Howling Latina

On Oct. 11, 2002, the 2nd session of the 107th Congress passed H.J. Res. 114 in the Senate by a vote of 77-23.

Majority Whip Dick Durbin recently stated that senators in the Intelligence Committee knew the administration was ginning up the war argument with misleading statements (i.e. lies) to the public about weapons of mass destruction.

Durbin claims that every senator knew the aluminum tube and mushroom cloud scenario was just a bunch of hype that was directly contradicted by the intelligence but gasp, there wasn't anything they could do but vote against the measure; they weren't allowed to say ANYTHING to the public.

“I was a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and I would read the headlines in the paper in the morning and I'd watch the television newscast and I'd shake my head. …[T]he information we had in the Intelligence Committee was not the same information being given to the American people. I couldn't believe it.” (Sen. Dick Durbin, Floor Speech, 04/25/07)

“You see, in the Intelligence Committee, we're sworn to secrecy. We can't walk outside the door and say, ‘The statement made yesterday by the White House is in direct contradiction to classified information that's being given to this Congress.’” (Sen. Dick Durbin, Floor Speech, 04/25/07)

“And so in my frustration, I sat here on the floor of the Senate and listened to this heated debate about invading Iraq thinking the American people are being misled. They are not being told the truth.” (Sen. Dick Durbin, Floor Speech, 04/25/07)

Oh really?!?

They couldn't get on national television on one of the Sunday gabfest and tell the Americans that talking points out of the administration didn't match reality without going into the specifics...you know, to warn the world against a pack of lies that would cost so much devastation throughout the world?!?

Be that as it may, let's review the vote tally on that fateful fall day.

Sens. Bob Graham of Florida, John D. Rockfeller IV of West Virginia, Evan Bayh of Indiana, Richard Durbin of Illinois, John Edwards of North Carolina, Dianne Feinstein of California, Carl Levin of Michigan and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland were members of the committe; and they all voted against the resolution, right...?

Well....Chairman John D. Rockefeller?!? Nope...he voted for the resolution.

One time Democratic presidential hopeful, Evan Bayh?!? Nope...he voted for the resolution.

Top tier, '08 Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards?!? Nope....he voted for the resolution.

Senate matriarch Diane Feinstein?!? Nope....she voted for the resolution.

The only committee members who voted against it were Vice Chair Bob Graham of Florida, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Carl Levin of Michigan and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.

Other brave Democratic souls who had the foresight to vote against the resolution were Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Barbara Boxer of California, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Jon Corzine of New Jersey, Mark Dayton of Minnesota, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Bob Graham of Florida, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, James Jefforts of Vermont, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Patty Murray of Washington, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan , Paul Wellston of Minnesota and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

Twenty-three courageous legislators--with a special howling tribute to Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island who had the misfortune of aligning himself with a political party that no longer reflected his moral compass; and Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad from the crimson red state of North Dakota.

Now here's a list of the Republican committee members who voted for the war: Former Chair and Bush lapdog Pat Roberts of Kansas, Chris Bond of Missouri, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Mike DeWine of Ohio, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Trent Lott of Mississippi, Olympia Snowe of Maine and John Warner of Virginia.

Howling Latina can now perfectly understand why Edwards' core instinct was telling him not to vote for war. He should've never listened to that windbag Bob Shrum who has cost every presidential candidate to lose by whispering sweet little C/W in their ears that always turned out to be off the mark.

"I was wrong to vote for this war. Unfortunately, I'll have to live with that forever. And the lesson I learned from it is to put more faith in my own judgment."

It also makes perfect sense that a Republican with a conscience now regrets his disastrous vote (i.e. Chuck Hagel). Notice John Warner, Virginia's senior senator is not included.

Oh, oh, look who is in the picture!