Why Would Frist Vote Against Cloture?

[ThomWV]

Unless I misunderstood what I heard from the TV on C-Span 2 The Republican Senate Majority Leader, Frist, voted against cloture of the Defense bill. Why on earth would he vote against his own party's interest? Did he not think he had the votes for passage at this time?

[Geoff R. Casavant]

1. It enables him to move for a reconsideration in the future

Apparently only the winning side can do that. Go fig.

[ticapnews]

2. For the 1975th time: It is procedural

This way he can bring the bill back up for a vote later if he thinks he can beat the filibuster.

If you checked any of the other threads on this issue you'd see that.

Don't mean to jump all over you, but this question gets asked about 10 times whenever there is a big vote like this...

[ThomWV]

4. Thanks!

See, not so bad. Next big vote it will only be 9 times 'cause my dumb ass now understands how it works. Thanks again.

[ticapnews]

5. No, unfortunately someone else will take your place

;)

[thereismore]

7. We all had to learn somehow, somewhere. Have patience... nt

[Demit]

9. Chiming in here to admire YOUR patience

with that "you should know this already just like I do" attitude, from someone who didn't even have to open your thread. Jesus.

[thereismore]

12. ?

[Atman]

3. I heard it, too (Whoops!)

And he had just given a speech about the subject, saying all the usual "how important it is"-es and saying we needed to fund our troops. Maybe I didn't listen to that speech closely enough. But I definitely heard the CSPAN voice-over say Frist voted against.

ON EDIT: I was writing my reply while ticap was posting his. Sorry, dude. I've got a bajillion posts here, and a brazillion more that I've read...I've never seen that issue addressed. Weird shit can happen. Lighten up! We're all in this together...never make someone feel uncomfortable for asking to be educated. Just my little bit of advice. Peace!

[pk_du]

6. I was thinking same thing - but the caption said that

by changing to "No" he can "reconsider later" ....not sure what that means ( you can change from one to other but not other way round?)


I am more concerned with the Dems who voted for cloture

Akaka (HI)
Inouye (HI)
Landrieu ( LA)
Nelson (NE)

The Hawaiians have presumably been promised "goodies" from Ted Stevens - shame on them
Landrieu desperately wants monies in the bill for Katrina rebuiling so i have some sympathy
Nelson - well he just worrries me more each time i see him vote.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Nelson Was A :"Safe Vote"...I Know It Sucks

I just saw his approval at around 65%...so I can't see how he's sweating these kind of votes, but then he's still being targeted by the Repugnicans and this is the kind of vote that can sneak up on you later on when the political landscape changes.

I imagine both Hawaii Senators also bowed to the heavy military presence in their state as did Landrieu. Many times people here can't understand that a Senator or Representative is under a lot of local pressure to push through legislation that runs counter to a Liberal or Progressive or Democratic party "ideal". On DU that means the automatic DINO label...but in some cases it's important to look a little further.

For example, Joementum gave a solid endorsement AGAINST. Yep...Joe came back to the reservation for the morning...but he saw the same being played here.

I'm not giving a pass to the Democrats who crossed over as this vote could have hinged on those votes. Methinks Reed knew he could lose those votes as he had enough moderate Repugnicans standing firm. With knowing that the closure wouldn't happen, Reed probably gave a wink and a nod to those who wanted to "vote conscious". Had this vote been closer, I suspect Ms. Landrieu and the Hawaii Senators in specific could be "whipped" back into the fold.

This points out how operating from the minority is difficult these days. The rules are re-written in the dead of night, votes are stacked and rules are futzed. For those who get upset at those who "cross-over" or become DINOs, this should be incentive to get Democratic majorities selected in both Houses. This would dramatically change the dynamic...especially with the "DINOs" and moderates who we're going to need to help bring this country back to center.

Merry Holidays...

[ThomWV]

10. Thank You For A Further Education .... and a comment

I don't mind the 'wink and nod' so much .... but. There would be one thing for certain, the ones that got the nod and wink would sure have to be the last ones to step up to the table to vote at the very last second. I wouldn't take a chance on losing the bill itself because they couldn't be coerced into voting 'right' when it counted.

[KharmaTrain]

11. It's The Problem Of A Representative Government

This is skating on thin ice but the balance between local interests and party disicipline tend to get lost when votes...especially important one are taken.

For many of the Senators, their votes were no-brainers since their vested state or district interests weren't directly tied to some provision of this bill. Again, no pass on the procedure here...this wasn't just snuck in, it was re-written after it was ram through the re-write session...I mean as sleazy and backhanded as Frist and Stevens could pull it off.

Senator Landrieu is a great example of a heroine one moment, a "DINO" the next. Her work in taking the lead for keeping the pressure on getting Federal aid to Louisana and championing the people over the special interests is admirable. Meantime she'll vote with the oil interests and military as they provide a large number of "swing votes" in what is still considered a heavily Repugnican state.

This is a game of Chinese checkers as we know that if this vote were to be on a woman's right to chose or pushing for an investigation into this regime's spying, ALL those Senators will be on the right side of the issue. How they'd vote if the overall vote was closer is a guessing game...again that's where your "Whip" (let's make a deal) comes in. But since this didn't happen, we'll never know. Hopefully this kills that provision...Frist needs to get a military spending bill or boooosh runs the risk of his war running out of money and getting yet another embarassment (one of many this year in the Senate).