Senator Dayton...

 
From todays Star Tribune in response to the senator voting NO on the nominations of Dr. Condoleeza Rice and Alberto Gonzales:

Dayton said Senate Republicans were being overly partisan in condoning and defending "serious breaches of honesty and candor" in the Bush administration. He recalled how many of the same Republicans were eager to vote to convict former President Clinton during impeachment proceedings for allegedly lying.

"I believe that the lies of this administration to Congress and the American people, and the consequences of those lies ... go far beyond what occurred by the previous president," said Dayton. He added that Republicans "have a responsibility to not just automatically approve and defend and justify everything that's being done by an administration that happens to be of their political party."

Bravo to our honorable Senator for standing up for what he believes in. Senator Dayton is taking an immense amount of heat from Republicans who say the tone in his latest two confirmation votes (For Dr. Rice and Gonzales) is only contributing to more of a partisan divide up at the capital. I can see what they mean when you compare him to a certain other Senator. This is in stark contrast to Norm Coleman, who will go along with just about anything the administration comes up with. Personally I'm tired of these calls for "bi-partisanship". There certainly wasn't much "bi-partisanship" during the Clinton presidency. Senator Daytons poll numbers have taken a large hit as of late, with much of the reason due to the Senator closing his office during a high terror alert and his no vote for Dr. Rice. I don't know why people got in such a lather over this. Here's his quote:

"I take this step out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota constituents, who might otherwise visit my office in the next few weeks." "Particularly since I'm not going to be here in Washington to share that risk, I think it's immoral for me to leave them behind, knowing what I know and not being here with them."

It also seems reasonable to be able to vote your conscience during a confirmation hearing.