ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



No-confidence vote on Gonzales fails

Posted: Monday, June 11, 2007 6:32 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Ken Strickland
The no-confidence vote on Alberto Gonzales failed, 53-38. Sixty votes were needed for the motion to proceed. Senator Stevens (R) voted present.

The following seven Republicans voted with ALL Democrats in the symbolic no-confidence vote: Collins, Coleman, Smith, Specter, Hagel, Snowe, and Sununu. (Collins, Coleman, Smith, Hagel, and Sununu are all up Senate re-election in 2008.)

Lieberman voted against the resolution with most of the Republicans.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

All Republican will be voted out of office as soon as possible..they are working against America and OUR government. Do not forget Dems vote early and vote often.
THE NO CONFIDENT VOTE MAY HAVE JUST FAILED, BUT THE ENTIRE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS JUST FAILED AS WELL. THIS MATTER IS BY NO MEANS CLOSED. THERE WERE 53 VOTES TO REQUEST NO CONFIDENCE IN ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALES. THAT ALONE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. IF IT HAD BEEN A HIDDEN BALLOT, IT WOULD HAVE PASSED BY A LAND SLIDE. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS CONTINUED DEBOCIAL, IN THE FUTURE ELECTIONS. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE LOST "ALL" FAITH IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, THE WORST IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY! THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO BE SO HEAVELY DAMAGED AFTER THE BUSH'S LEAVE TOWN."WE WILL NOT FORGET".
Un.Be.Leav.Able.
Remember, it's the decider's government...we the people just don't count at all! and the votes of our representatives say it all...
Lieberman once again voted on the side of lawlessness. Several items in the news recently of judges finding Gonzale's fascist interpretations of the constitution to be grossly unconstitutional and dangerous to the country (seizure and imprisonment of US citizens without trial, enemy combatants, Guantanmo). While Lieberman wants another illegal and immoral pre-emptive war started with Iran. I think a special prison will need to be constructed to house the Bush admin criminals once their congressional criminal accessories stop protecting them.
Amen, Russell... Is Joe Lieberman an idiot or what ? I continue my grudge against Al Gore for making him his running mate in 2000. Just think, if Gore had been President, Joe Lieberman would be the Democratic front runner !!! He'd be pushing for war against Iran.
IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR OFFICE, JUST WAIT FOR YOUR NO CONFIDENCE VOTE. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SHOW THEIR NO CONFIDENCE.
once again lieberman sides with the kool-aid drinkin repugs come you people in conn don't you know how to have a recall an have your own impeachment of a loser that has been just a done nothing lieing repug in sheeps clothing an how long must we put up with this emperor's control ove these yellow beely sap suckers opps i meant dem's????
Da ya think it is time for another revolution, huh do ya? what a bunch of pathetic creightens. Of course I mean the repubs and the entire shrub gang of neocons. They have no honor or credability left, they all must go away, and real soon.
I really don't understand Lieberman. Does he really want another fascist government trampling on the citizen's civil liberties? This is remeniscent of the 1940's.
The vote was 53-38 and the 38 votes came from Republican Senators in pretty safe seats. The five vulnerable Republican Senators voted with the Demmies. So don't hold your breath in anticipation of Republicans being swept out of Congress. It ain't gonna happen.
Okay so I guess the Dems finally figured out that they don't have a majority in the Senate, the way Lieberman votes.
As Dear Leader said in Bulgaria today..."this process has been drug out too long." Damn straight. Drug out. Too long.
Don't you just love politics. If these idiotic Democrats would spend half as much time addressing serious issues as they do with this political posturing, they might get something done. At their current rate of progress I expect them to be voted out in the next election.
WHY DOESBN'T THE SENATE JUST GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF THINGS REALLY IMPORTANT LIKE THE IMIGRATION AND HEALTH CARE BILLS RATHER THAN JUST POSTURING FOR THE 08 ELECTIONS AND THIS IS MEANT ALL OF THEM THAT ARE THERE
This shows democracy in action. Of course, if we were not at war on many fronts with terrorists, or didn't have pressing border security and illegal alien problems, or did not have global climate and oil dependancy issues, a measure like this and the defeat it recieved may have more relevance. Strange that some senators are working so hard to prove their irrelevance by losing votes on useless measures. How about if our fine Senators actually get down to some of the hard work they were elected to perform?
Is this really what we elected the Senate to do? I wonder if we the people could offer a no-confidence vote in our Senators. Wonder which useless body we could get to vote it into law, though. The Ay's have it!
As in Janet Reno and Waco? So which is the worst AG?
All this posturing by the White House and the republicans, along with Judas Joe Lieberman, is just electrifying the electorate and come Nov '08 we're gonna have a big party, and it ain't the GOP.
Correction to the wording on the item - according to the web, "all" democrats did not vote "yea". Some did not register a vote (may not have been present, I don't know) Biden and Obama didn't vote. Clinton voted yea. The complete vote can be found here. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00207
Hmmm, Reno vs. Gonzales..... One burned American men, women and children alive while denying them food, water and medical treatment for more than 30 days at 10 million in tax payer dollars per day, and ripped an innocent 10-yr-old boy out of his family's arms at 3AM with a automatic rifle in his face. The other? He locked up foriegn terrorists caught on the battlefield fighting against the people of the United States. And, well, Gonzales is a conservative hispanic, so something seems out of place, I guess. Liberal thinkers have such cute, simple and contradictory logic. Any time there is a hispanic crossing the border with God know's what illegal intent for the American people, it is bad form to even question it with anything above a whisper. But, as soon as we see very well educated, decent, dedicated, hard working, yet philosophically conservative hispanics [Gonzales and Linda Chavez to name just two] they try to crucify them upside down. Diversity? Hah! Yeah, diverse so long as everyone toes the line of the liberal talking points of the week. Let's face it Libs, you are not people who embrace diversity, you are simply the party of hatred, racism, violence and exclusion.
Good points, Steven. Funny thing is, remember why they ran Linda Chavez out on a rail? That's right, FOR HIRING AN ILLEGAL ALIEN!!!!! You know the poor good hearted family type that is dedicated and hard working and should be given amnesty for doing jobs that other Americans supposedly dont want?!? That's right, Chavez gave an illegal woman a place to sleep and food in exchange for odd jobs around her house, for, um, all of 2 WEEKS!!!!
For nearly 14 years, starting with Newt Gingrich in '94 the American Citizens have seen Democracy erode. We have been rubber stamped for 6 years as no one wanted to be called UN-AMERICAN or UNPATRIOTIC. Finally in '06 most people woke up to the fact that our country is being giving away to Corporate Crooks and a LIARS of its leadership. Just like in typing class, there was a practice sentence that said "Now is the time for good men to come to the aid of their country" On the 231st Birthday of our Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 2007 shouldn't this be the time we aid our country and instead of enjoying a day off from work or family gatherings, maybe we should take to the streets and parade along side of others celebrating the 4th and display our objection and contempt as to how this lying administration took a good Nation and demolished our reputation world wide. Forget Albania that thinks this failed leader is great. "PROCLAIM JULY 4th 2007 A NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AS TO THE FAILED LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOGUS ADMINISTRATION" Iraq, Immigration, education, health care, 3.5 million manufactoring jobs lost, lower wages and our lost of repect around the world. I'll do my part, what about you or you still afraid to voice your opinion outloud? Speak up now on July 4th or maybe you will never have another opportunity after this administration silences the lambs of opposition. "BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FROM THIS FAILED MISSION. Our Brave military have lost 3,508 military men & women to a fools end to get a permanent military occupation and its "Colossal Embassy in a very hostile Middle East. Joe Lieberman lead this parade along with Cheney, Rumfield, Ahmad Chalibi and JUDY MILLER who used the NYTimes to legitimize this illegal invasion of a weakest Nation in the Middle East. If you believe in this day of Protest then talk it up and lets see if we the people can out do the millions that were in the recruiting offices on DEC. 8, 1941 to defend our country. The only war we are in is this war of CHOICE that only believe that our "ALL VOLUNTEER MILITARY AND CITIZEN SOLDIERS SHOULD BE FIGHTING. Bring back the Citizen Soldiers to their families and businesses or jobs, if they still are not taken by illigal immigrants. Everything our generation worked for is being given away at no cost to the recipients. Totally unfair to gain at no cost, which we have worked all of our lives to gain.
Charlie, Jim, John -- until the Republican logjam is broken no progress is possible on any of the important issues therefore the effort to embarass the Republicans into thinking for themselves instead of following the dictator.
Sierra, if not for the incredibly stupid mistake of picking Judas Joe as a running mate Al Gore would be president today. I'd like to know who advised him to do that. Did he really think that the christian conservatives would vote for a non-christian? Lieberman infuriated me during the campaign when he said that athiests could not be moral. How arrogant to alienate a voter segment during a campaign. I had to hold my nose when I voted. I told my wife that if I could split the ticket I would. He has turned out to be far worst than I'd even thought possible.
How about a rousing hand of no confidence for the democrat controlled Congress? Pathetic, pandering, posturing...wasting time and resources for the show that closed long before it opened. Nevertheless, let the fools continue in their circus side show as it gains them no credibility nor basis for retaining the majority position.
At least we can find comfort in knowing that this administration is short lived at this point. Then some housekeeping can get done in Washington.
I hear a lot of crying, and even one apparent call for the armed overthrow of our Government. Thats a lot of sour grapes to be venting over what is one of the biggest non issues yet in a long string of non issues foisted on the public by the Democrats in the last seven years. I can see how the perfectly legal letting go of a few prosecutors deserved a closer look, but that closer look revealed little of interest. The Lockstep Democrat vote reveals more about that party than they as yet realise. "One party one will" is something you might have heard in the old Soviet. PS There seems to be more crying about this than the Dems caving on the Iraq funding. Buck up, surely some journalist will find another "fake but accurate" memo, perhaps they'll even forget to burn the original this time.
Sym bol ic no-confidence vote. Even if it passes, so what? Boring and rewording a quote from the Clinton political machine, there seems to be a vast left wing conspiracy, let’s just get back to the peoples business.
I hate to tell you but I told you this vote of non-confidence wouldn't work. (Not!) Don't count your Dems in until the voting is over. They are not doing anything to earn more seats. Remember these famous words and "don't get stuck on stupid".
Don't forget that Gonzalez used his office to staff US Attorney offices to stop prosecutions of corrupt Republicans while trumping up charges against innocent Democrats. That is worse than Janet Reno because it puts American democracy at risk. TRUE conservatives should be scared to death of the way this administration has concentrated power in the hands of just a few people and used executive power to corruptly "win" elections.
We all must remember McCain and Lieberman have spent a great deal of time being around and sucking up to Bush and it's becoming evident that anyone who does this ends up with either their reputations and lives totally ruiined OR another situation occurs in which they catch the Bush organic brain disease and end up demented and befuddled, making outrageous, scarey or foolish remarks and decisions (Gonzales).The republican party is in this horrendous situation due exclusively to their own sitting president and vice president. I know- the truth hurts.
To all who have never served. Part of the oath that I and many others have taken states "I will defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC". Even though I am no longer in uniform, I will continue to honor that oath until I die. Death before dishonor as some of know.
Terry, I hope you don't mean that you would give your life for the likes of today's political showmanship. Don't let the naysayers suck you down. You can believe only part of what your hear and half of what you see.
I find it amusing that the republicans called this a meaningless vote as it is a 'sense of the Senate' resolution. However, when the Repub;ican led House , in the fall of 2006, passed a "Sense of the House" resolution that global warming did not exist, no republican said that was a waste of time.
Desmond, I also find it amusing. Just shows me that once again, Republicans (for the most part) voted party and for the president and not their conscience. So once again, party first, American people second (or even further down the line).
First Lieberman is Jewish. I am sure he gets lots of donations from Jewish groups. I was surprised to hear him say we should attack Iran , particularly in our present quandary. Turkey is beginning to attack N Iraq. Lebanon is cracking. What next? Strange statement. Must be getting lots of donations. Jews are not impeccable and I wonder why they are treated as such by some. there is no law against arguing with a Jew. Secondly, what can you say about an administration that looks into replacing lawyers not totally backing the company line while their ratings were going down and they knew of the midterm defeat upcoming. Not astute. Gonzalez has been involved in improprieties that had to with law, not politics. What do to expect Bush to say. he is playing politics and does not have a lot of chips left. Folks do a little reading . This group is bad news up and down the line. who is satisfied. the super rich, the intolerant religious right, right wing Jews. Bush is saying the wolf is coming. he even used in a ad. Well the wolf is eating Bush and the majority do not care because they got tired of the abuse of that story. And if the real wolf does come we will tear him up so the whole thing makes no sense.
Wayne, you obviously live in bizzaro world where everything is opposite. Left is right, right is wrong..you know (but then maybe not. Was it a waste of time when the republicans voted in the middle of the night about Terry Schaivo? Or how about giving away Habeas Corpus last year. Does your head hurt from thinking?
"Republicans (for the most part) voted party and for the president and not their conscience." You can't say that. Like Bush and Cheney, many are certainly sociopaths who simply have no conscience.
More Waco's, Less Wackos
Greg R, I am sure that makes sense to you. Contrast it, however, with holding enemy combatants - most of whom were caught on the battlefield in direct fight against the United States, others of whom were stopped in the act of planning and carrying out acts of war against the United States - for military tribunals. The Waco "Wackos" were US citizens, all 74 of them. You think it does not hurt the constitution for the FBI, ATF and DEA to enter private property and massacre women and children who are taking shelter there, citizens of this country, on the one hand - what of your consitutional rights against illegal search and seisure and due process under the law? And yet, on the other hand, Bush must release enemy combatants, some of them with proven ties to 9/11, immediately because they are not "classfied correctly", not one of which has US citizenship? Hah! Does this kind of reasoning really make sense in your world? Are you that politcally motivated to overlook, and even advocate, the slaughter of US citizens on American soil, without affording them basic due process of the law, while you are crying out for GitMo detainee rights? Really? What color is the sun in your world?
rob boston, frankly your comparison is skewed. The 74 men, women and children at Waco did not even get to see a judge. Reno's DOJ burned them alive without affording to them a single right under the constitution. How does "jeaprodizing" the constitution justify denying its rights to US citizens and burning them alive? Oh, that's right, it doesn't, does it? You seem afraid of the foxes entering the hen house, while your hens are laying rotten, radioactive eggs. Omlettes anyone? Seriously, this is no yolking matter, humpty dumpty.
What if both Attorney Generals, Alberto Gonzales and Janet Reno, screwed up? What a novel thought.
I realize this will inflame the Waco Wackos, but Janet Reno didn't burn up anybody. David Koresh set the fire, a la Jim Jones suicidal martyr delusion. Blaming Reno is just more anti-Bill Clinton BS.
What if the FBI, under Robert Mueller, now endorsing Guilianni, screwed up about the Oklahoma City bombing?Lots of what ifs, including why 9/11 happened, why we have not found bin Laden and why we went to war with Iraq.
I believe it was David Koresh, who verbally, physically, emotionally and possibly sexually abused his followers for quite some time. Also it was several of his followers and himself that created the inferno that occured mostly from in the inside that caused those peoples deaths. Janet Reno was not responsible for their deaths, although she did take responsibility for this later, showing great courage and compassion.Mr Koresh brainwashed his followers and when he knew he was going to die, they were to come with him. This can and has happened before with potentially dangerous cult environments.
I wonder what everyone would say if Gonsouless were a Democrat? I wonder what you would say if bush was a democrat? I wonder what you would do if Lieberman was able to BOMB Iran? I just wonder. The ole if the shoe were on the other foot. OH Chit we could sound like jerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryy that "PERV"!
H P Boston a song for you."Please Come To Boston"-Loggins and Messina
Thank you! Still crazy After All These Years....Love that song! Here is one for you.....Crazy--Patsy Cline.
H P a song that is music to my ears.


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=222584

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google