Senator Kerry now speaking about Iraq on the Senate floor, 2:15PM, EST.

[flpoljunkie]

[texpatriot2004]

1. Which amendment? Speaking where? C-SPAN? 1 or 2? nm

[Mass]

2. Offering his plan for Iraq as an independant bill.

He just confirmed that a group of Democrats will offer an amendment on Iraq later this afternoon.

[flpoljunkie]

5. John Kerry's answer to John McCain's Iraq speeech at the AEI.

He is now mentioning McCain by name saying McCain mischaracterized his position--the 20,000 troop withdrawl is meant to be a benchmark, and, I think, to send a message to the Iraqis that we are not going to stay in Iraq "as long as it takes"--McCain's position in his speech today.

We must send the message, "Iraqis themselves must fight for Iraq."

[blm]

13. woohooo..... now the media will have t choke on the lie they spread

that Dems have no plans.

Dems offer plans, but media ignores them while they stick to their Rove-given storylines.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Not amendment, Kerry's speaking about Iraq on C-Span2.

[texpatriot2004]

9. Thanks. nm

[Pirate Smile]

4. Who did he say mis-characterized his plan? McCain? All I know is it

was someone who gave a speech today and I know McCain did.

edit to add - I see from above it was McCain.

[TayTay]

8. McCain.

Here it is: http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=NewsCenter.ViewSpeech&Content_id=1622

[Pirate Smile]

10. Thanks.

[KerryReallyWon]

6. C SPAN 2 Kerry going after them....

:toast:

[flpoljunkie]

7. "Our large militiary presence feeds the notion of occupation and extends

the amount of time it will take for the Iraqi forces to become self-reliant." John Kerry

Take that, John McCain!

[flpoljunkie]

11. Kerry recommending a comprehensive withdrawal plan by the end of 2006.

[blm]

I am glad he's hitting mcCain by name. McCain's plan is just Bush+.

.

[second edition]

12. I really like Kerry's Plan and I'm glad he is countering McCain!

To bad, the media will be sure to give McCain all the media time. We all know how they just loooooove McCain.

[Mass]

15. Good thing that he offers it as a bill

This will provide a basis for debate for those who want to do something.

[Greeby]

14. Did I hear right

Sounds like they wanted to bring a vote up asap :shrug:

[Mass]

16. Not on this - on the secret prisons amendment.

[TayTay]

18. I think they want to bring the debate up asap.

There were going to be two votes, one on the amendment and one on the second degree amendment proposed by Pat Roberts and Sen. Rockefeller, Chair and vice chair of the Senate Select Commmittee on Intelligence.

Sounded like Kerry was trying to combine them into one vote.

[TayTay]

19. Sorry. Sen. Kerry submitted a bill earlier

and it was referred to committee.

Is that the Iraq War bill?

[flpoljunkie]

17. Senate now debating Kerry's amendment re CIA secret prisons.

Currently there is a quorum call to see Roberts/Rockefeller's second degree amendment to Kerry's amendment can be combined in one vote.

[Greeby]

20. This is getting a tad confusing

:dunce:

[annabanana]

21. I'm lost...

secondary amendments cannot be amended?

[annabanana]

22. I think THEY'RE confused

hence the quorum call

[Mass]

23. They can, but Roberts is proposing a subtitute amendment

that apparently cannot be amended.

[annabanana]

25. which is why Kerry want to get his language in?. . n/t

[Mass]

26. I think so.

[flpoljunkie]

27. What's up with Joe Biden wanting to offer an amendment to Kerry's bill?

Warner wanted to set Kerry's bill aside, as they did not know what was in Biden's bill, and Kerry immediately asked for a quorum call.

Biden wants the State Department to become somehow involved in certifying that we are not operating these secret CIA prison camps, I believe.

Why Biden feels Kerry's bill needs to be further amended, I have no clue.

[annabanana]

28. I think Kerry want to get info on the "secret" prisons

into the record... not necessarily to certfy that they don't exist.

[flpoljunkie]

31. His amendment would require accountability re CIA prisons, expenditures.

Was Kerry notified beforehand of Biden's desire to amend his bill? I think perhaps not.

[Mass]

29. Apparently, Biden agreed with the amendment, so I guess it is alright.

[TayTay]

24. I kind of agree.

Senatorese is confusing.

Any lawyers here who speak Senator?

[karynnj]

32. No expertise as a lawyer, but here's what it sounded like

Roberts/ Rockefellow's seconday amendment was suppose to substitute for Kerry's - it seemed to be essentially the same but seemed to further specifically specify the sub committee of the Intelligence committee. Biden's asks that they add the reqirement that the state department report to the SFRC on this (and whether we are complying with international treaties etc). Biden's can't be secondary to Roberts (for a reason I don't understand).

But then Kerry very promptly suggested that both Biden's and Robert's could fit as secondaries (not substitutes) under his bill. Warner asked if Roberts would agree and Roberts looked terminally confused. Kerry's other point is that due to an agreement that there will only be 24 amendments voted on (per agreement of the leaders), this would make it impossible to add Biden's amendment.

My quess is Roberts is confused on how to keep Kerry's name off Kerry's bill, because .....

[annabanana]

30. Warner came back to say that Kerry's amendment

should be laid aside and his amendment will be the next thing up.