30 minutes of life support left

[Sydnie]

In 30 minutes or less, the Senate will begin to vote on the Defense Appropriations bill. Many things are included in this bill that will make it very hard for many to vote against .. Katrina relief, heating assistance, ... many tough and needed things.

It also includes ANWR drilling. This portion was added AFTER the committee signed off on the legislation. It violates rule 28 of the Senate that no bill will be changed in such a way after an agreement has been reached. Stevens broke this rule to add ANWR to this bill.

If we allow this bill to pass, even though there are many things that are good about this bill, we will be letting go of all control and all decorum in our government. Anyone will be able to slip in anything at anytime without feeling the need to explain or raise a quorum for it's inclusion.

We will be kissing our democracy goodby, never to rise again as we knew it.

It's bigger than just the drilling in ANWR. It's if we are going to make our elected officials follow rules that are long standing or are we going to make them up as we go along.

We have already seen the Republicans change the rules to make things better for their members (Delay ring a bell?). We know they are capable to do it again. Will we stand by quietly and let it happen again? I certainly hope not.

Stevens can ask that ANWR be removed and the bill will pass with the good things in tact. If he doesn't, we can call a new conference and try again for these good things. Or, we can stand by silently and let them break the rules and make them up as they go along, and it won't matter who runs things there, there will be no integrity left for us in government at all.

I, for one, fear for my government and all of our futures.

[MrModerate]

1. Not really . . .

This can be made to come back and bite them. Another tick mark in the "Republicans cheat" column. Another example of the fact that 'Licans don't share the American values of fair play, more proof that -- as a party -- they are bad for America.

If we're smart, they'll hang themselves.

[Sydnie]

20. They have an out built in

The good outweighed the bad. It was structured just that way to give them an out. If they vote against this, they lose Katrina money, home heating relief, Bird Flu monies ... so many more things that should never be in a defense bill.

Are you listening to Stevens on the floor right now? He is laying out their defense, not his own.

This is the line in the sand, drawn by one crazy old man!

[LSK]

2. has there been a vote for cloture on this yet?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

15. No. That is the vote coming up

not the vote on the actual bill, yet.

If they vote down cloture, Stevens said he would strip out the ANWR bit.

On the other hand, he's ranting on my tv now.. You don't know about Alaska, I do, I live there.
:eyes:

[Sydnie]

16. Not yet. Stevens is still whining about his deal with two dead guys

(Jackson and Tsongas) that he made 20 some years ago.

[rd_kent]

3. If the addition broke the rule

then how can it be added. Cant one of the Senators ask that it be removed since it broke the rule? I dont understand!!!

[AllegroRondo]

5. My take on it

a Senator calls for the line to be removed, Frist rules that Senator out of order, nothing changes.

[Sydnie]

8. They can vote to suspend the rule and ram it through

It will fall to a vote on the point of order that the rule was broken and whether they support the rule or suspend it.

If they suspend it, they can do it again, and again, and again, and again ... for any legislation they want, to any legislation they want, whenever they want.

If we are to have rules to follow, then we should not suspend them.

As Byrd points out, suspending the rule will keep it so until blivet** signs the bill. Possibly 10 days time. Imagine how much can be added in 10 days while most are on vacation and not paying attention.

Fool me once, shame on me. We COULD get fooled again and again if we let this happen.

[CornField]

10. They can appeal the ruling to the chair

I'm not sure if this has already been done.

[Sydnie]

12. The chair already denied one point of order today

If they vote to suspend the rule, the point of order is moot.

[caligirl]

18. cloture vote may happen in the next hour or so. It is coming up.

Called Boxer's office and the assistant said just call Feinstein's office if I wanted to help.

[CornField]

4. I've phoned both Iowa Senators this morning

It's too bad the GOP must once again resort to breaking the rules in order to pass their 'corporate gifts'

[caligirl]

6. 1 202 224 3004 Stevens office number if you object to violations

of rule 28. That was all she gave me time to say before thanking me and hanging up.

[Sydnie]

13. Done and it was fast! n/t

[CornField]

17. Answering machine is picking up now

LMAO!

[orwell]

7. There Are no Rules...

...get with the program. These dicks are fighting with live ammo.

The Marquis of Queensbury be damned.

[berni_mccoy]

9. This bill is like giving a PBJ Sandwich with rat poison on it

to a severely starved person. Either they starve and die or eat and die. Either way, their dead.

[Sydnie]

11. ding ding ding! We have a winner

If they let this stand ... we are done for. There is no hope of ever having control of anything ever again. If they support this underhanded deal, then they own us.

[berni_mccoy]

14. The proper thing to do is to fight it (not eat the sandwich)

That way, you die with dignity instead of like an animal.

The Dems must fight this with all their might and show how republicans have shamelessly used one poor person against another to try to steal from everyone.

[Sydnie]

19. I agree,

thus my life support analogy. Rage against the dying of the light!

[Sydnie]

21. Frist is laying out their talking points

of absolution for voting for this, dispite the rules that they have to step on to get there. All the GOOD this does so don't kill this bill. Support our troops, support our national security, support the Katrina victims ... blah blah blah.

A golden parachute for this bill has be deployed by Frist.

[WahooJunkie]

22. Here we go.... n/t

[Sydnie]

23. I can't breath and I have lost count! ACKK what's the number so far?

Anyone know?