Wow, That Many!
Senate ends all-night Iraq debate - Politics:

Rice's plans included spending up to five hours in the morning and early afternoon in group and private meetings in both the Senate and House. The focus would be Iraq and other foreign policy issues, including the Middle East, the official said.

And then she can go back to buying shoes, I guess.

Does anyone know what this woman does all day?

It now looks like the vote is as expected, with the GOP obstructing Congress from the up/down vote they know they'd lose with a simple majority.

And this looks to be the shape of things to come -- that all votes on anything (even declarations of National Hug Your Puppy Day) -- will require a 60 vote majority. They've found some ghost GOP senators to vote on their side.

This is exactly the thing that Frist was phonily leaping mad about when he was Senate leader. Boy, aren't they happy they didn't change Senate rules now!

So Harry, I'm sure you have plenty more tricks up your sleeve***. You've got our attention, even if the news providers out there continue to be confused about who started what and when. We, the country, are with you, even if we don't understand all these fancy tactics. The whole point is to point out who really "supports the troops" and who holds politics above life and death issues.

We can talk till we're literally blue in the face (the GOP started the filibuster, if you remember) but the people in power sit back with that Bush smirk. Like freeking junior high.

I'm happy with my own senators -- the fabulous Dick Durbin, who's really come into his own these past few years -- and Barack Obama. If, in your state, you're NOT happy, you must let them know repeatedly, and if they're running again next year, support whoever is running against them.

It all becomes clearer right here.

DEMOCRATS UP FOR RE-ELECTION

Max Baucus (MT)
Joe Biden (DE)
Dick Durbin (IL)
Tom Harkin (IA)
Tim Johnson (SD)
John Kerry (MA)
Mary Landrieu (LA)
Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Carl Levin (MI)
Mark Pryor (AR)
Jack Reed (RI)
Jay Rockefeller (WV)

REPUBLICANS UP FOR REELECTION

Lamar Alexander (TN)
Saxby Chambliss (GA)
Thad Cochran (MS)
Norm Coleman (MN)
Susan Collins (ME)
John Cornyn (TX)
Larry Craig (ID)
Elizabeth Dole (NC)
Pete Domenici (NM)
Michael Enzi (WY)
Lindsey Graham (SC)
Chuck Hagel (NE)
Jim Inhofe (OK)
Mitch McConnell (KY)
Pat Roberts (KS)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Gordon Smith (OR)
Ted Stevens (AK)
John Sununu (NH)
John Warner (VA)

If they're going to play the filibuster and veto game, we the people need to get our own actual working members of Congress -- not party-line adherents -- into the Senate.

What, you think this war will be over when Bush leaves office? Dream on.

***UPDATE: Boy, that was fast! And another outstanding move. Harry, you're on a roll!
- posted by Cynthia @ 10:31 AM | | | Link |