A line just got drawn on the floor of the Senate by Sen. Harry Reid. (Sure, it was a bit bumbly, but it was a line nonetheless — and a step in the right direction.) The US Senate will operate 24-hours a day from Tuesday forward until bills are either passed or the Republican party antes up with something beyond hypocritical, empty spin. Here’s some background from Bob Geiger:
Forcing his Republican colleagues to put up or shut up on the notion of an up-or-down vote, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) just moments ago announced that he will immediately file a cloture motion on the Reed-Levin troop redeployment bill and, if Republicans follow through with a filibuster, will place the Senate in a prolonged all-night session Tuesday to force a true continuation of debate.
“Now, Republicans are using a filibuster to block us from even voting on an amendment that could bring the war to a responsible end,” said Reid. “They are protecting the President rather than protecting our troops. They are denying us an up or down – yes or no – vote on the most important issue our country faces.”…
Reid will be using the provision of Rule 22 that allows for up to 30 hours of continuous debate once it’s made clear — in this case, by Republicans trying to avoid an up-or-down vote on Reed-Levin — that there is a desire to continue debating the issue.
In other words, the Majority Leader is saying “You want to debate? We’ll stay all night and debate.”
Reid could hold the Senate in continuous session overnight Tuesday and into midday Wednesday unless Republicans agree to a simple-majority vote on Reed-Levin.
Senate Democrats will then be prepared to take to the floor and speak all night and, if their Republican colleagues do not remain in the chamber, invoke ongoing quorum calls and other procedural maneuvers to force GOP members back to the Senate floor.
With the whole specter of cots being dragged into Senate cloakrooms and the pure theatrics involved, I’m hopeful this will shine a white-hot spotlight on the Senate’s Republican leadership and show Americans how the GOP doesn’t truly support helping troops and their families at home or extricating them from pointless involvement in the Iraqi civil war. (emphasis mine)
Boo yah!
Thanks so much for making all the calls and sending out the e-mails and faxes today, gang. You guys rock!
But we cannot ease up on pressure — Sen. Jon Kyl is on the floor right now arguing that detainees deserve no legal rights and that the US shouldn’t be required to present lawful evidence as a reason to hold people indefinitely. Appalling and absurd. And a great motivator for making some phone calls in support of habeas restoration. Please call your own Senators and add in some calls to the following: Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Hagel, Lugar, Craig, Collins, Snowe, Coleman, Voinavich, Sununu, Landrieu, Gordon Smith, and Alexander. This is an updated list from earlier, with a few mor names added to the “not sure of their vote now” list. So, any calls you can make to these folks in support of the restoration of habeas would be much appreciated!
Thanks all!
UPDATE: I got a couple of questions about whether or not the Webb amendment will be up for reconsideration. That isn’t clear at this point, but I’ll let everyone know as soon as I hear something definitive on that. I hope it will — Mitch McConnell should not get away with his machinations without having to pay a hefty public penalty for it.
PS — FYI for everyone, Amb. Joseph Wilson endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Presidential candidacy today. Taylor has more.
(Don’t know what it is about the Freedom video using George Michael’s song and visuals to skewer the Bush Administration, but I was in the mood for it today. So enjoy the YouTube.)
Related posts:
- Hey, Harry Reid, Stop Protecting Democrats Who Want to Filibuster the Public Option
- Senate Finance Committee Ends Amendment Process; Next Stop, Reid’s Office
- Schumer Raises the Stakes: If Final Bill Has No Public Option, Blame Harry Reid
- Colorado Senators Udall and Bennet Call for Up-or-Down Vote on Public Option
- It Sounds Like Reid Is Planning To Sell Out The Public Option
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Zed
Netrootz!
REID!!!
Now let’s see Reid follow through on this. (Yes, I’m not holding my breath. We’re in a mirror universe, after all.)
Wow, this is so cool! Even the msm is gonna have to pay attention to this, heh, heh heh. :D
Congrats Pups!!
Fantastic pic Christy ;->
btw, the voinOvich name should have a o in the middle ;->
sorry disappeared earlier, & still only half-way back. we’re updating some stuff on our hometoobz & they’re all clogged up at the moment. reminds me of old dial-up, ooogh! hopefully done & back up to speed soon-ish.
The Senate and House should get the same amount of R&R as the troops in Iraq are getting – which is none.
Pass Senator Webb’s legislation!!!
People power!
Damn you are good Christy!!!!
TheOtherWA @ 5
you’d think
Lake Power!
Christy!
BTW, it’s Hillary…*g*
We know she told people that she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary. But we also know that’s not true, since she was born before Hillary climbed the Everest in 1953.
As I have said before, I will support the nominee of my party. But at this point I will not vote for today’s front runners in the primary.
Is this a Nevada-buster?
Is there any way the Administration can attempt to intervene????
LS at 10 — Hey, you guys made all the calls!
THE FIREDOGS RAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and Reid gets it now, just like feingold gets it…I bet they BOTH read here at the lake cuz check out how he framed it, bolds are mine of courser;
NICELY DONE REID!!!
democrats need more of that, frame it so they feel like MAGGOTS…the maggots they are
Oklahoma kiddo @ 14
Amen to that!
Cáitín @ 8
I’m wondering why Reid didn’t put the Webb amendment back up there for this, rather than Reid-Levin. Is there a procedural reason for that? The Webb amendment was a 1000% win-win situation, where the wisdom of using Reid-Levin for this seems less sound. TBS, go for it, Senators!
Great job Christy, as ever. Forcing us to be citizens, imagine that? ;)
in the words of drill instructor Hartman, Reid’s “sounding off like he’s got a pair”
LS @ 16
I don’t think the administration can do anything.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 17
You held our feet to the fire! Oh, yeah that goes along with Firedogs!!
This is excellent news, indeed. But I hope it’s not another one-off maneuver by Reid like the time he halted Senate business over part two of the Iraq assessment report. That was a great political moment that was squandered by not continuing the pressure.
Now that Reid is going back to the old way (see Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes To Washington with Jimmy Stewart), he needs to stick with it. Exposing the GOP tactics is good, but only doing it once will make it a meaningless political moment.
Biodun — Thanks — was typing this one up on the fly. (Can you tell? There are probably more typos as well…between the quick typing and the phone, it was all I could do to get this up for you guys. LOL)
Hurray!
Now, who will be Hillary’s running mate, and who will be in her cabinet if she is elected? Valerie deserves a spot.
This is the first positive news in a long while.
you’re smokin’ Christy!
Send thanks to Harry. He said he’ll keep them all there overnight if he has to!!
Perris @ 18
Unfortunately he doesn’t get impeachment if you head over to DKos. He’s taking a beating on whimping out.
now look at this which I cut and pasted from think progress;
as I KEEP saying, the republicans will be HAPPY to deal, I am CERTAIN we can win an impeachment proceeding if we deal
the republicans are fed UP with this ten year old in office, he has cost them their power and their standing, they will be COMPLETELY out of power if they don’t deal, we cannot wait, we MUST deal
this country can’t wait, the middle east can’t wait and certainly the world can’t wait
we must deal
BOOYAH, indeed!
I could use a year of this – draw a bright clear line between us and them.
Feinstein quoted Colin Powell, saying to close Gitmo not tomorrow, but this afternoon.
Lemme make sure I understand this correctly – Reid can keep them in session………indefinitely?
If true, 31 August sounds about right to me. ;-)
Yes, this is good. But. In a filibuster scenario, it should be the people refusing to vote for cloture that have to stay up all night and talk.
If the pubs go home to bed, then some fighting Dem should move the question of cloture then and there, and have the vote. It’s not a flat 60 votes, is it? Isn’t it 2/3 of the quorum in attendance?
Waccamaw @ 35
Yes. What is Cheney planning to do while congress is in recess this time?
perris @ 18
Perris you beat me to it, I’ll repeat it:
keep repeating this Dems!!!
I’m so disappointed in Joe Wilson’s decision. Hillary was, after all, an enabler for this war that cost Valerie Plame her job. I’m scratching my head. Too bad.
Cáitín @ 8
This also goes for the Iraqi Parliament, which is planning to take all of August off.
TheOtherWA @ 5
Seems like the last time something like this happened was during Newt’s Republican Revolution. Wasn’t it something to do with laying off fed employees or something? All that wonderful drowning government in the bathtub stuff?
Anyway, what a relief.
Feinstein spanking her repuke colleagues on Gitmo now
perris @ 31
Every time we get our hopes up on a GOoPer seeing the light, it rolls over and pull the covers back up over its head. Don’t count your converts until they start putting their votes on our side of the tab.
Elliott @ 29
Christy and everyone here at the lake has made such a differance it literally sends those shivers through my skin just typing my thanx to her and the keepers of the lake
it’s not only this incredible development that with NO DOUBT is because of Christy, but how about all of the democrats that were elected becuase of the lake?
how about the disdain we were able to get the politicians to express when libby was let looose?…how about all the people we got to the polls?…how about all the help we were able to get people to give the polls?
this place has made such a differance in politics it is astounding
GLASSES UP FIREDOGS, I SALUTE THE LAKE OF FIRE AND DOGS AND I SALUTE HER KEEPERS
and I raise my glass and salute all who attend here at the lake
If Senator Webb’s legislation is passed it will effectively end the war. There won’t be any troops to send to Iraq (or Iran if Lieberman and Cheney get their way) without a draft.
If a draft is instituted finally people will hit the streets. Two years ago I asked a co-worker who supported Bush and supported the war would her support still be there if her 15 yrs. old son was sent to Iraq. Her response, “Oh people like my son won’t have to go!” I stood there in stunned disbelief and at that moment it became clear to me why so many people were willing to support Bush Co. – most Americans don’t think they will ever have to anti-up.
If Gore comes in like many expect in the fall, than it’s bye, bye front runners.
Hmmmm. Who would be most likely to give up their August vacation plans to get the war bill passed?
If this bill makes it to W’s veto pen and returned during the recess…if the Repubs are all on vacation somewhere…Hmmmm….
Is that a possible scenario??
For what it’s worth, I think it’s unfair to rail too much against Reid, Feingold and anyone else in the Senate over impeachment (of Bush/Cheney). It is the job of the House of Representatives to put forth the case for impeachment, and the Senate sits in judgement. Until a case is put before the senators it shouldn’t be expected they’d have too much to say since the Senate doesn’t initiate impeachment.
Waccamaw at 35 — No, read what Bob wrote: under the current Senate rules, Reid is doing a maneuver under Rule 22 — he can keep them in session for 30 consecutive hours at a time in calling for a cloture vote on this. But that can be re-upped, as I understand it, for every vote needed.
So if they are going to try and use stall tactics on every piece of legislation, Reid may just be willing to make them pay for every last one of them.
Cáitín @ 45
They don’t. That is the only explanation that makes sense, the ONLY one. She’d change her tune in a heartbeat if the draft were reinstated. I’m sorry, but people like this make me ill.
Cáitín @ 45
Bingo.
Cáitín @ 45
I thought Webb’s amendment was defeated last week?
Christy Hardin Smith @ 17
Do you know when the Dems put this thing together? Was it just over the weekend that they got their sh*t together in response to input from Americans, or have they been working on this?
Brisingamen @ 52
When cloture was defeated the amendment was withdrawn so that it lives to fight another day.
perris @ 44
Cheers and clinking glasses all around!
Memo to Harry: be sure to drop Pampers on top of all those Repub cots.
Is it appropriate to call and thank Reid or should we wait and see if the steel stays in his spine? (and while it’s there, could he share and steel up some other Dem’s spines as well?)
It was withdrawn after the cloture vote failed.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 14
I like Chris Dodd.
The Repubs are drunk on Kaganaid and Kristolight.
Liberal at 53 — I don’t know the answer to that — I think something like this had been talked about for a while, but my understand is that they decided to go with it just this morning. But how long they’d been considering doing this, I’m not certain — I do know that the obstruction by the GOP has started to grate on everyone’s nerves — and I think the Conrad interview that I linked up earlier and the Feingold hint on this that someone else referenced in the comments earlier today shows that they’ve been thinking about doing something like this for a while. But I don’t know a date certain as to when the thought process started on it — only that they decided it was a go today.
cosmosis @ 57
Heck no! Don’t do ‘em any favors! Plus, they’re INTO that kinda thing!
so I guess the polite thing to do now is make thank-you calls?
I guess this would be an inappropriate moment to discuss holograms on nine-one-one.
:-)
memo to mr. reid:TELL THEM ‘BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING’
and that’s just what you’ll do-
Take that Lieberman, you treasonous man.
It just hit me that the reason why the Republicans threw money at Joe Lieberman (I-neo-con) is because he was supposed to be the Democrat who just kept on endorsing and pushing for this war, so BushCo would be able to blame the Dems for the war and just kind of hand it off like a football at the end of Bush’s term. It was a very big hit for Bush when Joe became an independent.
So, Iraq is too hot this time of year…..if they will have August off, then how will they meet the benchmarks in September? I just saw a video that had a leader of Iraq on the American news explaining why they are taking off. We are over there killing Iraqi’s and he is on tv explaining to Americans why they are having a vacation. This is just so surreal.
Loo Hoo. @ 55
Twisted Martini
Dee at 56 — I tend to be one of those people that says thank you calls are very appropriate. And that we should make our happiness with a particular poicy known as much as our unhappiness. So please — call and say thanks if you want. Reinforcement for good behavior is important. :)
Brisingamen @ 52
It was but it should be brought to the floor again but I think all those Senator’s and Congressman are afraid their kids and grandkids will have to go.
Webb was willing to submit that bill because his son is already in Iraq. Wouldn’t it be nice for Webb if some of his colleagues had to face the same worry.
jayt @ 63
Good point!
wow!
no vote no recess.
keep up the heat.
Extended tours for Congress, not just the Troops!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 67
I’m on hold now to give my thanks to Harry. Been on hold for quite a while, but everyone in the office is on the phone with others who got in line ahead of me. Yahoo!
Hey pups, Senator Allard (R) Colorado is on the floor now telling us that significant progress has been made in Iraq.
Go figure – how’d we miss that?
Numbers Christy provided if you want to make thank you calls.
If you agree, call Sen. Harry Reid today: he can be reached at 202-224-3542 in DC and 702-388-5020 in Nevada. For reasons why this is important, see here. Or you can use the following toll-free numbers (H/T to katymine for these):
1 (800) 828 – 0498
1 (800) 459 – 1887
1 (800) 614 – 2803
1 (866) 340 – 9281
1 (866) 338 – 1015
1 (877) 851 – 6437
Yikes a call to Lieberman. Urghh.
After this, I would like to get Congress to disown that crappy ammendment against Iran, investigate the propoganda and Iran-baiting tactics of the Bush administratrion. And condemn all of the above, plus clandestine operations that are tantamount to acts of war against Iran. I think its become more important since Lieberman’s little “victory.”
Christy -
Thanks for the clarification; I read it several times but still wasn’t sure.
So if they are going to try and use stall tactics on every piece of legislation, Reid may just be willing to make them pay for every last one of them.
Actually the above could be even more entertaining. “May” is assuming Reid hangs on to whatever spine today implies he appears to have acquired.
LS @ 60
Spew alert please.
Getting on-line and reading that Reid finally grew some has made my day.
A definite shout out the firedoglake crew is in order!
What do you make of this claim that Rove committed Treason as evidenced by what Novak said in his interview?
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..142056/397
My big question is: Is this the first actual filibuster of the “internet era”? Heck, has there been an actual filibuster on C-SPAN?
Do these guys even have the physical stamina to do this? It used to be a politician had to be able to bellow for hours on end to run for anything, but now they can just run ads.
So I’m looking forward to all the YouTube fodder this thing is bound to produce. We’ll have video of punch-drunk Republican senators running their mouths for hours on end. That’s bound to have some more candid moments than any 21st Century politico is prepared for.
Allard is retiring. He can make any ridiculous claim he wants on behalf of the GOP.
Wonder if they will do more time than Scooter.
I’ll phone a thank you as soon as I can get to a staffer or even a voice mail – Reid’s voice mail in DC is full! And if you try to talk to a staffer, you get put to voice mail, which generally means they are all on the phone.
:^) To see Americans motivate and act as a group, where our strength is, is such a breath of fresh air to me!
I hope someone will be making a Greatest Hits CD/DVD of all the unAmerican points being made by Republicans over the coming hours … and aother Truly Greatest Hits of all the American points being made by the Dems. Not the whole speeches; just worthy sound bytes for future use as we fight for what we care about most deeply.
Wow! It looks like all the calls, email, and petitions got the Dems attention. It’s all win-win for us progressives, I think. Three cheers and a tiger for Senator Reid.
“President Bush eloquently” WHUH?????
I suspect the fact that Kent Conrad felt comfy enough to talk about this last week indicates that Reid was planning on doing this anyway. But still, it doesn’t hurt to let him know what we’re thinking!
This is very encouraging, and it offsets what seemed to me to be a discouraging post by Senator Feingold today over at the Great Orange Satan. Feingold was talking there about impeachment, and why the proceedings would hold up investigations and the passing of a more liberal legislative agenda, and it seemed that he was just out of touch (incredible as that seems) with the reality that the Republics will deliberately sabotage any Democratic legislative proposal that looks like it might do our party some good down the line.
I quite remember Bill Kristol’s pushing this line of action in 93 to stop any health-reform package from being brought through Congress, and he succeeded.
So, good on ya, Harry. Dominici should be right at home on the floor in his pyjamas.
just john @ 78
This could definitely be a bonanza.
I called Reid’s office to thank him and to encourage him and, boy, was that staffer clueless.
Allard up with Republican lying yet again, intimating Al Qa’eda is all the violence in Eye-rack, (Sounds so un-educated to mispronounce, hein!?)sashaying into 9/11 as if it was Iraq…… no mention of the fact that most of the al Qa’eda in Iraq are from our ’staunch ally’, Sa’udi Arabia, of course.
He was reading a speech he had plainly not seen before and had thus not rehearsed, and appeared therefore to be both dumb and a bullshitter.
brendan @ 88
Yes she was. Seemed to be about sixteen or so……..
mui @ 74
amen!
Didn’t Senator Byrd engage in an old tyme filibuster a few years ago? I remember seeming him reading a whole lot of stuff on C-SPAN.
Cáitín @ 68
I also expressed my hope to Reid’s staffer that the Webb amendment would see floor debate (something I thanked Webb’s people for Friday).
retirin’ in five @ 90
We must have all gotten the same staffer.
ET, what’s playing now?
Yes, the Republicans and their media minions will of course accuse the Democrats of wasting everyone’s time, even though it’s the Republicans who are holding up the legislation that the people most want.
The simple truth is that the Republicans wasted most of the previous session of Congress; even with GOP obstructionism running rampant, the new Democratic-run Senate alone has already had 247 votes in less than six months. By contrast, when Republicans ran the Senate, there were 279 in all of the last year. In addition, in 2006 the old Republican-run Senate was only in session for 138 days, a post-war record low. Already this year, the Senate under Democratic control has been in session for 106 days. That’s pretty darned good, but it’d be even better if Harry Reid and Company had made it clear from the beginning that they weren’t going to save the Republicans from making fools of themselves.
brendan @ 93
When I called Reid’s office to offer my thanks for forcing the Senate to work – I also asked Senator Reid to bring Webb’s bill to the floor again. I then had to explain to the child answering the phone what the Webb amendment was.
deleted
94, 90, 88: And now she’s written an email to her boss: “Who is Doug Lake, and why does everybody want us to fire him?”
so, when does the filibuster start tomorrow?
Loo Hoo. @ 95
It sounds like a late Beethoven string quartet. I’m saving those up for late in my life, so I’m not as familiar with them as I perhaps should be.
brendan – I appreciate your comment at the bottom of the previous thread re Wilson. At least, I think I do…
puppethead @ 91
iirc D candidate Mike Gravel read the Pentagon Papers into the record during a filibuster.
Reid’s voicemail box is full, so I called back to get a staffer. He was polite and very young. I’m not sure he knew what I was talking about, but he knew I was happy! As long as Sen. Reid gets that message, it’s all good.
*doing the Snoopy Dance**
Allard:
alquaeda
terrorists
9/11
evil
iraq
hitler
iran
satan
embolden
voldemort
bin laden
rinse and repeat.
Knut Wicksell @ 86
I’m being repetitive, but I think there has to be public consciousness of the necessity of impeachment. If even Feingold is discouraged, it makes that necessity of that all the more apparent. Someone like Arthur Silber mocks people here for not being “rioting in the streets” right now, and he’s partly right. What about an Impeachment rally from the White House to the Capitol (or vice versa)? It seems like one of the few cases where a demonstration could actually have a real effect. The word “impeachment” has essentially not been broached in the public media: wouldn’t an unprecedented (as opposed to anti-war rallies, which no one pays attention to) march of this type at least break the ice and do some of the work of Congress? Who does these marches?
Great news on the cloture motion. Bring out the lawnchairs and the NoDoz!
Called Reid’s office in support of making the GOP actually do the filibuster. Ya can’t have dessert if ya don’t eat your broccoli Mitchie Poo.
Still have to call about habeus. Or, as John Kyl would say “Habeus Shmaybeus”
Oohhh….Torture memos would be good out loud reading…so would material about the seriousness of outing a Covert CIA officer…hey, how about reading the debunked WMD claims…or the Downing Street memo…or…how about reading material about how the government allowed people to dehydrate and die during Katrina…lots of good out loud reading material…
Just got an e-mail from Move-on, wanting me to oppose the GOP filibuster of the anti-war bills. Should we call them too?
Ed*ard Teller @ 101
Thanks. I think we were mostly agreeing. Typically for me, the beginning sounded more antagonistic than I meant it to be.
do-si-do @ 104
Well, I’ll predict that we’ll see the end of one of these by this time next week. (emphasis mine)
either MSM is ignoring this completely or their Hill reporters’ are all playing gin in the press lounge.. nothing about this on any network
Blub @ 111
They like to have people like Wolf B. break that kind of news so they can spin it.
Elliott @ 102
He had them inserted into the Congressional Record, but only read parts of them on the floor. I don’t believe it was during a filibuster, though. He’s remembered for doing a one-man filibuster against the draft renewal in 1971, for weeks and weeks.
Wouldn’t we all love to watch the marathon filibuster? Tell CSPAN to cover it all by faxing them at 202-737-6226.
Speaking of phone calls, lets send our love:
Nancy Pelosi’s office is taking calls (202-225-0100) voting for Impeachment of Bush/Cheney. (Say yes or no to the daily poll. It will be forwarded to the Speaker.)
I just got off the phone!!! 8-)
Blub @ 111
there might be an emergency update on the state of mr. edward’s hair in the works.
P J Evans @ 108
WTF?!?!
Blub @ 111
their inaction speaks louder than their lack of words.
LS @ 77
You might want to read Chief Justice John Marshall’s opinion rendered in 1807 in Ex parte Bollman to see what, in his opinion, constitutes treason. Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that treason was committed, how would you procure the “testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act” or obtain a “confession in open court”?
LS @ 107
I vote for the Libby trial transcripts. Especially the testimony of the 4 current and 1 former Bush administration officials who testified against Libby. That would debunk the “it was Libby’s word against Tim Russert’s” talking point.
CTuttle @ 115
Done.
Shorter Allard: BOO!
Executive Privilege this, bushybaby!
I’m crying: talk about political passion. What bright hope. Thanks everyone!
Go Dems! I’m not surprised Reid was a little flustered. I know I’m shaking. This is an epic turning point.
Elliott @ 102
it’s a hilarious (and serious) story – you can listen to daniel ellsberg, mike gravel and robert west tell the story here.
PJ at 107 — No — opposing the GOP filibuster is the right move. They can either (a) vote on the bills or (b) they have to filibuster. We’d prefer that they vote on the bills — because we have a majority support for them. That’s why they are filibustering, to prevent a majority vote. Move-On has it right.
CTuttle @ 115
Could you clarify? Where was this announced?
sandflea @ 62
eeeuuwww! instant visual of Goopers excited by Pampers text-messaging kinky fantasies … *leaves to look for eyebleach*
*Vision restored* Kudos to our Fab Founders Christy and Jane, Kudos to all you firepups who tirelessly do the good work of restoring democracy.
P J Evans @ 108
PJ – does the email say to oppose Reids attempt to force the filibuster, or to bash ReThugs for engaging in one?
Actually.. take that back on MSM.. FOX just put a story about the big bad Harry Reid threatening to cause good patriotic Americans to lose sleep.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289504,00.html
No news from the other nets
Bark loud, you beautiful Firepups!!!
I leave for an hour or so and look what I miss.
Now we turn the volume up to 11.
There are three words that irk me beyond belief about my party. Alito, Roberts, Iraq.
I wonder if all the Dems are taking naps right now.
brendan @ 125
Staffer said this was incorrect. There is no poll however he transferred me to voice mail where I left a message saying that had it been true, my vote was most definitely in the affirmative.
Naraka @ 131
I bet they got a lot of rest over the weekend!
When I first came here (seems like long ago, now), I thought Firedoglake referred to the biblical lake of fire and brimstone. Now I am sure it is (Jane’s explanation to the contrary)
brendan @ 125
IIRC it was Thurs/Fri, the poll is no longer being conducted, but, Ms. Pelosi needs to be encouraged to put it on the table!!!
I want Harry to deal with Lieberman. I want Lieberman to have all his Democratic responsibilites taken away.
Ed*ard Teller @ 113
I wasn’t sure myself so I went looking (and I apologize for not doing that in the first place)
How the Pentagon Papers Came to be Published by the Beacon Press: A Remarkable Story Told by Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, Dem Presidential Candidate Mike Gravel and Unitarian Leader Robert West
Gravel filibuster
CTuttle @ 135
It was never hers to “take off the table”. See my #105 for whose it is.
CTuttle @ 115
I just got off the phone too, reached a human being rather than the poll. He was kind and directed me to a comment line, to leave a recording.
In my message I asked if she would please work for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
selise @ 123
thanks selise! (I wish I’d seen this sooner)
sofistic @ 134
Don’t forget the famous Fired-throwing contests held at O’Glake clan gatherings during the Highland Games.
Christy -
Wikipedia: Bill of attainder
Do you think that holding a detainee indefinitely without trial is tantamount to passing a bill of attainder or issuing a writ of attainder against that detainee?
wow! I made three calls in one day. Reid, twice, and then Pelosi’s daily poll. Inspired by all the fired-up pups. Such good news–thanks, Christy! Can’t wait for Countdown.
Froomkin on how Bush treats his generals:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..inionsbox1
Elliott @ 140
just consider this another friendly reminder – if you’re not listening/watching democracy now! daily, you are really missing out. *g*
Staffer at Pelosi’s office just asked me if I supported impeachment. I said “yes.” I think she just added it to the tally.
Ed*ard Teller @ 141
Oh we throw fire alright. We are only just getting started.
Loo Hoo. @ 144
Froomkin is great, but this is an unfortunately double-edged metaphor:
“But he has a tendency to celebrate his generals when they’re providing him political cover — then stick a knife in their backs when they’re no longer of any use to him.”
OT–
McCain is sunk. That Sunday walk in the Baghdad market park musta done it:
Levin up…
TheOtherWA @ 133
now they just need to grow a set and stick with this. Just one time, I’d like to see them actually follow through.
Biodun @ 149
Greenwald has an excellent post about the misapprehension that it’s McCain’s war support that has done him in.
Dana @ 146
The staffer asked you, unprompted? Huge!
Wyden bringing up health care. Interesting…
I’m predicting that this session will be THE story by tomorrow morning. Unless Uncle Karl and Mike Chertoff have some precious distractions they’ve been saving up, ready to roll out at a moment’s notice.
I would read the names of all US soldiers KIA in Iraq. Congratulation to all callers, I am impressed with your action. And it seems to confirm what I was trying (rather helplessly though) to say: Put pressure on your guys, the opposition doesnt care about you. And your guys must fear more from you, their supporters, than from the Republicans. And that alone makes them act.
newtonusr, Specifically, She just said hello. I asked about the “daily poll,” without mentioning impeachment, and she simply asked “Do you support impeachment?”
Dana @ 146
Ditto.
brendan @ 125
i just called and got a staffer. she was ready with the Question:
“Yes or No?”
i said,
“Yes, for Bush and Cheney both.”
Christy Hardin Smith @ 124
I want them to spell out hour after hour how f*cked up their thinking is.
bluejeansntshirt @ 129
Make that Bark, Snarl and Hooooooowllll!*
*Think Dennis Hopper in “Blue Velvet”.
New York Sun via Raw Story: Conservative Pennsylvanians Pass ‘Radical’ Laws Defying U.S. Constitution
A very pleasant young woman in N Pelosi’s office answered, I said I believed they were taking votes for or against Impeachment and she immediately asked me whether I were for or against: I said “For most decidedly!”; she thanked me and I hung up, so she knew something about it.
Christy!
Thank you for all you do!
I think, after a very frustrating day installing new software patches, we’re back on the toobz at this house.
Finally got to enjoy the video as well as the fine fine pic from it as the header.
Now back to make s’more calls…
newtonusr @ 153
Asked me, too. I began the call by asking if there was a poll being conducted regarding impeachment. She said it’s not a poll, exactly, but she wanted to know if I favored it. I said, “Oh my goodness yes.”
Brief ThinkProgress post: Joint Chiefs weigh ‘bigger troop buildup.’
Whether you think this particular bill is the one to use in standing up to the filibustards… is almost irrelevant.
What’s important now is to push into the media discussion that list of all the bills McConnell has stopped by forcing cloture votes. You’re going to hear lots of ‘political stunt’ rhetoric from the GOPpers over the next couple of days, and it’s vital that responses are armed with the list of derailed and obstructed bills, ideally on a sheet or two of paper to wave in the GOPpers’ faces.
Feedback from ThinkProgress: BREAKING: Reid To Force All-Night Filibuster On Iraq Withdrawal
I called the Speaker’s office and left a message to consider impeachment proceedings against Richard Cheney and George W. Bush. About five minutes ago.
brendan @ 152:
Thanks. I saw/read that this morning. I was just trying for snark.
For those who want to know:
(Since their meesage probably doesn’t get to anyone who doesn’t already agree with them, the usefulness of a ‘counter-filibuster’ is, IMO, questionable.)
I will not let up on the pressure on my party.
Well it was a bit of a delay getting to a person at Reid’s office but she was very pleasant when I did get through.
I mentioned that I was pleased with his speech today and wanted him to hold their feet to the fire. And I also mentioned that we need to impeach both cheney and bush now rather than later.
Called Pelosi earlier to day.
Damn do you think it might be working?
the administration has surely waged war against America and her constitution
never the less, an impeachment is at the pleasure of the senate
the president works at the plesaure of the people, at the pleasure of congress and at the pleasure of the senate
we are the boss of him, not the other way around
Kudos to Reid for shining the light on the Republican filibuster. With regard to the Hillary endorsement, although I have the highest respect for Ambassador Wilson and his wife, I just don’t get Hillary. Why would she vote to authorize George W. Bush to attack Iraq? Did Hillary buy into all that pre-war propaganda? Did she think it was best for herself politically? FWIW, I find it hard to support somebody who voted wrong on the most important vote of this century.
fahrender @ 160
Imagine if ‘Frank Booth’ was president.
Finally.
perris @ 173
Exactly. We are the Deciders. I, for one, want them all removed from office.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 175
“Where’s my bourbon?!?”
Is Vitter back at work? He might have some supplies handy that would help his colleagues get through a 30-hour debate….
pseudonymous in nc @ 166
That’s a good idea…however, I DO think it’s relevant and a good move to force the issue on this particular bill. It really illustrates how far these creeps will go to protect the president and not the troops. That will get everyone’s attention. And then to follow up with the points you mention is icing on the cake they bake.
TeddySanFran @ 179
He’s making an “announcement” this evening. Sounds like maybe no more Vitter.
This is the text of the email I sent to my to Republican Senators (Collins and Snowe) the other day:
c-span2 – mcconnell up now on the senate floor… responding to reid’s notice the Rs would be forced to filibuster.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 171
I read more than I write, but I always agree with OKK.
perris @ 173
I think the only person who doesn’t get this is the Prez who thinks he was elected to represent his god.
It isn’t exactly SDS redux yet. But activism, I radically believe, is key.
My last comment for the night (here in Dresden).
Good job, everybody for speaking up today! Even if Reid was already going to make his speech (or not), our calls had to give him more confidence.
I was very dismayed about Feingold’s diary at Daily Kos today. I read the comments over there and the overwhelming majority of people did not agree with him and many commenters had clear and forceful reasons for doing not agreeing with him. Kossacks are not pleased with Feingold’s thinking other issues are more important. I’m sure though if the House does bring articles of impeachment up and they pass, Russ will be very much on the correct side of the trial.
Joe Wilson’s endorsement of Hillary? Everybody’s got a right, and Joe’s no different. When the chips are down, if Hillary is the candidate, I’m voting for her. No way am I going to not vote, vote for Nader or some such, and the Republicans have never gotten my vote and never will.
Cheers, everybody, and be well.
LS @ 181
cancelled all his meetings too, I think I heard.
OK.. does anybody know LA state law on replacing senators, in the event we do get lucky and he quits? Does the Democratic governor appoint a replacement or is there an immediate special election?
TeddySanFran @ 179
heh!
I wish I had time to read through the comments in the last few threads more carefully, but I want to say that I did call Sen Reid.
And on the topic of Joe Wilson and Hilary Clinton…well, on some level it fits into my reading of “the facts on the ground.” I am a big supporter of Edwards. Better yet, Gore–who seems less and less inclined to run. So, in terms of this reality, I would much prefer Hilary over Obama. Though I must say, that the likelihood of her eventual presidency makes it all the more crucial that articles of impeachment be brought against Bush ASAP.
McConnell is trying to get them to vote on the Republican Iraq narrative..blah, blah, blah.
perris @ 173
Actually, I believe impeachment is at the pleasure of the house. Conviction is at the pleasure of the senate. Otherwise I agree 100%.
This is nice, but it needs to be a consistent strategy. Keep Reid’s feet to the fire.
LS @ 181
Vitter has no leg to stand on, not even in the Fisher King sense.
newspaperbrat @ 189
Jay Leno: “…Vitter didn’t deny the allegations, but he did pooh-pooh them.”
Blub @ 188
I think it is the Governor, who at the moment is still Blanco-D, would appoint replacement. The timing would be good if it happened now, I think.
Elliott @ 137
Eliott: I have the original Time magazine featuring the Pentagon Papers on the cover.
LS @ 191
He desperately needs a new script. One would think that McCain’s implosion would at least give him pause..
Hi, Pups!
Great day. Congrats to all.
An idea to kick around: how about a daily or nightly “Feet to the Fire” frontpage/thread?
To make getting the word out to
Call Critter Whatstheirface about Issue Whatchamacallit
into a regular thing we all look for and add to our daily routines?
If the urgency of the issue has already been addressed extensively, just include links if time is limited. Include the excellent list of toll-free capitol switchboard numbers (thanks Katymine!)with two notes (from my experience and IMHO):
1) pick a number and just let it ring a lot–an operator will answer. Thus, redial can be a good friend.
2) be as nice as possible to those hardworking, probably underpaid and underappreciated women and men on that switchboard. Speak clearly, use a cheerful, friendly tone and lots of “Please” and “Thank you” no matter how impersonal or harassed or curt they sound when they answer (they’re just trying to keep the calls moving).
And one last little thing I’ve been doing–especially if I’m not a constituent (ie, if I call Reid’s or Pelosi’s office), I identify myself as “this is one of the American People.”
(/de-lurk).
Funnydiva
perris @ 173
Perris: Impeachment is at the pleasure of the House, conviction is at the pleasure of the Senate.
So the Pubs want to endorse the findings of the Iraq Study Group? That thing that Bush has ignored and rejected?
Blub @ 188
the governor chooses. i’m not sure for how long though.
I have just noticed your final comment about J Wilson’s endorsing H Clinton.
Surely it is time to get stop talking the woman up if the Democratic Party wants to provide the President in’08, ‘cos she is unelectable, folks. She is unelectable because the tiny number of vote switchers are never going to vote for her.
I am not altogether sure they will vote for Obama, either, and a lot of intelligent people are going to be very nervous about Obama’s inexperience in general at such a dangerous time for the US, but especially about international matters. is inexperience might well cause him to pick PNAC types as his international affairs advisors.
ccmask @ 197
that issue’s historic!
Pelosi staffer just sent me to her voicemail.
Now that he has made a move in the right direction, I immediately e-mailed Mr. Reid a thank you, go get ‘em message. Oh, I also mentioned how weak we look just giving in to bully tactics.
beth meacham @ 201
Who knows? The Republicans might one day want to endorse the Constitution too.
What’s going on just onw on Cspan 2 in the Senate about the cloture vote? Is this ammendment an attempt at obstruction?
fahrender @ 202
then we will finally be able to retire Uncle “symbolic majority” Joe from his seniority and committee appointments… :)
fahrender @ 202
The appointee holds the position until the end of the original term that particular Senator was elected to fill.
He’d be so f*****’ suave…..
Short Durbin:
McConnell you are a liar.
New thread!
Called Reid: THANK YOU!
Called Nancy: Impeachment, please.
Nice to see one go our way, for once.
It’d be fine to be proven wrong about the (D) party.
props to Ian Welsh for his initial hardhitting post.
I hope they follow every one of his suggestions.
Funnydiva2002 @ 199
Good idea. Now when they ask where I’m calling from, I’ll say “America” or “The United States.”
You can get The Pentagon Papers thru Netflix:
This compelling political drama is based on the true story of high-ranking Pentagon official Daniel Ellsberg, who, during the Nixon era, strove to preserve American democracy by leaking top-secret Defense Department documents to the The New York Times and The Washington Post. The documents in question would eventually become famous as The Pentagon Papers. Stars Alan Arkin, Claire Forlani, James Spader and Paul Giamatti.
Starring: James Spader, Claire Forlani …
Pentagon Papers-Netflix
maunga @ 203
Better start supporting Edwards real fast then. Hillary and Obama have the money. Everybody else will have to fold, for lack of it, as the ex Va. gov. just did and St. John, for all practical purposes has done. In seven months the candidates for both parties will be set.
With that, i am really going to push away from the ‘board.
In honor of the infamous “EPU”
Modestly I must take credit for Reid’s Action…I reminded them that GIVE em Hell Harry was a boxer and that it was time to get in the damn ring *g*
Great job firepups, it time to rumble.
Woodhall Hollow @ 190
“Better yet, Gore–who seems less and less inclined to run.”
Oh dear have I missed something from the Gore camp in recent days? Last I knew he had cancelled previous travel commitments at least through this year (until of course he will likely fly to Stockholm to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in October).
ReElect President Gore and VP Edwards in 2008!
Question: How long can a filibuster be? It SEEMS that, in this case, it can only be less than 2 days. But I recall, in my youth, filibusters going on for many days. (Senators reading the phone book, etc.)
Does anyone have the answer? Am I seeing this wrong?
So what happens if the fillibuster lasts the entire 30 hours? Does Reid get to say, okay let’s go another 30 hours? Or do the Rethuglicans win and the fillibuster is successful and there will be no vote on the bill?
Shell at 221 — They can go on for days on end if the person who is filibustering chooses to keep them going — unless and until there is a successful vote on cloture under Rule 22. However, in recent years, there has been a “gentleman’s agreement” to not force the old, phone book reading on your feet style of filibustering but, instead, to allow a sort of silent filibuster with cloture votes being used to shut down debate on bills and amendments. What I was arguing today is to make them do it the old-fashioned way.
There is some debate as to whether the Dems have the ability to do that under the current rules, but they do certainly have the ability to force debate to continue for 30 hours under Rule 22 — unless and until those blocking a vote on the bill via cloture drop their asinine obstruction and allow a majority vote. And that’s what Reid is doing with the current move. Does that help?
I have been trying to call Reid’s offices all day. The lines were busy. I was glad to learn the calling campaign has pushed the issue of obstructionism on behalf of the GOP to be held accountable. Give Em H—- Harry and hold them accountable for We the People!
Statistics show a personal letter has great impact. I urge all to follow their calls with a written letter to push the issue of accountability as an ongoing stance in the Senate and to thank Reid for starting the process. Look here for the stats on the impact of personal letters. Personal letters hold weight. Especially for change on legislative vote.
let’s just hope the ‘all night’ filibuster isn’t ‘too too’ exhausting for ol’ harry and the gang-
OMG, I sent emails and signed a petition this morning and came home to THIS!! THIS IS SO COOL!!
Will CSPAN be filming the filibustering?
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are going to get a LOT of mileage out of this one.
Let’s face it, this bunch has been running Congress with a “MAKE ME!” attitude. The only thing they understand is force.
I want to see cots and jammies for this one. Let ‘em go all SUMMER if need be!
Just saw a clip from Bush’s press conference today…he’s showing the stress.
We have to keep the pressure on.
ah, this is an excellent start! Make ‘em work night and day if for no other reason that the Amercian people need to see who’s working to resolve problems and who’s doing everything they can to prevent Congress from passing budgets and legislation.
No amount of air conditioning can completely envelope and protect the denizens of DC in high summer. But even the DC summer will not be as hot as the spotlights shone on the Republican obstructionists. Thank the Gods that the TeeVee is in reruns and summer reality crap, the talk shows might take some time to discuss this challenge Sen Reid has made. Make ‘em sweat Harry!!!
going to call my dem Senator now and tell him to support Sen Reid.
Thank you for the answer, Christy. I’m with you. Do it the old fashioned way. If you want something, REALLY want it.
This “gentleman’s agreement” stuff is (or should be) as old-fashioned as saying GENTLEMAN’S, eh?
Then there’s that nagging business about Iran and the Junta’s go ahead from the Democratic Senate, to wit:
and later that same page…
This is the Congress we’re still dealing with. It’s nowhere near being up to the task of stopping the Juggernaut, as far as I can tell.
Cáitín @ 8
Yes yes Yes! Gore/Webb
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 225
Mr. Smith goes to Washington…
Calling is good, but Lieberman??? Why call Lieberman? Makes more sense to call Kyl or Sessions or Ted Stevens. Lieberman is a whining Cheney, different only in that he does not snarl and curse as well.
fahrender @ 218
Obama completely rolled over during the Condi Rice and John Bolton nomination hearings (two very serious war pushers and liars). Kerry, Clinton, Biden, and a few others asked both of these individuals hard driving questions about their efforts to mis-lead the American public and the false intelligence used to mis-lead. Kerry voted against both of their nominations. OBAMA ROLLED OVER. I am really not sure why people are so excited by Obama?brendan @ 93
Senator Webb one to watch and support. Going up against Liebermann and other zealots who lied our nation into Iraq.
puppethead @ 25
That was a great moment. Imagine that the complete Phase II of the Senate Select Committe on Intelligence has never been either completed or released.
You would think the very least our representatives could do is hold those responsible for creating and dessiminating false WMD intelligence that is directly connected to the hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqi people and 3600 dead American soldiers, 50,ooo injured who knows how many Iraqi people have been injured and 4 million Iraqi refugees.
Accountability only applies to common folk.
bookwoman @ 39
Many underestimate the righteous anger out there amongst the common people for Hillary and others who voted for the war resolution of 2002. This anger is formidable. I have audio taped and interviewed close to a thousand people over the age of 50 (lots of Vets) who are really pissed about this vote.
We won the election. We waited while our newly elected Democratic majority tried to negotiate and work with the Bush administration. They weren’t acting in good faith and wasted over half a year and more lives. Enough is enough. If we’re gonna lose, let’s go down fighting. No more of this “lay back and try to enjoy it” BS.
No doubt EPU’d but I loved this video when it first came out, and played it endlessly. Great to see/hear the reprise!
Go Harry! Great to hear the Dems are pushing back and forcing the dark side to show it’s nefarious side to the nation.
Go Dems!
Bob has hit a miscue in his interpretation of Rule 22. Bob states the following:
“Reid will be using the provision of Rule 22 that allows for up to 30 hours of continuous debate once it’s made clear — in this case, by Republicans trying to avoid an up-or-down vote on Reed-Levin — that there is a desire to continue debating the issue.”
Rule 22 does not limit debate in that manner. The 30 hours only applies once cloture (the end to debate) is approved. Cloture is invoked once 3/5ths (60)of the sitting Senators approve. As it stands now the Democrats could debate this issue continuously for days, weeks, months, years if they wanted. Of course, nothing else could be completed while this debate went forward.