Don’t put those coffee pots away just yet. The cloture vote on Levin-Reed was 52 FOR — 47 AGAINST — which means no cloture. And then, some maneuvers took place procedurally on the floor. I’ll try to line out what is going on for everyone. Bob Geiger has an explanation that is straightforward, so let’s start there:
In an in-your-face response to Republicans continuing to block a full Senate vote on withdrawing American troops from Iraq, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) just moments ago set aside the pending Defense Authorization Bill until the Senate’s Republican leadership stops defying the will of the majority of Congress and the American people and allows votes on the Iraq occupation.
“This has been a long week and it is only Wednesday,” said Reid on the Senate floor. “We have now been in session continuously for 2 days. On Monday I submitted a simple request for consent to proceed to an up or down vote on the Levin/Reed Amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. As I have stated, this amendment provides a clear, binding and responsible path to change the U.S. mission and reduce our combat presence in Iraq.”
“Regrettably, Republicans chose to block this amendment. They chose to deny the American people an up or down vote on a bipartisan amendment. They chose to continue protecting their President instead of our troops – no matter the cost to our country.”
Reid then laid out his next step: “Because Republicans continue to block votes on important amendments to the Defense Authorization bill, we can make no further progress on Iraq and this bill at this time.”…
What Reid did was pull the Defense Authorization bill from the floor in its entirety. Because the budget items do not go into effect for the DoD until October for this particular appropriation, there is no question of this keeping money from the troops — and any Republican who says so is lying — let me just get that out there up front.
This is a pretty in-your-face procedural move from Reid — who gave the GOP leadership an opportunity to vote on all of the amendments up or down and, when they refused, Reid left the Grand Obstruction Party to stew in its own obstructionist failure. He’s left no cover for them or for the Bush Administration for continued stall and obstruct maneuvers on this — instead, the onus is on them to explain why their actions are focused on protecting the President’s flank, rather than on standing up for American soldiers and against more failed policies.
And so Reid is moving on to Homeland Security appropriations.
If the Republicans obstruct on that, too, then it will be a good thing they have the cots in the Capitol already…
(More on this as I get it. Cuppa coffee photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/basak/623625646/.)
Related posts:
- OLC: Grand Obstruction Party Still Obstructing Dawn Johnsen’s Nomination
- BREAKING: 30 Senate Democrats Stand Up for a Public Option
- Senate Finance Committee Ends Amendment Process; Next Stop, Reid’s Office
- House Voting Now On The Rule For Health Care Debate
- CBO Scores Senate Bill, Would Reduce Deficit $127 Billion in 10 Years
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zed!
Nice work,mc
two
so the Senator from Searchlight, Nevada, may not have been much of a boxer, but it looks like his p*ker game is pretty good.
tres?
I need that coffee, up till midnight here! thanks christy…slurp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..;index=327
Good job! Now I need to call and beat up Warner again for supporting this travesty of a filibuster.
cinco
Thanks to all those (FDL, mods, commenters, lurkers, and certain courageous Senators) who are supporting the troops.
Boo-yah, indeed.
ccmask @ 2
Back atcha!
Thank you Senator Harkin for a great video (previous post). I’m going to show it to my kids to explain this senate stuff to them.
i am very glad to know that this wasn’t a one-off. i hope to see the Ds in senate continue to fight (within the rules) every step of the way.
Christy:
Yep. Great job laying this out. Thanks! Some people were confused last thread.
epu’d from previous thread…
While I give Reid and company props for making the effort, they really did not take proper advantage of it.
For instance….most of the GOPers talked about waiting for the Petraeus report in september….yet not once did I see a Democrat rise to ask one of the “are you committing to an up or down vote on Reed – Levin once the general gives his report?”
Its a simple, quick question — the kind that are allowed during speeches — but the Dems didn’t take the opportunity to back all of these republicans into a corner and/or expose their “wait until September” argument for the hypocrisy that it represents.
****************
oh, and the GOP just stopped consideration of Homeland Security funding…
Redshift @ 11
I think that I will send him this
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01487.html
“Do the will of the people” So glad that Sen Reid is using this line. This is the key.
Thanks again, Christy and FDL friends. I can never express how much I appreciate all of you – for for who you are and for what you’re doing.
Repugs are continuing to stew even now in the Senate–on the Homeland Security bill.
Redshift @ 10
Hey Redshift, how late were you up last night. The visual highlight for me was Senator Webb channeling Vic Morrow from Combat! boring a hole into Senator Thune, the poor man’s Mitt Romney, when Thune insinuated that Webb doesn’t know how troops think and feel about Iraq.
Webb: ex-cuse me?
All this at about 3 a.m. EST
That image is burned into my retina. Maybe we should let Webb and Bush settle this mano a mano, eh?
Good morning.
Oh, and what’s with that cuppa? Kinda funny looking…*g*
Nequals1 @ 17
amen! christy has worked even harder than usual these last few days. all i can say is wow! and many, many thanks!
thanks, Christy!!! I got it!!!! I understood it!!!! as it was happening. even tho’ i still don’t really understand the cloture vote stuff …
and i LOVE the fact that the HS stuff is up now … it’s not Iraq, it’s a 180, and it’s just as necessary and just as messed up! and they will obstruct this too and Reid sounded to me like he will be saying well you guys, you’re gonna make me do it again, ’til you learn!
selise @ 14
According to this, he’s gonna do better than that! he’s gonna hold the iron triangle’s money hostage until the filibustering stops!
GOP Response: the floggings will continue until morale improves!
Yes ma am. I’s movin’ on up, if I may bring my epu’d compliment for your incredible Senator Byrd!
OMG Byrd up on his feet giving homeland security lecture. Give ‘em heQQ Senator!
He must be made of titanium!
Go Blue!
Byrd: IS ANYBODY LISTENING?
Good for Senator Reid. It is time to show the American people who the people are that keep our troops in Iraq where they are getting maimed and killed every day for nothing.
I was so hoping that the bill would be pulled entirely rather than see it slink through.
Now, if only Reid will do the same thing with every bill that the Rethugs obstruct (including the cot-a-thon)…
My faith in the Democratic party is being restored. Hardball is the only game the GOP understands. I’m glad we are finally fighting fire with fire.
Maybe we can start a No Congresperson Left Behind Movement to explain clearly what the will of the people is on this matter. Oh, wait that won’t work, it’s based on a bad model.
oddmommy @ 16
I read that this AM. It’s almost looking like someone woke up the ghost of Kay Graham and she’s crept back into the management as Hactackular Howie called the R action a filibuster in his second para AND gave a shout out to Christy for her “Grand Obstructionist Party” thread from yesterday.
do-si-do @ 19
I’d pay to watch that on Pay-for-view.
noonan @ 26
We should call Byrd’s office and tell him We the People are listening.
Joe Klein was apparently on WNYC radio this morning saying that the filibuster is bad for Democrats.
I think Joe Klein should stick to writing Pebble Beach articles for Golf Digest Magazine.
Golf journalism is more in keeping with Joe’s country club mentality. Leave the political reporting to people who really care about this country.
Well, then bottle up all the funding bills this way: make the GOoPers filibuster all of them, until they either give up or admit that they’re joined at the *ss to the Preznit. (Can’t be joined at the hip, since they can’t make progress on anything.)
(I got a letter yesterday that turned out to be from the DCCC, wanting money. I’m sending back the donation form, with ‘IMPEACH’ written across it in large letters. They got us into this with their campaign tactics, they can live with it.)
I will never forget Byrd’s angry anti-war speech during the lead up to the war in Iraq.
I take a couple days away from FDL and it goes into overdrive. I hope Trex got some sleep last night. And I hope the Republicans didn’t! I see the comments were fast and furious but pace yourselves, this is a long struggle.
Raw Story: Cheney’s office implies it has executive privilege of its own
I think this final event and Reid pulling the entire bill represents the final payment by the GOP for the war. They now own it and its entire failure lock, stock and barrel. Enjoy the repercussions.
That Howie Kurtz link to the “Grand Obstructionist Party” article was a surprise for me today. I appreciate him helping me spread the meme. :)
Byrd is really in his element now. What an orator…in the best of the Roman tradition.
Ha! Byrd to Specter: “Bless his heart!”
Isn’t that a southern way of saying “F.U.” ?
Maybe Harry should invite Larry Flynt to speak. THAT might focus the rethugs attention.
Good lord Byrd is old (I haven’t heard him speak recently). I can see the degeneration…which is sad. That man should be protected and preserved in his prime so he is never out of the senate.
Thanks Christy for the excellent analysis. I got lost in the weeds there (end of last thread — no don’t look, it was whiney) for the moment. But he pulled the whole defense bill … makes sense … now that Christy has clarified the weedy issues on this strategy for people like myself.
Go Bobby Byrd!
I fell asleep with the tv on and woke up to the sound of Sheldon Whitehouse…he’s really cool.
Biodun @ 21
if you have astigmatism (sp?) like me, just take off yer glasses & it looks just fine. ;->
Someone call the waaaaahmbulance for Arlen.
Poor Arlen.
Go Cheney yourself you vacillating prick.
-GSD
nice to see Reid taking charge.
And Joe Klein doesn’t know which end is up. He simply doesn’t know what the f*ck is going on. He used to though…several years ago. Something musta happened to him. Maybe he shouldn’t have written that novel. The Big Dawg’s revenge.
Byrd is old, but he is as sharp as ever! The man must have a photographic memory. I would not want to be caught trying to lie to him.
putting Byrd up at this point is powerful too: “what, you say you guys are tired … well, WE’RE doin’ just fine, even our oldest guy!”
Holy crap, Arlen. I hope your constituents kick your whiny ass out.
dakine01 @ 31
either that, or my threat to cancel my subscription finally put the fear of God in ‘em…. :)
Motherlowman at 43 — Yes. Pretty much. As in, “I feel awfully sorry for you, and you are too stupid to know it, bless your heart.”
Biodun @ 39
Back in his day reading great speeches was part of the standard 1-8 curiculum.
Oh…poor poor Arlen Pantywaist. Someone hand him a tissue and tuck him in, he’s tired.
Specter is rambling incoherently. WTF is he talking about?
Go Byrd! Give Arlen (bless his heart) hell!
I’m sorry if I missed it. Did anyone witness and/or comment on the House coming over to support the Senate? can you point me to the thread/comment? thanks
I think this whole thing is really cool. Why doesn’t a pollster call me?
Thanks FDL. Hey pretty cool also that Harkin embraced bloggers so specifically and enthusiastically!
Ooooooooooooo
Specter follows Byrd, with a lecture on how HE, SPECTER’s not receiving proper respect during his disruption of Senate bidness!
awwwwwwwwwwww
give ‘im that waste-basket full-a used kleenex.
This explains the situation so clearly, that we need to repeat it again and again and again. (From EPU land)
A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW with Larry Beinhart:
The Bush-Cheney situation right now is like this: They’ve gone to Vegas. Their stake was $200,000. They’re down $300,000. If they get up and they leave the table, everyone knows they went to Vegas, lost their shirt, plus some more. If they stay there and keep betting, one of two things is going to happen. Either a miracle is going to occur, and somehow they’ll suddenly win the war, or there will be a new election and they will be magically whisked away from their seats. Somebody else will be sitting there and become responsible for the losses.
OK, now I can go. (And no more music, Punaise, please. I might have to watch/listen to that, too . . . )
There must be a delay on the Webb because I am still hearing Byrd.
Senator Vitter, call one of your lady friends, Arlen needs some good lovin’.
-GSD
Poor Arlen, off his rocker.
oooh. specter is more pissed off than i’ve seen him…
but then, i only started watching c-span about 18 months ago. has anyone here seen specter this angry before?
Isn’t this rather personal, Arlen?
Reid a boxer…he out maneuvered his opponents today. Ever watch Ali? Move and Jab. Jabs look harmless enough, but they sting like hell.
They also wear down your opponents defenses and sets you up for the knock-out punch.
If you watched Specter this morning, metaphorically he was punched right in the nose…makes you eyes water ; }
Senator Reid: Keep moving and jabbing.
Woodhall Hollow @ 64
Concern trolls stampin’ on the toobz.
Arlen is channeling the writhing agony of the Repugs…
Well, Senator Specter just insulted the world. The world cares deeply, Senator, and wants to see us struggling to find a way to end a war proceeding at the President’s pleasure.
selise @ 67
Actually he is famous for these kinds of outbursts. The worst time was during the Anita Hill testimony during the Clarence Thomas hearings. But beyond that, to my ears, he is always whining about something.
Spector=WATB
He’s complaining about an all-night session. I say–turn the air conditioner off and put them in fatigues and turnon the mikes with sound of bombs and explosions playing as background music for them.
Arlen, Arlen! You need help honey! You are right about looking like fools before the world – you, sweetheart, are the fool.
Arlen, please stop this. JUST STOP IT! This is bathos.
Now Arlen is complaining that anyone would dare to use the rules!
Poor Arlen. He needs a nap and his binky.
Apropos the info about the Energy Task Force coming out, although perhaps OT here: What would Big Oil and Cheney do if they concluded that oil was coming to an end, and quickly?
Would they work to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few? Would they support the development of private armies which might protect gated communities or entire gated cities? Would they make sure that disasters were not handled so as to inflict minimum pain and death, or would they count every chance to reduce the population as an opportunity, every chance to fracture communities of the poor as a move in the right direction? etc. etc.
Woodhall Hollow @ 73 –
thank you for the history lesson. it helps put things in context.
Arlen Specter “When this body unadvisedly erroneously legislated to take away those habeas corpus rights.”
Wasn’t it Specter’s office that slipped that provision into the Patriot Act?
selise @ 67
ooh, he knows his little both-sides game is up. Heeheehee. We should be seeing more of this now. For years, Congress has not done any real hard work. This is much worse than the five day week. Heeheehee.
do-si-do @ 61
linky via AmericaBLOG.
Arlen is consuming our time with his bathetic babble.
Arlen whining, I love it.
Give em hell Harry.
If you object to the all night session–then just get teh f*ck out of the way and allow an up or down vote!
And no, Arlen, you and your buddies are the laughing stock of the world, and have been for some time.
Biodun @ 51
If you get a chance, I really do recommend that you pick up Joe Klein’s recent Pebble Beach article in Golf Digest Index Magazine.
Joe goes on and on about his wife’s spa massage and how great his butler was.
The article isn’t available online – only at your local news stand. But trust me, I’m not kidding.
ccmask @ 74
Great idea! Simulate a war zone while they debate and bring the sound affects into the cotroom, too.
“The longer we stay, the more terrorists we create.”
— Daniel S. Benjamin, former Clinton administration official and author of books and articles on terrorism … quoted today in the Washinton Post.
Let’s adopt this line! it says it all!
Wow…Arlen’s ongoing whine prompted me to email Reid to thank him (again) for doing the right thing with the forced filibuster by the GOP. ANYTHING that gets Arlen (and others) all whiny and “put out” is a Good Thing(tm) and bears repetition.
I encouraged Reid to do this with ALL bills the GOP obstructs from now on. Force them to filibuster and then, if failing to get cloture, YANK THAT PUPPY and make them do it all over again later!
Biodun @ 59
summ-body neeeds a na-ap… or at least a time out. where’s his “bankee”? maybe that would help.
oh, now he’s done it.
mentioned Habeas Corpus, but regards that whole issue as “too lengthy to go into now.”
uh, with all due respect sir, we could do Habeas Corpus in a flash, if you’d please, sir.
hello?
Dang. He’s stuck on tape-loop mode.
Repair in aisle 2, please, STAT!
BTW, I just sent e-mails to both Byrd and Landrieu thanking them for their actions. So at least some of the senators DO accept e-mails from out of state residents.
Yesterday someone gave me the link for cspan stream but, being a doofuus, I did not keep the link. Just tell me where to look – I could find nothing when I googled cspan – I found radio but nothing that covered current programing, just past programming.
thanks.
Dickcheese Specter saying that debate is meaningless because it wasn’t debated about beforehand.
-GSD
Did I hear somebody laugh out loud in the background?
*xyz @ 33
Joe Klein has proven himself to be a neo-con. He criticized the Democrats for not being agains the war, a year ago. Now he criticizes the majority of the US Senate, which has voted to end the neo-con genocide in Iraq. Joe Klein is the enemy.
Is the next move Lieberman — switching?
When will it make a difference with Committee heads and investigations? Time running out?
I want impeachment.
*xyz @ 84:
Thanks. I’ll check it out. I used to like Joe several years ago. Sad waste.
GrandmaJ @ 90
CNN has a live link to the proceedings on their home page.
Grandma J,
It is Cspan 2.
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs…..p;Code=CS2
I’m not excited. What will my party’s next move be?
Top story on CNN.com via AP as of ~9:30am PT:
The intended message, once again, is scuttled by media spin. Now it’s a “sound defeat for Democrats”. This is becoming more than a frustration, it’s a deadly serious question of what drives the media’s agenda and why…
GrandmaJ @ 90
Try this.
http://www.cspan.org/watch/cs_…..p;Code=CS2
Specter is punch drunk.
behindthefall @ 78
All of the above.
Gnome de Plume @ 63
I could counter with the Allman Bros.’ “One Way Out” but I’ll spare you. :~)
CSpan
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs…..p;Code=CS3
BigMitch @ 85
Abso-freakin-lutely. HE is responsible for it.
Yes Arlen, this body is different from what it was when you were elected in 1980. You got that right. Now STFU!
Bravo. Sooner or later the public will tune into this matter enough to see their way through the deliberate media obfuscation regarding what is going on.
BigMitch @ 85
Minor details, nothing to be concerned about here…
sorry mods. i seem to have a double post.
please remove either #92 OR 96, thanks.
the toobz are hinky today… strange ethers
Specter: If we would have known Saddam Hussein didn’t have WMD, we wouldn’t have gone in.
Frickin’ clueless. And then: If there is not light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq, then funding will be in ’serious question’.
Somehow he’s managed to insert every wingnut talking point in to his 20-minute whinge.
QuakerGirl @ 89
I approve, but imo you could stop at cutting off the AC. They’ll vote for anything Harry tells them to.
Biodun @ 51
For Klein, Lieberman and Spector-as with Libby, Judith Miller, Perle, Krautheimer, etc.- it is all about a misguided (and indeed irrational) view of what they think will benefit Is*ael short-term security. Spector, like Klein, used to be “smart” but his support for the administration on domestic spying and his turn against Habeas Corpus has all the characteristics of someone whose vote was bought.
behindthefall @ 78
They will use the resources of the united states to get control of every last remaining major oil resource while denying these oil resources to others (russia/china). Please see my blog speculation on the subject for some interesting coincidences with the current situation under this approach…)
BigMitch at 87 — No, the habeas provision is in the Military Commissions Act. But Arlen wasn’t exactly Mr. Staunch COnstitutional Spine on that one, either — he pulled a fast one on Sens. Leahy, Dodd and Feingold when he substituted an amendment of his own for the one they had agreed to on the floor of the Senate just before the vote. Arlen’s sly little machinations were noted — and his crocodile tears today ring awfully hollow to me.
BigMitch @ 85
and, iirc, he voted for the MCA – the legislation that took away habeas corpus rights.
He’s complaining because they are following the rules now? Geez Arlen, you have really gone over the edge now huh?
You know the Repugs will spin this to make Dems look bad. Specter has already started. What will be interesting is how the MSM reports the whole affair. I suspect everything will be clear as mud after digesting their (so called) reporting.
Oh oh, Biden now. Another bloviator.
Praedor Atrebates @ 109
A great snapshot of what Asscheek Arlen is all about.
motherlowman @ 41
Very southern and sorta implies that the person is slightly impaired in some way and just can’t help doing whatever it is they are doing.
thanks for the link. I am now listening to Biden. And I will keep it marked this time. wish I could have heard Byrd.
Damn Dictators going by the rules!
-A. Sphincter
Praedor Atrebates @ 107
I believe it was Specter’s staff who added the provision that would allow the DOJ to replace US Attorneys without confirmation.
The habeas travesty was something he voted for in plain sight. And he has the nerve to say (again just now) that he expected the Court to clean up his mess.
Selise, this guy is constantly made indignant by perceived offenses to his honor. (And thank you for bringing up S.1634 this morning.)
Christy Hardin Smith @ 118
Are we talking about the US Attorney bit or some other skulduggery? Also, when did posse commitatus get revoked, last patriot act or something else?
Twain @ 124
punaise @ 50
And this time, knowing they would lose the vote, they actually thought through the next step. This is very encouraging. The Dems have decided to treat the Republicans as obstructionists who deserve to be treated like spoiled children. More please.
Watching the Senate last night, I think the all-night session was a good thing. I hope Harry Reid keeps doing that, night after night. Exhaustion seemed to bring a slight increase in candor to both sides after just one single night. When the night sessions have gone on for weeks, after the Republicans have each repeated their talking points ad nauseam, after the Democrats have finished pretending they care about… well, about anything… maybe some truth will accidentally spill out.
Hell, it happened in 1964, why not now? Reid sees his party’s popularity dropping like a stone. He obviously has to change something. Forcing the Republicans to pay a price sounds like a very good change indeed. Let’s see if the TV networks can keep spinning it exactly the same way after two or three weeks of all-nighters. If they can, fine: nothing will have been lost.
This filibuster strategy has worked well for the Democrats. The NPR reports are much better today than they were yesterday. Try as they might, NPR is having a hard time spinning this against the Democrats.
NPR has used terror mongering sound bytes from Saxby Chambliss to close a story, but, overall it is difficult to make the Dems look bad on this. Instead of weak and wimpy, the Dems look strong and they appear to be standing up for the will of the people. (Even though the bill really isn’t so great for anti-war constituents). It certainly demostrates the pig-headedness of the Bushites that they won’t support the bill (to me the bill is still very warmongerish.)
Paul Lukasiak is correct. The Dems should whack the Rethugs with Paul’s thoughtful retort.
yellowdogD @ 121
The Obstructionist Party can spin it any way they see fit. Americans who want out of the war will see this for exactly what it is.
cricket @ 89
Even Darth has said this – to justify more war of course – that for every terrorist killed four more take his place. Go figure.
It was a member of Specter’s staff (a former Hatch staffer) who inserted the USAtty appointment bypass of the Senate into the Patriot Act provision. And I haven’t seen any evidence that posse comitatus has been legally revoked.
Thank you for all these explanations- the system in place seems rather unique and difficult to understand- even with a law background. (Same is true for the libby-trial complex which you folks covered brilliantly too).
Now here my question if may: What are all the poor people do or think who are not yet reading your comments? Lost souls all of them, if you ask me…
Naraka @ 120
Repub world:
Rules are for the other guy and we get to change them if you start succeeding.
oddmommy @ 115
The troops don’t have the luxery of sleeping in quiet quarters…I see no reason why the congresspeople who keep them there should either.
oddmommy @ 16
Here’s what I sent him. I was pissed off, but I tend to get more pedantic than ranty when I’m writing.
His office usually writes back, though it’s by paper mail, so it’ll be a couple of weeks at least.
Well at least the Republicans have accomplished something. The family values, anti-choice, anti-stem-cell research party have assured more American deaths in Iraq. And that many more Iraqi children will perish. Way to to go GOP.
Biden a few minutes ago: “I sound like a broken record.” And he’s still at it, now talking about the helicopter lift at the US Embassy in Saigon in 1975.
yellowdogD @ 121
I’m a-thinkin’ Specter’s having a tantrum, and that fact will be recognized by a large majority of the citizens. [note: large, flashing sign on his forhead screaming, “L.O.S.E.R.!”]
If you fear your suspicions are correct, though, how ’bout applying some reverse-spin in a letter to the editor, calling yer congresscritters yet again, signing a petition, joining one of the vigils, talking to your acquaintances outside as well as at the Lake.
Those sorts of things have been known to be quite effective, especially in special times such as these… gotta be persistent, tho.
I’ll wish you luck, if you’ll do the same for me. Deal? ;->
Biodun @ 121
Well now…Biden IS doing well here. He is doing a much better bloviation than normal!
The Senate is just like a gated community. They feel so safe behind the gates and they forget that the rest of the world goes to bed at night feeling insecure. Their children are protected from all those outside ills that the majority of American children are exposed to on a daily basis. They run a campaign, gain power, and then they act like they paid their dues.
But, like an unpaid tenant in home owner association, you can get evicted pretty damn fast with no leg to stand on.
dakine01 @ 95
I was able to send an e-mail to Jim Moran – who is not my Rep – thanking him for supporting the impeach Cheney bill – by typing in the zip code of his office, instead of my own zip. The form then allowed me to send the e-mail (and I noted in the comments that I wasn’t a constitutent.
That trick may work for sending e-mails to Reid and others.
Biodun @ 122
aw heck, give him a break.
at least he’s an articulate bloviator. ;->
Biodun @ 140
LISTEN to what he said – it is TRUE. He is saying that if we stay in Iraq, it WILL end the same way as it did in Vietnam with those helicopters.
He is correct. If we stay there as long as the GOPers want us to, it WILL end the same as it did in Vietnam.
scarecrow @ 130
The GOP is truly the best argument for corporal punishment. The whole damn party needs to be taken to the woodshed.
Biden is yelling now. The all-nighter musta been something.
I wish I was as good a writer as some of you. but I wrote Corker, yet again.
Democrats. Deal with Lieberman. That’s something you can do. Right Harry?
do-si-do @ 19
I didn’t get to see much of it, unfortunately. :-( We’re hosting two ten-year-old girls from Belarus as part of the Children of Chernobyl program, and while it’s a great cause, it’s eating up most of my political junkie time.
At least I got to read a little here about the smackdown! (And if anyone finds it on C&L or YouTube, let me know.)
snowbird42 @ 150
Beautifully said. Well done.
Nequals1 @ 129
I assume Byrd has what they call “essential tremor”. Has ZERO effect on the inner workings of his forebrain, which is clicking along at light-speed. WhatAGuy! Woo Hoo!
Praedor Atrebates @ 146:
You’re right of course. Some of us are not very good at snark. But we try.
Dover Bitch @ 126
Yes. Dover B gets it right. Again.
Whatever happened to ‘defunding’. That idea kinda died, I guess.
snowbird42 @ 150
This is a great letter. I love it. It’s heartfelt and brief like a good poem.
scarecrow @ 152
I agree- it is honest and moving. Good writing!
Biden: “Al-Qaeda in Iraq is a Bush-fulfilling prophecy!!”
(polite applause here)
snowbird42 @ 151
That’s great! Very heartfelt and to the point!
The Obstructionist should stop voting to protect the pResident and start voting to protect the troops they talk about so much.
Please support Reid’s leadership; and support the Zero Budget Initiative: Funds can be zeroed out in the appropriations committee, forcing the GOP to pass Amendments to add money back. Link goes to talking points, and phone numbers to call Senators to voice your support of Reid, his leadership, and the efforts to zero-out the President’s programs.
Briefly, if the President does not cooperate with We the People, he will be denied funding. Link explains how this can be done. Thank you for supporting Senator Reid, his decision to withdraw the appropriations bill; and his planning as he targets others bills for withhold.
An improvement on Biden’s closing would have been, “…the Republicans should quit voting for their President and instead vote for the American people.”
Arlen ex-Spector-ates in the general direction of _______. (fill in the blank)
snowbird42 @ 151
Your letter is incredibly powerful! Bravo!
And Thanks ;->
Claire McCaskill
“I’m proud of working hard”. YES..Now there’s and American Tradition.
The senators make odd hooting noises for things like cloture. But the power of the purse is in the House. Why has the house not defunded the office of the vice president, the use of Air Force One and Marine One by the president, Camp David, the extra-pentagon office that Rumsfeld still holds, the SDI and other cold war programs? The house leaders need to chart a new course, not play with mud pies in the ruts of the past.
scarecrow @ 130
It seems to me the Democrats came back after the last break much better organized. It was a good vote in the House, clearly showing the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. This was a good vote, again, clearly showing where the two parties stand. Let the Republicans now explain their votes to the media and their constituents.
I hope the Democrats will keep following it up with more action!
punaise @ 165
A bush?
janda @ 139
if I had my way, they would all be on the next plane to Baghdad with no return flight.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is precisely a production of US forces in Iraq.
punaise @ 165
U.S.
it sure felt that way
oddmommy @ 171
Haven’t the Iraqi’s suffered enough? *g*
spinoza @ 167
Because they expect to occupy the White House within 18 months.
Claire is cutting through the BS talking points with a sharp knife.
jayt @ 159
Still, its extremely misleading. AQ is responsible for a tiny fraction of the violence in Iraq and they will be wiped out or driven out by the Shiites when the American occupation ends.
Unfortunately, it is easier for Biden to continue the simplistic lie than to tell the truth. The American media will not disseminate the truth. Joe Sixpack now believes that AQ is the major opponent in Iraq.
End the Iraq occupation? I don’t worry. ‘Cause I’m sure the front runners will be speaking up gallantly on this issue.
Dover Bitch @ 127
you are most welcome… i’m so glad you brought this diary to my attention. i will call and watch tomorrow’s hearing.
we can end legalized slavery in our country.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 156
no. that’s next. after the Defense Authorization bill, there will be the Defense Appropriations bill. that’s where Defense gets the money to spend (or not) on the occupation. Congress gave Bush enough to spend on Iraq through September (maybe a little more) in the Emergency Supplemental. So, “de-funding” can be resurrected.
Too bad that many in my party couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see what many others saw. The folly of invading and occupying Iraq. This is called keeping my party’s feet in the fire.
I’ve called a lot & faxed more- carrots & sticks both. Now I really must drive in to work. No fax, no land line even, but lots of musty film cans await today (yes, I’m a geek- love the smell of moldering film in the morning).
Thanks once again for all the back-breaking work put in here @ FDL these last many hrs.
Read you all later :-)
punaise @ 50
Sure is! And we can help.
imho, folks here are correct in saying Reid & Dems will be a target of ridicule by the mighty repug smear machine, as they try to de-fuse the effect of what he’s done. They obviously can’t beat him on the facts.
Let’s all try to be prepared to understand what’s happening now, well enough, so we can explain to others what’s being done, and what’s not.
You can bet the repugs will counter by trying to blame every problem in the universe on the Dems. Rover’s blackberry is smoking-hot as we speak.
Go Blue!
I am hearing Kennedy speaking about education. Is there some other topic? I heard they were going to take up homeland security (a joke under this regime).
Beautiful strategic move by Reid exposing the GOP’s lockstep love affair with Bush Co….
Oh my!!
Thank you all for your kind words.
You give me a huge jolt of confidence.
I imagine Corker doesn’t like them so well
TiredFed @ 179
TiredFed, can you clarify for us in a few words the difference between Defense Authorization Bill and Defense Appropriations Bill. I thot Appropr WAS in play here.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 178
We’re never leaving. Not completely, anyway.
motherlowman @ 41
No..
That would be..
“Bless his little pea-pickin’ heart”…
Apologies to Tennessee Ernie Ford .. :-)
GrandmaJ at 183 — I think they are doing open business at the moment — Senators get to speak on any topic during that period, and it’s usually done at least once a day for open floor time. But I’m not positive on that…
I just love this line!
Not this is a meme with legs.
Biodun @ 171
This is also true. Some of the Democrats last night reiterated this important point.
There are many evil dictators in many countries of the world whom the US either tolerates or conducts business.
Because of the US invasion, Iraq will eventually become an Islamist Theocracy. Before, Iraq was a secular nation whose brutal dictator squelched Islamic religious behaviors that foment violence against infidels.
For that, I say we were all better off before the invasion. Containment was safer for everyone.
snowbird42 @ 185
Am I allowed to copy your letter and send it out myself?
snowbird42 @ 186
they will make him pause and think.
no one could ignore those words. ;->
Apologies for being OT, but I find things like this encouraging:
Scaife abandons/repudiates Bush.
Praedor Atrebates @ 147
or worse. Linky From BlueState Indicating We Need two years to get out with all the hardware, and six months to get only the troops out, abandoning our tanks, hummvees, armored vehicles, engineering vehicles, and unbelievable amounts of supplies. appalling.
ot for fellow mommies who had a hard time explaining “filibuster” last night….
http://littledemocrats.net/
ccmask @ 192
Of course except for the comment about Roberts. He,s a local who ran against Corker and whom I know socially.
My brain is scrambled today. So confused. What happens now about Levin-Reed? Does someone keep bringing it back for a vote, and does the Senate stay in session forever till the GOP quits blocking votes? Or do we just move on to other issues and the Senate closes up shop on time today?
Thanks. I’ll tweak it.
althespook @ 187
Basically, Authorization bill says what the Defense Department is going to do next (fiscal) year and sets funding limits. Appropriations actually provides funding levels for every program and department. Congress says that up to certain amounts may be expended from the Treasury – very specific spending law – and required by the Constitution. btw, Authorizations are not similarly required by the Constitution.
althespook @ 186
I believe the Authorization Bill is the long term one.
althespook @ 195
How about getting our troops out in six months.. Leave the equipment, and take the equivalent in OIL.. since that’s what this is all about anyway.
This is really scary…it’s about that nuclear plant in Japan:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..92527/0219
Adie @141
Deal.
Tired Fed: hope you can join us for a DC area fdl get together we are hoping to have on August 17 at Old Ebbitt….details on FB.
Thanks Christy. I wondered if that was the case.
My little niece and her little brothers are here for a swim and asked what I was looking at on the tv. I said it’s the Republicans and the Democrats discussing something. My six year old niece asked me what are Republicans? I said they called themselves the Grand Old Party. And then one of my nephews queried, ‘what are Democrats. I told them that Democrats were the “TOP”. The Tired Old Party. They said they didn’t understand. I told them, neither do I.
I spoke to Specter’s office this afternoon. Suprise! they told me lies, including that it’s the Democrats who are filibustering.
There were some fireworks over that little incident. “Some” Try “15 minutes of Brendan and the staffer yelling at each other”.
althespook @ 196
You can be sure the Iraqis aren’t going to let us take our equipment out. They will confiscate it as spoils of war. Our “embassy” will become a nice Iraqi office building.
I think the Russian experience in Afghanistan is a better analogy than Vietnam — as I recall they had to leave all their gear and pay off local warlords to grant safe passage to their troops out of the country.
TiredFed @ 201
thought so, but they’ve been changing names on me since I was in harness….thanks.
GordonM @ 202
While it is common for long-term issues such as major acquisitions (building an aircraft carrier for example) would be authorized in the Defense Authorization, generally speaking the Authorization is for only one fiscal year. The money to be actually spent from Treasury would be appropriated by Congress in the Defense Appropriations bill (probably with no-year money). Basically, the Authorization and Appropriations bills are partners. The first sets the parameters of what the Defense Dept should accomplish; the second provides the money (the authority to spend money). Clear as mud?
oddmommy @ 206
will certainly try. would have to keep my wife’s eyes from rolling back in her head, though. she thinks I’m nuts. but then, she’s busy saving the world from avian flu.
OKK — Just for today, because I’m tired and I deserve a break, can you try a little “glass half full” instead of the “glass half empty” comments?
DrenchedOtter @ 210
Ding.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 214
Well said as usual. Tired of rain on my parade,
motherlowman @ 41
Yes!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 214
CHS, you deserve a two week vacation in the tropical resort of your choice with hubby/significant other. I’m serious, we ought to take up a collection.
BTW, have you had any sleep recently?
Hi Redd. Getting ready to serve up another doozy? Can hardly wait. Thanks for doing what you do so well.
Christy: Here’s a gigantic thanks to you for all your hard work and especially for what you’ve been doing the past couple of days. A very big ship is slowly turning around because of the waves folks like you have been creating.
I frequently hear people say that the Iraq war was an effort to steal the Iraqi oil. See, e.g., #202, supra. There’s more to it than just that.
As Greg Palast argues convincingly in Armed Madhouse, the oil companies make the most money when the price is highest for oil. One law that the Bushites has not been able to repeal is the law of supply and demand. When supply is low, price is high, all other things being equal. Thus, oil companies make the most money when supply is low. Therefore, from an oil companies perspective, the best thing that can happen is for oil to be kept off the market. Lo and behold, oil production in Iraq is now at a lower level than it was under Saddam.
The time will come when the U.S. oil companies will obtain control of the Iraq oil fields. But the war had a more immediate goal — to reduce supply, thereby increasing price of oil and profit of oil companies.
Thus, a suggestion that we leave the equipment and take the equivalent in OIL, since that’s what this is about anyway, (though not offered in total seriousness, I am sure) overlooks an important truth.
LS @ 203
Will this go Chernobyl on us ??
The message is getting through, somewhat.
LA Times, posted 9:32am:
First three paragraphs always tell the story.
{{{{{{{{ Christy }}}}}}}}
Thank you.
althespook @ 218
Hear hear! You’ve been over the top, even compared to your usual amazing work.
Mojo @ 222
This might be helpful.
Someone, please help this old lady understand. When and how will Levin-Reed be back for a vote? And will the Senate close down at its normal time today?
Christy Hardin Smith @ 213
Just for today. ;0) And only because you asked so nicely. But get ready for tomorrow. ;0)
Twain @ 215
Oh dear. That’s too bad. Sometimes reality can be a real bitch.
{{{{{{{{ Christy }}}}}}
Because sometimes, one just isn’t enough.
Lol.
Mojo @ 222
from reading the comments it sound like the answer is no – they’re “boiling water reactors”… so no chernobyl… maybe a TMI, though. at least that is my ignorant reading of the comments.
Mojo @ 221
as I recall, nothing can stop the China Syndrome. oh, wait, make that the Brazil Syndrome.
Re: 220 above –
Just after I posted it, I noticed that the senate will be discussing Iraqi Oil Field reconstruction today.
Of course, they want oil on the market in advance of the election, because the Republicans are going to get creamed even worse if the price of gas is high at election time.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 229
I would just like at l least a few minutes to enjoy what we HAVE done. Believe me, I’m about as real as you can get and also a first class bitch : )
Christy:
I have this visual image of you wearing two one ear headsets – each one attached to a different cell phone – a couple of laptops in front of you, a bank of teevees all around you, and you simultaneously listening to everything, typing and interviewing secret sources! Otherwise, there is no possible way that you produce the quantity and quality that goes out with your byline. Talk about superhuman power!
Thanks!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 39
They’re also the Gross Old Perverts party.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 228
Now THAT’s just plain sweet!
Warm thanks to both of you. ;->
Christy Hardin Smith @ 213
agree.
Dems are finally, FINALLY beginning to get their sh*t together…..and we oughta be proud.
Besides, elected representatives are like children and dogs…..need to be rewarded for good behavior.
selise @ 230
I agree with you. I think it bears keeping an eye on, not that we can do anything about it..
CHS -
If you need an “upper”, you might check out this particular “spin” (and history) on all-niters that’s gone up at the WaPoo.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..id=artslot
The way I read it, it sounds Dem positive. Photo-op, indeed. ;-)
QuakerGirl @ 32
I did. Staff seemed pleasantly surprised, took my phone number and vowed to pass the message along to the senator.
Thanks, OKK. I think I need a nap. *G*
Fresh thread, up and running for everyone.
TiredFed @ 179
And since the Republicans seem to have decided to block everything, I’m wondering if we’re looking a another government shutdown?
That didn’t work too well for the GOP last time, if it can be demonstrated that they’re the guilty party this time too, hmmm….
yellowdogD @ 204
;->
LS @ 238
so this ain’t the breeder job. thank ghod for small favors….
OTOH, if they have to shut that puppy permanently due to the fault lines, electricity rationing may hit japan, with negative consequences to any remaining products manufactured there….unless they have reserve capacity i haven’t heard about…
Brisingamen @ 242
that’s a possibility. Harry is gonna have to channel Houdini to blame it entirely on Republicans. I’m gonna wait and see how this latest ploy works out. I, for one, am willing to stay home until they get Bush to back down.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 213
What have YOU got to be tired about Wuss? (I’m kidding! Sheesh)
Praedor at 246 — I’m tired, but not so tired that I can’t still kick some ass… *G*
janda @ 31
And there was some point of order being made that Webb wasn’t asking a question and that Thune was reclaiming his time..
……sorry got interrupted….
Is it obstruction that Harry Reid won’t allow an up or down vote on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008?
This is exactly what Harry Reid should have done. Letting the 26-some-odd ‘agreed upon’ amendments through on a voice vote, or otherwise, after this failed cloture vote would have been a slap in the face to the country, and a pat on the back of the Republican Party for their intransigence. Two can play this game, and for the first time in years, the opposition has started to get off the sidelines and seriously engage on behalf of and in defense of the American people.
[Liberal Heart @ 226 - no one really knows what’s next for the Defense Authorization Bill; major strategizing and horse-trading by Reid, et al, will be ongoing now about the next steps to take. Yes, the Senate has now shut down for the evening, as normal. Harry Reid closing a news conference today: ‘So we have a lot of arrows left in our quiver. And the quiver is filled with the will of the American people.’]
The Republicans are not simply ‘protecting their president.’ Most Republicans are obeying the president’s orders to put political party before country, and before the well-being of the American Armed Forces. They are taking orders from Dick Cheney and George Bush and others outside the Congress, and abandoning their duties to the Legislative Branch in which they serve, by effectively merging their offices into the Executive Branch of government. They are, in short, openly spitting on our Constitution.
The speeches I saw yesterday and last night that resonated the most with me (in viewing order):
Chuck Hagel – firing on all cylinders, pulling no punches. ‘To what end?’ indeed.
Mary Landrieu – pointed and angry responses to Republican lies, passion, respect for Constitution and the role of Congress (but she needs to follow-up with her vote).
Tom Harkin – wow – what a presentation and what a delivery, and what letters from constituents back in Iowa. What are the Republicans afraid of? Dick Cheney and Big Oil, apparently.
Maria Cantwell – THE GRAND SLAM. Maria told America the WHOLE truth last night at 2:15 in the morning. About WHY the Iraqis haven’t passed the hydrocarbon privatization bill, and WHY the Republicans don’t want to pull our forces off the streets of Baghdad: because unless and until they can get the hands of their corporate pals on that Iraqi oil, they’re going to continue to fabricate every cover excuse in the book to avoid admitting the truth about their oil lust and attempted thievery of the sole natural resource of Iraq. Plunder, writ large.
Senator Cantwell’s speech said it all, and every Democrat should look it up in the Congressional Record, and take note. If it’s news to you, learn more. And then CONFRONT your Republican colleagues on the floor of the Senate – and ASK them: Are you trying to privatize Iraq’s oil for multinational American and British oil companies? [John McCain may in fact have admitted something to this effect in one of his appearances overnight, one commenter noted.] Have you read the hydrocarbon bill, and do you know how it would enable the pirating away of the oil wealth of the nation of Iraq to the benefit of corporations headed by friends of those who used our Armed Forces to violently invade the sovereign nation of Iraq? And is such a grossly immoral and unethical corporate-raider national “foreign policy” okay with you and your constituents (Thomas Jefferson be damned)?
BigMitch @ 220
One additional point, an invasion and occupation the size of the one in Iraq uses more fuel than most European nations. That is paid for by the American taxpayer, gfyen at a premium 300-400% above the standard price.
That inflates the price of oil, both actually [because of the increased demand] and articially [due to the jacked up premium prices].
No wonder Cheney’s KBR/Halliburton buddies are making fortunes.