Senate advances Keystone pipeline despite veto threat (62-35 vote") USA Today

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Republicans and "Not As Bad" Democrats advanced the bill.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/01/29/senate-keystone-bill-obama-veto/22521107/

The Senate voted Thursday to push ahead with legislation to build the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, despite a long-standing veto threat from the White House.

After more than two weeks of debate on numerous amendments, the Senate cleared a key hurdle with a 62-35 vote Thursday to complete work on legislation approving the north-south pipeline for Canadian oil that Republicans advocated as a way to create thousands of U.S. jobs. The vote exceeded the 60-vote threshold needed to cut off additional debate on the bill and set up the Senate to pass the bill later in the day. But the tally was short of the 67 votes the Senate would need to override a presidential veto.

Nine Democrats joined a unanimous Republican caucus to support the bill: Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Tom Carper of Delaware, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana and Mark Warner of Virginia.

Before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., urged his colleagues to pass the measure. "Constructing Keystone would pump billions into our economy. It would support thousands of good American jobs," he said. "And as the president's own State Department has indicated, it would do this with minimal environmental impact."

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Just heard that on MSNBC, yet another waste of time and $$$!

[AtomicKitten]

2. THIS is what suppresses Dem voter turnout.

[onecaliberal]

5. Precisely

[maxrandb]

6. I respectfully disagree

What depresses Dem voter turnout is that we get so hung-up on these 9 Senators one vote on an issue we disagree with, we forget that they support 60-70-80% of what we would call a "more progressive" America. So, in order to "punish" these 9 Senators, (who may have just voted the way that their constituents want them to vote), we screw over the 37 other Democratic Senators...and in the process, turn majority control over to the insane party.

THIS is precisely the kind of thing that should MOTIVATE us to get out and vote. Maybe we won't change West Virginia or North Dakota over night, but we could damn well ensure that Ted "effing" Cruz is not Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee.

If you don't like the way these Senators voted, then Dems have every right to Primary them with someone more progressive. Maybe that would generate some excitement and increase turnout throughout the country, BUT, if the way the Republicans have treated this President, and their complete and total obstruction hasn't motivated Democrats to get out and vote for ANYONE with a D next to their name, I don't know what will!

[AtomicKitten]

7. Disagree a shit-ton.

There are currently 44 Democrats and 2 Independents (who traditionally vote with Democrats) in the Senate.

Democrats needed 41 votes to sustain a filibuster, and they couldn't even muster that. It's pathetic that Democrats cannot count on Democrats to vote like Democrats.

Nine Democrats joined a unanimous Republican caucus to support the bill:

Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado,
Tom Carper of Delaware,
Bob Casey of Pennsylvania,
Joe Donnelly of Indiana,
Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota,
Joe Manchin of West Virginia,
Claire McCaskill of Missouri,
Jon Tester of Montana, and
Mark Warner of Virginia.

If these Democrats had told the truth about Keystone, the GOP argument for the pipeline would have blown up in Republican faces. It was their job and obligation to inform and educate their constituents. They illustrated that they stand for nothing, and certainly not for the Democratic principle of being caretakers of the environment.

F 'em one and all.

[maxrandb]

8. Sorry

I'm not sure what state you are in, but if you're that upset with these 9 Dems, please feel free to take one of them on in the next primary.

Losing our minds about a vote to "end debate" on a bill that will be vetoed is, IMO, counter-productive.

I certainly don't want a Democratic Party that votes monolithically. If I wanted a party like that, I'd switch to T-Bagger.

Let me ask you something. There are a bunch of Wingnuts that are just "effing" livid that conservative members of the House voted for John Boehner for Speaker. Why does that seem to "increase" their voter turnout, while something like this KXL vote, you say, will "suppress" Dem voters?

Could it be that the conservatives understand that what's important is who has the majority?

Keep killing these Dems that only agree with 70% of Progressive Ideals, and you'll end up with those who oppose 100% of our Progressive Ideals running the country.

Now, 70% may sound like a low "C" or "D" to you, but it sure beats the hell out of a T-bagging Congress turned loose on the American people. That's a 100% loser, IMO

[AtomicKitten]

9. No sale.

There is no reason - other than the Third Way insisting on it - that Democrats from so-called red states have to vote like Republicans to keep their seats in Congress.

That is propaganda horsepucky.

And what's the point anyway? If given a choice between voting for a Republican or a DINO (a Democrat that votes like a Republican), voters will choose the Republican.

A candidate that runs and governs as a populist would appeal to all sides of the aisle. Do not be bamboozled by the Third Way theory that the only way a Democrat can survive in a red state is to act and vote like a Republican. That theory is utter nonsense.

[maxrandb]

11. Well

Then I challenge you. Pick one of those 9 Dems and run against them as that "populist" that would "appeal to all sides of the aisle"

I'm not bamboozled. The bamboozled ones are the ones that have allowed the media to convince them that there is such a thing as a "DINO" who "votes like a Republican".

Just look at my Senator Mark Warner for example. Look at his votes with the Democratic Party 98% of the time, and then compare that to what you think either Ed Gillespie's or Smirkin' asshat George "Makaka" Allen's voting record would be.

For all of the DUer's who have identified these DINO's, I throw down the gauntlet. Put your hat in the ring and run for office.

You can rest assured that if you run as a Democrat, you'll have my vote and my support to work to get other Dems out to vote for you.

How about instead of concentrating on the few flaws of some Dem politicians who only vote 2% against the majority of the Dem party, why don't we concentrate on the 98% where we have common ground.

Mark Warner or George Allen????? If Mark Warner is a "DINO", then I say "thank God for DINOs"

[AtomicKitten]

12. Pfft. We will have to agree to disagree.

[fredamae]

3. Roll Call - See How Yours Voted

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=114&session=1&vote=00045

[MohRokTah]

4. Not a veto proof majority.

This bill is officially toast.

[napkinz]

10. :)