Frist suspends all Senate business to ram Bolton through

[swag]

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/000487.html
(via www.warandpiece.com)
on edit: updates are at www.thewashingtonnote.com , on second edit: US Senate Phone Number: 202/224-3121
. . .

Because Senator Frist's office feared that a Democratic Senator would object to the Hearings on the Floor of the Senate at 2 p.m., the Republicans -- in order to RAM THE BOLTON NOMINATION THROUGH -- have gone into recess.
. . .
By stopping all Senate business -- ALL business -- and planning to reconvene at 4:30 p.m., the Republican leadership has preempted an option that the minority would have had to make the administration comply with Senator Dodd's request for the National Security Agency intercepts that Bolton may have used to wage war against rival officials in the State Department.

I don't know how Senator Lugar can tolerate such abuse of the minority. This is a disdainful and cynical move by the White House and Bill Frist.

- Steve Clemons

[swag]

1. I can't believe this news is sinking below the Papal shit.

Clearly the White House and Senate Majority leader's office knows what to do when people are distracted by garbage.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. I can't either

Priorities I guess. :shrug:

[David Dunham]

2. Now's the time to fillibuster

[AuntiBush]

61. Agreed.Think 2 Republicans might sway...

Our Dem's are finally fighting mad and being heard. Can't deny them respect!

[Pirate Smile]

4. Franken mentioned this on AAR an hour or so ago.

[swag]

7. Clemons' latest update is that Boxer is objecting

it will go to a vote, and Republicans will win, of course.

Loads of confusion.

www.thewashingtonnote.com

[Pirate Smile]

22. It says the meeting will still be at 2:15 although for awhile people

thought it was delayed until 4:30???????

[CottonBear]

5. Holy crap! This is outrageous.

Bolton is an evil thug and they are determined to have him appointed no matter what objections anyone, especially any Republicans, might have.

[ewagner]

6. Bolton's nomination must be

in deep trouble or else Frist wouldn't resort to such measures.

It is, however, another great example of abuse of power by Frist and his Republican lackeys.....

[LizW]

8. This is BIG!

Franken and a guest whose name I didn't catch were talking about this.

They said that one Senator has to object or it's all over and there is no way to stop the vote.

The guest said there really is very little political risk in this and he thought Boxer or Dodd could do it, but he wasn't sure at all if they would.

They are hiding something is the materials Dodd has asked for. CLASSIC stonewalling.

Call your Senators and tell them not to let the vote happen this afternoon!

[swag]

10. Yeah, those NSA memos that possibly indicate that Bolton

asked NSA to stop spying on North Korea and spy on Bolton's colleagues instead.

[Clark2008]

14. Isn't Boxer objecting? n/t

[swag]

20. Yes, as Clemons updates

Barbara Boxer Objects. . .Things Stall Momentarily for Bolton, but Only Temporarily
Senator Barbara Boxer has now objected to the Senate going into recess while other Senate Commitees meet.

That means that Boxer's action is forcing other Senators to vote on whether to go into recess or not. The Republicans will win by majority vote. And then the Senate will go into recess.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will then still be able to proceed with its scheduled business meeting at 2:15 p.m.

. . .

www.thewashingtonnote.com

[FreedomAngel82]

35. They are hiding something

They're hiding something for sure. Why else would they do this? Fucking assholes. The republicans should NEVER be trusted with power. They don't know how to handle it.

[AuntiBush]

62. Again. I always agree w/FreedomAngel82.

Shew. This is something else to witness, huh. Now, we know our Dem's are fighting big-time and the Repub's have something to hide.

Breaking for forced Recess! 5:01 pm.

[stevedeshazer]

9. Let's kick this one up

:kick:

Too important to be overshadowed by the damn Pope.

[IowaGuy]

11. Kick (nt)

:kick:

[wildflower]

12. kick n/t

[swag]

13. If you have a Republican Senator, might still be time to call

and demand they vote with Boxer's objection and against suspension of the Senate to ram Bolton through.

202/224-3121, and ask for your Senator or

http://www.senate.gov/general/resources/pdf/senators_phone_list.pdf

[freedom_to_read]

17. bump for justice

[Clark2008]

18. Are you kidding, "my" Republican senator IS

Bill :scared: Frist.

:puke:

[swag]

21. Lo Siento Mucho

America's Foremost Vivisectionist!

[cry baby]

43. ...

I'm sick :puke:

[Liberty Belle]

59. My Democratic Senator is Barbara Boxer, the best Senator ever!

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

Boxer for President in '08!
Accept no substitutes!

[liberalpress]

66. ..and your other one is Lamar Alexander...

...who lost his spine somewhere in the voting booth. Frist is annoying because heminstigates this shit. Alexander is annoying because he just votes the party line.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. My Senator

is Frist and it's damn impossible with him. He's a prick.

[MuseRider]

15. Kick

More of the same old tricks but important.

[BurtWorm]

16. "Hurry! While Everyone's distracted by the new pope!"

[Pithy Cherub]

19. The republic is being carjacked and

nobody knows because every channel is Benedict TV!

Somebody on our side PLEASE stand up and if its BOXER so be it! :applause:

[SharonRB]

23. Kick

[Pirate Smile]

24. Vote to recess in the Senate now but the Dems are objecting so

now a vote is being held.

C-span 2 "voice" said this was "unusual".

Yep and, if they go nuclear, this will be standard. No more operating by unanimous consent.

[Tace]

25. kick

[Maiden England]

26. Weapon of Mass Distraction - found in Rome

:eyes:

How very handy...

[AlCzervik]

27. on cspan 2 right now Frist is having the sgt. at arms round up all

the senators, i can't beleive this. The gop will pay a heavy price in 06, i'm convinced of that.

[Mandate My Ass]

30. No, I'm convinced this is final proof of voter disenfranchisement

If they even had the faintest inkling this could possibly be used against them in the future they wouldn't dare try it.

[MuseRider]

39. Exactly.

I have been thinking this since 2000 and it seems to be correct.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. Why the hell is he doing that?

[G_j]

28. damn, PLEASE keep this kicked!

perhaps we should let Lugar's office know how we feel.

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Can't the Dems filibuster this???

These fascist SOB's MUST BE STOPPED!

[Pirate Smile]

31. C-span2 schedule now has Bolton Hearings at 2:45 - as soon as

the Senate is in recess - after this vote.

[AlCzervik]

33. What are they voting on right now? I'm watching but i missed it

[Pirate Smile]

37. Putting the Senate into recess. I'm not sure exactly how the question

is phrased because all the Dems are voting Aye. It will pass - majority vote is all that is needed.

This will keep Boxer from placing a hold on the Bolton nomination by objecting. If the Senate was in session for 2 hours she could do a hold.

No hold. Bolton - Foreign Policy Committee hearing to vote on Bolton after this vote.

edit to add - normally the Senate goes into recess by unanimous consent. The Dems objected which made a vote required to recess the Senate.

[G_j]

32. Lugar's phone numbers:

Contact Senator Lugar

SENATOR LUGAR'S OFFICE LOCATIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON, D.C.
306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1401
[phone]

INDIANAPOLIS
1180 Market Tower
10 West Market Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
[phone]

NORTHEAST
1300 South Harrison Street
Room 3158
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
[phone]

NORTHWEST
175 West Lincolnway
Suite G-1
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
ph: [phone]

SOUTHEAST
1201 East 10th Street
Room 103
Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130
[phone]

SOUTHWEST
101 NW Martin Luther King Boulevard
Room 122
Evansville, Indiana 47708
[phone]

[housewolf]

34. Anybody keeping track of the votes?

Does anyone know where it stands right now?

[catmandu57]

40. I don't know what the hell is going on

I've heard snowe and landrieu? vote aye but I've no idea what they're voting on.

[housewolf]

45. Now they are voting on a motion to allow the senate to recess

this will allow the Foreign Relations committee to hold its meeting to vote on Bolton

[Jo March]

41. kick! helpless, sinking-feeling kick!

Please keep the commentary going for those of us in the cube farms!

[Jo March]

42. kick! kick!

[FreedomAngel82]

44. Kick

[cry baby]

46. Kick it up - PEOPLE, PAY ATTENTION

Get off Popevision, snap into reality

[in_cog_ni_to]

47. This is SO fucking DIRTY!

FASCIST BASTARDS!

FASCISTS! FASCISTS!FASCISTS! FASCISTS!FASCISTS! FASCISTS!FASCISTS! FASCISTS!FASCISTS! FASCISTS!FASCISTS! FASCISTS!FASCISTS! FASCISTS!

[housewolf]

48. Right now they are voting to allow the senate to recess

This will allow the Foreign Relations committee to meet and vote on the Bolton nomination. The previous proceedings were attempts to prevent the Foreign Relations committee from meeting, with the hopes of delaying the vote.

C-span2 will broadcast the Foreign Relations committee meeting so we get to watch this horror move forward.

[AzDar]

49. kick!

[Ironpost]

50. kick

[Tace]

51. kick

[Pithy Cherub]

52. kicking for democracy...

[bigtree]

53. The hearing is on

Biden has new dirt. Sounds good.

[bear425]

54. What exactly just happened? Kerry and Boxer look really pissed

at Lugar.

[bigtree]

55. Chairman Lugar knocks it down, looks to force vote through

[bear425]

57. Ok, gotcha. I get what's going on now.

Yay Kerry and Boxer!

[Patiod]

58. CSpan Watchers - Please keep us wage-slaves up to date!

Thanks

[bear425]

60. Biden , Kerry , Boxer, et.al. want to go to closed session

in order to debate new allegations against Bolton. Lugar doesn't want to go into closed session. Just wants to go ahead with vote on confirmation.

[laundry_queen]

56. kick. n/t

[dave29]

63. kick!!

[swag]

64. Wow, what a fucking rollercoaster

There are great threads here at DU and at kos on the hearings, and excellent summations at

www.thewashingtonnote.com
anw
www.warandpiece.com

I'm not shilling for these sites, but they've been terrific with hard and real news.

[Moderator]

65. kick