enable them.
Krubozumo Nyankoye—–Excellent assessment.
My thoughts exactly!
So are you suggesting this deal is worse than the alternative, which is no extended unemployment and no additional funds for stimulus?
In a word yes.
Two antlers up, Krubozumo!!!
Breaking news….The judge has ruled against Joe Millers..last hurrah……I am sure that AKM will have a post up about it…
best thing about living in Vermont was the wicked cool senator we haaaad
I hear you have some really wicked sharp cheddar cheese,too. The kind that is almost flaky when cut. Not soft where I live. BTW-this is our first major snowfall for the season. Can’t tell how much.I don’t get around like I used too.
I live in Vermont, and I agree,we have the greatest sharp cheddar here; the company is Cabot Cheese, and the best is their Hunter cheese. Here’s their website: http://www.cabotcheese.coop/
Love Cabot Hunter cheese! 😀
8+ hours in: Feingold, stand the hell up.
GO—BERNIE—GO
This has been a rather difficult process for me. Determining that my president and party are on the wrong track, that is. But after doing due diligence, I have determined that this GOP/Whithouse deal is not the way to go. Bernie is correct.
You may or may not agree with economists, but this one gives a pretty fair objective analysis of what we are up against and what is at stake. I subscribe to his up-side and down-side observations and judgment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/opinion/10krugman.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Also, here is another way to look at it: “So let me try to say it more clearly.
Consider two possible paths for the economy over the period November 2010 to November 2012:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/growth-and-elections/
I hope the senator has one of those bag things tied to his leg.
z….are you the guy that has done all the walls in town-down..?
ziggy
i used to live in vermont (now maine) and i still consider sanders and leahy my senators. i am so proud of sanders – he really is a great guy.
I’m also from Vermont. I remember how happy my mother was when I worked on the Sanders campaign the first time we sent him to Congress. 1990, maybe? She thought it would look good on my resume to finally be working on a mainstream campaign. Then she found out who he was. She wasn’t so happy after that.
Is Patrick Leahy still in the Senate. Haven’t heard a word from him in a while?
Yes, he is.
So good to see the Senator standing up to this deal. I know the Republicans keep staying the tax on the wealthy would be a burned and hinder job creation, but but, not enough jobs are being created for a few years and they had the tax break. I don’t know about the rest of you, but that tax break isn’t doing anything. The 4% take increase on 2% of the wealthiest would create huge revenue for the country, somethine we need now.
I’m more disgusted with the fact that in the bill is a provision to free corporations of any tax liability for, I believe a year.
It isn’t a filibuster, as there are no votes scheduled for today. It is a glorious, courageous speech, though.
I e-mailed Mark Begich and asked him to join in the filibuster. Hahahaha. Fat chance.
“One voice of truth is louder than a crowd.” Go, Senator Sanders!
Watch this 12 minute clip on DN with Daniel Ellsburg. He describes perfectly what has happened to America.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/10/whistleblower_daniel_ellsberg_julian_assange_is
I would be happy to pay more taxes is it meant the rich had to pay more.
he feels guilty as well..the real suffering..the exporting of work by the hoiti-toity! lisa is a hoiti-toity. no dignity! not an ounce decent good people are losing and what does “niliparis” do? she fly’s to Haiti..the racist is “niliparis” is going to pose w/poor and desperate! her and the religious whore to serve cookies! like an old woodstove..she leeks pollutants everywhere. niliparis niliparis is a red neck m—–f—-r!
Send him some money if you can before 2012. He’s going to need it. He’s speaking truth to power. God Bless him.
Someone here posted a great clip of Bernie Sanders on the senate floor from earlier this week. Sorry I don’t remember who posted the clip. He was and is calling out a warning to the people of America. We don’t have to agree with everything he says to heed his warning.
I sent Bernie a message the other day.
Go Bernie! You are an endangered species, just like a real press. I salute you & stand behind you – yay!
I like Bernie. But how is this going to play out? The dems need 60 votes to stop his filibuster…that would include at least three or more republicans. Why would they vote to stop him? He’s running out the clock on a pression legislative session while running the ball right into their goal. This is seriously misguided.
In fact, the response to the tax compromise has been handled badly. It is often said that your response to a bad situation is more important than the situation itself. What if the Dems had stolen the rug from under the republicans by declaring this a big victory?? That is the way to grab hold of the narrative in a positive way. Instead, they have given the Republicans the win, capitulating in a far louder way than the President’s deal making.
I am very unhappy with my party right now.
Me, too. While I admire Bernie, I think the precious time left in the lame duck session must be put to better use. I was not happy with the extension of the tax cuts for the wealthy but at least there were lots of things in the compromise for the unemployed and middle class.
I know our family cannot afford to lose those tax cuts this year. Unemployed folks need some sort of income to keep a roof over their heads. I’d rather the Democrats hang the tax cuts for the wealthy on the the Republicans and keep harping on it while passing relief for everyone else. If it takes two years of cuts for the rich to get that relief, gosh, I don’t know – is it better to deepen the suffering and make it more widespread or just bite the bullet and then go after the Repubs tooth and nail in 2011 and 2012.
Time is of the essence. DADT needs passing as do other critical bills. Standing up in protest to the Republicans is great theater but a mite late for practical purposes, in my opinion. Why didn’t the Dems do this earlier when it might have damaged so many? I say that even as I admit Bernie has guts and I wish other Dems had even a small percentage of his passion.
No votes were scheduled for today, so this was not a delay. Just amazing democracy theater.
Did you listen to what Bernie said, it would be terrible, I am on a fixed income and do not have a lot of money but I am tried of being held hostage by the republicans for the sake of the rich,, You should have heard him,,it was GREAT,,
With you, Willowdancer. Things are just going to keep getting worse for those at the lower end of the income scale under the current scenario. More debt! More cuts! No long-term responsible economic plan.
Tax reform with the current make-up of Congress? haahahaha Bet the lobbyists are looking forward to that one.
This is not a true filibuster as the vote won’t really take place until Monday. This is an attempt to let the people hear that it is thhe Republicans that are holding up the President for these tax cuts.
If there are enough people calling their representatives, then maybe the Repubs will back down in the light of public opinion.
overthemoon, I agree so much I wish I had said all that myself.
I would have preferred to see McConnell doing “the Filibuster”!
The GOP Senate minority perpetually dominates with this threat without actually having to go through with the effort.
that’s because the democrats are wussies and cringe at just the republi-CONS merely threatening to do it….at the very least, they should have to do it….that would slow or stop a lot of it….they just capitulate on the mere threat….absolutely NO backbones or b@lls……
SO nice that at least ONE state has an elected Socialist* Senator! I find myself constantly having to explain that I come from PEI [Canada], Boston, and Maine… and that all of ‘America’ is not embodied in your sometime ‘guvna’…
*footnote: alas the SPD here is resembling ever more and more the right-wing of what once was the Democratic Party, and the Bush 41 or New England liberal wing Republicans in the USA!
Awfully happy to see you, mega.
If anyone wants to see DADT ended, please write to Murkowski and urge her to move now!!!
http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/
If anyone wants to see DADT ended, please write to Murkowski and urge her to move now!!!
http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/
Go Bernie! Love this man!!!
Wow. Just WOW!!! A true American hero!!!
Bernie is amazing. . . . . A true hero.