Comments on: With the Congressional Switchboard Shut Down

By: Menlo

Menlo — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:47:04 +0000

Liberman said he would oppose the so-called “public option;” Nelson said he would oppose if abortion funding weren’t removed (and that would lack 50 votes let alone 60). Unless they end up with some sort of “trigger” and then trade Nelson’s vote for Snowe’s, then either the bill will fail, or Nelson will have lied.

Those are the only ones I have read about who have committed firmly to voting no on ending debate if specific changes not made. All the others have wavered and are probably looking for cover.

By: Common_Cents

Common_Cents — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:38:32 +0000

Are they really going to hold out and not vote to end debate or are they just looking for some cover and perhaps some more payola ?

By: tcgeol

tcgeol — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:13:45 +0000

They are both a complete waste of time, but still worth taking the time to contact.

I tried calling Byrd’s office yesterday and never could get through. I finally did make it through to Rockefeller, for all the good it will do.

By: Menlo

Menlo — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:17:42 +0000

Are what substantive changes? I don’t understand what you are asking.

By: Common_Cents

Common_Cents — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:47:52 +0000

Liars in charge don’t even care how disastrous this is or how stupid they look.

By: Common_Cents

Common_Cents — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:45:42 +0000

Or are they just holding out for a bigger payday for themselves?

By: Menlo

Menlo — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:38:45 +0000

They need and already have 60 votes to begin debate tonight. Trying to stop that is a waste of time. After that, amendments will be proposed. They will require 60 to pass. 60 votes are then required on a final Senate version. Lieberman, Nelson, and others have said they will not be a part of that 60 votes to end debate if changes are not made (we’ll see), even though they are voting in favor of starting debate.

Even then, barring the budget reconciliation scheme, they will need 60 votes after reconciliation with the House version.

By: JadedByPolitics

JadedByPolitics — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:56:12 +0000

the voicemail goes to another Senators voicemail but Webb is a LEFTIST so there is no way WE can count on him to MAN UP!

By: penguin2

penguin2 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:15:12 +0000

So they need 60 to start and 60 again to stop debate, but still need only 51 for final passage? Now that is interesting. How many votes will be required for the amendments that are going to come up? Do you think there is any hope that they will have a couple with integrity to not end debate, to keep it from passing? The wheeling and dealing going on seems to make that a distant dream.

By: Richard Mullins

Richard Mullins — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:59:42 +0000

and I’m sure that this isn’t Liberman’s first Rodeo, so I’m sure he knows what to do. Anyways, Liberman tossed out his trump card and now they need something better to counter it.

By: Menlo

Menlo — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:49:52 +0000

It will take 60 votes again to end debate. Today’s vote is not the end.

By: SoFiMil

SoFiMil — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:02:44 +0000

Which is of course exactly why the liberals want to vote on it now and not in a few days.

By: SoFiMil

SoFiMil — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:59:22 +0000

…or any of the other 39 Republicans for that matter. They owe us that much.

All we need is for one Senator to ask that it be read. While estimates varied, the low end estimate was that it would take 35 hours to be read aloud. Every American should have a reasonable amount of time to read this bill first. Even those of us who started reading the bill the moment Reid finally formally submitted it and posted it on line have not had time to finish reading it.

By: RedBeard

RedBeard — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:43:47 +0000

I’m going to take the bike out and cool off.

By: RedBeard

RedBeard — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:41:58 +0000

Grouchiness causes typos, apparently. [insert rolling eyes here]

By: RedBeard

RedBeard — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:39:28 +0000

…undo the harm this gang of thugs and screwballs has done, and will do, to our republic?

And, of course, I’m making a HUGE leap of faith here in assuming that saner minds will take charge at some point soon. Given the extreme degree of both voter irnorance and the entitlement mindset, we may just need to furl the flag and wait until The Big Asteroid hits and we can rebuild from scratch.

Yeah, I know; glass half empty.

By: ocleverone

ocleverone — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:25:18 +0000

and representation in a bipartisan manner. (Like I thought they were true when he said them.)

I haven’t gotten anything from Webb’s office. Did you hear anything?

By: JadedByPolitics

JadedByPolitics — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:23:12 +0000

the woman got a little upset when I said “The Senators think WE are stupid but WE know that 9 get a pass on the final vote if this is passed today” but I told her to simmer down because WE WILL REMEMBER THIS VOTE!

By: penguin2

penguin2 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:16:26 +0000

Landrieu of LA. and Lincoln of Arkansas to come on board. They apparently have the rest of the votes to proceed to debate the bill. Supposedly once they go on to discuss and amend the final bill, all these other issues will be resolved to the satisfaction of the Dems who have an issue here and there, and then they have done it.

Liberman is onboard to consider the bill, but in the end they will only need a simple majority of 51 votes for final passage, not the 60 needed now. So there will be Senators that can bale on final passage and get away with it, though they allowed it to happen to begin with.

By: JadedByPolitics

JadedByPolitics — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:09:12 +0000

I thought Lieberman was against this? Is that not the case? I tried calling his office but it just rings!