Via marksb, this piece form the LATimes lays it all out in the first couple of paragraphs. To wit:
For the seventh time this year, Senate Republicans today blocked a measure to change U.S. policy in Iraq, beating back the latest Democratic proposal to set a timeline for withdrawing troops.
Democrats fell eight votes short of the 60 votes demanded by Republican leaders for an amendment to the defense authorization bill being debated in the Senate.
Four Republican lawmakers joined Democrats, ending a round-the-clock session orchestrated by Democratic leaders Tuesday night to highlight what they alleged was Republican obstructionism. (emphasis mine)
Protecting the President’s flank at the expense of the party. Heckuva job, Mitch. No, really, I mean it.
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Cheers to a great lady, CHS.
Gross Old Perverts!
Hear Hear!!
ZONE ?
Gross Obstructionist Posse
Christy, can’t believe you are still on your feet. Thank you so much for being there and helping us to focus. Your hard work is much appreciated.
Millineryman @ 1
Second that sentiment!
{{{{{{{{{Christy}}}}}}}}}} You are on fire today. I’d hate to be on the receiving end of your wrath. It is a beautiful thing!
Thom Hartman has been going on about this.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news…..717-3.html
So when can they do this same riff over the Webb amendment?
I predicted at about 0515 EST this morning that this whole gambit would fail. It did. They need to do it ALL OVER AGAIN ASAP with the Webb amendment. Sorry for shouting…
Millineryman @ 1
I’ll echo that sentiment!
Gee, wish you could find a more thematic pic of Mitch, one in which he looks obstructionist, maybe with a witch’s hat?
eCAHNomics @ 12
He’s Dolores Umbridge! All he needs is the pink sweater and the china plates with kittens on them.
eCAHN at 12 — Actually, I find that disingenuous little smarmy smile of his rather creepy in the photo…
Sen. Jack Reed, (D-R.I.) on Ed Schultz radio show says that they accomplished something last night. They increased their vote total by one.
Who would that be?
RG Joe’s picture surely deserves to be up there next to Mitch’s.
Jeez, Mitch’s picture sums up for me the phrase, “The banality of evil.”
Ed*ard Teller @ 16
Waaaaaaay too early for that !
ET at 16 — I watched the whole of Turncoat Joe’s odious speech last night, and I honestly could not stomach putting his photo up there and having to look at it.
Mornin’/afternoon, pups!
Does anyone know whether senator Patty Murray from WA either spoke or voted at the senate allnighter? I know she was scheduled to speak at the march, but that’s not really the same, is it?
Thanks!
Funnydiva
Just left a message w/ Senator Reid’s staffer: “Thanks! We’re with ya! MORE PLEASE!”
She was really nice…identifying myself as “one of The American People” seems to work really well.
Millineryman @ 1
I second that emotion!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 14
I thought it was just my teeth that ground at his smile!
Phoenix Woman @ 13
Can you translate that into non-potter terms for the few of us who don’t read the series?
Funnydiva — I think she spoke this morning, if I remember correctly. But it’s kind of a blur at the moment…
Ed*ard Teller @ 16
Augh, The weasel ruined my lunch yesterday!
No heartburn today, thanks.
I’m gonna try this one more time….
1. What happens now to Levin-Reed? How does it get brought back for a vote?
2. Will the Senate close down at its normal time today?
gg @ 17
The compressed lips are a sign of suppressed anger, ready to explode with cruelty.
I had a book once about how to pick juries. It warned against that type for criminal defendants or civil plaintiffs.
It was illustrated with pictures of Nazis, to bring my response back to Hannah Ahrendt’s comment.
Check out this poll from Military.com
http://www.military.com/NewsCo…..65,00.html
Support for the war is fastly evaporating among the military and their families.
Keep the all nighters going. Serve up the Rethugs Pizza with lots of
meat and cheese. Macaroni and cheese. Pancakes, whipped cream
and fruit in am. Clog them arteries. Tip the balance. Whose
Dinosaurs are going to win this war of attrition–Keep boxing
Harry Reid. Maybe the Las Vegas bookies will place bets on you.
Maybe it isn’t just the President’s flank. Maybe it is PNAC’s flank, maybe it is Exxon, Shell, and the rest of the oil cartel, maybe it is Murdoch, maybe it is the whole collection of jingoistic fabulists who wanted this war.
Liberal Heart — 1. It is tabled for the moment, and will be brought back later along with the rest of the Defense Authorization bill and amendments — or there will be something new negotiated altogether that replaces it. But all of it has to come back on the table before October of this year.
2. No idea.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 14
God yes. Enough to give one nightmares!
hey Redd, you ready for that nap now? are you gonna get a break? if y’all need some help, just give us a shout. I’m home all afternoon and evening.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 31
Quibble alert. Tabled means killed. It was set aside.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 14
That would be his “party” smile, his “cat that just ate the canary” one, no?
P.S. Thanks for the explaination on who gets impeached yesterday.
For those of you following my ongoing posts about tomorrow’s hearing to discuss S.1634, which would federalize the immigration system in the Marianas and help end the exploitation that Tom DeLay allowed to flourish there, here is the latest news about human rights advocate Wendy Doromal’s efforts there.
I have also received the documents and testimony Wendy and Dengre are submitting to the committee on behalf of those workers, who otherwise would have no voice in this process that affects their lives so significantly. Of course, that’s what we’re trying to change.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 31
Thanks. If it stays off the table till Oct., we’ll be in the surge evaluation phrase — so maybe then more GOPers will cast the right vote. But in the meantime, more death, more injuries, more destruction. I hate being this upset before breakfast (yeah, had to sleep late after that all-nighter).
By the way, I love the cup downstairs.
“Praedor Atrebates @ 108
So, how do we publicly nail this two-faced, fork-tongued, er, senator? Is Stephen Colbert back from vacation? Maybe he could do you-tube montage of Senator Specter talking out of both sides of his, um, face?
Funnydiva
adding belated thanks to all the Late Late Late Night and All Night FDL staff/mods and commenters for their hard work–especially over the last 36 hours or so.
Mitch — I mean tabled in the parliamentary procedure usage — as in set aside. In my mind, they are the same thing. But then, my mind is really tired at the moment…
Liberal Heart @ 24
I have seen nothing on the closing tonight, LH. On the whole LR thing, there is a good post at TPM and a number of others on the major progressive blogs. bottom line, Senator Reid has upped the ante big time. Now he’s not working on LR, but demanding an end to all fillibustering by the rethugs on up or down votes on the iraq war, or he won’t allow the defense authorization bill to proceed. that is a huge deal, see TiredFed’s comments at this thread.
so regardless of when the senate closes tonight, Reid won big time. I am truly impressed. This has forced the rethug’s hand in a way they weren’t expecting. And there are hints he was inspired by blogs to do it, altho that isn’t certain at this point.
althespook @ 22
Dolores Umbridge is the Ministry bureaucrat who combines utter incompetence at magic with a nasty, scheming mind under a sweetly-pleasant little-old-grandma exterior. Spurning deep emotions, she instead loves all things treacly — pink sweaters, china plates with frolicking kittens on them, etc. — but is a cold-hearted twit when it comes down to it.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 31
#2 (will the Senate close on time today?) – let’s hope not. I’m hoping Harry wants to move on to the Webb amendment next. but then, I’m a glutton for punishment.
As a follow-through from the previous thread…I AM PISSED! My glass of water is HALF-DAMN-EMPTY! Sheeee-it. I HATE that.
AP’s spin, via MSNBC:
TiredFed at 42 — He removed the whole defense bill from the floor, so the Webb amendment won’t be coming back around unless and until the defense bill goes back to the floor.
so – the MSM? are they starting to catch on?
althespook @ 40
Thank you. My chemo-brain is trying awfully hard to form whole thoughts today and all the help I can get in understanding is greatly appreciated.
OMG. I was NOT prepared for that picture.
Didn’t have breakfast, and now may not be able to do lunch. oooogh!
i know we’re s’posed to keep it civil & all, but…
our county fair’s comin’ up soon, and…, and…, well i seen purtier [fhawstwghww^^n….zepher…s]
-uh-, i mean, on the best-of-show veggie.
If anyone is having trouble falling asleep tonight (haha, doubtful, I know), you can always peruse the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Act: FY08 Defense Auth
OldCoastie @ 46
some are
OldCoastie @ 46
No.
althespook @ 22
no no no, puleeze?! Delores is Liddy Dole, at least for me anyway.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 45
you don’t miss a beat, do ya? you are quite correct. I was just hoping for more action. It’s been a long time.
Funnydiva2002 @ 38
1,791 late night comments at firedoglake. suzanne was so amazing. She deserves something {{{special}}}.
Christy @ #45 – the problem with Reid and with most boxers I’ve known or worked with is that they’re not strategists. Nobody ever quite recovers from going out, being beaten in the head, then sitting in a chair and being told what to do for the next three minutes, then going out and being beaten in the head, then coming back and being told what to do, then going out again and….
eCAHNomics @ 12
How about a mask and mustache
Christy Hardin Smith @ 39
Mine is tired, too. Because I stayed up after I could stand the debate no longer to read the Senate handbook on filibusters. That’s where I got my little trinket of trivial quibbling.
musicsleuth @ 55
Priceless!
The President does not need the Authorization Act at all, however; while typically Authorization bills precede the appropriation bills, in the past, when Congress has gotten hung on one or both, they pass them all in a big Omnibus Bill Continuing Resolution. So I’m not sure what the Dems won, if anything. The War will continue; and will continue because the Congress cannot stop an active war from being prosecuted without cutting off the troops which they can’t do.
Wow. That LA Times article suggests that the Wurlitzer is still napping after yesterday’s all-nighter.
spurious @ 50
Hey. ?Yes? ABC had breaking news title that sounded pretty good, ’bout pugs blocking effort to bring troops home, or such-like. (admittedly, i didn’t read more than that much, but have a look, yourself)
http://abcnews.go.com/?CMP=EMC-1396
Please be patient just a lil’ bit longer.
Let Keith & Jon put their “translators” into operation.
Let Tweety try to figure it out, w/ Schuster’s steady hand to guide him step by step…
TiredFed @ 51
TiredFed, that’s just cruel! :)
janda @ 57
I think his normal pic screams “obstruction!” As in “obstructed bowel”. That is what I think about when his ugly mug appears.
Thanks to all the pups, mods and posters who kept the comments section going overnight; it is a thing of beauty and has great links and snippets for those of us who couldn’t join in. Also want to say, because I haven’t yet since I came back, that putting Scarecrow on the front page was a brilliant addition to the FDL lineup. His posts are cogent, informative and deeply thought provoking. Besides that he’s a really nice guy.
Christy, you never cease to amaze me, but please take care of you as well. Peanuts come first.
I know there is frustration and disappointment at the outcome of last nights “debate” but my feeling is that there was no light shone on this issue for over 5 years, no discussion, no truth, no oversight by the Gooper Majority. There was nothing but fingeres-in-our-ears and all hail our president. This was a huge event, the bill is off the floor until we get another chance to hammer at it. We know the news will only get worse and I believe it is inevitable that other soft Repubs will turn, if not because of their consciences, then because we are that much closer to election time. Sadly, that is surely a motivator because they will have gone home during recess and had an earful from the more than 70% who want them to change. Waiting is hard; we went through it with the Libby Trial when Patrick Fitzgerald wouldn’t talk, now we have to wait again.
I hate it, too.
Dolores Umbridge is a smiling sadist. It’s about time the smiles got wiped off a few other sadistic faces. I’d like them to pull all-nighters until not a single slimy rethug can summon up a rictus to save his/her sorry, lost soul.
TiredFed @ 53
what’s amazing is that she does it for 48 hours with almost no sleep and FAR too much abuse (slinks behind nearby boathouse looking innocent)
Adie @ 59
Colbert was actually all over the procedings last night!
OldCoastie @ 46
I was just in the car, and CBS radio news is actually saying that the Dems didn’t have enough votes to break the filibuster, rather than the usual “they don’t have the sixty votes required to pass the measure in the Senate.” I think that’s progress.
althespook @ 65
How can you slink and look innocent at the same time? Neat trick.
Redshift @ 66
Sadly true — this *is* progress…
Redshift @ 66
That’s great progress, IMHO. But CNN doesn’t make it clear that the Repubs were obstructing and, in stead, it focusses on Dems “failing” to get the amendment passed.
I’m listening to Bernie Sanders on the education legislation. He’s amazing.
Check out this crap reporting from CNN:
The 52-47 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate under Senate rules. It was a sound defeat for Democrats who say the U.S. military campaign, in its fifth year and requiring 158,000 troops, cannot tame the sectarian violence in Iraq
I will never, ever, give up fighting against what George W. Bush and the GOP stand for (lawlessness). Democrats, my party, this is your moment.
Lindy @ 67
years of working for the government. we had seminars on it.
OH Christy !!
Now That was unkind.. posting my Slimey Senator’s pick on the front page..
Almost tossed my lunch.. I see him too much already..
Please get some WELL-DESERVED rest and let us Firepups carry a small bit of the load..
Many thanks to your very tireless and courageous public service these last 32 hours..
*xyz @ 72
It wasn’t a “sound defeat,” but it was a major tactical blunder, unless it is followed up by something which actually works. Duh.
My party (Dems) has surprised me. And made me proud. I continue to support the Speaker. And Harry.
Al @74: Ah. Our tax dollars at work.
Little interview with Olberman, re: dearth of lib version of Fox and O’Liely, if you’re interested.
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource…..blog_last3
I like Senator Byrd. I have a great deal of affection for this man.
*xyz @ 72
This is why Reid has got to keep going to well on all-nighters. The MSM have internalized the 60 vote super-majority as the only one that counts. So anything less than that is a ‘Democratic defeat’. It’s true in a technical sense that the Dems didn’t get cloture, but its hardly a ‘defeat’. The more times Reid puts the thugs through the ringer, the more times they are forced to spill their tripe in a forum that permits a quick response that they can’t hide from, the sooner the MSM will change its meme. This is a war, as Webb put it last night, and we now have the guns. We should use them.
Millineryman @ 1
Here, Here!! (coffee cup raised in homage to the great firecracker)
BigMitch @ 15 – I believe the new vote is Collins
In Re Posse Comitatus, from Wikipedia:
“Recently, Congress passed a controversial bill which grants the President the right to commandeer Federal or even state National Guard Troops and use them inside the United States. This bill, entitled the John Warner Defense Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5122.ENR), contains a provision, (Section 1076) which allows the President to:
“…employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to…
restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition in any State or possession of the United States…, where the President determines that,…domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order; suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy…” [3] Senator Patrick Leahy and others have condemned Section 1076 because it effectively nullifies the Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C. 331-335) and gives the President the legal ability to define under what conditions martial law may be declared. [4]
H.R.5122 was signed into law by President Bush on October 17, 2006, and will take effect October 1, 2007 (unless an earlier effective date is established by regulation). “On the same day, Bush signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which abolishes the legal protection of habeas corpus, authorizes the president to detain and jail anyone (even US citizens) without charge and subject them to harsh interrogation that may or may not involve torture.” [5]”
Would be glad to hear any lawyers at the lake who have an opinion on this as to whether we should consider highlighting it if we actually get habeas corpus restored.
Its not really a defeat in the sense that something was in fact done you can’t shame or expose these scoundrels in one blow. Think of this as the overture, to a show where the dancing squirrels and flying monkeys will perform their way out of power. Not enough sleep and to much outrage.
Re: #80 supra.
Let’s be fair. Part of the blame goes to Dems who whined about not being able to get anything done, and repeated the meme that “You need 60 votes to pass anything.”
All who ever said that, i.e. all of the Dem leadership, should be regretting their words now.
Diane @ 82
The cracking noise is the fence collapsing where she had been sitting on it for so long…
Adie @ 60
Sorry, didn’t mean to sound negative! I saw that AP story but didn’t like the “It was a sound defeat for Democrats”, and the fact that they aren’t illuminating the repub strategy to obstruct everything.
Chirsty,
I hope you grabbed lunch today, you need to keep your energy up. A 2 hour nap wouldn’t hurt you. Thanks for you work on this.
I think Reid ought to do this every week. It will drive to Repubozos nuts.
The Republican Party: miserable failure isn’t just a job for us…it’s a lifestyle choice.
musicsleuth @ 55
Works for me!
Lindy @ 77
my favorite was the seminar on how to get the most out of attending seminars. I (unfortunately) am neither snarking nor kidding I actually had to go that sucker. I think the man who invented the busman’s comforter should be on a coin or mount rushmore or something.
Two snippets from an AP story:
As members cast their votes, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hurried between private meetings with lawmakers in their Capitol Hill offices to make the administration’s case for the war.
and…
“All we have achieved are remarkably similar newspaper accounts of our inflated sense of the drama of this display and our own temporary physical fatigue,” said Sen. John McCain of Arizona, presidential candidate and the top Republican on the Armed Services Committe.
BigMitch @ 70
So.CALL.Them!
WRITE.Them!
TELL.Them!
TELL.Their.Boss!
if it’s not good enough, if it’s not fair
Who?
Dobbs, Cafferty, Hardblog (i know – eeewww)
Consumer feedback portals at any of the MSM websites
Consumer feedback portals for any of the MSM top-rated shows that deal with politics (FOX too? Sure! Why not?!)
Short&Pithy surgical e-mail to USAToday? and… your local rag.
Send ideas to MoveOn.org, et al.
Send ideas to your favorite candidates.
IS ANYBODY LISTENING? (yeah, send him a ThY!)
eh?
*xyz @ 72:
See me @ 44. It’s the same AP story that all MSM has picked up.
If necessary: let there be civil war between my party (Democratic Party) and that other party. I relish the thought.
Ed*ard Teller @ 54
Amen, ET. If I had any $$, I’d make another donation to FDL right now, but Uncle Visa’s _this close_ to completely broke.
So then he needs all of us good American People FDL in his corner (or voice- or email-box) with as much support as possible! Because it’s time and past time to go out again and again and…
Funnydiva
See, corporate media? Not so hard to do journalism after all! Thanks for injecting some optimism in my day.
Jane’s upstairs…
Lee at 58. If you’re correct that the war will continue, it will continue because of incompetence, curruption, immorality, and weakness by all of our leaders. Most (but not all) of the responsibility to be borne by the criminals Bush, Cheney, other neocons, and the war profiteers at Halliburton, Carlyle Group and the like.
Liberal Heart @ 93
I believe the Secretary of State could better serve her interests and those of the Republic if she returned to the private sector. Perhaps the Secretary is better suited to presenting paid piano concertos or advertising for upscale booteries, or the like.
Ted Stevens filed his financial report with the Senate Ethics committee, after receiving a 2 month extension.
As faithful readers know, he is under investigation because VECO performed a remodel on his home in Girdwood, AK. (The raised the building up, and built another floor underneath it. Not as weird as it sounds: this is fairly common in AK). Meanwhile, his son, former speaker of the AK State House, is implicated in the VECO scandal that caused three past and present legislators to be indicted, and two VECO execustives, including the CEO, to plead guilty. Our other senator is under scrutiny for what appears to be a sweatheart land deal on the lovely Kenai penninsula. You remember her, Lisa Murkowski, who was appointed to the seat by her dad, when he vacated it to become governor. We only have one representative, and he is up to his nostrils in a little Abramoff thing relating to the N. Marianas which Dover Bitch is following so closely.
Meanwhile, back at MadamGate:
http://politicalwire.com/archi…..nator.html
jim oconnor @ 100
I understand your opinion. I am simply saying that the failure to move a particular amendment and then the Majority Leader pulling the bill in the larger scheme of things is a rather petulant display of theatrics. Whether you believe as does the President that the war is necessary and just or you want the troops to be pulled because you think their leaders are criminal or corrupt, in the larger scheme the battle over this Authorization bill is a nit.
Spurious at 88
You don’t need to apologize for a thing. We’re all down and discouraged on a regular basis.
All I’m saying: stubborn is good. Polite & civil, but persistent.
Please see my #94 for a few ideas you might try when you have time, energy and inclination.
And – a biggie – don’t ever discount the power of calling or e-mailing a thankyou to someone you think has done a good job.
goodgawd I reread & sound like i think i’m your mother. please forgive *g*
Lindy @ 71
I loves me some Bernie! Vermont has turned out some good ‘uns.
That picture is grotesque – how can one man have a pencil neck AND a double chin?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 96
;->
“I don’t think obstructionism sells very well to the American people. It’s not a great political tactic, in my judgment.”
McConnell, April 2005
Jones @ 106
well… how to put this? um,
too small a braincase to hold his face in place?
I hope they will do this for ALL the bills the Repugs obstruct!
LibertyLee @ 58
Actually the Defense Appropriations Bill for FY 2007 did pass last year — it was the only appropriation bill to do so. It also left out the funding for Iraq, which is why there were Supplemental funding bills this year.
And, in case you’ve forgotten, a REPUBLICAN Congress defunded the troops in Somalia, during the Clinton Administration.
Don’t tell us they can’t cut off the money when they can and have done so several times in the past.
Brisingamen @ 112
The Authorization bill passed last year, but there will several years in the Clinton Administration in which Defense Authorization and Appropriations were folded into an Omnibus Continuing Resolution. In reality, the Clinton Administration WANTED to pull the troops out of Somalia; it was a typical “do-gooder” “humanitarian” mission (a la Haiti, unlike Bosnia in which Republicans did NOT pull funding)…and the Administration’s heart wasn’t in it. I’m just saying that there is nothing which once a battle is commenced can realistically force the President’s hand, since as Commander-in-Chief you cannot have a lawyer checking whether the President is “redeploying” or advancing. It won’t work. It will be up to the election to resolve the Iraq War and the Global War on Terror.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 80
Even more so after I heard him yell ‘murderer, murderer’ as McConnell was speaking this morning. I swear that’s what I heard (even re-wound my dvr to confirm). McConnell said “I object” and the camera switched to Byrd who was beginning to sit down behind Reid. Reid then regained the floor from McConnell. I haven’t heard or seen anything about this incident but I saw it with my own eyes. It happened at about 8:30 a.m. Pacific time this morning. I hope someone can put up the video so you can view it for yourselves.
CHS, your endeavours are greatly appreciated.
This picture must be Photoshopped® or there’s a PA offcamera gripping the scruff of his neck. Every other shot I’ve seen of Mitch suggests his face is melting into his shirtcollar.
More of this is needed. The message needs to get out that the Republicans are being obstructionists, and last night was an excellent example.
FYI:
Latest commentary from Future Senator, Tom Allen’s campaign (D-ME).
The GOP continues to tell the lie that what is being proposed is a “precipitous withdrawal”. It seems to me that the best way to flush that out is to vote down ANY new appropriation for the current war effort UNTIL an orderly, gradual withdrawal is appended to the appropriation. If the repubs object and block cloture, or chimpy threatens a veto, then the Dems should simply vote no on more approriations until a withdrawal plan is part of the package. That should make it clear what a real “precipitous withdrawal” would be like, and whats more exactly who would be responsible for that precipitous withdrawal.
To make this work, the Democrats have to have some guts, and they have to be able to clearly communicate about this. The choice should be easy to make clear. And it becomes a great argument for removal of any GOP Senator who is vulnerable in 2008 if they continue to block a reasonable process.
Anyone see a flaw in this approach?