In this Darth Vaderesque administration, the good guys are outnumbered by the evil NeoCon hordes. But courage and commitment outweigh cash and self-interest even on a bad day!

Today, thanks to the courage and commitment of 40 senators, the catastrophic Bush-Cheney energy bill was blocked, due to a threat of fillibuster. Hooray to those 40 (well, almost 40 - see below) heroes. Non-evil America is GRATEFUL to you beyond words!!!

But let's keep the pressure up on Bush's goons! Bill Frist (who was a doctor until he decided there was more money in trashing patients' rights from an office in D.C.) plans to try to ram through another vote next week.



Here's the HALL OF HEROES

Note: I only list 39. Why? Because Bill Frist pulled a truly slimey manuver by voting Nay, then vowing to ram through the bill later. Knowing that the bill would be blocked, Frist voted Nay so his name would appear "in print" as having opposed the bill. Constituents who don't follow politics so closely (most don't) would look up to see how Frist voted, and be deceived into thinking he was doing the right thing.

HALL OF HEROES

Akaka (D-HI), Nay
Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Biden (D-DE), Nay
Bingaman (D-NM), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Nay
Byrd (D-WV), Nay
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Carper (D-DE), Nay
Chafee (R-RI), Nay
Clinton (D-NY), Nay
Collins (R-ME), Nay
Corzine (D-NJ), Nay
Dodd (D-CT), Nay
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Nay
Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Graham (D-FL), Nay
Gregg (R-NH), Nay
Jeffords (I-VT), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay
Kohl (D-WI), Nay
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay
Leahy (D-VT), Nay
Levin (D-MI), Nay
Lieberman (D-CT), Nay
Murray (D-WA), Nay
Nelson (D-FL), Nay
McCain (R-AZ), Nay
Mikulski (D-MD), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Nay
Reid (D-NV), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay
Sarbanes (D-MD), Nay
Schumer (D-NY), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Stabenow (D-MI), Nay
Sununu (R-NH), Nay
Wyden (D-OR), Nay

HALL OF COWARDS and SLACKERS

This is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT BILL before Congress this decade (healthcare rates #2 because a bad energy bill will CAUSE major healthcare crises, and thus is the horse pulling the cart).
Yet these three senators couldn't be bothered to vote. THERE IS NO EXCUSE. I suspect Kerry and Edwards were doing a version of the "Frist Ploy," trying to burn both end of the candles without getting caught (pleasing their corporate potential backers while not coming right out and voting Nay thus pissing off everyone else).


Edwards (D-NC), Not Voting
Hollings (D-SC), Not Voting
Kerry (D-MA), Not Voting


HALL OF SHAME

Alexander (R-TN), Yea
Allard (R-CO), Yea
Allen (R-VA), Yea
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Breaux (D-LA), Yea
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Bunning (R-KY), Yea
Burns (R-MT), Yea
Campbell (R-CO), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Cochran (R-MS), Yea
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Daschle (D-SD), Yea
Dayton (D-MN), Yea
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Dole (R-NC), Yea
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Fitzgerald (R-IL), Yea

Graham (R-SC), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Yea
Hagel (R-NE), Yea
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea


Johnson (D-SD), Yea

Kyl (R-AZ), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lott (R-MS), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Yea

Miller (D-GA), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Nickles (R-OK), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Yea

Santorum (R-PA), Yea

Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea

Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Talent (R-MO), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea