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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/.)
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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