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June 15, 2005
Why? I Certainly Hope Kos is Wrong but I Don't Have a Better Answer
Help me, I would like any reasonable answer to why fifteen Senators, all Republican, did not cosponsor the apology for past lynching bill approved on voice vote yesterday. Under Senate rules, they can sign on at any time, even after the vote. In fact, a few have. Here is Kos ' explanation.
We can confidently say that there has been plenty of time and attention on this matter, so that those who were inadvertently left off the original list [of those who are not cosponsors] have had the opportunity to get on it. Those who remain on it do so because they support lynching. [emphasis added]
Of course, this is an argument from silence, even if the silence is deafening. There is no particular reason to believe arguments from silence. But one can ask questions. Not only why do these senators not cosponsor this bill, why have they remained silent as to why they did not cosponsor this bill. And why did Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is himself a cosponsor of the bill, rule against a role call vote and an open public debate. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (registration required) has a very good account of this last issue. Kos has a summery of the article.
Inquiring minds want to know. And those of us who also want to make informed decisions based on the commitments of our leaders need to know.
This is a list compiled by John in DC of AMERICABlog.com , accurate as of June 15th, 2005 at 08:57:56 PDT, of those who still haven't signed on.
- Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
- Robert Bennett (R-UT)
- Thad Cochran (R-MS)
- John Cornyn (R-TX)
- Michael Crapo (R-ID)
- Michael Enzi (R-WY)
- Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
- Judd Gregg (R-NH)
- Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
- Kay Hutchison (R-TX)
- Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
- Trent Lott (R-MS)
- Richard Shelby (R-AL)
- John Sununu (R-NH)
- Craig Thomas (R-WY)
Posted by Duane Smith at June 15, 2005 4:07 PM | Read more on Current Events |
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