who’s the wuss that voted present?

Lieberman is pathetic as are all of the Republicans who voted nay. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

So whats next? This was just to end debate. Will we get an actual vote on this?

Duval Slugger @ 3

So whats next? This was just to end debate. Will we get an actual vote on this?

It still hangs out there unresolved until they can break cloture or enough rethugs get the message.

Harry Reid on March 27, 2007: “In this chamber is Joe Lieberman and there isn’t a senator I have more respect for than Joe Lieberman.”

“Gumming it to death:” not just for breakfast anymore.

Damn…

That vote still leaves six votes absent. Who were the 6 that couldn’t even be bothered to show?

I hope they can bring it up on a daily basis.

Just sent an e-mail to John at C&L asking if he would post Whitehouse’s speech.

More of that please.

Duval Slugger @ 3

So whats next? This was just to end debate. Will we get an actual vote on this?

I think we needed 60 to end debate, and didn’t get it. So that’s all she wrote on no confidence.

Bob in HI

What’s next?

Why don’t the Democrats move to impeach Gonzo?

Do the Democrats have any guts to do anything else?

*xyz @ 5

Harry Reid on March 27, 2007: “In this chamber is Joe Lieberman and there isn’t a senator I have more respect for than Joe Lieberman.”

I called Harry’s office today. Told the phone answerer that Joe’s gotta go. I even invoked Jane’s name ;-)

Gack. I cannot come up with the words to express my disgust and loathing for Holy Joe.

What’s the contact info for Reid’s office if I’m not from Nevada? He needs daily correspondence reminding him that HoJo needs to be stripped of his chairmanship.

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 8

That vote still leaves six votes absent. Who were the 6 that couldn’t even be bothered to show?

One of them had a stroke in December.

Lieberman… scumbag. Fox News (Im at work, no choice) just ran a report about his BS call for attacks on Iran, leading into the segment with “And today, a prominent Senate Democrat …”

And the rest of them ? I really have a hard time putting any faith in them anymore. Harry is WEAK and INEFFECTIVE. Get rid of him too.

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 8

That vote still leaves six votes absent. Who were the 6 that couldn’t even be bothered to show?

more like *18* that didn’t vote.

Bob in HI

Feinstein and Schumer practically had a chokehold on RGJoe, you could see them working him real close-like, walking him around the chamber until they escorted him side-by-side to the well to cast his NO vote.

Nice work, you two — you coulda had a NED. [slaps forehead]

Cloture yays and nays being taken in the Senate on HR 6, energy bill about renewable fuels, gas mileage, energy efficiency, price gouging.

Requires 15 billion gallons biofuels annually by 2015, CAFE standards going up to standard of 35 by 2020, energy efficiency standards for appliances, oil/gas gouging crime during national emergency. Source, cspan 2

I didn’t hear Wyden.

DefendOurConstitution @ 11

What’s next?

Why don’t the Democrats move to impeach Gonzo?

Do the Democrats have any guts to do anything else?

This is the Senate…the House has to make the impeachment filings and any trial would be held in the senate.

Reid has to go as majority leader and the Democrats have got to jettison WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE Joe Lieberman.

Impeachment proceedings must begins immediately in the House. Start with Abu, then Shooter, then Bush. Build a case, show how each lied. People will respond.
If the Democratic congress cannot get rid of Abu, the firewall to the executive, it is neither democratic nor responsive to the American people and does not deserve support.

So the repigs have all the confidence in the world in Abu.

The whole country ought to know that.

Interesting that less than 40 voted with confidence…

Or Boxer

Bob Schacht @ 10

Duval Slugger @ 3

So whats next? This was just to end debate. Will we get an actual vote on this?

I think we needed 60 to end debate, and didn’t get it. So that’s all she wrote on no confidence.

Bob in HI

So we didnt end debate… we just drop it and move on ??? Cant they just keep debate going ?

It would have been nice if some Dem had stood up and said, “We are going to wrap Gonzales so tightly around the necks of the 21 Republican Senators who are running for reelection that the public will think you are each his Siamese twin. If you want this creep running the DoJ, start thinking of him as your running mate.”

Does the investigation continue?

TeddySanFran @ 17

Feinstein and Schumer practically had a chokehold on RGJoe, you could see them working him real close-like, walking him around the chamber until they escorted him side-by-side to the well to cast his NO vote.

Nice work, you two — you coulda had a NED. [slaps forehead]

Like I said, NOW we kick him out of the caucus. He gives the fucking Republican rule of arbitrary cover, once again.

GET HIM THE FUCK OUT OF OUR CAUCUS.

What does this make now, every Republican administration since Nixon that had problems with the AG?

Mitchell, ok maybe not Ford; Reagan, Bush I, and now Bush II.

Seems like a pattern when it comes to a GOP administration, the person who is supposed to stand for the rule of law is somehow deficient.

DefendOurConstitution @ 11

What’s next?

Why don’t the Democrats move to impeach Gonzo?

Do the Democrats have any guts to do anything else?

Impeachment must start in the House and there is even less respect for the rule of law in that body. Plus, Pelosi runs the house, and until she decides that impeachment is worth it, it can’t happen.

To Conyers: Start the impeachment proceedings now!

Absolutely everybody is voting aye on the energy cloture vote. It passes based on the count.

Veritas78 @ 26

It would have been nice if some Dem had stood up and said, “We are going to wrap Gonzales so tightly around the necks of the 21 Republican Senators who are running for reelection that the public will think you are each his Siamese twin. If you want this creep running the DoJ, start thinking of him as your running mate.”

yes.yes.yes.yes.yes.yes.yes.

TruthShark @ 15

Lieberman… scumbag. Fox News (Im at work, no choice) just ran a report about his BS call for attacks on Ira, leading into the segment with “And today, a prominent Senate Democrat …”

HoJo must be in Rove’s pay, a la Armstrong Williams. There’s no other explanation (except the Napoleon insanity theory). Nauseating.

Sing it, EW at 28.

GET HIM THE FUCK OUT.

Before he gives them cover for the invasion of Iran.

emptywheel @ 28

TeddySanFran @ 17

Feinstein and Schumer practically had a chokehold on RGJoe, you could see them working him real close-like, walking him around the chamber until they escorted him side-by-side to the well to cast his NO vote.

Nice work, you two — you coulda had a NED. [slaps forehead]

Like I said, NOW we kick him out of the caucus. He gives the fucking Republican rule of arbitrary cover, once again.

GET HIM THE FUCK OUT OF OUR CAUCUS.

No, no … not Harry’s best friend !!! /s

Gonzales: I’m still staying for the kids. »

Three months ago, Alberto Gonzales batted away calls for his ouster with the line, “I’m not going to resign. I’m going to stay focused on protecting our kids.” He’s still on message. Here’s Gonzales from a press conference today:

http://thinkprogress.org/

james @ 20

Reid has to go as majority leader and the Democrats have got to jettison WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE Joe Lieberman.

Amen.

Of course RGJoe is in Rover’s pocket — his Mel Sembler & pals’ money got him re-elected in November. Recall, please, the 8/8/06 call from Rover to RGJoe “We’ll do anything we can to help.”

Fuck Lieberman.

emptywheel @ 28

TeddySanFran @ 17

Feinstein and Schumer practically had a chokehold on RGJoe, you could see them working him real close-like, walking him around the chamber until they escorted him side-by-side to the well to cast his NO vote.

Nice work, you two — you coulda had a NED. [slaps forehead]

Like I said, NOW we kick him out of the caucus. He gives the fucking Republican rule of arbitrary cover, once again.

GET HIM THE FUCK OUT OF OUR CAUCUS.

The Repubs have Joe by the short hairs - their pet independent.

Veritas78 @ 26

It would have been nice if some Dem had stood up and said, “We are going to wrap Gonzales so tightly around the necks of the 21 Republican Senators who are running for reelection that the public will think you are each his Siamese twin. If you want this creep running the DoJ, start thinking of him as your running mate.”

PERFECT. Of course, for that, we’d need a few senators with the will to actually stand for the people’s interest and without the reflexive “thank you sir may I have another” posture this current crop display.

snowbird42 @ 37

Gonzales: I’m still staying for the kids. »

Three months ago, Alberto Gonzales batted away calls for his ouster with the line, “I’m not going to resign. I’m going to stay focused on protecting our kids.” He’s still on message. Here’s Gonzales from a press conference today:

http://thinkprogress.org/

So who’s going to protect the adults? from him?

How many Dems will vote to fund Abu’s budget? Can we muster 40 Dems who won’t give the DoJ any money?

(And if the DoJ weren’t funded, the sky wouldn’t fall. So those 93 pliant US Attorneys won’t get paid to cook up “voter fraud” cases? That’s okay by me.)

Oh NO!

Holy Joe,

Has Got To Go!

Abu is going to be that foul odor everyone smells when the Repubs start pontificating about personal responsibility.
If they have the balls to EVER bring it up again.

james @ 29

What does this make now, every Republican administration since Nixon that had problems with the AG?

Mitchell, ok maybe not Ford; Reagan, Bush I, and now Bush II.

Seems like a pattern when it comes to a GOP administration, the person who is supposed to stand for the rule of law is somehow deficient.

Aren’t all Goopers deficient to start with??? Something about their DNA…!!! Oh wait, it’s God’s fault!!! *g*

Aya tolla you once, Aya tolla you twice, I don’t know how many time aya tolla you.

Fuck Joe Lieberman.

aye 91
nay 0

energy cloture bill passes unanimously.

roll call vote begins on HR 6 itself.

7 more votes and this could have been the no-confidence vote. back to work people.

Wait. No cloture on debate on the No Confidence bill? Good! Let the Senate continue debating it! Let’s have it debated day and night till the Pubs agree to bring it to a vote.

Let’s have the Democratic Senators spend the next month talking about how venal and stupid and criminal the Bush administration, and AGAG, are.

Veritas78 @ 26

It would have been nice if some Dem had stood up and said, “We are going to wrap Gonzales so tightly around the necks of the 21 Republican Senators who are running for reelection that the public will think you are each his Siamese twin. If you want this creep running the DoJ, start thinking of him as your running mate.”

I like that.

leinie @ 35

Sing it, EW at 28.

GET HIM THE FUCK OUT.

Before he gives them cover for the invasion of Iran.

Perhaps we should coordinate a campaign to inundate Harry Reid’s office with calls demanding that he expel HoJo from the party and strip him of his assignments.

I hope the press asks those Republicans, who were already on record making negative comments about Gonzales, why they failed to vote yes on no confidence.

I can just here Joe with Feinstein and Schumer:
“No! We have to be cowegial, we must link hands with our republican brethren and practice cowegealwity then bomb Iran…

The Republicans voting in favor were:

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Sen. John Sununu (R-NH)
Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN)

I just sent an e-mail to Senator Hutchison’s office on her speech and the cloture vote. I told them that it is nice to know how important a non-partisan DoJ is to her. I also pointed out that I will now know how much credence to give her when she talks about how important the “Rule of Law” and “Honesty and Integrity” in government are. The answer is Not Much…

Well it’s good to know that so many Republicans are willing to stand up and go on the record to defend the most corrupt, incompetent, and generally worthless Attorney General in our history. It is another sterling example showing that there is honor among thieves although I would advise Abu not to walk too near the edge of any cliffs with most of those who just voted for him. Republicans believe in expediency as you, Abu, should well know.

Veritas78 @ 26

It would have been nice if some Dem had stood up and said, “We are going to wrap Gonzales so tightly around the necks of the 21 Republican Senators who are running for reelection that the public will think you are each his Siamese twin. If you want this creep running the DoJ, start thinking of him as your running mate.”

I love this comment.

Aren’t Committe Chairs in particular expected to be loyal to the party because they know they can be replaced if they buck the party? If anything Holy Joe should be held to a higher standard of loyalty since he was given a committe chair despite nolonger being a democrat and having senority. I’m sure lots of Senators want the Job.

from McJoan
As predicted, the no confidence vote on Gonzale didn’t make cloture, with a vote of 53-38, with one voting “present.” Also as expected, the skunk at everyone’s picnic Lieberman voted no.

But look at which Republican Senators voted aye: Coleman, Collins, Hagel, Smith, Specter, Snowe, Sununu. Ok, so five of them are clearly looking ahead to saving their political skins in November of ‘08, nonetheless, they should be applauded for putting their votes where their mouths have been in recent months.

However, this vote should be considered just the beginning, more than just a procedural vote to put some Republicans on the spot. It should be considered a critical step forward in building the case to remove Gonzales from office. Senators Schumer, Whitehouse and Reid laid out a clear and empassioned case for Gonzales’s removal. It can’t end here. We can’t have another colossal Dem cave-in to match the Iraq supplemental.

If they are serious in having no confidence in Gonzales (and who couldn’t be, outside of Bush?) then it’s time to begin the process for the next step: impeachment.

bk @ 21

Impeachment proceedings must begins immediately in the House. Start with Abu, then Shooter, then Bush. Build a case, show how each lied. People will respond.
If the Democratic congress cannot get rid of Abu, the firewall to the executive, it is neither democratic nor responsive to the American people and does not deserve support.

Even if there aren’t enough votes to get rid of them, impeachment proceedings should begin against all three. Bush must not be allowed to end his presidency (God willing) without his impeachment becoming a part of the record.

sorry, hear

I blew the joke.

I should’ve been “I don’t know kho meni times aya tolla you.”

Nevertheless: fuck Joe Lieberman. Which I cannot repeat often enough.

Speaking of the maudlin Harry Reid and the foreign agent Joe Lieberman, a pertinent excerpt from an incisive new article about Washington’s “Korea” PR push to slowly unveil its permanent occupation of Iraq:

Most of the article focused on more details of the DoD’s long-term designs as laid out by Odierno, but Tyson did get a dissenting view from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a man who knows a lot about Beltway politics but presumably very little about the daily humiliation of living under foreign occupation.

Tyson might have put in a call to Dr. Mowaffak al Rubaie, Iraq’s National Security Advisor and a close advisor to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Rubaie is neither a nationalist nor an opponent of the U.S. occupation — in fact he traveled to D.C. last month to lobby members of Congress against pulling out U.S. troops (he reportedly had a nice sit-down with neocon Joe Lieberman). At the time, he told the Times’ Michael Gordon that he felt Iraq was “on the last mile of a walk toward success, and if they [Congress] let go and don’t take our hand, I feel that we are going to lose everything.”

But al Rubaie, too, was shocked when we asked him his reaction towards the Korea model. “I’m very surprised by these statements regarding leaving U.S. bases until the Judgment Day,” he said. “This is a forced marriage — shouldn’t they ask the bride first?” Rubaie said that he would get in touch with his contacts in the United States to inform them that the plans were simply “not acceptable.”

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/53469/

Informational Addendum: Under Article I, Section 8 of our Constitution - per the war powers clause - Congress has sole authority to declare and end wars by simple majority vote without a presidential signature. Secondly, annual appropriations bills in the Congress may not be filibustered in the Senate. [This vital information brought to you thanks to Governor Richardson’s campaign to de-authorize the occupation of Iraq by the exercise of the Constitutional War Powers of our Legislative Branch of government, ASAP. Please pass it on.]

How many times will Harry Reid let Lieberman spit in his face?

Reid is an enabler.

The Dems need to remove all of Lieberman’s responsibilities and duties, and start the process of forcing this man to leave the party. Start embarrassing this guy publicly. Many people see this man on national television and assume he is a powerful Democrat who speaks for the party. He is sooo in our face. Taunting us with his authoritative pronouncements and bad votes. I want this ugly, cheap and arrogant blackmailer out.

dakine01 @ 55

I just sent an e-mail to Senator Hutchison’s office on her speech and the cloture vote. I told them that it is nice to know how important a non-partisan DoJ is to her. I also pointed out that I will now know how much credence to give her when she talks about how important the “Rule of Law” and “Honesty and Integrity” in government are. The answer is Not Much…

Shaka, Bra!!! ;-)

The Repubs have Joe by the short hairs - their pet independent.

I don’t think they have HoJo by the short hairs. I think they’ve bought him. He’s way to eager to support the repubs/knock the dems. Arlen, I believe they have something on, but joe I think is different.

I’d bet a year’s salary that Joe is benefiting financially from the wars and by supporting BushCo.

TeddySanFran @ 39

Of course RGJoe is in Rover’s pocket — his Mel Sembler & pals’ money got him re-elected in November. Recall, please, the 8/8/06 call from Rover to RGJoe “We’ll do anything we can to help.”

Once again: FUCK joe lieberman. & dan gerstein. & kkkarl rove.

*xyz @ 64

How many times will Harry Reid let Lieberman spit in his face?

Reid is an enabler.

No…Reid is a DISabler, when I think of what he’s doing to our party.

dakine01 @ 55

I just sent an e-mail to Senator Hutchison’s office on her speech and the cloture vote. I told them that it is nice to know how important a non-partisan DoJ is to her. I also pointed out that I will now know how much credence to give her when she talks about how important the “Rule of Law” and “Honesty and Integrity” in government are. The answer is Not Much…

Ding!

Obama and Dodd missed the vote.

solai @ 67

The Repubs have Joe by the short hairs - their pet independent.

I don’t think they have HoJo by the short hairs. I think they’ve bought him. He’s way to eager to support the repubs/knock the dems. Arlen, I believe they have something on, but joe I think is different.

I’d bet a year’s salary that Joe is benefiting financially from the wars and by supporting BushCo.

Benefitting financially? No–the key word is Sharon Netanyahu.

That is, Lieberman is a neo-con in a sheepskin.

*xyz @ 64

How many times will Harry Reid let Lieberman spit in his face?

Reid is an enabler.

You know, it is true. Reid grew up in a household of alcoholics. He may have joined the Mormon church because of its prohibition on alcohol, knowing his own genetic predisposition. There’s a real psychodrama playing out here, and RGJoe is enjoying it.

Senate site with cloture vote count here.

snowbird42 @ 71

Obama and Dodd missed the vote.

How convenient

Connecticut Bob @ 69

*xyz @ 64

How many times will Harry Reid let Lieberman spit in his face?

Reid is an enabler.

No…Reid is a DISabler, when I think of what he’s doing to our party.

I’m sure we can agree that Reid is enabling Lieberman and disabling his own party.

WTF happened to Obama & Dodd???????????????????

Eureka Springs @ 74

Senate site with cloture vote count here.

I’m not sure that link is operating yet.

To everyone here who thinks Chris Dodd is the Great White Hope…think again, long and hard, looonnnnggg and hhaaarrrddd.

After sending the e-mail to Sen Hutchison, I sent an e-mail to Sen Reid in his capacity as Majority Leader. I requested that since the cloture vote failed on the No-Confidence in AGAG resolution, that he invoke the procedures under Senate Rule 22 and make the Republicans go into a traditional filibuster by keeping the Senate in session with only the filibuster on the calendar and force the Republicans to continue to defend the criminal actions of the AGAG and his subordinates in the DoJ.

solai @ 67

The Repubs have Joe by the short hairs - their pet independent.

I don’t think they have HoJo by the short hairs. I think they’ve bought him. He’s way to eager to support the repubs/knock the dems. Arlen, I believe they have something on, but joe I think is different.

I’d bet a year’s salary that Joe is benefiting financially from the wars and by supporting BushCo.

Easy money!!! You need not look any further than A*P*C’s backpocket, they own HoJo!!!

egregious @ 18

Cloture yays and nays being taken in the Senate on HR 6, energy bill about renewable fuels, gas mileage, energy efficiency, price gouging.

Requires 15 billion gallons biofuels annually by 2015, CAFE standards going up to standard of 35 by 2020, energy efficiency standards for appliances, oil/gas gouging crime during national emergency. Source, cspan 2

my bold.

am i the only one who thinks this may be incredibly stupid?

let’s feed our cars instead of people? lets clear cut more rain forest to plant palms for palm oil? push people off their land?

WFT are the dems thinking of?!!

*xyz @ 76

Connecticut Bob @ 69

No…Reid is a DISabler, when I think of what he’s doing to our party.

I’m sure we can agree that Reid is enabling Lieberman and disabling his own party.

That would make him a multi-abler! Hee-hee!

Am I stoopid or is this a missed opportunity to look at this in a different perspective

Schumer must re-introduce this as a vote of confidence.

It will be easy to vote NO on a confidence vote.

It would be very hard to have anyone vote against cloture. What republican wants to stymie a vote of confidence? Doesn’t that implicitly state that they have NO-confidence if they don’t vote for cloture?

Are there really any Repugs that would vote yea on a vote of confidence? If so hang that vote like an albatross around they neck of those who do.

If the repugs want to play ‘what kind of fuckery is this?’ Polly-tics.

Fuckin’ show ‘em

My contempt for Joe Lieberman is infinite and eternal.

Nothing has changed.

Please explain (someone with more knowledge than me): Is there a downside to expelling HoJo? It’s been said that Harry wouldn’t lose his position and the make-up of the committees wouldn’t change, so, where’s the problem?

IIRC the Dems remain in control of the Senate, even if they loose the majority, because the committee chairs are named and not designated by party. If this is so, can Reid remove/strip Joe of his committee chair?

selise @ 82

egregious @ 18

Cloture yays and nays being taken in the Senate on HR 6, energy bill about renewable fuels, gas mileage, energy efficiency, price gouging.

Requires 15 billion gallons biofuels annually by 2015, CAFE standards going up to standard of 35 by 2020, energy efficiency standards for appliances, oil/gas gouging crime during national emergency. Source, cspan 2

my bold.

am i the only one who thinks this may be incredibly stupid?

let’s feed our cars instead of people? lets clear cut more rain forest to plant palms for palm oil? push people off their land?

WFT are the dems thinking of?!!

That is the problem. They are not thinking. Nor do they have any creative or imaginative capacity.

Woodhall Hollow @ 77

WTF happened to Obama & Dodd???????????????????

They’re busy running for Preident. The Rule of Law? Not nearly as important as becomming President.

And was Clinton there?

Steve @ 87

IIRC the Dems remain in control of the Senate, even if they loose the majority, because the committee chairs are named and not designated by party. If this is so, can Reid remove/strip Joe of his committee chair?

This punk isn’t gonna do shit, give me a break.

1,544 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Patriots:

Now the progressive movement hasta mobilize behind the folks in the House of Representatives and vote impeachment bills out against Abu and Shooter. It doesn’t matter the outcome, the only way we solidify the Democrats in the Senate and isolate the Republifascists in the fall of ‘08 is to force the issues into the living rooms of every household every day for weeks.

I guarantee that it won’t be Democrats who suffer at the polls for supportin’ Bush and Cheney…and it will force Obama and Mrs. Clinton to show up for more’n a photo opp.

In addition, bring legislation to the floor that is right no matter how many votes ya got beyond 51…make the fascists filibuster themselves into the 19th century where they came from and make the Chimpenfuhrer veto every piece of legislation that makes it outta the Senate.

And please Jane, don’t waste good troops by askin’ them ta call Republicans ta beg for votes…let’s keep the pressure on where we ken make a difference. Folks like Harry Reid are toast and they know it.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION…AND DON’T BACK DOWN, DON’T EVER BACK DOWN AGAIN!!

selise @ 82

egregious @ 18

Cloture yays and nays being taken in the Senate on HR 6, energy bill about renewable fuels, gas mileage, energy efficiency, price gouging.

Requires 15 billion gallons biofuels annually by 2015, CAFE standards going up to standard of 35 by 2020, energy efficiency standards for appliances, oil/gas gouging crime during national emergency. Source, cspan 2

my bold.

am i the only one who thinks this may be incredibly stupid?

let’s feed our cars instead of people? lets clear cut more rain forest to plant palms for palm oil? push people off their land?

WFT are the dems thinking of?!!

They’re thinking of lining the pockets of agribusiness ahead of the 2008 election campaign funding cycle.

solai @ 86

Please explain (someone with more knowledge than me): Is there a downside to expelling HoJo? It’s been said that Harry wouldn’t lose his position and the make-up of the committees wouldn’t change, so, where’s the problem?

Harry Reid has said he respects no Senator more than he respects Joe Lieberman. There you have it. Workplace collegiality.

who cares? the whole thing was symbolic and had no consequences. It’s like being mad that the democrats voted that they think America is “teh awesome” or that “bunnies are cute”.

It’s meaningless, a farce, a joke, just like the contortions surrounding their blank check to Bush. “Oh, but it’s really not a blank check, it’s just a check with no amount filled in”.

bullshit. or more aptly, horseshit.

selise @ 82

egregious @ 18

Cloture yays and nays being taken in the Senate on HR 6, energy bill about renewable fuels, gas mileage, energy efficiency, price gouging.

Requires 15 billion gallons biofuels annually by 2015, CAFE standards going up to standard of 35 by 2020, energy efficiency standards for appliances, oil/gas gouging crime during national emergency. Source, cspan 2

my bold.

am i the only one who thinks this may be incredibly stupid?

let’s feed our cars instead of people? lets clear cut more rain forest to plant palms for palm oil? push people off their land?

WFT are the dems thinking of?!!

It is still seen as politically more important to appear to address a problem rather than actually solving it. Buifuels is an expensive sop to corn state pols.

raven @ 90

Steve @ 87

IIRC the Dems remain in control of the Senate, even if they loose the majority, because the committee chairs are named and not designated by party. If this is so, can Reid remove/strip Joe of his committee chair?

This punk isn’t gonna do shit, give me a break.

??

Woodhall Hollow @ 77

WTF happened to Obama & Dodd???????????????????

I think with votes like this, Senators who are out of town and are going to vote opposite ways ‘hook up’ so to speak. So Obama is out of town, and McCain is, and they both don’t show.

But I don’t that is the case here.

Obviously the Democratic party is not in possession of the necessary guts to do anything about Lieberman.

solai @ 86

Please explain (someone with more knowledge than me): Is there a downside to expelling HoJo? It’s been said that Harry wouldn’t lose his position and the make-up of the committees wouldn’t change, so, where’s the problem?

Not much downside!!! He would still be the ineffectual Co-Chair of Homeland Security!!!

This wouldn’t have happened with LBJ as the
Majority Leader….

Helen @ 89

Woodhall Hollow @ 77

WTF happened to Obama & Dodd???????????????????

They’re busy running for Preident. The Rule of Law? Not nearly as important as becomming President.

And was Clinton there?

I don’t recall her name being called. And I am a NY’er. If she blew this one, she will be getting a loooong list of correspondences from me, by train fax, by plane post and by hand email.

I don’t recall hearing Clinton’s name called. Anyone else?

raven says

Steve @ 87

IIRC the Dems remain in control of the Senate, even if they loose the majority, because the committee chairs are named and not designated by party. If this is so, can Reid remove/strip Joe of his committee chair?

This punk isn’t gonna do shit, give me a break.

Yeah. We’re stuck with Harry until ‘09. When the Dems get a bigger majority in the Senate then, it will be time to kick Holy Joe to the curb, and run someone against Reid, as well.

Frankly, I’d like to impeach Lieberman.

Steve @ 96

raven @ 90

This punk isn’t gonna do shit, give me a break.

??

I’m just saying Reid isn’t going to do anything, maybe he can but he won’t.

NorskeFlamethrower @ 91

1,544 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Patriots:

Now the progressive movement hasta mobilize behind the folks in the House of Representatives and vote impeachment bills out against Abu and Shooter. It doesn’t matter the outcome, the only way we solidify the Democrats in the Senate and isolate the Republifascists in the fall of ‘08 is to force the issues into the living rooms of every household every day for weeks.

I guarantee that it won’t be Democrats who suffer at the polls for supportin’ Bush and Cheney…and it will force Obama and Mrs. Clinton to show up for more’n a photo opp.

In addition, bring legislation to the floor that is right no matter how many votes ya got beyond 51…make the fascists filibuster themselves into the 19th century where they came from and make the Chimpenfuhrer veto every piece of legislation that makes it outta the Senate.

And please Jane, don’t waste good troops by askin’ them ta call Republicans ta beg for votes…let’s keep the pressure on where we ken make a difference. Folks like Harry Reid are toast and they know it.

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION…AND DON’T BACK DOWN, DON’T EVER BACK DOWN AGAIN!!

LOL! Repulifacists!

And YOU keep the faith citizen GSD!

Clinton was there in peacock blue.

Woodhall Hollow at 101.

Howdy, neighbor. Our Senator will be hearing from me as well.

The Senate vote link is now working:

http://www.senate.gov/legislat.....vote=00207

CTuttle @ 99

solai @ 86

Please explain (someone with more knowledge than me): Is there a downside to expelling HoJo? It’s been said that Harry wouldn’t lose his position and the make-up of the committees wouldn’t change, so, where’s the problem?

Not much downside!!! He would still be the ineffectual Co-Chair of Homeland Security!!!

So what you’re saying is that even if they kicked HoJo to the curb, to reside in the gutter where he belongs, he’d still have the chair cuz they named ‘em, right?

Anyway around that?

Whatever … Bush has already said he would ignore the vote as nothing but a political statement. The key question is whether or not the Senate would vote to impeach Gonzales. I doubt you could get more than 10 Senators to vote for impeachment at this point.

Impeachment…
Subpoena Rove and get that Constitutional Crisis Cookin…

ifthethunderdontgetya @ 97

Woodhall Hollow @ 77

WTF happened to Obama & Dodd???????????????????

I think with votes like this, Senators who are out of town and are going to vote opposite ways ‘hook up’ so to speak. So Obama is out of town, and McCain is, and they both don’t show.

But I don’t that is the case here.

Technical term is, I think, “paired votes” but I like “hooked up.”

Helen @ 108

Woodhall Hollow at 101.

Howdy, neighbor. Our Senator will be hearing from me as well.

Yes sister! And while I am in a cantankerous mood. Fuck Hillary!

Hugh @ 95

It is still seen as politically more important to appear to address a problem rather than actually solving it. Buifuels is an expensive sop to corn state pols.

can there be some problems that are deemed so important that solving them actually is an important consideration? maybe even as important as the kabuki?

Bay State Librul @ 100

This wouldn’t have happened with LBJ as the
Majority Leader….

Or, Ole Tip on the House Side!!!

I’m for RGJoe to have his keys taken away, too. I wonder what Hagel’s standing in his own party is like?

Harry Reid is some kind of Republican undercover agent. He’s anti-choice, homophobic, and basically a conservative. I don’t actually know why he claims to be a Democrat.

Bay State Librul @ 100

This wouldn’t have happened with LBJ as the
Majority Leader….

LBJ was smart enough as Majority Whip and Majority Leader not to take control of the Senate when he had the numbers to do so, forcing the GOP to deal with their Joe McCarthy problem as the majority.

NEWS FLASH!! Republican senators abandon Ten Commandments and back prevaricators Libby and Gonzales…..Stop…..Joe Lieberman finally digs deep enough and discovers his true calling is the world’s oldest profession…..Stop…

Blue Dido @ 118

Harry Reid is some kind of Republican undercover agent. He’s anti-choice, homophobic, and basically a conservative. I don’t actually know why he claims to be a Democrat.

Only because he was born poor and disenfranchised. Other than that, he identifies with the persecutor (see Teddy’s post way up above).

TeddySanFran @ 113

I like “hooked up”.

It was a last minute edit. :)

leinie @ 110

CTuttle @ 99

Not much downside!!! He would still be the ineffectual Co-Chair of Homeland Security!!!

So what you’re saying is that even if they kicked HoJo to the curb, to reside in the gutter where he belongs, he’d still have the chair cuz they named ‘em, right?

Anyway around that?

Renegotiate the original Senate resolution, an extremely dicey crap shoot, within the current clime!!! A veritable Double-Edged Sword, that could cut both ways!!!

Present - 1
Stevens (R-AK)
Not Voting - 7
Biden (D-DE)
Brownback (R-KS)
Coburn (R-OK)
Dodd (D-CT)
Johnson (D-SD)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)

TeddySanFran @ 124

Present - 1
Stevens (R-AK)
Not Voting - 7
Biden (D-DE)
Brownback (R-KS)
Coburn (R-OK)
Dodd (D-CT)
Johnson (D-SD)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)

Chickenshit Presidential candidates:

Biden, Brownback, Dodd, McCain, and Obama.

BIDEN !?!?! DODD?!?!? OBAMA?!?!?

This vote could have been muxh closer, where the fuck were these senators when it mattered? start hitting the phones people!

( hey, CT, I gotta ask ya: where did you get yer special three-exclamation-point keyboard? I’ve gotten used to it, but man those exclamations of yours drove me crazy at the beginning. And there’s always 3!!! ) *g*

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Stevens voted Present!! That almost makes me feel better about the Lieberman vote (well, no it doesn’t). Seeing as how Stevens is well on his way to being indicted himself, I love that he voted present.

Well, in a sick kind of way.

On the Cloture Motion on the Gonzales no confidence: defeated 53-38 with 1 voting present and 7 absent
Republicans voting for:

Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Hagel (R-NE)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Sununu (R-NH)

37 Republicans and 1 Independent Democrat (Lieberman) voted against

Stevens (R-AK) voted present

7 were absent:
Biden (D-DE)
Brownback (R-KS)
Coburn (R-OK)
Dodd (D-CT)
Johnson (D-SD)
McCain (R-AZ)
Obama (D-IL)

Harry Reid is a pussy. End of story.

Lieberman’s got to be laughing at us. Playing us like a two dollar banjo.

jman @ 126

BIDEN !?!?! DODD?!?!? OBAMA?!?!?

This vote could have been muxh closer, where the fuck were these senators when it mattered? start hitting the phones people!

Running for president, of course. Which means they can’t do anything that might rock the boat or cause the Repugs to say they are girlie men.

Marcy is up: Joe’s new friend, Karl

I can’t wait until Ted Stevens gets his next “present” - from the FBI! Once again, when given a chance to distance herself from the corruption of her party, Lisa Murkowski makes a bad choice. Time to pull the rug out from underneath Lieberman.

emptywheel @ 128

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Stevens voted Present!! That almost makes me feel better about the Lieberman vote (well, no it doesn’t). Seeing as how Stevens is well on his way to being indicted himself, I love that he voted present.

Well, in a sick kind of way.

Are you sensing some FEAR in Sen Toobz?

How did Illinois vote?

Rules for driving in Chicago:

If the road map is more than three weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one.
All directions start with I-94.
Morning rush hour is 5AM to Noon, Evening rush hour is 3PM to 10PM. Friday’s rush hour starts Thursday.
If you stop for a yellow light, you will be rear-ended. You might be shot.
If someone actually has a signal on, it’s probably a factory defect.

Here’s a charitable way to spin the absences: maybe our Presidential candidates didn’t want the vote to get too close, thus highlighting the absence of Senator Johnson and his long disabling illness.

That’s about the best I can do.

selise @ 115

Hugh @ 95

It is still seen as politically more important to appear to address a problem rather than actually solving it. Buifuels is an expensive sop to corn state pols.

I can think of no instances in the Bush Presidency where this has happened. We are still in Iraq, Katrina recovery is still a mess, and we still have no energy or global warming policy.

can there be some problems that are deemed so important that solving them actually is an important consideration? maybe even as important as the kabuki?

jman @ 126

BIDEN !?!?! DODD?!?!? OBAMA?!?!?

This vote could have been muxh closer, where the fuck were these senators when it mattered? start hitting the phones people!

It all goes back to their need to raise money. If campaigns rec’d 100% public financing, they would have been there.

Helen @ 133

Marcy is up: Joe’s new friend, Karl

One observation about the title - I actually tend to think that Karl and Joe areold friends…

Woodhall Hollow@121: oh, okay, but that’s no excuse. And didn’t Reagan grow up poor, too, and also with an alcoholic father? There’s just something very strange and inexplicable about Harry Reid.

Bay State Librul @ 136

How did Illinois vote?

Rules for driving in Chicago:

If the road map is more than three weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one.
All directions start with I-94.
Morning rush hour is 5AM to Noon, Evening rush hour is 3PM to 10PM. Friday’s rush hour starts Thursday.
If you stop for a yellow light, you will be rear-ended. You might be shot.
If someone actually has a signal on, it’s probably a factory defect.

Wait a minute! I thought those were some of the Boston driving rules!

Like, If you’re in front, you have the right of way (at least that’s one I remember from the merge in the old days pre big-dig)

LBJ was smart enough as Majority Whip and Majority Leader not to take control of the Senate when he had the numbers to do so, forcing the GOP to deal with their Joe McCarthy problem as the majority.

TSF, the problem with this is the Rethuglicrooks don’t think they have a problem that needs to be dealt with.

Woodhall Hollow @ 101

Helen @ 89

They’re busy running for Preident. The Rule of Law? Not nearly as important as becomming President.

And was Clinton there?

I don’t recall her name being called. And I am a NY’er. If she blew this one, she will be getting a loooong list of correspondences from me, by train fax, by plane post and by hand email.

Clinton was there…light blue jacket, dark pants

I didn’t mean for that Clinton spotting to be so fashion specific…don’t wanna offend anyone, it’s just how I identified her on the floor.

Scarecrow upstairs on today’s Habeas ruling.

It cannot be an accident that RGJoe voted no and Dodd did not show up. They are both from CT. think about it.

dakine01 @ 142

Bay State Librul @ 136

How did Illinois vote?

Rules for driving in Chicago:

If the road map is more than three weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one.
All directions start with I-94.
Morning rush hour is 5AM to Noon, Evening rush hour is 3PM to 10PM. Friday’s rush hour starts Thursday.
If you stop for a yellow light, you will be rear-ended. You might be shot.
If someone actually has a signal on, it’s probably a factory defect.

Wait a minute! I thought those were some of the Boston driving rules!

Like, If you’re in front, you have the right of way (at least that’s one I remember from the merge in the old days pre big-dig)

Rotaries?

1,544 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..

Citizen Bay State Librul and the Firepup Patriots:

“Impeachment…Subpoena Rove and get that Constitutional crisis cookin’”

OK FDLers, it’s time ta check our ammo and get the battle plans ready. Crank up impeachment in the House Judiciary Committee, bring a rescission of the war resolution to the floor of the House, stop every single fascist nominee for any position above Town Crier and don’t make a single move on the immigration bill unless the fascists come beggin’ with the votes…and brothers and sisters, don’t fear the anti-immigration issue in November of ‘08. With the polar caps meltin’, gas at over $3 a gallon and folks dyin’ in Iraq, the anti-immigration folks will jest split the fascist party into the dustbin of history.

Don’t worry about what the fascists are doin’ anymore…kick the Democrats in the ass and put the fear of “the base” into every one of the bastards…remember, all the Congresspeople are up for re-election. We have the power and they know it…use it!!

KEEP THE FAITH, NOBODY GETS ELECTED PRESIDENT WITHOUT US!!

snowbird42 @ 71

Obama and Dodd missed the vote.

Is it still open? What about Clinton?
Is there a roll call yet?

Hugh @ 138

selise @ 115

can there be some problems that are deemed so important that solving them actually is an important consideration? maybe even as important as the kabuki?

I can think of no instances in the Bush Presidency where this has happened. We are still in Iraq, Katrina recovery is still a mess, and we still have no energy or global warming policy.

i’ve learned to expect that from president bush.

learning to expect it from my democratic majority congress is hard to take.

Bay State Librul @ 148

dakine01 @ 142

Wait a minute! I thought those were some of the Boston driving rules!

Like, If you’re in front, you have the right of way (at least that’s one I remember from the merge in the old days pre big-dig)

Rotaries?

Well, them too. But what I remember is three lanes of 93 coming down from New Hampshire merging with three lanes of Rt 1 from the North Shore into three lanes on the central Artery. I’ve lived in other cities that claimed to have a “merge” on highways that was problematic but I always won when I described THE merge in Boston…And it was the same for the tunnels.

Loo Hoo. @ 150

snowbird42 @ 71

Obama and Dodd missed the vote.

Is it still open? What about Clinton?
Is there a roll call yet?

roll call vote

TeddySanFran @ 137

Here’s a charitable way to spin the absences: maybe our Presidential candidates didn’t want the vote to get too close, thus highlighting the absence of Senator Johnson and his long disabling illness.

That’s about the best I can do.

If one parsed their possible votes, one would assume 56 Ayes and 41 Nays, still short of cloture! :-(

dakine01 @ 152

Bay State Librul @ 148

Rotaries?

Well, them too. But what I remember is three lanes of 93 coming down from New Hampshire merging with three lanes of Rt 1 from the North Shore into three lanes on the central Artery. I’ve lived in other cities that claimed to have a “merge” on highways that was problematic but I always won when I described THE merge in Boston…And it was the same for the tunnels.

I just close my eyes and pray!

I guess Holy Joe serves the citizens of CT the way they wanted when they re-elected him.

leinie @ 132

jman @ 126

BIDEN !?!?! DODD?!?!? OBAMA?!?!?

This vote could have been muxh closer, where the fuck were these senators when it mattered? start hitting the phones people!

Running for president, of course. Which means they can’t do anything that might rock the boat or cause the Repugs to say they are girlie men.

not that i am such a big fan of hilary’s - but she’s running for prez & she still managed to vote yea

Bay State Librul @ 155

dakine01 @ 152

Well, them too. But what I remember is three lanes of 93 coming down from New Hampshire merging with three lanes of Rt 1 from the North Shore into three lanes on the central Artery. I’ve lived in other cities that claimed to have a “merge” on highways that was problematic but I always won when I described THE merge in Boston…And it was the same for the tunnels.

I just close my eyes and pray!

My sister says that you should get behind the pick-up with New Hampshire plates and a gun rack OR the car that looks like it might be a pimp’s. Seems that folks give those cars a bit more respect out of fear…

Veritas78 @ 26

It would have been nice if some Dem had stood up and said, “We are going to wrap Gonzales so tightly around the necks of the 21 Republican Senators who are running for reelection that the public will think you are each his Siamese twin. If you want this creep running the DoJ, start thinking of him as your running mate.”

Are you kidding???? And not keep the powder dry??????????????

(snark not aimed at you!)

It was just plain fucking dumb of Reid to bring this to a vote in the first place - he KNEW he stood no chance, and now he’s played right into the GOP’s hands. Lieberman just laughs at him, I’m sure.

trying for impeachment and failing makes succeeding easier later

or it should

i keep seeing slogans on tshirts about ‘trying’ and ‘not giving up’

TeddySanFran @ 119

Bay State Librul @ 100

This wouldn’t have happened with LBJ as the
Majority Leader….

LBJ was smart enough as Majority Whip and Majority Leader not to take control of the Senate when he had the numbers to do so, forcing the GOP to deal with their Joe McCarthy problem as the majority.

Teddy,
can you explain what you mean?

gawd, even our homegrown colorado version of LIEberman managed to vote yes. And obama couldn’t even get around to voting???

Tom Steele @ 160

It was just plain fucking dumb of Reid to bring this to a vote in the first place - he KNEW he stood no chance, and now he’s played right into the GOP’s hands. Lieberman just laughs at him, I’m sure.

I don’t agree. The party has to be seen to be acting on this imbecile, and this matter has forced the rethugs into the position of embracing a self-confessed craven liar that even their base dislikes. If we can’t impeach him, I say we defund the justice dept by attaching waivers to every single fiscal bill.

I hope that someone will point out that, since a cloture vote requires an absolute minimum of 60 votes (i.e. 3/5s of those ‘elected and serving in the Senate’) anyone who did not vote, in essence voted ‘no’.

Yes that’s right. Obama, Dodd and Biden all essentially voted ‘no’

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 162

TeddySanFran @ 119

LBJ was smart enough as Majority Whip and Majority Leader not to take control of the Senate when he had the numbers to do so, forcing the GOP to deal with their Joe McCarthy problem as the majority.

Teddy,
can you explain what you mean?

While Minority Leader, LBJ saw several Senators on the other side of the aisle pass away, to be replaced by Democrats. By 1954, the Democrats had an actual majority, but the organizing resolution was similar to the current one, which allows a minority to continue as the “majority” controlling party in the Senate. LBJ didn’t want to be the Majority Leader, since GOPer Joe McCarthy had to be dealt with (censured) and he wanted that on the GOP, not on his plate.

I’m disturbed by the failures of Obama, Biden & Dodd to vote. Standing up for the most important things matters, wriggling for office ain’t running for it.

I’m pissed off …

just sayin …

Blub @ 164

Tom Steele @ 160

It was just plain fucking dumb of Reid to bring this to a vote in the first place - he KNEW he stood no chance, and now he’s played right into the GOP’s hands. Lieberman just laughs at him, I’m sure.

I don’t agree. The party has to be seen to be acting on this imbecile, and this matter has forced the rethugs into the position of embracing a self-confessed craven liar that even their base dislikes. If we can’t impeach him, I say we defund the justice dept by attaching waivers to every single fiscal bill.

What good does that do? The republicans go on the talking head shows every weekend and refuse to bad-mouth Gonzalez, and Bush calls pressers to tell everyone that he’s sticking with Gonzalez. Having the GOP go on record for doing something they’ve already done in public doesn’t mean shit - its too wonky for most people to care about. Also, Reid could have at least postponed the vote until he had Obama, Dodd and Biden in town. I’m telling you, Reid couldn’t organize a piss-up in a pub.

Breaking News! A majority of The United States Senate voted “no confidence” for a corrupt Attorney General. More votes to follow.

Frank33 @ 170

Breaking News! A majority of The United States Senate voted “no confidence” for a corrupt Attorney General. More votes to follow.

quoting from tonight’s DLCC email fundraising appeal? where they once again tell us what a great job they’re doing? grrr ….

The Democratic Party has once again been able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory because they actually thought that Republicans would agree that Gonzo is a fascist. The Dems are clueless that the Republicans are the new fascists. What a loser party. They are seen and being portrayed by the MSM as weak and ineffective. Can’t stop the war, can’t hold the Administration accountable. A Party with sound and fury amounting to nothing. I’m off to Italy, as someone once said in “Seven Beauties” I’m getting out of this shithole.

lee5 @ 171

Frank33 @ 170

Breaking News! A majority of The United States Senate voted “no confidence” for a corrupt Attorney General. More votes to follow.

quoting from tonight’s DLCC email
fundraising appeal? where they once again tell us what a great job they’re doing? grrr ….

Not at all. Once again, this is a most important battle. Each vote means another opportunity to reveal the corrupt network of neocons, K-street criminals and the multi-national corporations. The good thing about this vote, is that we saw Joe Lieberman supports the Bush Crime Family directly.

Frank33 @ 173

lee5 @ 171

quoting from tonight’s DLCC email
fundraising appeal? where they once again tell us what a great job they’re doing? grrr ….

What a revelation!
Not at all. Once again, this is a most important battle. Each vote means another opportunity to reveal the corrupt network of neocons, K-street criminals and the multi-national corporations. The good thing about this vote, is that we saw Joe Lieberman supports the Bush Crime Family directly.

Frank33 @ 173

lee5 @ 171

quoting from tonight’s DLCC email
fundraising appeal? where they once again tell us what a great job they’re doing? grrr ….

Not at all. Once again, this is a most important battle. Each vote means another opportunity to reveal the corrupt network of neocons, K-street criminals and the multi-national corporations. The good thing about this vote, is that we saw Joe Lieberman supports the Bush Crime Family directly.

You’re talking about something that doesn’t resonate beyond the blogosphere. The average guy only sees that the Dems have once again failed to do anything of consequence.

I must confess that I am very curious about one thing.. what on earth does shrub (or Turdblossem) have on these rethug legislators? … there must be some really great pics of gay orgies to compell 37 mostly rational rethugs (I’ll exclude HoJo from this because we all know why he does what he does) to go lemming-like over a cliff and right onto the deck of a sinking ship, for the cause of the biggest national joke since Aaron Burr. Enquiring minds really want to know…

TeddySanFran @ 166

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 162

Teddy,
can you explain what you mean?

While Minority Leader, LBJ saw several Senators on the other side of the aisle pass away, to be replaced by Democrats. By 1954, the Democrats had an actual majority, but the organizing resolution was similar to the current one, which allows a minority to continue as the “majority” controlling party in the Senate. LBJ didn’t want to be the Majority Leader, since GOPer Joe McCarthy had to be dealt with (censured) and he wanted that on the GOP, not on his plate.

Teddy,
thanks. Here is what I don’t get now. We have control of the House, so why not dump Lieberman? At this point, do you think McConnell wants to be Majority Leader right now? I don’t know. He probably thinks it is a good idea for Reid to keep making an ass of himself.

Blub @ 176

I must confess that I am very curious about one thing.. what on earth does shrub (or Turdblossem) have on these rethug legislators? … there must be some really great pics of gay orgies to compell 37 mostly rational rethugs (I’ll exclude HoJo from this because we all know why he does what he does) to go lemming-like over a cliff and right onto the deck of a sinking ship, for the cause of the biggest national joke since Aaron Burr. Enquiring minds really want to know…

Do you write for NPR? /semi snark

Blub: nice city ya got there. Be a shame if someting were to happen to it.

This vote is one of the biggest wastes of time that I have seen from the Senate. Democrats need to do something real, not play these games where they act like taking a vote that has no force of law means something. Acts like this are exactly why the Democratic party in Congress is losing favor with the American public.

Despite all the whining I don’t see this as a defeat. It wasn’t the victory we wanted (Gonzales out), but we didn’t really expect to get that did we? Those of you who whine about the loser Dems don’t seem to have understood from the beginning this wasn’t a winning vote…ever.

What it did was put the Repubs on the record as supporting Gonzales and Bush (yet again) without letting them rely on ’supporting the military’ or ‘9/11 changed everything’.

I’d have to look at the list of which Repubs voted to support Gonzales and are also beatable in the upcoming race, but I’d say it had to help us in a few races. That’s really all we could hope to achieve with this vote. Sad, but true.

Now, we take that minor victory and move on to others. One by one we pile up victories, convict Republicans, improve government by getting rid of a few crooks and plan to take the White House in the next election.

Got a problem with that?

I thought not.

38 of 91 Senators “support” the Attorney General.

Those 38 Senators need to be NAMED and held ACCOUNTABLE to their respective constituencies.

Tom Steele @ 175

Frank33 @ 173

Not at all. Once again, this is a most important battle. Each vote means another opportunity to reveal the corrupt network of neocons, K-street criminals and the multi-national corporations. The good thing about this vote, is that we saw Joe Lieberman supports the Bush Crime Family directly.

You’re talking about something that doesn’t resonate beyond the blogosphere. The average guy only sees that the Dems have once again failed to do anything of consequence.

I think the people of Conn. need to see just who they elected and how far he is willing to go outside of their interests.

actually, in a funny way, this all couldn’t have worked out better for the Pukes than if they’d actually engineered it.

to wit:
the dims are ‘in control’ of BOTH houses of congress, a matter of some pride and chest puffing among them on occasion.
unfortunately, they do not –cannot, i dunno?–have a unified caucus. Loserman leaves ‘em effectively hamstrung in the Senate. I cannot for the life of me understand why the dems did OT move heaven and earth to elect Lamont. but to their eternal shame, and our temporary discomfiture, they did not. if the weak-ass fucking dems like obama and hrc had actually gotten BEHIND lamont after he WON the fucking primary, a LOT of this would be moot today.

and those are only a few of their sins, imho…
./
the various canine caucuses in the house also contribute to fractiousness

R Senators up for relelection in 2008 that voted against cloture of no confidence in AGAG:

AK - Stevens (voted present, same effect)
AL - Sessions
CO - Allard (not running for reelection?)
GA - Chambliss
ID - Craig
KS - Roberts
KY - McConnell
MS - Cochran
NC - Dole
NM - Domenici
OK - Inhofe
SC - Graham
TN - Alexander
TX - Cornyn
VA - Warner
WY - Enzi

Anyone else surprised @ Graham?

I don’t think you bring a vote like this unless you know you can win. I think it gives Gonzo a bit of street cred for “winning” it.
Reid is weak in my mind. We need bold and thoughtful leadership. I’m impressed with Whitehouse. Let’s start a movement.

Well the math sure don’t add to 100, but you would be hard pressed to find out what the deal is from the MSM. I watched the coverage on MSNBC and CNN - and it was terrible.

The media seems to be really gearing up to defend agaist the collapse that seems to be completing - not sure why.

To say that the unfolding Justice scandel, and the clinging on of Abu is not important just does not pass the smell test.

Other items MSNBC and CNN are trying to block:
- Libby trial
- pre-September talk about the war
- anything Rove
- circle bash of Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Gore (while not even stooping to mention the pathetic Republicans)
- and are quite odd on Iran in that they have yet to look at the “evidence” and just take it on its face.

Lucky thing this site and others exposed Joe Lieberman otherwise he would remain a wolf in sheeps clothing as he works on the Republican nut-job agenda to nuke Iran amoung other foolish plots.

As for Abu and Bush winning - they did not win shit other than the way the media was handled.

Abu is about one revelation, or perhaps beyond that away from getting his ass punted out of DC.

No purple state Republican up for re-election voted with him, some had the stones or sight to vote against him while the other cowards did not vote.

They are one revelation or piece of evidence away from 7 more votes. Also any idiot stupid enought to side with Abu can enjoy the campagin ad.

I agree that Harry Ried is weak tea, and was ready to try (or have the elected Dems I should say) to oust him from power. At the very least he appears very weak, and that is a problem. I am willing to give Nancy P one more chance (all of this based on the crap strategy and complete collapse with respect to the withdrawal from Iraq - assuming they did not actually do what they intended to do which would make it even worse)

newtonusr @ 186

Anyone else surprised @ Graham?

Did he crack and vote for cloture?

Eureka Springs @ 190

newtonusr @ 186

Anyone else surprised @ Graham?

Did he crack and vote for cloture?

No. But he’s shown a little independence in Judiciary. I was hoping…

newtonusr @ 191

Eureka Springs @ 190

Did he crack and vote for cloture?

No. But he’s shown a little independence in Judiciary. I was hoping…

Graham is like Specter, they talk tough, but when vote time comes, they keep on giving Bush everything he wants.

Jano @ 187

I don’t think you bring a vote like this unless you know you can win. I think it gives Gonzo a bit of street cred for “winning” it.
Reid is weak in my mind. We need bold and thoughtful leadership. I’m impressed with Whitehouse. Let’s start a movement.

Whitehouse is a freshman, he’d never win. Besides, there is someone ever better than Whitehouse(and don’t get me wrong, I like Whitehouse). His name is Feingold. ;-)

Let us see now; CT voters elected HOJO with a thumping majority, so what does that make them? Who wants to live in beautiful New Caanan?

How much blame do the electorate carry versus the elected for the eventual outcome?

a reminder to the Joe-Bama worshippers, Barack Obama picked Joe Lieberman to be his mentor in the Senate.

Lieberman told the crowd that Obama had chosen Lieberman as his mentor.

from Hartford Courant, Mar 31, 2006.

don’t beleive the audacity of the hype - he’s a neo-con like his mentor, and you only hear what you want to hear from him now because the polls say it is safe.

Democrats in Congress need to play hardball.

They need to inform the White House that either Alberto Gonzales goes or there’ll be no further judicial confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate until he is gone.

Then, it’ll be up to the White House whether or not they want to keep Alberto “El Corrupto” Gonzales as Attorney General or they’d like to see some more hardcore, anti-abortion Republicans seated on the federal bench.

I figure they (Bush, Cheney and Rove) will want Gonzales to remain Attorney General to provide a “firewall,” to protect the worst administration in American history, from any criminal investigations or prosecutions.

And to have a blindly partisan Republican, like Gonzales, in charge of the DOJ up through the November 2008 elections, so they can try to reverse the results of the November 2006 elections, using any means possible, like they’ve done in previous elections.

Thus, no more “loyal Bushie” neo-fascist Republicans will be approved for the federal bench by the Democratic-controlled Senate during the remainder of Bush’s time as president. Unless, the most corrupt administration in U.S. history gets rid of Gonzales first.

Seems like a win-win move by the Democrats, in my view. Especially since there is bound to be heightened awareness of possible Gonzales/Rove/DOJ chicanery leading into the November 2008 elections. I know I’ll be watching closely.