The Senate Republican leadership believes that the parliamentarian allowed Democrats to violate the rules of the Senate by allowing Sen. Bernie Sanders to cut off the reading of his single-payer proposal.
The Republican right to obstruct shall not be infringed. It is in the Constitution! Meanwhile, this remembrance of Republican love for parliamentary procedure:
CAFTA actually went to vote early — at 11:02 p.m. When the usual fifteen-minute voting period expired, the nays were up, 180 to 175. Republicans then held the vote open for another forty-seven minutes while GOP leaders cruised the aisles like the family elders from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, frantically chopping at the legs and arms of Republicans who opposed the measure. They even roused the president out of bed to help kick ass for the vote, passing a cell phone with Bush on the line around the House cloakroom like a bong. Rep. Robin Hayes of North Carolina was approached by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who told him, “Negotiations are open. Put on the table the things that your district and people need and we’ll get them.” After receiving assurances that the administration would help textile manufacturers in his home state by restricting the flow of cheap Chinese imports, Hayes switched his vote to yea. CAFTA ultimately passed by two votes at 12:03 a.m.
I’m sure Sanders will email the American Spectator and the Senate Republicans a copy of his amendment if they want to read it.
Kryptik
Please, no more. Just…give us a break. Just…too much stupid and too much to rage over, I’m burnt out….
John Cole
@Kryptik: The beatings will continue until I hear the safe words.
General Winfield Stuck
This is dumb beyond all recognition. If republicans wanted the bill read, they could get that by making a motion, or objecting to one made by dems. unless I’m missing something in the details.
Kryptik
@John Cole:
Green balloon juice, you sadistic bastard, Green balloon juice. D:
Shalimar
Wait, so Sanders capitulated on his amendment so the reading wouldn’t hold up the military funding bill, and they’re mad about this? Are they pissed off they didn’t get another chance to screw over the troops like they have done so many times before?
General Winfield Stuck
@John Cole:
LOL
MikeJ
You know what we need for a thread about congressional concern trolling? A picture of tunch looking very disapproving.
Comrade Mary
The crying will continue until I see a photo of Tunch.
Ahem.
WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!11!
AHHHHHHHHH-HUUUHHHH-HUUUUH!1!
SNORT-SNORT-WAAAAAHHHHHH!!11!!
uncovers face, looks hopefully at screen, face crumples in despair
WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!11!
Just Some Fuckhead
Christ, I keep forgetting there’s a whole class of people in Congress worse than the fuckers selling us down the river on health care reform.
bemused
@MikeJ:
Tunch looking very disapproving or very disdainful? It’s hard to tell with a cat even if it’s your own cat.
donovong
Holy fucking shit. I can’t keep up with all the angst ridden posts.
Tx Expat
This is what I am going to be hearing for 5 days over Christmas, can’t wait! Doesn’t matter if I point out that this tactic is holding up funding for the troops (although my youngest brother might point it out since he’s a member of said troops). Nothing matters, now entering a no fact zone folks, except that the dumb (not evil, irredeemably dumb) Obama must be defeated before he destroys the country.
Even better, just found out today that the gift I bought my winger brother has a forward written by Glenn Beck (his pick, not mine). Sigh…
Comrade Scrutinizer
@John Cole: Safe words are for wimps.
John Cole
@Just Some Fuckhead: That is what makes the whole progressive mantra about the base being depressed infuriates me. It is like they want to create a self-fulfilling prophecy to teach those moderates a lesson.
The Republicans are fucking nuts. How anyone can lose sight of that is beyond me.
cleek
@John Cole:
ding ding ding
it’s the old “if i can’t win, everybody loses” gambit – favored by children of all ages.
Just Some Fuckhead
@John Cole: Just to be clear, I’ve gone on record as being against a mandate that forces us all to choke on the massive cock of private insurers with no other recourse (like a public option, for instance). That’s a nonstarter for me. One of the reasons I initially supported Obama over Edwards and Clinton is he appeared to be against such a mandate.
Even so, I am sentient enough to realize Republicans are little more than a fifth column against democracy.
I’m just that fucking complicated.
Paul L.
Not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot.
Democrats Force Senate Into Closed Session Over Iraq Data
Progressives who applauded that use of procedure now condemn this.
Elisabeth
I’d prefer Bernie shove it down their throats on CSPAN.
KCinDC
@John Cole, pretending that the base isn’t going to be depressed won’t make it not true. Democrats need to give people something to be excited about, or they’re not going to turn out for the midterms. The midterms will be bad anyway, since it’s easier to energize people in opposition, but they’ll be a disaster if the only message is to come out because things will be even worse with Republicans in charge. It’s absolutely true that they will be, but that’s not going to motivate the people who came out to the polls last year for Obama.
As all the most popular provisions of the health care reform bill are successively watered down and then stripped out entirely, the bill has become less and less popular with the public. That’s not just because of GOP/teabagger lies. It’s because the bill has actually gotten worse. Thank you, Max Baucus.
Et Tu Brutus?
Way Back When(2000), I had a debate with a Poli Sci instructor regarding the differences, or lack thereof, between the respective parties prez. candidates. My contention was that there would be no fundamental difference in the direction the country would continue under either one ( land of the corporate fat cat, shit sandwich kind of thing). He actually agreed, but argued that differences in styles of leadership, as well as personal qualities, could be significant factors. At the time, I disagreed, but it did not take to long under the leadership of the Little Shrub& Darth Cheney to see just how valid a point he had. My vote for Obama was informed by that realization, and given the alternatives, would be the same today or tomorrow. That is not to say that I remain disappointed with many aspects of his performance, nor am I particularly surprised by said performance. Shit, I’m not even surprised by my lack of surprise.
JenJen
You sure do quote Matt Taibbi a lot for a guy who used to bitch whenever
Ipeople mentionedhow hotwhat a good writer he is.Comrade Luke
As much as I dislike this bill, the fact that the Republicans are so obviously scared about passing it makes me think it’s worth passing.
Lex
The GOP also held open the vote on the Medicare Part D program. Their Congress, their rules.
MNPundit
@Et Tu Brutus?: Do you honestly think 9/11 would have happened under Gore? I don’t think that’s a crazy conclusion, but I do find it unlikely. From 9/11 so much flows. I hate Osama for that reason if nothing else.
Batocchio
Weak concern trolling, from an aide too chickenshit to be named.