The Fourth Amendment is effectively repealed.
Obama voted Yay, Clinton voted Nay (am I feeling a bit of buyer's remorse? You betcha...but it was a safe vote for Hillary), McCain, as usual, didn't bother to show up.
While drinking heavily seems a good idea I'd probably just turn violent so...
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The Senate voted for cloture on the making-illegal-things-legal FISA bill yesterday by a vote of 80-15. The fifteen heroes:
Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Wyden (D-OR)
Senator and presumptive Democratic nominee for president Barack Obama skipped the vote but said:
The bill has changed. So I don't think the security threats have changed, I think the security threats are similar. My view on FISA has always been that the issue of the phone companies per se is not one that overrides the security interests of the American people. (Video at link.)
Which leads to this:
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Michael Gerson: Al Franken is a vulgar, vulgar comedian which is why we need more panty-sniffers like Ken Starr.
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That the Republicans will always confuse childish temper-tantrums with governance:
This afternoon, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) essentially shut down the Senate floor “by forcing the Senate clerk to read aloud the entire 500 page global warming bill.”
Good gravy but these people need to go.
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Trying times for the Senate Democrats: First Ted Kennedy's brain tumor (happily yesterday's surgery is being called a success) and now Robert Byrd has been hospitalized.
Best wished to them both.
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Rolling Stone's Tim Dickinson takes a look at the pathetic Senate Democrats and finds that it ain't pretty:
In a recent interview with Reid in his opulently chandeliered suite in the Capitol, I ask why the Democrats had not used their majority in the Senate to close the hedge-fund loophole. He greets the question with dead silence. When he finally speaks, he tells me something I never thought I would hear from a Democrat: that it would be wrong to single out the nation's wealthiest investors simply because they are bilking the treasury out of billions."The only difference between hedge-fund operators and other folks similarly situated," Reid argues, "is that they make more money." He and Schumer would be "totally in favor" of taxing them, he adds — so long as the same tax rates were brought to bear on thousands of far less profitable business partnerships whose activities the tax break was intended to boost. The "fairness" stance appears reasonable, until you consider that Reid and Schumer used it to transform a modest tax reform — one co-sponsored by the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee — into a far more sweeping measure that was easily blocked by the GOP minority in the Senate.
[...]
As the hedge-fund fiasco demonstrates, Democrats have turned the Senate into the chamber where good legislation goes to die. Since regaining the majority in 2006, the Democrats have granted the Bush administration and big telephone companies immunity for illegal wiretapping, declared a branch of the Iranian military a terrorist organization and stuffed the recent Foreclosure Prevention Act with far more goodies for big lenders than for struggling homeowners. They also confirmed Attorney General Michael Mukasey despite his refusal to disavow torture — a move engineered by Schumer. "You really want to like the Democrats," says Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "Then they go and do shit like this."
Reid on warrentless wiretapping:
The bill was terrible from its birth, the spawn of negotiations between Dick Cheney and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Reid insists that he bitterly opposed the bill, so I press him on why it ever made it to the floor of the Senate — especially given that the Judiciary Committee had introduced a competing measure that didn't bypass the courts. Reid's answer suggests that he values his precious Senate protocols over the Constitution. "Because of our rules," he says, "primary jurisdiction of this bill belonged to the Intelligence Committee." But couldn't Reid have used his discretionary powers as majority leader to call a vote on the alternate bill — particularly given that the rights of Americans were at stake? "I couldn't do that because it was wrong," Reid says. Besides, he adds, "the committee chairs would have been upset."
Well boo-hoo. Being a leader means sometimes twisting arms and even bloodying noses, Harry.
Continuing:
A look back at the Senate debate over the bill, however, reveals that Reid is not always the stickler for the rules he claims to be. Dodd, who made his opposition to the measure a centerpiece of his presidential bid, had placed a "hold" on the Rockefeller-Cheney bill — a parliamentary procedure that lets a single senator block debate. Reid, who routinely honors the holds used by archconservative Sen. Tom Coburn to block funding for breast cancer research and other bills, refused to honor Dodd's move. "A 'hold' is a word that's meaningless," he tells me.
I'll let Glenn Greenwald take care of this.
The last word goes the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:
But what if that day doesn't come? What if the Democrats fail to win the presidency in November? Will the majority in Congress continue to wimp out, giving the Republican minority free rein over America's future?Sadly, the answer appears to be a resounding yes. With a slight wince, Pelosi offers up the scariest truth of all: an admission that her party has no Plan B.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Pelosi says, "if we don't win the White House."
You'll have to read the article to get the skinny on the odious Chuck Schumer.
Good job by RS and Dickinson, however dispiriting.
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Feeling bitter yet?
U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked legislation to reverse a Supreme Court ruling that makes it tougher for workers to sue for pay discrimination.[...]
The Senate action will likely kill the measure for the year.
None dare call it filibuster and the Republicans will never miss a chance to screw working people.
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Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the Democratic Party’s 2000 vice presidential nominee, is leaving open the possibility of giving a keynote address on behalf of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) at the Republican National Convention in September.
Two top Senate Democrats:
Even though [Majority Leader Harry] Reid may not need Lieberman next Congress to claim a Senate majority, he told Lieberman in private conversations that he would protect his seniority...[w]hen asked Tuesday if Lieberman’s chairmanship was at risk next Congress, Reid said succinctly: “No.”[...]
“We have one difference of opinion, maybe two with Sen. Lieberman,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a prominent supporter of Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) presidential candidacy. “As a whip, I can tell you time and again, he’s been there when we’ve needed him.”
One top Republican:
“I think Sen. Lieberman would be a very powerful spokesperson,” said Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.), a former general chairman of the Republican National Committee. “I think he really is someone who helps Sen. McCain break through to independent voters.”
Furthermore, "Reid offered words of praise for the senator, saying he would not “turn on Joe.”" Apparently Harry Reid is too dim or too delusional or too corrupt to understand that Holy Joe has already turned on him.
So even if the Democrats gain 5 or 10 or 20 seats in the Senate Harry would still leave Joe on his various committees including the all important Homeland Security Committee which, under Lieberman, has yet to hold one significant oversight hearing.
The reason people see Democrats as losers is because the party is lead by cowards and weaklings like Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, &c., who don't even try to win.
And then they wonder why Democrats lose.
[Via LG&M.]
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The head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), still won't say if he'll vote for Michael Mukasey or not.
Given Schumer's position, raising money for Democratic Senate candidates and, indeed, playing a major part in selecting the candidates, voting to approve Mukasey should result in Schumer's immediate resignation from the DSCC.
If he can't get this right then he can't be trusted with such power.
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ADDED: Et tu, Russ Feingold?
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UPDATE: Time to go, Chuckles. Feinstein? No surprise there. She joined the Lieberman caucus years ago.
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From McClatchy:
This year Senate Republicans are threatening filibusters to block more legislation than ever before, a pattern that's rooted in — and could increase — the pettiness and dysfunction in Congress.[…]
Seven months into the current two-year term, the Senate has held 42 "cloture" votes aimed at shutting off extended debate — filibusters, or sometimes only the threat of one — and moving to up-or-down votes on contested legislation. Under Senate rules that protect a minority's right to debate, these votes require a 60-vote supermajority in the 100-member Senate.
[…]
Nearly 1 in 6 roll-call votes in the Senate this year have been cloture votes. If this pace of blocking legislation continues, this 110th Congress will be on track to roughly triple the previous record number of cloture votes — 58 each in the two Congresses from 1999-2002, according to the Senate Historical Office.
McClatchy even provides an easy to understand chart:
Good on McClatchy. The same “news” media that screamed “FILIBUSTER!” every time the Dems did it have been rather reticent to do the same when the Repubs use it.
Go figure.
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Sen. Larry Craig has been chosen for induction into the Idaho Hall of Fame, despite his well-publicized arrest and guilty plea in an airport sex sting, officials said.The nonprofit Idaho Hall of Fame Association picked Craig in March, months before he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after a Minneapolis airport police officer accused him of soliciting sex in the men's restroom, the organization's board chairman said.
"Larry Craig has made a great contribution to Idaho over the period of 20-some years. At the time it was considered, this other matter had not come up," Harry Magnuson told The Spokesman-Review newspaper Saturday.
You might have noticed that the Notorious Toe Tapper remains in the Senate much to the consternation of his fellow Repubs.
Meanwhile, it's been revealed that Larry's favorite recipe involves putting a hot dog through a hole. This is not a joke. It's for real.
Paging Dr. Freud, Dr. Sigmund Freud to the white courtesy telephone please.
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When your house is raided by agents of the FBI and IRS that's generally not a good thing.
Just sayin'
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The war continues:
Senate Republicans on Wednesday scuttled a Democratic proposal ordering troop withdrawals from Iraq in a showdown that capped an all-night debate on the war.The 52-47 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate under Senate rules. It was a sound defeat for Democrats who say the U.S. military campaign, in its fifth year and requiring 158,000 troops, cannot tame the sectarian violence in Iraq.
Reid is playing hardball (it's about time):
Ratcheting up the stakes in the wake of the GOP's successful blocking of a vote on Iraq withdrawal just moments ago, Harry Reid just announced on the Senate floor that he won't allow a vote on the entire Defense Authorization bill until the Senate GOP drops its filibustering of votes on Iraq.[...]
Fellow TPM reporter Spencer Ackerman also says that Reid's move is very significant in another way:
Because the Pentagon's priorities won't become law until a Defense Authorization bill is passed, the Pentagon's fiscal 08 priorities won't get funded until this standoff is resolved -- and Reid is insisting that won't happen until the GOP allows a vote on the Iraq withdrawal measures.
More Reid:
"Regrettably, Republicans chose to block this amendment. They chose to deny the American people an up or down vote on a bipartisan amendment. They chose to continue protecting their President instead of our troops – no matter the cost to our country."
Hell of a country we live in.
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Did Majority Leader Harry Reid just grow a pair?
Moments ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that in response to conservative obstructionism, he plans to force war supporters to physically remain in the Senate and filibuster Iraq withdrawal legislation.[...]
"Republicans are using a filibuster to block us from even voting on an amendment that could bring the war to a responsible end. They are protecting the President rather than protecting our troops."They are denying us an up or down — yes or no — vote on the most important issue our country faces.
"I would like to inform the Republican leadership and all my colleagues that we have no intention of backing down.
"If Republicans do not allow a vote on Levin/Reed today or tomorrow, we will work straight through the night on Tuesday.
"The American people deserve an open and honest debate on this war, and they deserve an up or down vote on this amendment to end it."
We'll see.
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ADDED: Bob Geiger has the details.
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Nonetheless, by a vote of 51-46, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in backing the hotly contested bill that would provide about $100 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year while setting a deadline to withdraw U.S. forces over the next 11 months.It was the first time the Congress, controlled by Democrats since January, defied the president in more than four years since the conflict began.
Congress actually acting like an independent branch of the government. Amazing.
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(REUTERS/Jason Reed)
"And I'm gonna keep holding my breath until you stop being mean to me!"
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It's pretty clear that even the Republicans aren't all that eager to save Gonzales. Abu G is coming off as slimy and petulant, like a low-rent Sammy Glick.
And given the sheer number of lies he's been caught in if he doesn't resign then his ass should be impeached.
As I've said before, if this is where BushCheney want to make their last stand then sit back and watch them all go down together.
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ADDED: Christy is liveblogging the hearings over at the Lake.
ADDED II: JMM:
What a sorry, pathetic figure. Now AG Gonzales is claiming that the criticism of his behavior is damaging the DOJ and making it harder for DOJ employees to do their job.
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Republicans like to say that if we just got the Evil Government out of the way the Great and Good American Public would be free to make wise choices for themselves. "Just give people information," they say, "and let people decide for themselves." In this spirit, Republicans want the American people to have easy access campaign finance reports so they can make informed decisions in the voting booth, right?
But it becomes particularly interesting when, as now, an anonymous hold is placed on legislation moving through the Senate that would require lawmakers’ campaign finance reports to be electronically filed, meaning quickly made public. That would change irrevocably the current practice in which senators’ filings — unlike those of most other government bodies — are reams and reams of paper and not online for a long time.The Sunlight Foundation, a government watchdog group, is asking for help in ferreting out who placed the hold on the legislation — S.223, the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act. It passed the Senate Rules Committee last month.
[...]
It is unknown who placed the secret hold. But our chief congressional correspondent, Carl Hulse, has confirmed that a Republican senator placed one on the bill. Who placed the hold? We’ll find out soon.
The Republican Party: Always looking out for you.
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Senate GOoPers attempted to shut down today's Judiciary Committee hearing.
The attempt failed and the hearings are back on track.
What are the Repubs afraid of?
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The White House is on its own:
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' allies on Capitol Hill grew scarce Tuesday as he left it largely to aides to carry out President Bush's order to straighten out the story behind the firing of eight federal prosecutors.Senate Republicans exiting their weekly policy lunch no longer bothered to defend Gonzales' response to lawmakers' questions about the firings. At most, they mustered an appeal to withhold judgment until the attorney general testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 17.
If George wants to hitch his entire administration to Gonzo then I won't stand in the way.
On a related issue, the Senate setting a deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, clammyc writes:
The republicans could have made a huge deal about this. Hell, they make a huge deal about everything – even when they were able to do everything without any consequences or anyone else even knowing. They could have fought this bill and stomped up and down and tried to make the Democrats blink. They could have made a big stink about “not wanting to tell the terrorists when they can come out and kill again”.But they didn’t.
They hung Bush – “dear leader” - their leader out to dry. Twisting in the wind. Basically, by not giving him cover here, the message is, in no uncertain terms, “you can’t keep fucking us over like this anymore. If you want your funding, then you gotta figure a way out.”
The problem is that George and Dick have no intention of figuring a way out. Indeed, they may very well conclude that their only way of retaining power is to start another, bigger war - Iran. They're certainly rattling the sabres loudly enough. And if this does happen - next month? - then we'll all be going down with them.
May you live in interesting times, goes the saying.
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No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Can Monica Goodling take the Fifth? Christy and Steven D think not.
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It's time to make Holy Joe unwelcome in the Democratic party. Beyond his siding with the Rethugs he's now taken to extortion:
So far, Lieberman is using his clout mostly in ways that discomfit his fellow Democrats, while his relationship with Republicans has involved more collaboration than coercion. When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Bush's State of the Union proposal for a bipartisan terrorism panel was redundant, Lieberman, who supported the idea, privately sent Reid a letter saying he was "upset." Within days, Reid backed down and negotiated the panel's makeup with the White House. And last month, after Lieberman told Reid he had stopped attending the weekly Democratic lunch because he didn't feel comfortable discussing Iraq there, Reid offered to hold those discussions at another time. Lieberman has started attending again.
If Weeping Joe caucuses with the GOP that would leave the Senate evenly divided with Delusional Dick as the tie-breaking vote. However, via BooMan, we find out that the Dems would still control the Senate.
As BooMan notes, forcing Lieberman out would enable actual Democrats to placed on several important committees including Homeland Security.
So go, Joe. Your extortion, your enabling of BushCo™, your colossal ego are no longer wanted. Just go.
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Sen. Christopher Dodd, through his counsel, has sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission stating he “is no longer a candidate in the 2010 election for the United States Senate in Connecticut.”This letter helps set the stage for his Senate campaign committee, Friends of Chris Dodd, to declare it has excess funds and transfer the funds to his presidential campaign committee, Chris Dodd for President Inc. His Senate campaign committee reported $1,855,961 cash-on-hand as of 9/30. This amount will probably change with financial activity during the fourth quarter of 2006. His year-end report is due by 1/31/07.
Given that Dodd will be lucky to make it to New Hampshire this smells like he's tired of being in the Senate and has decided that it's time to make some money serving on corporate boards or lobbying.
[Via Taegan Goddard.]
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In a move that could mark the end of President Bush's conservative realignment of the federal courts, four of his most controversial judicial nominees were withdrawn Tuesday, bowing to the Democratic takeover of the Senate.The four were stalled last year when Republicans controlled the Senate, and they had little chance of winning confirmation this year.
[...]
A week after the November elections, Bush surprised and angered Democrats by announcing he would press ahead with these nominations.
On Tuesday, the White House issued a list of 33 proposed judges, but without the disputed four.
Three of them had submitted letters asking their names be withdrawn, while the White House itself gave up trying to win a promotion for U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle of North Carolina, who had drawn strong opposition because of rulings that rejected civil rights claims.
The other failed nominees include William J. Haynes II of Virginia, the Pentagon's top lawyer; Michael Wallace of Mississippi, who was given an "unqualified" rating by the American Bar Assn.; and William G. Myers III of Idaho, who was accused of favoring the mining and cattle industries when he worked in the Interior Department.
A drop in the proverbial bucket, maybe, but it's a start.
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The LATimes reports on George's efforts to personally lobby Senators for his planned escalation in Iraq. But there's something missing: Democrats. Not even Holy Joe.
Glen Bolger, a Republican pollster, said the speech is "going to be a crucial component of how the American people re-look at the president for the last two years" of his term. The challenge facing the White House, he said, "is people have to view the speech and say, 'Oh, this is something different, and he's got a plan and it's got a shot at improving the situation. It's not just, quote, stay the course, unquote.' "
Another desperate plan to save George's reputation.
How many are going to die for you this time, George?
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Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid cleared on ethics charges.
Do you think the new WaPostie John Solomon will notice?
Naaaah.
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Incoming Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) outlines his agenda.
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Via Greg Sargent,the Richmond Times-Herald reports:
A senior advisor to George Allen's Senate campaign said Allen would wait until after the vote is official later this month to decide whether to seek a recount.Ed Gillespie said Jim Webb was leading Allen by about 7,000 votes this morning, or about .3 percent of the total votes cast. He said that could change during the official canvas that is starting today in localities around the state. He said it is likely some vote totals will change as mistakes in tabulating totals are discovered.
"No one is more interested in the outcome of this race in Virginia than are members of the Allen campaign," Gillespie said during a news conference outside Republican headquarters in Richmond.
The canvas could take the rest of the week. The results won't be officials until they are certified on Nov. 27. "This process is required by law," Gillespie said.
"We'll want to see how the canvassing turns out" before deciding on whether to ask for a recount, he said.
Macacawitz, we hardly knew ye.
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That's 50.
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Early this morning, Keystone Politics editors received and released a poll by McCulloch Research and Polling showing that Rick Santorum was within 4 points of retaining his Senate seat. Further research into McCulloch Research and Polling shows that Rod McCulloch, principal at the firm, has been indicted in voter fraud and forgery in Illinois.
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That's the only way to explain Katie Harris:
Katherine Harris, who is trying to become a U.S. senator, says she is writing a tell-all about the many people who have wronged her. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to: the Republican leaders who didn't want her to run, the press that has covered her troubled campaign, and the many staffers who have quit her employ, whom she accuses of colluding with her opponent.She is vague about what, precisely, makes her a victim, but she says she has it all documented.
"I've been writing it all year," she says in that kittenish voice. She often smiles and cocks her head as if she's letting you in on a secret. "It's going to be a great book."
[...]
The way Harris sees it, a vast left- and right-wing conspiracy, encompassing both the "liberal media" and the Republican "elite," is attempting to keep her out of the Senate. She says anyone could see the way the panel of questioners coddled Nelson at their debate last week. Her voice gets all high and mocking as she imitates them.
"Ooooh, Senator Nelson," she says. "I mean, come on."
It might be time to get a straight-jacket.
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You know you're in trouble when yoou have to get Sean Hannity to campaign for you:
Santorum, of Pittsburgh, made his second stop in Lancaster County in four days when he stumped at the rally held on his behalf. Joining him on stage was radio and TV talk-show personality Sean Hannity, who told the voters they will be making a choice between good and evil on Election Day.
"There can only be one winner and one loser that day," said Hannity, co-host and producer of Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes."
Early Returns notes: "You'll notice that he didn't predict a winner."
Also campaining for Li'l Ricky was former Rep. Bob Walker, who said:
"A victory for Republicans will carry the message that our future is bright along the broadening way."
That's some quality purple prose; somebody get Walker a better speechwriter.
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For the first time in the campaign, Democratic Senate candidate Bob Casey Jr. has more ready cash than Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.According to numbers provided by the campaigns yesterday, state Treasurer Casey has $2.7 million cash on hand and Santorum has $2.4 million.
Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 18, Santorum raised $1.3 million and Casey $1.35 million.
Political analyst Larry Sabato said the numbers show the handwriting is on the wall for Santorum's re-election effort.
"History tells us that when this happens, it means that the challenger has been accepted by the political community as the likely winner," said Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
He added: "Almost never does an incumbent fall behind in fundraising or cash on hand unless he is lagging badly in the polls."
[Via Keystone Politics.]
Maybe Li'l Ricky could raise some bucks by selling the seersucker.
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An evermore flailing Sen Manondog (R-AKC) desperately tries to convince voters he's the second coming of Winston Churchill:
CORNWALL, Pa. -- For the first time in his fight for a third term, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., directly questioned his opponent's ability to make the right decisions on national security at a time when "our enemies are fully committed to our destruction."[...]
Mr. Santorum's criticism comes after the campaign released a hard-hitting TV ad earlier this week showing Mr. Casey's face next to a mushroom cloud and accusing him of supporting policies that hurt national security.
[...]
In his speech, Mr. Santorum invoked Winston Churchill, described alleged terror plots and said the United States must pay attention to escalating threats from countries such as Iran, Venezuela and North Korea.
"We will have to face this threat because our enemies are fully committed to our destruction," Mr. Santorum said. "They will not stop until they destroy us or we destroy them."
[...]
Mr. Santorum referred to what he said were multiple forces trying to undermine the United States as "the gathering storm" -- a phrase that is also the title of Churchill's memoir about the causes of World War II.
Mr. Santorum quoted the opening passage, in which Churchill, the onetime British leader, said English-speaking peoples "allowed the wicked to rearm."
You don't want to know what Ricky would do with Churchill's famous cigar.
As for Li'l Ricky's latest ad: AIEEEE! Commie Pinko Islamofascists are gonna get us!
The upside-down US flag next to Casey is a nice touch. Very subliminable, as Our Glorious Leader™ might say.
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