Today's Senate Schedule (Vote on Kerry Amendment.)

[TayTay]

From the Daily Briefing at the Congressional Record:

Next Meeting of the
SENATE


9:30 a.m., Thursday, June 22


Senate Chamber


Program for Thursday: Senate will continue consideration of S. 2766, National Defense Authorization, that there be a period of 60 minutes for debate thereon; following conclusion of that debate, the Minority Leader will be recognized to speak for 15 minutes, following that period of debate, the Majority Leader will be recognized to speak for 15 minutes; following which, Senate will vote on Levin Amendment No. 4320, to be followed by a vote on Kerry Amendment No. 4442, to be followed by a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the bill.

[wisteria]

1. So, the Levin amendment will be voted on first. The smear piece

claimed it was to be Kerry's first- so to speak- to get it out of the way. I think this is good. Since levin's comes first,Kerry has more reason to not vote yes on Levin's plan. The hit piece suggested he might vote for it, just to show unity. I am not so sure this is a good idea though, it will be another excuse to call him a ... well you know, I don't even want to say those two words, because it feeds into the Repub smears.

[Mass]

2. I disagree - He should vote for it because it is better than what the

Repugs propose. No f*f* there. As long as Levin's proposal does not say there should not be a deadline , there is no problem.

[wisteria]

3. I can see your point. It does make for a united front, except his

and Feingold's amendment is better.

[ray of light]

4. I think if he can support the vote, then he should vote his conscience.

And they were asking people to vote yes on both bills yesterday.

Frankly, it doesn't matter what he votes, they'll use it against him anyway. So I say that he should listen to his heart. If he thinks Levin's bill has some valuable merit and wants to support it then he should. Does his bill move the discussion forward?

[ProSense]

5. The two amendments are like night and day.

One thing that Kerry reiterated and Warner clarified in depth was the fact that Kerry's plan would become law, and that what Levin-Reed offered is a non-binding sense of the Senate resolution. That's a huge difference! It's the difference between holding Bush accountable by force of law and giving him the option to stay the course!

[ray of light]

10. Oh, that's true. But then they were encouraging people to vote for

both amendments.

So Levin's amendment is a wishy washy Republican amendment?

If so, then he should vote no.

[TayTay]

6. Kerry doing the wrap-up before the vote.

He is backing up Feingold's points about the war not going well and the Bush Admin having gotten everything wrong.

[TayTay]

7. He still has that fire from last night in his voice.

He is vigorously defending his plan for what it is, not what the Rethugs say it isn't.

Redeploying troops is necessary for success in Iraq....

[TayTay]

8. I think he heard Sen. Kyl and it ticked him off

He is angry about this. The other side has accused the Dems of the 'cut and run' thing. Kerry is doing a great job of saying that his amendment changes course to provide for success.

Nice active speech.

[jillan]

88. Kyl - ugh - there you go Tay Tay

what you live with - Kerry
what I live with - Vyl Kyl

What you live with - Kennedy
What I live with - Insane McCain

Life is not fair. But in November it will get better. Pederson probably would have stood with Levin, but that is a heck of alot better than Kyl.

[babylonsister]

9. The poor man must be exhausted, but he sounded full of fire.

I wish this had an inkling of a chance of passing. :-(

[TayTay]

11. I am hoping for 8 votes

Cuz, That's one more than I can actually count on. Sigh!

[babylonsister]

12. Very discouraging. I can't wrap my brain around why these

Senators think staying there and spilling more blood for a failed mission is preferable.

[Mass]

13. 8 - Kerry, Kennedy,Feingold, Boxer, Leahy, Durbin, Harkin, and Menendez

Anybody else I am missing?

[whometense]

15. oops -

spoke too soon.

I didn't know Menendez was supporting this. Good on him.

[Mass]

17. I have not heard how Lautenberg will vote. This is my wild card here.\nt

[wisteria]

23. Mine too! n/t

[karynnj]

31. It's funny that while emailing my Senators,

I assumed Lautenberg was on board and Menendez - up for a possibly tough election - might take the easy way out. Lautenberg always votes his mind, so I can't imagine he won't vote for it.

[karynnj]

39. With Lautenberg and Wyden - 10 (double digits!!!)

[whometense]

14. What's your tally?

Kerry
Feingold
Kennedy
Boxer
Leahy

Who else? Is Durbin on board?

[TayTay]

16. Hmm, I forgot about Menendez

Mass has the count right. I don't know of anyone else who will vote for the Kerry Amendment.

But it's two more than we had last week, dontcha know.

[demdiva]

36. Yes Durbin is on board

[karynnj]

21. I would bet that his IWR speech was far more exhausting

because there was no good vote and looking at all the facets and covering them had to be tough - and it's good that he did because there is a trail of his motivation. This amendment and even more so the Kerry one it replaced obviously represented a lot of very serious thought and work, but it whole heartedly his best solution to a war gone wrong. Defending it and speaking out on it seem to invigorate him.

[ray of light]

18. HOw can Reid sit there and say all that and then still not make

all dems vote for the Kerry/Feingold/Boxer bill?!!!

LISTEN!!! Rolling off the facts. BUT How does Levin's bill improve this? It's barely better than the Republican's bill!

[whometense]

22. I know.

It's making my brain hurt.

[wisteria]

24. He is playing poltics with what is right and what he and the caucus

deam acceptable right now.

[ProSense]

27. Exactly!

It's so wrong, people are dying, but there is no urgency to right the wrong and save lives. Why reiterate that the occupation is desvastating with a resolution that doesn't demand real accountability?

[Blaukraut]

19. One thing that is puzzling in all this

The Senate must know that the majority of Americans want the troops to come home preferably yesterday. The are elected by the people to represent them, so why won't they vote for Kerry's amendment? It is exactly what the people want. I can see why the rethugs won't; they think that they represent Bush, not the people, but OUR guys? I'm so disappointed.

[ray of light]

20. call them! put a header in GD and Kos and FDL and have

eveyone call!

I'm starting now, but I won't have computer access in less than 5 minutes.

[karynnj]

25. Because they have bought the media and

conservative Democratic position that the Republicans will use this against them. There may also be some hard knukle politics to protect Hillary's position.

[wisteria]

28. I think you have hit the nail on the head. A lot of this has been

orchastrated for Clinton's benefit. This positions her where? In the mushy middle?

[Blaukraut]

30. I think this time the media and rethugs will fail

The war is going badly, there's nothing we can do anymore with troops and the people know it. The media and rethugs can put lipstick on a pig all they want, but it is still a pig.
I hope, actually I believe, that those who vote against Kerry's amendment may pay a price at the polls this fall, regardless of the media's spin.

[wisteria]

26. They are concerned things might change and public opinion

sway back towards the Republican ideas, so they do virtually nothing on Iraq for fear of reprisals. You need look no further than Kerry to see how the Repubs operate.

[TayTay]

29. And they should take a lesson from Kerry

He is unafraid to bring the fight to the Rethugs. He has courage and is following his own words that said that he had a moral obligation as a US Senator not to allow for unnecessary death.

Too bad that the other Dems can't see that we need to strongly take the fight to the Rethugs. It's the only way. Stand up to these bullies and challenge them. We are right and the American people are with us, not them.

[Blaukraut]

33. Damn straight! People will remember JK stood up when most

of the others bowed in fear. They act like abused spouses and it's horrible to witness.

[karynnj]

35. In fact, Kerry had no choice other than to do as he did

It's clear that had he not pushed it, there would be NO amendment. The Levin one was in response to Kerry's and to some degree undercut him - likely to help Hillary.

Kerry couldn't walk away after he said it was a moral issue - as he very clearly meant that.

[wisteria]

87. Exactly, a lesson from childhood. How do you get a bully to back

down? You stand up to him and force him to prove how tough he really is.

[ginnyinWI]

32. I think there's another element

The Republican party is the party of big business. They have lobbyists crawling all over them, contributing to their campaigns, etc. That's who they serve. There's a LOT of money being made in Iraq, and as long as * doesn't give directions to the contrary, money is what they are going to serve.

So that leaves the people with whatever Dems aren't controlled in the same way.

[Blaukraut]

34. Good point

Which makes it all the more necessary to reform elections. They should be publicly financed, period. No corporate donations whatsoever.

[ginnyinWI]

84. yep

publicly financed and voted for by mail on paper ballots!

[wisteria]

85. I agree! it keeps our government honest.

i also think new rules need to be made in regards to lobbists. They should be able to present their sides,but elected officials should not be taking gifts, rides or money from any of them.

[karynnj]

37. Wyden -AYE

[karynnj]

38. Lautenberg - Aye!!!!!!!!!

NJ - good

[_dynamicdems]

40. Akaka? That's a surprise!

[ProSense]

41. Jeffords voted AYE? n/t

[Blaukraut]

42. Akaka aye?? n/t

[Blaukraut]

43. We already have twice as many now as last week!

[whometense]

49. I stopped listening while Frist was blathering

So they are voting first on JK's amendment?

What's the count so far?

[Blaukraut]

51. 13 ayes!

[whometense]

54. wow.

That is fantastic!!!

[ProSense]

56. Agree! Fantastic!

It went from Kerry, Fiengold to 13 in a few days! And believe me, others know he's right!

[karynnj]

52. I think 13

the 8 Mass listed plus Lautenberg and both Hawaii Senators.

[karynnj]

44. Inoway (sp??) aye

Hawaii - good

[_dynamicdems]

47. LOL! Neither or us can spell!

I'm almost ready to forgive them over ANWR...almost.

[_dynamicdems]

45. Inoue sp? Wow!!

[ginnyinWI]

75. I think it's spelled Inouye. n/t

[babylonsister]

46. Inoye-aye! nt

[Blaukraut]

48. I'm so glad more of our guys came through!

This is a pleasant surprise :-)

[whometense]

50. JK certainly worked hard

for every one of those votes. Good for them!!!!

And how will the media spin it? Let me predict: "John Kerry's amendment went down to humiliating, crushing, soul-smashing defeat..."

[_dynamicdems]

53. Twelve?

[babylonsister]

57. Thirteen is what I heard. nt

[demdiva]

58. Thirteen

That was for Kerry Feingold, right? I stepped away for a bit.
I think they are doing Levin's amendment now.

[Blaukraut]

55. You know, maybe it's petty, but it bugs me that they're yucking

it up on the Senate floor right now. This is as serious as it gets. They're playing with the lives of our troops and having a grand old time. Sad.

[_dynamicdems]

59. Especially the smug ones. Laughing that they just voted for more

death. I think every single one of the senators who voted "no" should go to Iraq and replace 86 of our troops. The Senate isn't accomplishing anything anyhow. Can't you see sessions in combat fatigues?

[karynnj]

64. Can an exception be made for Warner?

Who, while he honestly disagreed on the policy, encouraged true discuusion and debate last night. Also, because it's pretty clear he doesn't sse this as a big adventure.

[ginnyinWI]

78. I give Warner some credit

He's wrong, but I think sincere in his convictions. It's not politics, in other words, and that's refreshing.

[_dynamicdems]

94. True. He has already served honorably and was the officer and

gentleman on his side of the aisle in this debate. Too bad he's wrong.

[wisteria]

89. I have a vision of him with a helmut to big for his small head and

his ears sticking out.

[whometense]

60. It bugs me too.

It's no frigging party.

Can you imagine how this looks to parents of servicepeople who might be watching?

[karynnj]

61. Kerry aye on Levin

[babylonsister]

62. Nelson (D-FL) - NO!

:grr:

[Blaukraut]

63. Nelson, FL no. Asshole n/t

[babylonsister]

65. Nelson (D-NE) - NO! nt

[Blaukraut]

66. Asshole number 2 Nelson, NE no n/t

[ProSense]

69. Do they support Bush's failed policy? n/t

[Blaukraut]

67. here's Chaffee's safe, token aye n/t

[ginnyinWI]

79. Chaffee is vulnerable this fall

Time to vote in a more progressive way to avoid being booted out in the coming Republican rout. ;)

[Blaukraut]

68. Landrieu no! Asshole number 3 n/t

[whometense]

73. Lieberman

Asshole #4

[Blaukraut]

74. who else? only 39 voted for it, including Chaffee and Jeffords

that leaves 4 more Dems I think, who voted against it, right?

[whometense]

77. I was running around the office,

and missed a lot of the vote. Those four are the only ones I heard.

[jillan]

90. Landrieu voted NO???? on both amendments?

She is no better than Lieberman.
I don't understand this woman.

[Blaukraut]

91. She has consistently voted against the Dem caucus even before

Katrina. You'd think that she has finally seen the light and realized that her voting with the rethugs got her a collective kick in the ass as a thank you. She's been relentless lately, hoping she can garner more aid if she kisses Bush ass. Nada, zip, nothing. And what's really ironic, she will probably get voted out of office next time she is up for election, because Katrina has displaced a huge amount of faithful Dem voters.

[ProSense]

70. What the hell!

I posted the difference between the Levin-Reed and Kerry-Feingold amendments in GD. It makes no sense to me that the Democrats refuse to get tough on ending this illegal occupation!

[babylonsister]

71. Hey, ProSense-where's that thread? It needs bumping as

people are wondering what's going on.

[ProSense]

80. Here!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1484339&mesg_id=1484339

Thanks!

[Blaukraut]

72. It's awful. They're so worried about their own asses

that they're willing to sell our troops down the river to save their political fortunes. May they all get voted out of office.

[whometense]

76. So what are they voting on now?

My president, right or wrong???

And if someone understands it, could you please walk me through this "move to reconsider" nonsense? What is that about? I recognize that it's another one of Roberts Rules, but what does it do, exactly?

[Blaukraut]

81. to limit debate on the defense bill itself(I think)

[whometense]

82. thanks!

If you look away for a second you can get totally lost....

[Mass]

83. Yes - Feingold voted NO, but I am not sure about the rational for that.

He is alone at this point.

[babylonsister]

86. I don't understand why anyone would want to limit debate, or what

that really means. No more talking about how to get out of this dreadful war? :shrug:

[whometense]

92. Final tally here:

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00182

Chafee was the only repug to vote for Levin's amendment.

Dem no's:

Dayton (D-MN)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)

Not Voting - 1
Rockefeller (D-WV)

Does anyone know what's up with Rockefeller? He's missed a lot of votes lately. I hope he's not sick.

[Mass]

93. He had back surgery a while ago now and has not returned yet.

What is the deal with Dayton? Why did he vote against both amendment. I can figure why the other ones did, but he is not even running again, so this is really because he believes the troops should stay?

[karynnj]

96. Just saw Dayton speak

His argument is that he wants the military decided this based on what they think is needed. (Civilian control of the military) He is on the Armed Services Committee and he is calling for people like Casey to speak to the committee on this.

[ProSense]

95. They say you have to take the good with the bad...

Published on Thursday, June 22, 2006 by CommonDreams.org
Why the Senate Debate Means Progress
by Tom Hayden
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0622-20.htm

But sometimes it's hard!

Published on Thursday, June 22, 2006 by the Progressive
The Hit on Kerry
by Matthew Rothschild
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0622-29.htm

[TayTay]

97. This will rebound on them

It's obvious that people have it in for Kerry. However, by associating Kerry with the antiwar sentiment, they are making a mistake that will come back to haunt them.