Comments on: FISA: Screwed, Blued and Tattooed

By: lostoption

lostoption — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:28:51 +0000

Actual conversation overheard in House cloakroom a while back:

John Boehner(R-Tanland): (possibly most odious republican
sack-of-shit on the planet):

Steny, you’re gonna cave – eventually.

Steny Hoyer (D?-MD):

(Gives stern look, holds for a few seconds, then grin spreads across
face)

Of course, we’re gonna cave, you dumbass. But first we gotta work on
some cover. But, we’ll be in the bag by — the Fourth of July.

Boehner:

(Overcome by emotion, tears welling up, embraces Steny)

Thank you, Steny.

(The two unlock their embrace, Boehner motions for Steny to proceed him
out of room, Steny moves to exit)

Boehner: Hey, Steny, that telecom money spending real good?

Steny: Go work on your tan, Johnnyboy.

Steny didn’t do a real good job on the cover, but he sure did cave.

Steny Hoyer (D?-MD) – Corrupt, Coward, Criminals’ Aider and Abettor

By: ubetchaiam

ubetchaiam — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:07:57 +0000

Ironic isn’t this? “Is this the start of a new paradigm on the Hill? That’s not likely. As was the case when the two sides agreed on an economic stimulus package earlier this year, deals like this only happen when there is huge public sentiment and political momentum behind them.”
From

Since there is ‘huge public sentiment’ against this compromise, I guess it’s the ‘political momentum’.

By: ubetchaiam

ubetchaiam — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:59:56 +0000

Thanks Cboldt; the comment was by David Obey and it was funny. Lets hope the Senate does what you layout. I also thought that just one Senator can place ‘hold’ on a bill and it justs sits there until the hold is lifted or the session ends.

By: Bluetoe2

Bluetoe2 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:01:42 +0000

Without big money the progressive movement is fucked. Dems sell out the Constitution for political expediency, the Dem Pres. candidate supports Blue Dogs more interested in playing along to get along. They know there is little if any consequence for them playing the game the way it’s been played for far too long in Washington. Yesterday $ 195,000 was raised to hold Hoyer et al “accountable.” Chump change in the grand scheme of D.C. business as usual. America hasn’t seen a real progressive since Henry Wallace. IMHO the money raised should be used for political education of an electorate that has been distracted, dumbed down and disinclined to “get involved.” Only until there are feet on the street will the powers in Washington pay anything more than lip service to progressive elements in society.

By: cboldt

cboldt — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:54:16 +0000

Obama isn’t going to lead a stand on this. He’ll let some other Senator stick his neck out.

Heheh … funny comment in the House. “For what purpose does the person rise?” “I haven’t the foggiest idea.” Looks at papers and reads …

By: dmac

dmac — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:51:31 +0000

selise–that is the part that has me perplexed, what you said, they aren’t even trying to fool us……how come? how can this payoff for them? what kind of strategy is this? how can this be spun? it can’t, i truly don’t get it……i’m coming up blank…..

By: cboldt

cboldt — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:51:15 +0000

A single solitary Senator objection can cause two serial cloture motions. Kagro says he’s not sure a second one (on final passage) can be forced. I’m sure. It can be.

Further, if there is as much as ONE amendment to be voted on, the same objection/cloture widget can be brought to bear there, as well.

I’m watching to see if Senator Reid gets the bill from the House tomorrow, in which case he may move to proceed to it, and if faced with objection, file a cloture motion tomorrow - the cloture vote would be Tuesday a.m., plus 30 hours is Wednesday late afternoon when the bill would become pending (motion to proceed being adopted).

The reason two cloture motions can be set up back to back is that this is a fresh bill. If it was one of those “ping pong” affairs, where a bill that the Senate had previously considered is being sent back to the Senate, there is NO motion to proceed (so no cloture widget), and debate rules are different so that cloture doesn’t work the same way even on final passage.

I don’t think the House has any vehicle to shortcut the “usual” process of handling a “new” bill that’s originated in the House. Where “new” and “originated in the House” results in an obligation to make a motion to proceed, and an obligation to allow debate on the bill until either all Senators agree to vote on passage, or cloture limits debate before voting on passage.

By: selise

selise — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:46:21 +0000

and i just gotta say that watching the house leadership fuck us over on BOTH the war AND fisa on the same day has me just stunned.

they aren’t even trying to fool us.

By: MarktheSpark

MarktheSpark — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:42:11 +0000

I just called Pelosi’s S.F. office to tell them how disgusted I am by this capitulation (#836? 837?) and that since I live only 30 miles away from her district that if she allows a sellout on this one I’ll be there this summer working for her honorable opponent, Cindy Sheehan.

The young man I spoke to was studiously neutral and noncommital, claimed he’d “pass on” my “concerns.” These Demos are as corrupt and thuggish as the overt ReThug fascists, and this response makes me strongly suspect the “compromise” is already a done deal.

For shame (but then, they have no shame)

By: selise

selise — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:39:59 +0000

Kagro’s got a plan. Does it have a chance?

i don’t know… the rule doesn’t look like there is much opportunity for delay. i’d like to have kagro x’s take on it though. as for the senate - it depends mostly i think on whether obama is willing to lead the opposition. i still think that dodd owes us a filibuster though.