Lieberman, Graham Threaten to Shut Down Senate

[kpete]

Source: Roll Call

Lieberman, Graham Threaten to Shut Down Senate
June 9, 2009, 12:31 p.m.
By Emily Pierce
Roll Call Staff

Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) threatened to hold up any and all legislation in the Senate until Congress passes its legislation to prohibit the release of photos showing detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We’re not going to do any more business in the Senate,” Graham said. “Nothing’s going forward until we get this right.”

Both Senators said they were alarmed that a House-Senate conference committee on the supplemental war spending bill appears poised to eliminate language — inserted by the two Senators — that would block public disclosure of detainee abuse photos. The $90-billion-plus bill has been held up, in part, because House Democratic leaders have said they do not have the votes to pass it with the detainee photo provision included, because many liberal lawmakers have balked at the language.

If the provision is eliminated, Lieberman and Graham said they would vote against the supplemental and any attempts to bring debate on the measure to a close. Graham predicted that most, if not all, of the 40 Senate Republicans would do the same, and Lieberman said he would be reaching out to Democrats on the issue as well. That could be enough to filibuster the supplemental measure on the Senate floor, because 60 votes are needed to end debate on a bill.


Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/35664-1.html?type=printer_friendly

[dflprincess]

1. Let 'em

Though I'm sure Reid will cave to this blackmail in record time.

[saigon68]

43. IT WILL BE A FEDERAL FELONY IN THE FUTURE TO POST THIS PICTURE

[harun]

53. Damn right. LET EM!

Reid will give in though.

[Better Believe It]

2. So let them filibuster. What's the problem?

Don't let them "call in" a filibuster.

Make them take and hold the Senate floor in a real filibuster, not the bogus phantom kind that the Republicans and Senator Reid love so much.

[cap]

3. if they take such a public stand on it, then I'd be asking to see the photos myself

so that I would know what the issue was.

The more you up the ante, the more the curiousity increases. The more people who have to see the pictures, the harder it gets to maintain security.

I guess this might also include funding for the troops? That's a real tough one to get support on. Let 'em try.

I don't think this is the best way for Lieberman and Graham to get what they want. I think Obama will attach the legislature that he needs past on bills that take only a 51 Senator majority.

[Me.]

4. Anti-War Dems In The House Don't Want The Bill In The First Place

So they'll be doing them a favor

[No Elephants]

45. I think Senator Feingold voted against the war. Anyone else?

[DJ13]

5. So they're pissing on Reid 'the cardboard Senator' knowing he'll fold when wet?

Blackmail is what happens when all of the rest of the Senate knows that just the mention of the word "filibuster" will scare the Democratic Majority Leader so much he will cave.

Reid should allow filibusters just to maintain his leadership authority, but he's too much of a coward.

[lark]

21. Reid is a spineless worm

Why in the world the dems in the Senate keep him around is beyond me?

[No Elephants]

48. They'd vote him out if he did not serve their purposes. I very much doubt

Reid takes any significant action without getting consensus first, behind the scenes. He takes the blame from Democratic voters for a lot they don't like about their Democratic Senate, while doing their bidding. Perfect scapegoat.

[Fearless]

6. They're pissing into the wind. Let them get their comeuppance.

[Cha]

7. So they think that's more important

than the healthcare in our country?

They're making this look like the photos would send cheney to jail.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. Ah. So the hissy fit begins.

That didn't take long. :rofl:

[eyepaddle]

13. Jeez, no kidding

I saw the first post about this, like, ten minutes ago, and the OP ended with a prediction of a Lieberman tantrum. Voila', right on cue. :evilgrin:

[Coyote_Bandit]

9. Shut down the Senate?

I happen to think most of those sorry bastards should be booted out of office and unemployed.

Maybe a Senate shut down would be a good thing.

[Me.]

23. That Sort Of Move Worked So Well When Newt Tried It

Didn't it?

[Coyote_Bandit]

28. For the most part, they don't advance or protect

my needs or interests. That being the case, I could care less whether they are at work. Them not being at work might just atually do more for me. Most of the sorry bastards need to be removed from office.

[galledgoblin]

10. disgusting. (n/t)

[Uncle Joe]

11. Make them filibuster to defend against the exposure of torture and "never forget" who did it.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. While you're at it, shut it down until Al Franken is seated.

I dare ya.

[opihimoimoi]

14. We should be very careful of what we wish for.....them photos could be an incendiary

spark of a Conflagration which would cause 1,000's Plus to die/or be wounded/affected.....

Unintended consequences can be a bitch....just like Bushies widdle war.....4,500 dead 92,000 wounded ....3 $$Trillion spent

Them photos must be held back till the right time....

[krispos42]

16. The photos have to be released.

If not to the public, then to the Senate and House and DoJ so that action can be discussed and implemented.

[pocoloco]

20. Yeah Fucking Right....

never found the right time for impeachment either.

How the fuck are you so sure the release of the photos wouldn't save lives??

[opihimoimoi]

39. How the fuck are you so sure they would....The Fucking ODDS are they wouldn't

[No Elephants]

47. Got a link to those odds you're flinging around?

[lovepg]

24. Yeah dropping bombs on civilians in Afganistan, killing hundreds of thousands.

in Iraq is not incendiary? You think people over there are unaware of what is in these photos?
Some have had relatives to whom this was done. Our hope for hearts and minds over there is to be seen as trying to purge our government of these people
who commited these crimes. They understand despotes and how they come to power. But we must be seen to repudiate them in the strongest terms. Otherwise we will be rightly viewed as giving lip service to the high ideals we are supposed to aspire to.

[frog92969]

26. Very well put!

:applause:

[saigon68]

44. get real--- Like this isn't enough

[No Elephants]

46. It would not spark squat. Only Americans are unaware of what's in those photos.

[mbperrin]

52. I and the rest of the American public have paid billions of dollars to have

the atrocities committed that are shown in those photos. We bought and paid for it. Time to see what we bought and paid for.

The conflagaration will be against the bastards who planned and executed this holocaust. It will be a bitch, because if many politicians don't go to jail, old Judge Lynch may have his day again.

Release the photos, all of the photos, now, everywhere.

If what we're doing won't stand the light of day, stop doing it. It's that simple.

[BulletproofLandshark]

56. They should have thought of that before they decided to torture.

Either this country believes in truth or it doesn't. The "right time" to reveal them is right now.

[Zhade]

59. FUCK YES.

Indeed.

[damntexdem]

15. So, they're going to "vote against the troops."

Should be fun in November 2010.

[madmom]

18. Yup voting against the troops to save cheney's ass! Good political move.

[billyoc]

17. Good.

What have they done lately anyway?

[lark]

19. We NEED Franken to be seated

This is a prime example of the reason that the Repugs are going all out to overturn the will of the folks of MN.

:puke:

[Joe Bacon]

22. F YOU LIEberman!

Kick him out of the caucus NOW. He is NO Democrat! And as for Closet Queen Lindsay...

[No Elephants]

49. Supposedly, Lieberman votes with Dems more than Blue Dogs do.

[aquart]

25. They will never perceive a difference between "right" and "right wing."

Let them fight to keep their crimes a secret. It will publicize them more.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lib2DaBone]

29. Good. Shut it down.. shut it all down....

No Supplemental for the War... no $108 Billion for the IMF.... Awww.. too bad. Quit wasting our money you bastards. We can no longer afford your corporate wars in Iraq.

And since when has censorship of any information from the voters been good for Democracy?

I say , "Please... Senate and CONgress.. Stand Down.. cease and desist.. do not touch anything.. do not 'fix' anything... please don't 'help' us anymore". "Just sit there and take your bribes and don't do any more harm".

[LiberalFighter]

30. Someone needs to take Lieberman out to the woodshed and give him a whipping.

[winyanstaz]

31. Let them! let them shut down the senate...vote against the troops...

show their true colors loud and clear.....
Its not like the senate is helping the average taxpayers anyways.

[Downwinder]

32. Shut it down, dock their pay.

[No Elephants]

50. I don't think any of them would miss a few days pay. I'd like to know how people

get so rich serving their country selflessly.

[AzDar]

33. Lieberman and Graham... whom do they serve?

:grr:

[flyboyscotty68]

34. like this is any different than any other day

They don't do anything anyway. They have time to pass recognition of sports teams and other bullshit, but can't be bothered to do the peoples business. They all need to pay,,,,someday , if there is any justice in the world , they need to pay. I suggest prosecutions begin immediately.

[jamieque]

35. Okay...

Who here thinks its time we put permanent term limits on these assholes. I say we let them have a 12 year term limit and 4 of those 12 years would be optional.

And...

There would be no fucking loopholes in the law. So if these assholes think they can drop out after serving 4 of their 12 optional years and then re-run with a fresh start... sorry! Nope, that wouldn't happen.

The fact that we are hearing from the same old faces on the Republican side of the aisle is tiresome. Yo, Lieber and Gra-ham do all of us a huge favor and go get lost in the underground Washington DC subway.

No, really I am not kidding...

[No Elephants]

51. No thanks. I have more limits on my choices than I like already. I am glad Kennedy has been

in the Senate all these years. I wish there were 99 more like him, with tons more like him waiting in the wings.

[Doctor_J]

36. Do these right wingers realize that eventually, if they

refuse to do the peoples' business, they'll be the guests of honor at a lamp post party?

[Duer 157099]

37. Pssssshaw... this is OLD news!

Thanks kpete.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5807917&mesg_id=5807917

[NoodleyAppendage]

38. I'm waiting for the release of photos of Lindsey Graham taking in the rear from his closet partner.

Long rumored...long hoped to come to light. Hey, Lindsey! What are you ashamed of? Oh, that's right, you are a Senator from the most racist, backwards-assed, state in the Union. I guess they wouldn't re-elect a "gay."

J

[No Elephants]

54. I look forward to the day when Graham can be criticized without reference to his

orientation. There's lots to criticize him for on this thread. Being gay is not one of them.

[NoodleyAppendage]

60. I'm not criticizing his being gay...only a closeted, self-loathing Repuke gay

Voting against homosexual rights, when you yourself are one, is the height of hypocracy. That's what I'm criticizing.

[No Elephants]

61. I never said you criticized him for being gay--and it may not be hypocrisy. He may believe with

all his heart that gays ought not be entitled to certain things. That makes him wrong, no matter what his orientation is. And, this thread really has nothing to do with either his orientation or his votes on legislation having to do with GLBT issues.

And I still look forward to the day when people can criticize Graham without mentioning his orientation.

[Demeter]

40. All Because the LAST GOP Governmental Shutdown Worked So Well

Remember that one? Cost them the House and Senate--this one will make it veto and filibuster proof.

[JustinL]

41. fuck those assholes

They're "alarmed" that anyone has the audacity to stand up for transparency and the separation of powers against their ad hoc, ex post facto monstrosity. Worthless pieces of shit.

[fascisthunter]

42. insipid fascists

[No Elephants]

55. CALL THEIR BLUFF. America does not want to be ruled by two Senators.

[47of74]

57. Tell Lieberman then all bets are off

The Democrats should say to Lieberman all bets are off. He's getting the boot from the caucus, losing all his committee assignments in the process.

[marshall]

58. Lock 'em out like they did in New York

That's the only way you can deal with them--just shut them completely out of the process.