"Official" Senate debate thread

[The Witch]

If y'all want it.

We will hear today from Durbin, Boxer, Voinovich, Obama, Kerry... I can't recall who else Reid named.

Dick Loogie up. :)

[The Witch]

1. Boxer: "Who is he talking about when he says there's support?"

:yourock:

[Windy]

2. Is it streaming do you know?

I went on cspan's website and didn't see reference to the hearings.

[CWebster]

3. CSpan 2.

[TayTay]

4. Dem speakers today

Boxer 45 mins.
Dodd 60 mins
Sarbanes 15 mins
Voinovich 30 mins
Kerry 30 mins
Feingold 20 mins
Sen. Nelson of FL 10 mins
Sen. Obama 15 mins
Sen. Harry Reid 15 mins.

[The Witch]

5. Thanks. n/t

[sabra]

7. Voinovich ?

I like that :-)

[CWebster]

6. I really hope

there isn't going to be a great effort put into reseaching and presenting a case with lots of high-minded language and moral defiance only to be undermined by another centrist deal.

[The Witch]

8. I doubt that'll happen.

If Fristenstein tries to push the button on this he will look like even more of a fool.

I am hoping that they don't spend too much time on the info they didn't get. That will raise the Repug paranoia that they're gonna filibuster. That's just what we need... an excuse for them to say they're going to go nuclear on filibusters for ALL appointees.

[The Witch]

9. Bringing up Condi holding back info.

"Don't you have pride as Senators? don't you care about your own branch's power?"

[CWebster]

10. Condi assures us that Bolton will be "closely supervised".

He is a real wingnut crackpot--a typical Bush crony.

[Avalux]

14. Closely supervised by whom? And why would he need supervision?

Thanks Condi, for letting us know everything will be OK. :scared:

[blondeatlast]

44. That's like the clinically depressed supervising the psychotics. nt

[The Witch]

11. Boxer about to yield to Dodd.

cube rats roll call, sound off!

[The Witch]

12. Nevahmind............... Nelson up.

I guess Dodd isn't till later...

[The Witch]

13. Nelson playing to nuclear proliferation fear

Hell, if the Pugs can use fear as a tactic, why not us?

[The Witch]

15. Nelson: Look at how well he's done controlling arms.. NOT!!

:rofl:

[The Witch]

16. The Ensign is up, speaking for Number One, Captain.

"The president has made an inspired choice."

Ah. Another "the President talks to God."

"He's not going to be dancing with Kim Jong Il."
Then don't expect Kim Jong Il to dance with us, idjit.

However, the ensign always dies first on Star Trek... :D

[CWebster]

17. Stupidity is an asset for these fools

Just another foot soldier, like Norm Coleman, in Bush's good ol' stupid white men club.

They would be a joke if they weren't such dangerous and arrogant bullies.

[The Witch]

18. Inhofe is sick of appeasement.

I can't even think of a good pet name for him. Inhoffa?

Sounds like he believes in what he's saying... even if he is dead wrong.

[MaineDem]

19. Did he just say "subsitize"???

They make things up as they go along...including words.

[The Witch]

21. He didn't mean subsidize?

Sigh...

[MaineDem]

22. Oh probably

But it certainly wasn't what he said.

:D

[TayTay]

20. Agreed. I remember him from his 'outraged at the outrage'

comments about ABu Ghraib last year. He sang 'The Torturer's Lament' (Torturer's get no respect, no respect at all.)

What an idiot, 'The Democrat Repblic of Congo' He can't even say Democratic when it pertains to the name of another country? What a jerk.

[CWebster]

23. We need Galloway to slap these babbling fuffoons down

Considering the US was the greatest looter of the oil for food program. The evidence just flies by these idiots. Imagine criticizing the UN while the US just got black marks in human rights.

[MaineDem]

24. "Democrat Republic of the Congo"

Twice now Inoff has said Democrat instead of Democratic.

Man oh man, these Republicans have insisted on saying Democrat rather than Democratic for so long they're even using it to change the name of foreign countries.

[The Witch]

25. Inhofe: accusations "ridiculous based on personal dislike."

Says asking for a diplomatic diplomat is like asking a convict to run the prison.

You idiot. He's not running it, he's an ambassador to it. Why do you have to be in control of everything?

[The Witch]

26. Judge Dredd, I mean Judd Gregg, up.

How did this guy get elected in New Hampshire of all places?

No sense of sincerity from him like I had from the last guy.

[TayTay]

27. Don't the Rethugs have anyone who can speak

in public. Gregg is awful. He speaks with all the passion of a kid in a summer job sorting stacks of underwear. Gawd, the Dems are so much better than this bunch. At least they can speak in public without fumbling so badly.

[The Witch]

28. Suggests Dems will filibuster, there's a buzz in the chamber

Rat BASTARD.

[southpaw]

29. "The right of a president..."

Bullshit. Isn't looking out for the international standing of the country more important than giving the spoiled brat everything he wants?

[mandomom]

30. This debate

needs to be Gallowayed.

[The Witch]

32. My new favorite verb!

Galloway the lot of 'em! :thumbsup:

[Coexist]

36. Yes indeed - Galloway that freak Coleman, please....

[The Witch]

31. Dodd's up

:woohoo:

[CWebster]

33. I had my headphones off

but when I put them back on I knew it was a Dem speaking--even though I didn't know who it was-- because at least he could string a sentence together.

[The Witch]

34. Dodd IS threatening filibuster 0.o

if he doesn't get the document.

"It's 11:30 now. I'm STILL WAITING!"

[demo dutch]

35. He's very good, trying to take the politics out of it!

[Rainscents]

37. Who is this debate for... Bolton?

[The Witch]

38. yupyupyup

[Rainscents]

39. Thanks!

[The Witch]

40. Sarbanes up

"Congress needs this material in order to do its job."

Clarifying Dodd's position that cloture should be invoked once the materials are provided and that they will be happy to move toward a prompt vote once once it is provided, that it isn't a delaying tactic.

I don't like this 'dialog' thing tho. It reminds me of Japanese manzai. You know it's scripted.

[The Witch]

41. Sarbanes won't shut up :D

gone 2+ minutes over.

[The Witch]

42. speaker order

Kyl (r)
Kennedy (d)
McCain (r)
Obama (d)
Martinez (r)

Kyl now saying "it's the Preznit's choice" :rolling eyes:

I guess McCain is decided in favor? Pooh.

[CWebster]

43. Just because some disagree with prez's policy

should not be a reason not to fill this vacancy because Bolton represents Bush policy. :crazy:

[Skidmore]

45. McCain's tacking to the right again.

Hoping for good press.

[The Witch]

46. Mayor Quimby, I mean Kennedy, up now :D

"It is prema-chuaahh..."

Ah it makes me nostalgic for boston...

[CWebster]

47. Kennedy.

Confirmation by 7 tonight?

[The Witch]

48. McCain: "Senate confirmed him 4 times in the past"

... what positions/years/times were those?

[The Witch]

49. Obama: "This debate is not about..."

-Bolton being rude
-Bolton being blunt
-Bolton losing his temper
-whether he's intelligent
-whether he has an important role to play in the administration.

[IndianaGreen]

51. Obama is attacking Bolton's record in the State Department

on nuclear non-proliferation, particularly on North Korea. Ouch!

[The Witch]

50. "That bastion of fuzzy-headed liberalism, the Reagan Administration..."

quotable quote! :rofl:

[CWebster]

52. He is a talented speaker to boot. nt

[Rainscents]

54. I have feeling Obama will run for President in 2012... This is my feeling.

[babylonsister]

53. I heart Obama! He's

giving them hell, though I fear the Bolton outcome.

[The Witch]

55. ...a handsome devil

:loveya: Obama :loveya:

Whoops... getting distracted...

[babylonsister]

56. And his intellect makes him even sexier! nt

[Rainscents]

59. Oh, yea!!!

:bounce:

[CWebster]

57. Another brain-dead fool. nt

[Rainscents]

61. No, shit.............. First thing came out his mouth was, "I am a Strong

Supporter of Bolton nominee" Can you believe this shit?

[The Witch]

58. Martinez: "a man of great integrity."

"You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."

Thinks comments are "repetitious," to boot. Repubs really DO make up words!

[The Witch]

60. Martinez is like the anti-Obama.

He is like the negative mojo for all of Obama's mojo. He's a cold fish and turns me off like Times Square in a citywide outage. Such a shill.

[The Witch]

62. Martinez: "You blame N.Korea's craziness on Bolton?"

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[The Witch]

63. Dick Reed (D-RI) up

A guy we haven't heard much from recently!

[CWebster]

64. He can be very blunt. nt

[The Witch]

65. He opposed Bolton in arms control.

Wonder what the vote was on that confirmation...

[The Witch]

66. Sorry I was gone for a few minutes. Allen (R) up.

pulling up previous statements from Ford...

[The Witch]

68. Says it's bad that Biden et al. had voted against Bolton previously.

Says it's personal.

If they'd voted for him, he'd say it was a flip-flop.

Give me a break.

[wildflower]

67. Allen on now

Seems dismissive...talking about Karl Ford being cheerful, and something about his "sensibilities..."

[The Witch]

69. Yes, but what is he on?

He's obviously hallucinating. :D

[wildflower]

71. :) hmm...

Well, now he's saying how difficult it is to get the U.N. to admit it's wrong.

[wildflower]

72. He just said he's tasting the sweet nectar of liberty.

I'm just reporting what I heard. :)

[CWebster]

70. What a bore.

[CWebster]

73. Feingold

now he is a dish.

[The Witch]

76. Hmm... Senate swimsuit calendar....

Kerry.. Obama... Feingold...

No, Mr. Kennedy, you may NOT post in a speedo!

[LittleClarkie]

107. Yep, dat's my Senator

Ain't he purdy?

[IndianaGreen]

74. Russ Feingold is on

Talking about Bolton's history of pursuing his own personal agenda.

[The Witch]

75. Russ Feingold up. "Fundamentally unsuited."

He voted for Bolton before, great followup to Allen's "it's personal with y'all."

Ya know, Feingold's kind of a fox too. Can we get him and Obama on a GQ cover? :loveya:

[wildflower]

77. Did he just say "pet rocks"?

I swear I heard someone else say that yesterday too.

[CWebster]

78. Is he usually this animated or is he just following an endless

parade of droning Bushbot zombies that makes the comparison so glaring?

[The Witch]

79. Lamar Alexander. "On the face of it, he's well qualified."

What does that preface mean?

[The Witch]

80. He's sold on Bolton

I'm sorry I took the time to e-mail him. :sigh:

He's saying Senators get mad/rude too. But SENATORS AREN'T DIPLOMATS YOU IDJIT :banghead:

[Skidmore]

81. He sees the public airing of Bolton's lack of interpersonal

skills to be embarrassing and a learning experience for Bolton. He presumes Bolton also is capable of introspection. He gives Bolton too much credit. Bolton is a psychopath and isn't capable of that type of introspection. Killing for him is a game, using beans for counters.

[The Witch]

82. Well, to some extent

I think he may be giving him the benefit of the doubt. In general we should assume people are sane until they prove otherwise...

I guess we all feel Bolton HAS proved otherwise... but you can't fault Alexander for feeling he hasn't... I dunno. There are people who are pod people and there are people who just think differently. At least on this, I feel he's entitled to feel that way. I can't forgive the pod people, though.

I go away from my desk and come back and he's talking energy bill? What's he going on about?

[Skidmore]

83. I had to take a phone call and came back and

he was talking about no more dams being built. I dunno. Sure wish they'd put a camera and mic in the cloakroom or back hall somewhere there.

[CWebster]

84. Is he done yet?

[The Witch]

85. He's off on some energy bill now

Who knows what the deal is. I wanna hear Voinovich's statement, damn it...

[CWebster]

86. Sounds like he is filibustering

Someone needs to go up and whisper in his ear.

[wildflower]

91. LOL, CWebster, we had the same thought (see below) n/t

[wildflower]

87. I think he must be filibustering :)

Is Voinovich up next?

[The Witch]

89. You think Voinovich will drop a bomb

and Lamar's been told not to let him speak?

[wildflower]

92. Can he do that?

The Ds and Rs each get a chunk of allotted time, right?

Is this a total chunk or individual blocks for each Senator?

If the former, I can see how he might take up all of Voinovich's time.

-wildflower

[The Witch]

93. True but

the Ds seem to be scheduling VoVi's time...

[The Witch]

88. They don't know what he's on about at KOS either

Kos tends to make my computer do weird things (ayup, now I can't alt-tab anymore) but they don't get when he switched subjects either. Is it OK to do this? Does this feel at all like.... hmmm.... a filibuster?

You think the Dems have got the information they need and he's been told not to let them get on the floor? :D

:tinfoilhat:

[The Witch]

90. Well he's ceded the floor....

and divorced from reality ;D

[ticapnews]

94. Quorum call, Reid's comments at National Press Club being broadcast

Here is the text of his address (as prepared, he might have ad-libbed some stuff)

This has been an important week for America. The defeat of the nuclear option was not a victory for any party, but a victory for our Constitution and our country.

As we said from the beginning of this struggle, our fight wasn’t over some obscure rule of the Senate. It was a fight for Americans’ fundamental rights and against the abuse of power.

And I'm here today to say that fight has not ended. It is only beginning.

This week threatened to be one that would undermine our democratic traditions. Instead, it marks a moment when we can finally turn away from government by polarization…and build a government for the people.

Time and again, the American people have seen George Bush and the Republican leadership choose between their partisan interests and the people’s interest. And every time, they have chosen an ideological agenda over an American agenda.

When George Bush and the Republican leadership make their decisions, the whispered wishes of a few right wing activists drown out the pleas of America’s families.

But if the Washington Republicans stopped to listen to the American people, this is what they’d hear:

Americans are sick and tired of getting caught in the crossfire of partisan sniping.

Americans want us to put the common sense center ahead of nonsense .

Americans want us to bring people together, to focus on what we owe to one another, and the responsibilities we share.

And Americans want their agenda – their jobs, their health care, their security – to get back on the front burners of the nation’s agenda.

Americans are coming to realize this Republican Congress is out of touch with the real problems of working families and that the agenda the Republicans are advancing is at odds with what people in this country really care about.

We Democrats have something better to offer. A reform agenda that will cleanse Washington…give power to the people – not special interests…and make sure that everyday Americans and their concerns get back on the Congressional calendar.

Strengthening our national defense. Rebuilding our economy. Providing families with affordable health care. Making America energy independent. Securing our retirement. That’s our agenda. That’s America’s agenda. But the Republican Congress has put all this and more on hold. I hope that now we can finally turn to the people's business.

Six moths have passed since this Republican Congress began and here’s their record:

They spent precious days trying to overturn constitutional principles.

They tried to overturn the decisions of courts and duly elected legislatures in order to insert themselves into one family’s tragedy in Florida.

They all-but disbanded the House Ethics Committee in order to protect the Republican leader from scrutiny – but then were forced to reverse themselves under public pressure.

But perhaps the greatest abuse of power is to have the ability to help but choose to do nothing.

While gas prices have shot past $2 a gallon, this Republican Congress did nothing to lower prices and give families some relief.

At a time that parents are having to tell their children that the family can’t afford to send them to college, this Republican Congress rejected a proposal to make college more affordable.

And even though we have gone eight years without an increase in the minimum wage – the second longest period ever – this Republican Congress rejected an increase that would give the hardest working Americans the chance to provide for their families.

Whether it is rejecting Democratic initiatives to provide medical care to veterans or to return to fiscal responsibility, this Republican Congress’s record is clear: when it comes to answering the call of the far right, it’s “I’ll do it ASAP.” When it comes to doing the people’s business, it’s “take a message.”

Americans deserve a Congress that will use its power to advance American values not a Congress that abuses its power to advance the agenda of a radical few.

We need a common sense reform agenda for the common good. And that starts with defending our nation and making it more secure. As of this month, more time has passed since 9-11 than the time between Pearl Harbor and the defeat of Japan. During those three years and eight months – sixty years ago – we invaded North Africa and Normandy. We freed people from the Philippines to France. Hitler lay dead and Tojo was in chains. We had defeated fascism around the world and had begun to build the new United Nations.

But today Osama bin Laden is still on the loose, our homeland is still not secure, we’re still not energy independent, and – in many ways – Americans are less safe than we were before 9-11.

Democrats are the party of national security. And we have an agenda to defend America from danger. We stand for increasing our military strength by 40,000 troops so we can wage the War on Terror on every front. We stand for securing our borders and bridges, our seaports and airports, our nuclear and chemical plants. We stand for tracking down and securing the loose nuclear weapons that threaten our people. And we will honor our troops and their families by making sure they get the benefits they have earned.

Our common sense reform agenda will take our economy from sluggishness to prosperity. A prosperity where a rising tide lifts the boat of every American who is willing to work hard.

When it comes to the economy, the Washington Republicans offer the same old answers and then try to change the subject. But the growing trade deficit and a runaway national debt that puts us into hock to China and Japan show that this Administration and this Congress have lost control over America’s economic destiny.

Democrats stand ready to win back America’s prosperity. We’ll end the tax breaks that encourage companies to take jobs overseas. Restore fiscal responsibility. Spur innovation. Open the doors to college. And make work pay more than welfare.

And if we want our companies to be ready to compete in the world economy, we have to hold down health care costs. Today, Starbucks spends more on health care than on coffee. Today, GM spends more on health care than on steel. Today, we can’t ask our companies to go head to head with foreign competitors with this burden on their backs.

Our families will never get ahead while they are getting battered down by health care costs that total $10,000 a year.

And our country will never be what it should be as long as the color of your skin or the size of your bank account determines whether your children can see a doctor. We can do better for them. And they are expecting nothing less from us.

Many of the jobs of the future will be jobs that come from new energy saving industries. Today, Japan’s and South Korea’s head start on innovation means they are running away with those jobs. We have to get back in that race.

Americans are getting fed-up every time they go for a fill-up. They know that our reliance on Mideast oil is making America less safe. They want us to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and make this nation energy independent. We can get there – but only if we start putting America’s security and prosperity first.

And Democrats will continue to stop George Bush from privatizing Social Security while we say “yes” to shoring up Americans’ pensions and making our retirement system more secure.

This is our agenda – an agenda for reform, an agenda to do the people’s business. And for them we will continue to fight.

The lines that divide Congress should be between right and wrong, not right and left.

Our enemies should not be those in the other party, but the common threats that face the American community.

Our goal should not be winning the news cycle, but breaking the vicious cycle of political battle and winning a future where all Americans can live out their dreams.

The defeat of the nuclear option shows what is possible when people of good faith – Republicans and Democrats – join hands and put principles ahead of partisanship.

This doesn’t have to be an isolated incident – a momentary ceasefire before Washington’s trench warfare starts up again. Rather it can be a new beginning. Because on issue after issue, there is a common sense center in America that knows what it believes and can’t understand why this Republican Congress won’t get the job done.

Just as there was a bipartisan majority that could not stomach the nuclear option, there is a bipartisan consensus for action on many fronts. And all we need for progress is for President Bush and the Republican leadership to let America’s agenda get its day.

The American people are demanding it. And Democrats are going to be standing in the common sense center to make sure that we get there.

In this Congress, there is a bipartisan consensus for raising the minimum wage – but the White House and the Republican leadership stand in the way.

There is a bipartisan consensus for allowing the prescription drugs to be safely reimported – but the White House and the Republican leadership stand in the way.

And there is a bipartisan consensus for stem cell research that has the potential to help cure diseases such as diabetes and help save American lives. From Nancy Reagan to Orrin Hatch, Republicans have broken ranks to join the common sense center on this important issue.

For four years, President Bush has not vetoed a single piece of legislation. Even when this Republican Congress sent him bill after bill weighed down with pork or special interest subsidies or runaway spending, he chose to keep his veto pen in the drawer.

But now, he is threatening to veto stem cell research. Not because most Americans oppose it. They support it across party lines. President Bush is threatening to veto it because the far right is demanding he do so.

I ask President Bush to step away from the far right and join us in this common sense center, to show he will be part of this new spirit of national consensus by letting stem cell research go forward.

This week’s events mark our chance to forge a common sense center that embraces an American agenda for reform. As Democratic Leader, I will be working aggressively to advance the work the American people sent us to do. And I hope that Republicans of good faith will join with us to get this job done: To strengthen our national security. To make America energy independent. To restore economic prosperity and opportunity. To help our families and business afford their health care. To boost Americans’ retirement security and protect their Social Security.

In the coming weeks and months, I’ll have more to say on all these fronts. But I pledge today, that in everything we do, the lesson of this week – that we can build on the common sense center – will remain front and center.

The nuclear option could have been another long, sad stride down an ever more slippery slope toward partisan crossfire and abuse of power.

Instead, its defeat marks the moment we turned around and began to climb the hill toward a common politics of national purpose and a rebuilding of America's promise.

This journey is our cause – and reaching the top of that hill will mark our real victory.

Thank you.

[The Witch]

95. Kerry is up

Please kick asssssss

[wildflower]

96. Go Kerry

:bounce:

[wildflower]

98. He is asking that there not be a vote yet because

the chairman and ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee have not received requested information on Bolton.

Says it is not a filibuster.

[The Witch]

97. Kerry: "This isn't personal but they're deeply felt."

I'm snoring already. :boring: :boring: :boring:

[The Witch]

99. Kerry fauxpas. "This is not about the UN per se."

:banghead:

[wildflower]

100. He didn't just stop the vote on this, right?

I'm not clear on this.

[The Witch]

101. No. He's suggesting that if debate is extended

it's because they do not have the info they need and saying it isn't a filibuster or delaying tactic.

[ticapnews]

102. The GOP has 1 hour left, the Dems only 28 minutes...

Throw in a couple of quorum calls and the vote will be happening just in time to be a breaking story on the 6:30 national news broadcasts.

[The Witch]

103. Lindsey Graham.

Any chance of him defecting?

EDIT: nope.

[SeanQuinn]

104. Unlikely, but him mentioning Voinovich is a bright sign.

Or maybe not.

[SeanQuinn]

105. Voinovich: "I have deep concerns about the nomination of John Bolton"

So do we.

[The Witch]

106. I leave for 3 minutes and VoVi is up.

Damn it. I am not getting out of this seat until he's done!

[SeanQuinn]

110. Voinovich: "I still believe that we can do better than John Bolton for UN"

n/t. Nice job, Georgie.

[The Witch]

108. VoVi: "I worry he will become the issue and the message will be lost."

:applause:

[ticapnews]

109. "The Stackhouse Filibuster"

episode of The West Wing is on Bravo at 6PM.

Just in case any of our senators wanted a piece of last-minute inspiration to block this sleaze from representing us at the UN.

[The Witch]

111. VoVi: "Nobody has refuted my assertion yesterday"

"...that he will hurt our public diplomacy."

Praises Rice and says Bolton will be a setback.

[ticapnews]

112. Dodd says the vote for cloture will be this afternoon....

followed immediately by the up-and-down vote on the nomination, if cloture is invoked.

If cloture is not invoked, it will be revisited when they return next week.

edit to add: Hatchling is talking now.

[The Witch]

113. Orrin Snatch.

:boring: This will be the last speaker i announce. I get to leave my cube soon... won't be able to be here for the vote, sadly.

[The Witch]

114. And he's off...

...his rocker.

I don't even know what the hell he's talking about!

[The Witch]

115. Byrdman has taken the floor

and is talking about veterans. What's going on here?

[grumpy old fart]

116. Biden Standing up for the TRUE Constitutional option...

The President get to nominate, the Senate does not. But it doesn't mean the President gets everyone he nominates. WH has stonewalled on information requested by the committee without giving any reason. As if the WH can define what the Senate may or may not review.

[Avalux]

117. The White House and the Senate are set as equal powers by the Constitution

The Senate has every right to review information that may impact the vote on a nominee.

Good for Biden. I heard something similar from Levin yesterday.

[housewolf]

118. Reframe... "the president has the responsibility to SUGGEST"...q

The Senate has the responsibility to DECIDE on the presidents' suggestions

This nonsense about "the presdient has the right to name his team" and "I believe in approving the president's choices" is an abdication of constitutional authority and responsibility by the senate and needs to be stopped.

[Rainscents]

119. WE NEED NEW TREAD!!!

[ticapnews]

120. They are moving for cloture now

The vote will be right after, so it's pretty much all over.

[ticapnews]

121. I haven't heard any Dems break ranks yet...

Snowe, Voinovich and Chafee haven't voted yet either, I believe.

I think we are around 25 or 26 No votes right now..