Hi Christy!

Morning Christy!

Lamar Alexander — making Mr. Rogers look tough…

OMG! I’m dying. I’m watching them debate FISA on CSPAN-2 and Lamar Alexander is giving a speech that could not be more dishonest. He’s using the word “bipartisan” with a tourettes-like frequency and wedging every Republican lie in he possibly can.

He just said that doctors were leaving rural areas and poor women couldn’t get prenatal care because of runaway malpractice suits. I’ve known a few Tennessee liars in my time but he really is competing for the crown.

Oh good. Here comes Cornyn. Katie, where’s my blood pressure medicine…

Christy, I asked downstairs: 1) why are we not contacting Repug people in blue states (Snowe, Collins, Sununu); 2) if we don’t get the requisite number of supporters, does this mean that there can be no filibuster by Dodd (and others)?

Thanks, Christy! I just saw the end of the Dodd speech on CSPAN2, and he was passionate about it, although his voice sounded frayed. Is there any FISA action scheduled for today?

Cornyn up now. Republicans just had a meeting in which they decided that they’re ready to do business. Of course, they want to do business on THEIR terms. Blergh.

Bob in HI

Why oh why is Harry Reid doing the bidding of the R’s by scheduling cloture for Monday afternoon? I seriously do not understand his reasoning. Is there any hope left for D leadership?

Well, I dunno — I said every Senator above in my post, so I thought it was pretty clear that everyone should contact their own Senators on this. But the Dems have more incentive to stand up against cloture, I think, than the GOP Senators have to run away from Cheney. (Don’t ask me why — his approval makes basements look airy.)

The GOP has to gather 60 votes. As I said above, contact every Senator — which means Dems and GOP ones alike if they represent you. But holding the Dem caucus together is something I’d like to see happen on this, and it got easier to argue with Jay Rockefeller standing up against cloture late yesterday.

Cornyn is now lecturing us on how the public is sick of “bickering and bipartisanship,” as if the Republicans did not arrogantly filibuster every fucking FISA amendment yesterday that did not give Bush everything he wanted.

Low approval ratings of congress do not separate between Republicans and Democrats he said, because if they did we’d see that it was the Democrats they hate for being obstructionist.

“Bipartisanshp — our 6o vote rule for cloture, to close off debate, so that we can have a 50 vote up-or-down vote requires it.”

“Here comes Cornyn”

As a Texan I would like to apologize for that. If it is any consolation even repugs here are disgusted with him.

I’m not certain I understand that logic — both the Dems and the GOP have strategy retreats out of town this weekend. GOP is going ot the Greenbrier (in my home state of WV, which is VERY lovely, btw) and the Dems are going to Williamsburg. I think it accommodated both schedules and I don’t see it as helping the GOP any more than the Dems.

Hi Christy!

Sen. Jay Rockefeller is saying that he will not vote for cloture on Monday.

Well, that’s a pleasant and unexpected Woo-Hoo! for today. thanks.

Yes, John Cornyn: Mr. “I Take Under-The-Table Money From Ralph Reed and Jack Abramoff to fix their problems.” is the poster boy for bi-partisanship.

Republicans — putting our national security at risk for their political gain.

Republicans — putting our national security at risk to coverup criminal conduct in the White House.

Republicans — putting our national security at risk to give George Bush soundbites for his SOTU.

Republicans — putting our national security at risk to hide the lies, incompetence and failures of George Bush and Dick Cheney.

Republicans — putting our national security at risk in a desperate strategy to hold the White House

Cornyn’s driveling about how he likes what he does as Senator…

Why isn’t Cornyn in jail for that Reed/Abramoff email? Because we don’t live in that world, we live in a world where Tim Russert invites him on Meet the Press as a disinterested observer to comment on the Abramoff case.

You beat me to it, Christy.

should we be discussing why republicans would willingly give the next democratic president the power to run them over like a train any time they choose? Would the existing gop’ers want to give away all hope of having any say whatsoever in the administration that starts in January? They are going to be in the 35% range in the next congress with no majority except in really red states where stupidity reigns supreme.

or do they have a plan to rig the election to allow totalitarian control? This doesn’t make any sense unless they are planning on martial law and ending any talk of pesky elections.

this doesn’t make any sense when they know reality is going to remove them from power?

Repeat after me: 9/11 didn’t happen because the government lacked the power to eavesdrop on you. 9/11 happened because we had an incompetent president who ignored warnings of a terrorist attack. Why should we give up our civil liberties because George Bush failed to protect America?

Every time I see him, I think about his complicity in that whole Texas/AG scheme with Reed and Abramoff. And I wonder what in the hell Alice Fisher has been promised to sit on that investigation so that it oozes out so slowly.

Just pisses me off every damn time I see him. Send Katie over with some blood pressure meds for me, too, would you? *g*

this doesn’t make any sense when they know reality is going to remove them from power?

It makes sense if they are only talking to each other and within the Beltway. Reality tends to NOT penetrate the Beltway bubble too often.

Can I have some, too, ladies? He is my f*cking Senator and I just cringe each and every time I see or hear his name.

Repeat after me - Senator Rick Noriega!

And, I have to say, the leadership that Chris Dodd and Russ Feingold have shown for the last two years on these issues makes me awfully proud. They both deserve enormous kudos.

I think they figure any Dem elected to Prez will likely not abuse that power anywhere near as much as they do. That’s why they’re Dems…they have a conscience, although I wonder about the Clintons. Then, it’s unlikely any of the current crop of Dems will actually take power away from themselves, so these same unconstitutional power grabs will still exist the next time Repubes take office. No harm, no foul for their nefarious plans.

Almost makes me want to move to Wisconsin - except for that whole winter thingy.

I love Russ!

From a person in a very similar situation (my Senators are Evan “Milquetoast” Bayh, and Richard “I’ll just mail it in” Lugar), I really feel sorry for progressive Texans. Senator Kay Bailey Hypocrite, and John (”in the Top-Five Most Disgusting Members of the Senate”) Cornyn - my deepest condolences to Progressive Texas.

I meant to warn you guys — the Rove links in here are appalling and crass, which you expect from him, frankly. But the utter disregard for the importance of national security being considered carefully and thoughtfully when balanced against civil liberties — he could honestly give a rats ass about that so long as he can make a false wedge of bullshit out of it.

It seems to me that Reid’s scheduling of cloture right before the State of the Union will only help R’s by highlighting the Dems’ impotence. Even the low information voter tunes in to the SOTU. Tweety and others will be all atwitter in the pre speech analysis about how D’s went down in flames trying to block FISA.

Thanks.

Christy and Jane, I would draw your attention to this comment left on Glenn Greenwald’s threads if you haven’t seen it. Thoughts?

Folks, Let’s Digg It and help get the word out

has anyone said fuck bipartisanship yet today?

P.S. Kit Bond looks like he’s still drunk - strike that - I think he looked drunker than he did yesterday.

that’s what gets me, they trust the democrats after trying to screw them out of any compromise for 8 years?
yesterday Bond told everyone he was working with to go screw off, and you could tell there was a considerably amount of shock.
it’s looking like it is rigged. How can so many people subject to the vote of their constituents be willing to go against their electorate?

Curious also how Whitehouse will be viewed at the end of this. I thought yesterday that he had tried to work with the Repubs behind the scene to bring changes, and then was BS when Mitch lied.

I just called my senators, for all the good that will do.
Coburn and Inhofe. Blech.
Just finished watching Cornyn, which I probably never do due to blood pressure.
Youch! Whitehouse just got a zinger in on Cornyn. This is great!

Senator Chris Dodd coming up live on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell Groanspan.

Whitehouse - “I thank my good friend friends from Texas and (somewhere), and I hope that they’ll notify me when this new bipartisanship begins.”

heh-heh.

I think Whitehouse is a very decent guy who is committed to rule of law. But he’s also the sort of work behind-the-scenes legislator who likes to fashion a good compromise where he can get one. He was beyond pissed at Bond lying about what he had tried to do, and I think he has a much better understanding of just how low the GOP is willing to go to get their way.

I like Whitehouse a lot, based on a number of issues that he’s worked diligently on since he’s been elected. You learn tactics and such along the way, and he got a good dose of that yesterday when Bond and McConnell were willing to mock him working in good faith regardless of how false their representations were.

You learn tactics and such along the way, and he got a good dose of that yesterday when Bond and McConnell were willing to mock him working in good faith regardless of how false their representations were.

Whitehouse strikes me as precisely the kind of guy one does not want to piss off.

I’m not certain that’s completely correct, because without cloture on the Intel bill, they go back to amendment debate is my understanding. The other cloture motion was filed as an attempt to pre-empt the GOP — but I think there was an objection to it being filed, although I’d have to go back through the record to say that for certain (and I don’t have time at the moment, unfortunately…anyone know for sure on this?).

The convoluted way in which everything unfolded at the end yesterday left everyone scrambling to figure out the procedural intricacies, and I’m still trying to piece together the exact chain of events for Monday as a result.

Whitehouse strikes me as precisely the kind of guy one does not want to piss off.

Kinda like the Ladies of the Lake in that regard, huh?

(Note to self and others: one p*sses off Christy Hardin Smith, Jane Hamsher, Phoenix Woman, Looseheadprop, emptywheel, et al at your own peril - you have been warned) :})

I get that impression as well — he especially strikes me as the sort of person who does not appreciate being deliberately lied to for manipulative purposes.

Yup. He did a number on that arrogant, smug, EPA Administrator yesterday.

Meant to mention this above, but if you are getting any specific information from Senate offices on how Senators are leaning on cloture, please leave that information here in the comments. Much appreciated!

to Christy; I think Whitehouse, Wyden, Feingold were all trying for some compromise. What could make Bond and his tools pull the rug out? Was it planned as a rouse? Or did ol’ dick make a phone call?
How many filibuster opportunities remain?

Thanks, I had the same sense of this.

I suspect McConnell’s Monday cloture vote will go down spectacularly. There may be a number of pissed off republicans as well. I mentioned Specter yesterday. His amendment, 3905, was again objected to, without a vote, today (a few minutes ago). This objection is stupid, because the amendment would go down to defeat if it was brought up for a vote.

yes he did, and it was a lot of fun to watch.

I just hope someone gets around to telling that guy that he got destroyed, because he didn’t come across as being terribly perceptive, did he?

OT: Blue America’s Donna Edwards and Rep. Al Wynn are going to debate on WAMU shortly. Streaming at http://www.wamu.org/ .

Did he say that? Probably Alexander, who was lying his Tennessee ass off.

The Monday timing for the cloture vote is out of Reid’s control. The rule provides for a one-day interim (file on day one, layover day two, vote on day three), and the GOP can insist on sticking to the timeline of the rule.

Good comment PS

I just want to snarkily add that according to the gooper debate we are supposed to thank Bush for keeping us safe.

spit.

So what are the chances of this FISA extension going down in flames just before the SOTU? I know there are lots of variables here, but I really want to hear Georgie sputtering on national teevee about how the Defeatocrats just want us to lose the fight on terra.

Then, can we get Whitehouse or Russ to give the rebuttal and sound reasonalbe, rather than Nancy or Harry? I want someone with a spine and a brain to speak for me.

Just a thought here. I would like, I believe, to see, at some point in the NOT TOO distant future, a Whitehouse/Webb ticket for the presidency. I’m thinking that’d be a good thing. Whitehouse is spectacular, and I’d LIKE a VP who has actually SEEN combat and knows the horrors of war.
Sorry for the off-topic, I just wanted to say that to someone.
siri@legitgov.org

yes he did say that - and he just now mentioned Senator Alexander (and Cornyn), so you’re right…

the media doesn’t understand. http://radarcontact.blogspot.c.....ncest.html

The FISA battle is a real litmus test for how the Dem candidates are going to demonstrate leadership, as FDL has been pounding on for days now.

Christy and Jane, some of us were brainstorming last night. Wouldn’t it be great if Dodd’s office were to contact all three of them, Clinton, Obama, and Edwards to stand together and say, we stand for the rule of law?

The original idea was for Dodd to invite Edwards, but I really think this needs to be one for all and all for one. It would really lift the country up, I believe.

Governor Sebelius of Kansas is giving the SOTU rebuttal for the Dems I believe.

Senator Bond, would you please take ten steps, heel-to-toe, in a straight line, turn, and take ten more steps back, again heel-to-toe…

Now, please close your eyes, extend your arms, and touch your left index finger to the tip of your nose…

Republicans all puffed up with faux righteousness spinning that Dems don’t care about security is pure chutzpah. I don’t recall hearing any of them expressing concern or outrage about telecoms cutting off eavesdropping over unpaid bills.

Re what is supposed to happen Modnday, this is what cboldt posted at Marcy’s last night from the Congressional Calendar:

1.–Ordered, That at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 25, 2008, the Senate resume consideration of S. 2248, a bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that act, and for other purposes.
Ordered further, That a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the pending substitute Amdt. No. 3911, offered by the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) and the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Bond), take place at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, January 28, 2008; provided that the mandatory quorum call required under Rule XXII be waived; provided further, that the vote be deemed concluded at 12:00 noon.
Ordered further, That if cloture is invoked, all time during recess or adjournment count against the 30 hours.
Ordered further, That the mandatory quorum call required under Rule XXII be waived on the motion to invoke cloture on Amdt. No. 3918, offered by the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Reid). (Jan. 24, 2008.)

without cloture on the Intel bill, they go back to amendment debate is my understanding. The other cloture motion was filed as an attempt to pre-empt the GOP — but I think there was an objection to it being filed, although I’d have to go back through the record to say that for certain (and I don’t have time at the moment, unfortunately…anyone know for sure on this?).

The current scheduled procedure is to have the McConnell cloture vote (on the SSCI substitute amendment) at 4:30 Monday. If and only if that motion is rejected (it will be rejected, count on it), then the Senate will vote to limit debate on Reid’s amendment, 3918, which extends the PAA by 30 days.

There is no way possible to object to filing a cloture motion. 16 Senators in agreement have the absolute right to file such a motion, even if the other 84 Senators don’t like it.

What the hell is Bond talking about, ”after 9/11, when we knew there were other attacks planned?”

What jerks. What total jerks to undermine good faith efforts. And this, after Andrew Young had just reminded us all that behind the scenes humility is just what is called for to settle differences. I saw that Whitehouse looked quite animated on the floor yesterday when they were taking the vote, but I had chalked it up to his vigorous take down of Environmental Pretention Agency Chief Johnson just moments before.

Hi all. More of the same over here. We need to make as much noise as possible on this.

I’ve made dozens of comments on FDL and never felt the need to break out the bold, but there’s a first time for everything:

Attention Senators Clinton and Obama: This is precisely the kind of situation that directly impacts the enthusiasm of your supporters. Do you want them to pound the pavement, man the phone banks and otherwise drum up support for you in the fall or do you want them to just go into the booth on election day, hold their noses and vote for you? Day One for leadership was yesterday. Don’t be any later than you already are.

Thanks.

Republicans all puffed up with faux righteousness spinning that Dems don’t care about security is pure chutzpah. I don’t recall hearing any of them expressing concern or outrage about telecoms cutting off eavesdropping over unpaid bills.

The one is about national security. The other is about capitalism. No comparison between the two from a Republican point of view, or which they consider more important.

…. Please keep your hands to your sides. No the road is not slanted.

Then D’s are screwed again. I dread hearing the news on Monday night going something like this. “What will Bush say tonight about the WH’s FISA success just minutes ago in the Senate, where D’s failed spectacularly attempting to block telecom immunity.”

Kit Bond up now on CSPAN2, spreading disinformation and lies about FISA.

Bob in HI

Yeah, I’m with you, danps! See me at 57.

Who is giving the dems “equal time” SOTU reclama?
How about Feingold?

Thus far this morning, every GOP Senator who has gotten up to speak has played the “bi-partisan whining” Disinformation-R-Us tactic. Disgusting.

I’m just — beside myself. The lying is off the hook.

Are Kit Bond’s pants on fire?

Thanks, Christy. My head just spins.

Called DiFi’s SFO office. Staffer said she has not decided how she will vote on Monday. Big surprise.

I dread hearing the news on Monday night going something like this. “What will Bush say tonight about the WH’s FISA success just minutes ago in the Senate, where D’s failed spectacularly attempting to block telecom immunity.”

When I said McConnell’s cloture motion would go down spectacularly, I meant that it would be REJECTED. I won’t be surprised if it fails to get a bare majority, let alone the 60 votes it needs to pass. Then faced with the PAA expiring, Reid’s 3918 extension will probably pass, on the spot. The can will be kicked 30 days down the road.

The news is apt to report a reversal in fortune, where last weeks defeat of a measure that would strip immunity was kept alive for another go.

Not yet, but his nose is as long as a telephone wire.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas is giving the Dem SOTU rebuttal. She was chosen to represent the “heartland” in a time of economic need prior to the Senate commencing the wrangling over the FISA bill.

Kit, if it was so legal, let’s see the proof!

OMG - head. about. to. explode.

I can’t have a drink because I’m at work.

Beat me to it. LOL

This is from an e-mail from The Pen:

“What part of exercising power doesn’t Harry Reid get? The Washington
Post reports him “pleading” with the White House. And yet, it is his
decision which version of the FISA bill to have the Senate consider,
and by choosing to bring forward the bad one, he is knowingly forcing
opponents of yet another “get out of jail free card” for Cheney
cronies to get 60 votes to strip it out of the bill. Or filibuster
yet again.”

Step Down Harry Action Page:
http://www.usalone.com/step_down_harry.php (anyone can use this link)

if it isn’t ants, it’s cockroaches. good cop, bad cop. mutt and jeff. freind and foe. it’s just another show… hit it boys… one more time

OT: Blue America’s Donna Edwards and Rep. Al Wynn are going to debate on WAMU shortly. Streaming at http://www.wamu.org/ .

Aargh, had to turn it off, Al Wynn is too much of an ass to listen to. He just pulled the standard conservative “I’ll interrupt you and then accuse you of interrupting when you try to continue, then lecture you on courtesy and say ‘you’ll get a chance to speak’ [when I let you.]”

I wish I could reach through the tubes and throttle them.

Pinch hit for her… FISA more important?

ok - now we can quit worrying about the whole retroactive immunity thing. Senator (burp) Bond has just decreed that the telecoms were acting legally.

Thank you, Judge Senator Bond. Happy Hour begins in just a little more than 4 hours.

Honestly, I’m used to chicanery and outright falsehoods from this crowd. I mean, hello, I’ve liveblogged Orrin Hatch far too many times to count at this point.

But today’s performance has been beyond the pale in terms of just flat out lying. I keep waiting for a lightning bolt to come thundering out of the sky it’s so bad…

I understand what you meant, but I respectfully disagree. I’ve become conditioned to expect defeat because that is what we’ve been given again, and again, and again. The timing for this is unfortunate, in my opinion, because it will be heard by a lot more people than usual.

WTF is Bond talking about? Drooling out nonsense…

Why, oh, why can’t Harry just tell Georgie to go Cheney himself and be done with it? Republicans do it all the time. Why can’t we play like that, too? I thought that was what being in the “majority” meant.

Bond just made a major admission there. He said he believed in the theory of evolution (at least as regards terrorists). Will his consitutents ever forgive him?

Sheldon Whitehouse up now on CSPAN2!

Bob in HI

We might believe that but I doubt if the powers in DC believe it.

That is exactly what I’m talking about. OK, procedure set the cloture vote for Monday, but Reid is inescapably daft when it comes to promoting the progressive cause.

Sheldon Whitehouse up now on CSPAN2!
Bond demanding that 60-vote rule apply to everything.

Bob in HI

Bayh’s number which you list is the Washington number. I tried calling it just now. It rant over 30 times, with no answer, and no roll to voice mail. This was the same result later yesterday afternoon after I had already called twice, one in the morning, and one after he was one of the 10 so-called Democrats who ditched the bill with no immunity on the first critical vote of the day. Those calls were answered. There has been no answer since. His Senate web site has local offices listed across Indiana, and later this afternoon I may try those. I will definitely be faxing him tomorrow.

Frankly, I have seen this happen before with Bayh’s office in Washington. Whenever the heat rises, suddenly his Washington number simply does not answer. I have seen this at lest three or four times in past year.

I personally begin to suspect he is hiding from his constituents. As well he should.

I normally refer to Bayh as Republican-Lite. Right now the Lite needs to read Heavy, perhaps.

Webb’s staffer said he hasn’t put out an official position yet, but admitted he assumes he’ll vote against cloture. (No big surprise there.)

Honestly, I’m used to chicanery and outright falsehoods from this crowd.

Well, an anagram of Richard Cheney is Chicanery Herd

what just happened? whitehouse asked bond a question and now we’re going to “normal” mode.

And that does what, other than having everyone wallow in what already happened? We have a legitimate shot and stopping this in its tracks, again, on Monday. Which is more than anyone thought we had at the beginning of the week.

Folks, I wasn’t kidding when I asked everyone to make calls and send FAXes today. Whatever your personal feelings about any of these people, pushing them to do the right thing on this is our job — and we need to do it.

Bond just made a major admission there. He said he believed in the theory of evolution (at least as regards terrorists). Will his consitutents ever forgive him?

if you mean about us only getting the dumb ones allowing the smart clever ones to escape and breed prolifically, he used that yesterday too! unfreakin’believeable

Now Byron Dorgan up on FISA on CSPAN2.

Bob in HI

From you keyboard to God’s ear, cboldt. You obviously