>nobody blames the 37 Republicans who actually killed it
I think we _do_ blame the 37 Republicans, it's just that that's not a particularly new emotion to feel at this point. It's no secret that the GOP pulls this stuff (as, like you noted, with Collins).
Currently, though, Bernie (and Murray, who at least commented) have the image of not being present for what, even if only optically, feels like an incredibly important job. I've had to say this to a few people today: you can be equally annoyed with with the people who voted for it, the GOP who brought it, and those who weren't there to try and stop it to begin with.
Everyone on this forum knows what's at stake here, so it's frustrating to see the "one vote missing" here.
For additional context, Bernie hasn't voted in any of the 10 roll call votes so far in May.[1] He's not campaigning anymore. Hell, he was streaming on Twitch this evening.
As noted up thread, the GOP would've just moved the goalposts by turning one of their swing votes if there was any danger of him putting a vote in for this. But he was batting .000 on the month going into today, so it was an easy bet.
> As noted up thread, the GOP would've just moved the goalposts by turning one of their swing votes if there was any danger of him putting a vote in for this.
That's exactly why he should've showed up. The swing votes are swing votes because voting that way is unpopular in their district. It makes it hurt more to do the wrong thing. "Meh, it would've passed anyway" lets the people doing wrong get off too easy.
That’s a bit weird, he seems pretty pro privacy. I know he voted against the Real ID thing (including the version that was tacked on to a spending bill which was how it passed.)
I think we _do_ blame the 37 Republicans, it's just that that's not a particularly new emotion to feel at this point. It's no secret that the GOP pulls this stuff (as, like you noted, with Collins).
Currently, though, Bernie (and Murray, who at least commented) have the image of not being present for what, even if only optically, feels like an incredibly important job. I've had to say this to a few people today: you can be equally annoyed with with the people who voted for it, the GOP who brought it, and those who weren't there to try and stop it to begin with.
Everyone on this forum knows what's at stake here, so it's frustrating to see the "one vote missing" here.
Edit: a word.