# Yesterday, I got a call from the Democratic Party asking for a donation... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 13, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498 "2008-02-13T20:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/1 "2008-02-13T20:54:51Z")
…and I told them I won’t because they give Bush everything he asks for. ## They guy kinda reacted as if I were an idiot. Maybe I am but, today, there’s a front page, above-the-fold article in the New York Times, headlined as follows: \*\*SENATE VOTES FOR EXPANSION OF SPY POWERS Also Backs Immunity for Phone Carriers\*\* * * * I would formally leave the party if there were somewhere else where I would feel comfortable, but there isn’t. Am I misguided? Are the Democratic Senators and Reps stupid, gutless, being blackmailed or bought off? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/2 "2008-02-13T21:01:16Z")
I’ve been wondering when Bush is going to become a lame duck but he seems to be able keep the senate republicans in line. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/3 "2008-02-13T21:08:26Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] I’ve been wondering when Bush is going to become a lame duck but he seems to be able keep the senate republicans in line. [/QUOTE] And a good number of Democrats. **BarnOwl** , you could follow it up by donating directly to one of the Democrats who opposed Bush, like Pat Leahy or Christopher Dodd. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/4 "2008-02-13T21:11:40Z")
I’m with you BarnOwl. I think they are gutless and I bet they feel that they don’t really have a choice in the matter. The President says that he needs these programs or we risk another 9/11. Are you going to be the one who stands up, votes no, and says “too bad we’ll take our chances?” I’m hoping that once Bush is out of office, and assuming a democratic candidate gets into office, they can undo all of this stuff and restore our liberties again. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/5 "2008-02-13T21:11:45Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] And a good number of Democrats. **BarnOwl** , you could follow it up by donating directly to one of the Democrats who opposed Bush, like Pat Leahy or Christopher Dodd. [/QUOTE] Thanks, **saoirse** , I damn sure will - Senator Dodd represents my state. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/6 "2008-02-13T21:13:50Z")
[QUOTE=dolphinboy] I’m with you BarnOwl. I think they are gutless and I bet they feel that they don’t really have a choice in the matter. The President says that he needs these programs or we risk another 9/11. Are you going to be the one who stands up, votes no, and says “too bad we’ll take our chances?” I’m hoping that once Bush is out of office, and assuming a democratic candidate gets into office, they can undo all of this stuff and restore our liberties again. [/QUOTE] I hope so, **dolphinboy**. I voted for Barack, and maybe he’ll have the balls to call a halt to all the crap we’ve endured under Bush. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/7 "2008-02-13T21:18:11Z")
Come to think of it, didn’t Dodd promise to filibuster the Spy Powers bill? And maybe the Telecom Immunity bill as well? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/8 "2008-02-13T21:25:48Z")
So I emailed Dodd, asking why he didn’t fight the Spy Powers and Immunity bills. Let’s see what he says. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-got-a-call-from-the-democratic-party-asking-for-a-donation/437498/9 "2008-02-14T16:22:25Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] Come to think of it, didn’t Dodd promise to filibuster the Spy Powers bill? And maybe the Telecom Immunity bill as well? [/QUOTE] I believe there were only 29 votes against. You need 40 to beat a cloture vote. Obama voted against cloture, but didn’t vote against the bill, since he was back on the campaign trail.