# Why do the Massachusetts senators continue their stupid pontifications? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 28, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943 "2006-01-28T02:39:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/121 "2006-01-30T23:24:38Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > If he rules the way it looks like he’s going to, limiting the unbridled power of big government, we’ll all have good luck with our new judge. Really? That’s your take on his tendency? On the contrary, one of the few reasons that I’m seriously concerned about Alito (who in many other respects does seem reassuringly experienced and qualified) is that he seems likely to be just too servile in deferring to the power of the executive branch. I don’t care for the “unitary executive” approach to monopolizing the “unbridled power of big government”, and I don’t particularly want the Supreme Court rubber-stamping it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/122 "2006-01-31T00:20:34Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Cloture passed. Good luck with your new judge. Ah yes, cloture. Are you not an American? If you are, he’s your judge, too, whether you like him or not. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/123 "2006-01-31T00:26:04Z")
Fuck it, I’ve now given up on the Democrats. The Dems have failed to be an effective opposition to Bush. From now on I’m going to throw away my vote and go Green even if it does spoil the Democratic vote. If it takes 20 years of complete Republican control to wake this country up, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/124 "2006-01-31T01:08:11Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Are you not an American? If you are, he’s your judge, too Only in the sense that I’m stuck with him. You wanted him. That makes him your judge. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/125 "2006-01-31T01:18:10Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Only in the sense that I’m stuck with him. You wanted him. That makes him your judge. Can’t we all just get along? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/126 "2006-01-31T01:34:19Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Can’t we all just get along? 🙂 Oh Yeah! I’d pay to see you and **Clothahump** doing the happy dance together tonight! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/127 "2006-01-31T01:46:49Z")
Did anyone see the hissy fit that Kennedy thru on the Senate Floor? He was pissed because there was a vote to end debate, when a majority of the Senate was already on record as being in favor of voting “yeah”. What a fucking blow-hard. The Senate, Mr. Kennedy, is not your personal soap box. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/128 "2006-01-31T04:09:04Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Did anyone see the hissy fit that Kennedy thru on the Senate Floor? He was pissed because there was a vote to end debate, when a majority of the Senate was already on record as being in favor of voting “yeah”. What a fucking blow-hard. The Senate, Mr. Kennedy, is not your personal soap box. Better watch that sort of talk, **John**. One of his trained and dedicated staffers might have to drive you home. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/129 "2006-01-31T16:08:47Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > The Senate, Mr. Kennedy, is not your personal soap box. The Senate _is_, among other things, a soap box, available to \*all \* of its members. Do you get this upset when Santorum or Coburn does it? Ever wonder why nobody here ever mistakes you for a Democrat? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/130 "2006-01-31T16:45:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The Senate _is_, among other things, a soap box, available to \*all \* of its members. Not after the vote for cloture is taken. > [@](#): > > Do you get this upset when Santorum or Coburn does it? If I ever see them do it, I will. > [@](#): > > Ever wonder why nobody here ever mistakes you for a Democrat? Not around here I don’t, since I don’t hate Bush with every fiber of my being. IRL, where social conservatives are much more numerous, I’m called a liberal all the time. Also, I’ve only been on this board when the Pubs were in power, and the vast majority of the whining comes from the left. Once the Dems return to power, I’ll have ample opportunity to bash the whining on th right. Sorry, but your weak attempt to cast me as a partisan Republican ain’t gonna fly. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/131 "2006-01-31T21:02:00Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Tough shit. He’s going to be sworn in tomorrow. Tell us how you feel about that, **rjung**! 😛 Like a lot of other actions from the last five years, it’s another one of those things you’ll eventually come to regret once you grow a conscience. (And when that happens, I’ll try to be magnamious and not say “I told you so…” 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/132 "2006-01-31T23:19:31Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Better watch that sort of talk, **John**. One of his trained and dedicated staffers might have to drive you home. So long as it’s a staffer driving, he’d have a better than average chance of getting home alive. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/133 "2006-01-31T23:27:51Z")
Holy shit! Robert Byrd voted Yea on Alito. Maybe we really were wrong. When ae the locusts going to show up? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943/134 "2006-02-01T01:28:04Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Not around here I don’t, since I don’t hate Bush with every fiber of my being. Spoken exactly like the partisan you claim not to be. > [@](#): > > IRL, where social conservatives are much more numerous, I’m called a liberal all the time. Where exactly is this so-called RL? Libertarian message boards? [qutoe]Also, I’ve only been on this board when the Pubs were in power, and the vast majority of the whining comes from the left. Once the Dems return to power, I’ll have ample opportunity to bash the whining on th right. [/quote] Meanwhile, those of us who put country before party or ideology will continue to target our attention, and criticism, on those who have all the substantive power and concomitant responsibility. You may certainly continue to reserve all, all, of your negative and personal comments for the other guys if you wish. But don’t simultaneously pretend to have a sense of responsibility. > [@](#): > > Sorry, but your weak attempt to cast me as a partisan Republican ain’t gonna fly. That’s simply following the evidence. You can claim not to be a duck all you want, but if you’re going to quack and waddle anyway, nobody else is going to be fooled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-massachusetts-senators-continue-their-stupid-pontifications/341943.md?page=6)