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I am absolutely no fan of Bernie Sanders. I disagree with him on a majority of policy matters. However, this popular media framing, which blames the failure o
by bhauer 6y ago
I am absolutely no fan of Bernie Sanders. I disagree with him on a majority of policy matters.
However, this popular media framing, which blames the failure of this amendment on Bernie Sanders, is unhinged. It's not just this Register article; you'll see the same sniping at Sanders specifically in most articles that carry a negative opinion on the PATRIOT Act.
Being absent for the vote is shameful, sure. But how about laying the blame somewhere more meaningful? For example, on us Californians who re-elected Feinstein despite knowing she is absolutely abysmal on privacy. Californians like myself should carry this shame, not Sanders and Vermont voters. We Californians are sorry for voting so blindly and continuously re-electing terrible senators.
- varjag 6y agoIt failed by one vote. If he did his damn job and showed up it could turn out different.
- Floegipoky 6y agoAs somebody else explained, if he had showed up to vote against it the amendment almost certainly would have still failed by 1 vote. The party whips would have just required one of the other "no"s to switch. The reality is that party leadership controls exactly what gets voted on and when, and to a large extent predetermines who is allowed to vote yes and no. The rest is just theater.
- varjag 6y agoI must be obtuse, but if it's all a theatre what's the point of him being a senator then?