Fitz!

wow … I did it!!!!

As for the topic: holy freaking shit.

Geez!! Who couldn’t have seen this coming from a mile away? Sounds like Reid. He keeps validating the critique at every turn that he doesn’t know strategy from a dog’s butt.

Nobody could have predicted…

I’m not sure about his being a Strad. That assumes Reid could make some beautiful music. I tend to think of him more as a fiddle with a couple of broken strings. *g*

What an idiot.

Reid is lost. I think it’s about time that other Democratic Senators, the ones with a fight in them, let the Republicans know they’ll be fucked if they persist in being anything but good little boys and girls.

Would it be possible to challenge the credentials of every newly elected rethug?
429 hrs & 12 min

Now they’re saying a Blago impeachment might happen next week after all.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..54829.html

It’s gettin hot in here. Getting this thug Blago outta there seems to be the solution, so I hope they can pull it off. Hey, Roland, it’s probably been a long time since you dated, but maybe they’re just not that into you. Can you take hint?

Reid the spineless, when will his era as senate “leader” be finished. A real leader is needed. But who could do the job?

So now we are faced with losing 2 D Senators. And very important votes coming up. But, hey, we still have Lieberman. And the Rs are going to filibuster!!!! Oooooh, scary.

Reid is a Republican.

Who is advising Reid???

I find this hilarious:

Did you know that Roland Burris named his children Roland and Rolanda? It seems that his ego is as big as the momument he built for himself.

Fete accompli: Blago is gov., Obamas seat is vacant, Burris was appointed to fill it. To hasty an impeachment would be nothing more than a mob lynching – Blago is entitled to see the evidence against him and to prepare a defense. Weeks! For someone new to come in and supersede what has already happened is ex post facto.
429 hrs & 5 min

Not played, owned. Wonder what else that TSP dug up.

TPM initiated the Dukie award in recognition of the good works by Randy “Duke” Cunningham and awarded to those who followed in his august shoes. Why doesn’t FDL start the Golden Dooky award to honor those faithful servants in our National Government who couldn’t find their ass with a map and two hands. My vote for 2008 and in perpetuity would go to the US Senate, with special mention to Mr. Reid.

Rahm needs to give Harry some lessons in power politics.

There is a difference, so I have to take issue with Jane’s point. Minnesota will certify a winner (likely Franken at this point). The certification will be the official results of the election, thus the duly-elected senator is to be seated. The certification must happen prior to any legal challenge of the result, per Minnesota law. This is a world of difference from an appointment made by a governor outside of an election.

As for Cornyn’s game about waiting for lawsuits to be settled, that’s hokum. Mary Landrieu was provisionally seated by a GOP-controlled Senate while lawsuits over the Louisiana election results were pending. Cornyn’s just acting like a typical childish republican throwing a temper tantrum (it’s all they know how to do). Whether or not Reid has the skills to deal with that, I can’t say.

What I can say is Norm Coleman has to move out of his Senate office regardless, which makes me smile.

Reid as Stradivarius?

More like a WalMart fiddle special.

But the same result nevertheless.

This is the best high drama that has been around here for awhile. Even some of the fine minds that dwell around here could not make up this shit, even on their best day.

but, but, but puppethead … the Rs will fillibuster!!!!! s

i’m goin ta love next week. fdl might want ta lay in additional bandwidth.

Oh brother, I need an eye checkup. I read Loohoo’s comment @11 as “Roland Burris named his chickens Roland and Rolanda”.

Reid needs to be shit-canned and replaced with someone who has a safe seat some moxie.

Blago has just been accused by a US Attorney of trying to ILLEGALLY sell that vacant Senate seat. Are we just supposed to ignore this? The legislature has every right to step in and stop a potential criminal from appointing a crony, and that’s what impeachment is for.

Blago will have his time in court and no one is suggesting we ignore the rule of law. It’s simply a matter of using everything at our disposal to prevent an appointment of an ineffectual, and possibly corrupted Senator to represent the people of Illinois.

Battle Royale? The worst get rid of the less worst….

Battle Royale

Harry Reid. Lacking in foresight, deft touch, and good taste. Also tone deaf and lacking a sense of smell. Truly a man with none of the common senses.

teh goopers plan to block a democrat from being seated in the Senate.
the dems plan to block a democrat from being seated in the Senate.

makes perfect sense to me.

The IL supreme court has already said that Blago is capable of performing his responsibilities. To undo the appointment it would need to be shown that Burris is not qualified.
428 hrs & 48 min

Despite evidence to the contrary, I don’t think Reid’s an idiot. He must have figured the Repubs were going to do this to Franken, anyway. (The Repub’s won’t be satisfied with Coleman’s likely-to-fail obstruction tactics).

The question is, is there a counter-strategy?

He’s a friggin’ Stradivarius.

No offense, but I’m gonna have to go with a Kazoo.

So PEBO, of the, “we can disagree without being disagreeable” fame, is going along with physically barring Burris from the Senate.

Love that new “tone” the toney guys have brought to town. I coulda been wrong about the Kazoo. It’s a blast from the past, but we may just be looking at the Democratic Party Tonette Band, finally in concert.

reid is a crook, he works for money/war junta—not much more to it than that

Worst. Democratic Majority Leader. Ever?

As a onetime violinist, may I say on behalf of all Stradivari that Reid is no Stradivari. A burned out ol’ country fiddle, maybe.

While I agree that there is a significant difference, Cornyn is playing for optics, and it appears there will be no cert for Franken by http://www.minnpost.com/ericbl….._scenarios">next Tuesday:

6. The state’s final certification of a winner, which must be signed by Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, cannot be issued until at least seven days after the Canvassing Board declares a winner, and very likely longer, because by state law the final certification must also await the final results of any court challenges to the election result. (See Subdivision 2 of this state law.)

The rethugs don’t have that much political capital. They can ill afford to squander it on futile battles. The nuclear option could be employed too.
428 hrs & 39 min

I remember tonettes from grade school. In addition to resembling a recorder, it also is an adaptation of the 6-hole Native American flute.

We have three branches of government and Obama is no longer a member of the legislative branch. He might say some things but it would be behind the scenes.
428 hrs & 33 min

the Rs think this is a way to BUILD their political capital.

Well huh, I like how Minnesota law keeps muddying the process. And in the beginning it looked so much like we had one of the more decent recount processes in place.

I remain skeptical, however, that Coleman has the juice to drag out a lawsuit for any length of time. He’s done, and I expect his GOP sugar daddies in Washington to tell him it’s over, their money needs to be used for other things. Plus he has the other little issue of facing possible criminal charges for bribery.

I would believe, however, that the GOP is petulant enough to drag things out past January 20th just to ratfuck Obama as he’s coming in the door by denying him any economic aid to sign. I’m sure the GOP puke funnel’s furiously figuring out ways to sell the soup lines as caused by Obama somehow, knowing the TV mannequins will happily spew any swill.

They are digging their hole deeper.
428 hrs & 30 min

Excellent post Jane!

One quibble: you write, “[Reid’s] a friggin’ Stradivarius.”

I disagree. A Stradivarius has intrinsic worth: it’s a finely crafted violin worth millions. A Stradivarius has a beautiful sound, even in the hands of an amateur. A stradivarius has a golden reputation for excellence.

Harry Reid is more like a kazoo. Like a kazoo, he’s easy to play, worth about a dollar ($2.00 if you buy a metal one), with a timbre that’s closer to nails on a chalkboard. Also, like the kazoo, reid has a reputation as something cheap and easily replaceable.

And even that analogy is imperfect: I would rather listen to an entire orchestra of kazoos than one word out of Harry Reid’s mouth.

I had suspected from the get-go that Al Franken was going to be the price paid for Harry Reid’s idiocy re: Roland Burris. Enjoy your sojourn under the bus, Al, courtesy of Give-’Em-Head harry.

Worst. Majoirty Leader. Ever.

prairie sunshine: “As a onetime violinist, may I say on behalf of all Stradivari that Reid is no Stradivari. A burned out ol’ country fiddle, maybe.”

That’s an insult to burned out country fiddles.

The Rethugs are bailin’ on DeeCee for the inauguration. They’re opting for foreign getaways, Switzerland, the Italian Alps, Caribbean islands. Didn’t Kookie Cokie Roberts upbraid Obama for vacationing in that furrin place, Hawaii? Double standard much, Cokie? Bein’ a Rethug doormat and bagperson pays well. I’m sure the workin’ folks who have lost their job or are about to will be glad to hear that these folks aren’t hurtin’.

I’m not making any plans for Obama ~ so as not to be disappointed myself ~ but if he can’t stand up to Reid and Pelosi I don’t see how he’s going to be able to do anything he said he would do. And it’s impossible to see how that could play out. But it’s not looking good: Pelosi has been talking tough and then there’s Reid. It’s very disturbing that Reid and Pelosi had Rice’s flanks at the Israeli presser today.

And the Rs just want to slow down anything Obama wants to do, unless they can stop it which might be possible with Reid and Pelosi in play.

Here’s what I don’t get: what’s Obama’s play when the Rs refuse to be bipartisan on the economy? Is he setting them up? I sure hope so.

And what’s Obama’s play when Reid and Pelosi obstruct him?

A bluegrass fiddler would see that as a Bluegrass Stradivari.

No offense, but I’m gonna have to go with a Kazoo.

That’s right. An instrument that requires no talent to play, just the chutzpah to attempt to play.

I think you can pretty much count on that.

With an assist from the Blue Dogs:

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmsp…..0002999711

Who says there’s no such thing as bipartisanship, eh?

I’m sure the GOP puke funnel’s furiously figuring out ways to sell the soup lines as caused by Obama somehow, knowing the TV mannequins will happily spew any swill.

Spot on!

Without Burriss or Franken the dems have 57. There are at least 6 and perhaps more rethugs who will be up for reelection in states that are now blue.
428 hrs & 15 min

New post

Can we just elect a new leader who actually thinks the whole thing through and is interested in keeping his oath to the constitution and the law of the land.

Pretty please?

Thanks Jane.

digg

I wonder if perhaps Reid doesn’t like Franken.

Make them do a real filibuster, bring in buckets to defecate in, phone books to read from, cots to nap in, and we’ll see how long those decrepit old bastards hold out. Not more than 48 hours, probably more like 24. Unfortunately Reid won’t do it, I don’t know why but he just won’t.

Since when did actions against Democratic governors by Bush-appointed USAttorneys become a certain mark of wrongdoing? Fitz’s colleagues put Siegelman in prison, forced Spitzer’s resignation, and have allowed the California GOP House delegation to remain free while utterly corrupt.

I wouldn’t be so quick to decry a Democratic governor who has been arrested, but not indicted (”I need more time, please….”) by a Bush USAttorney.

Wait a second.

1) The numbers used above for the cloture motion are only legitimate AFTER the new Senators are seated. Clearly the acceptance of seating of new members is contingent on standards established in prior situations (i.e. Landrieu). What Reid could do is place Franken up as Senator #1. If the Republicans want to have a cloture motion they would have to undertake it with 2/3rd’s of the sitting (carryover) members, since no “freshman” or carryover incumbents (Coleman, or even Cornyn) have been seated.

In that case the Republicans would have to attain 40% of the 55 sitting Senators (26 votes). The Democrats would have 37 (except for two complications). Sanchez and Clinton still hold their seats (pending resignation), Chambliss and those voted out of office do not hold seats in the new Congress. So the Republicans still have the percentage (40%) to actually create a filibuster with that stipulation because Obama and Biden have resigned, and their replacements are contingent on the acceptance by the carryover Senators. It looks as if the Republicans would have just enough (even without the Independents) to block accepting Franken.

2) Now lets say Reid places the new (and re-entering) Republican members of the Senate last on the approval list of votes, just after Franken. I think Reid would control the order of the “acceptances” and call a motion on seating Franken at any time.

Would he then be able to include all the new Democratic members in the vote minus the re-elected Republicans. As the votes to allow these new members in they could quickly swear their oath, and then vote. So slowly all the initiates would accumulate the Democratic quorum of seated members until it was 55D-26R (2I). Democrats would then have easily the needed numbers to seat Franken…even without Obama, Biden or their replacements.

Then the Senate could move ahead on seating the re-elected Republicans. The sweet irony of this would be that Cornyn himself would not be allowed to vote as these members are introduced, since he was just re-elected…technically he’s not a “member of the new class”.

Of course, the Republicans could filibuster ANY new member being seated, I suppose. But that would look really nasty and almost like a coup-de-tat. And Cornyn would be on the outside looking in. This would be a “nuclear option” for the Republicans…and remove much of their leadership. Reid could then state that they would have to clear their offices, fire their staffs, and lose their seniority if they had a “disruption of service”.

I suspect that they’d come to their senses pretty quickly.

3) Can one filibuster a non-budget or law activity in the Senate. This is a “rules” procedure and may not be subject to the same blocking methods available to disrupt the passage of laws.

This is a fascinating scenario entirely beyond the capability of Harry Reid to implement or, sadly, to understand.

It also depends (in the immediate swearing-in part) upon the goodwill and collaboration of the sitting Vice President, President of the Senate and sure to throw a monkey wrench if one needs throwing on behalf of the GOPs.

Seriously, what are the qualifications needed to become a Democratic leader in Congress?
A driver’s license?
A cool car?
High school diploma?

harry reid can’t even win a game of Candyland against a 4 year old, how do you expect him to pull this off?

I don’t see the Senate convening without Franken or Burris as problematic (hell they’d no doubt do a lot better if more than half of them stayed home) but I fail to see a double standard between provisionally seating Franken who was duly elected (via a recount and transparent analysis of challenged ballots with the outcome dictating only the margin considering absentee ballots -though I do think it appropriate to wait for certification) and the seating of an appointee made by a governor who has been indicted for attempts to sell the seat in question. The Republicans were going to try an stop Franken regardless of the Burris issue.

this is the wrong fight for senate dems. a waste of valuable energy.
Blago is an embarrassment, his action was an attempt to embarrass Obama…
but his appointment of Burris is not illegal,
and Burris may be a good person for the 2 year job.
when will dems learn to fight the important fights?
when will dem leaders actually lead?

little children with guns and ammo. needless slaughter of the intent of the law. absent of human value, logic, considered thought for the people of the country.
I am typically ashamed of what all politicians do, but when they go into the realm of the absurd they prove they have no place representing us. More important, they show that they do not represent us at all, and never have, never will.
How many times have they ignored the law, the people of the country, reality? They fight about the little pieces of turd stuck to their shoes and the world burns. idiots are in charge.