I know we're all on outrage overload here today, but this just

[whometense]

boggles the mind. I happened to catch Byron Dorgan speaking about missing billions and contract abuse in Iraq yesterday - passionately - and went over to check the vote.

Question: On the Amendment (Dorgan Amdt. No. 4292 )
Vote Number: 176 Vote Date: June 20, 2006, 11:18 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Amendment Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 4292 to S. 2766 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 )
Statement of Purpose: To establish a special committee of the Senate to investigate the awarding and carrying out of contracts to conduct activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and to fight the war on terrorism.

Vote Counts: YEAs 44
NAYs 52

I thankfully missed the Republican arguments against the amendment, but have a huge amount of trouble imagining what they might have been.

For the record, Chaffee was the only Repug to vote aye.

[Inuca]

1. I think

that the main "argument" against as per Warner was that there is already some kind of (sub)committee or some other structure supposed to deal with these kind of issues, among other things.

[whometense]

3. Thanks.

And, yeah, right. :eyes:

[Inuca]

2. Also, a rethorical question

Why doesn't Chaffee turn democrat? He will have an easier re-election :-). He seems to vote with the Dems more often than Ben Nelson. I just heard him vote yes on Kennedy's minimum wage amendment.

[whometense]

4. I don't know - family tradition?

Good question, though.

I just heard Warner vote aye too. I wonder if it actually has a chance of passing??

[Inuca]

5. Specter, another aye

I am only half listening while reading and such, but I also thought I heard an aye for Hutchinson ?!?!? I must have been dreaming...

[whometense]

6. I'm CONFUSED!!!!!

The amendment passed and then was immediately withdrawn??? and now they're voting on the Enzi amendment??

HELP, Tay!!

[Inuca]

7. It DID pass?

I was away from the computer for a few minutes. Equally confused as to what withdrawing it means. They had already agreed to vote on the Enzi amendment right after the Kennedy, but since Kennedy passed and they are mutually exclusive... I have no idea what it means.

[TayTay]

8. I think I heard yesterday that they both have to pass with 60 votes

It must be some sort of condition under which both amendments were submitted. They need 3/5ths of the Senators 'duly sworn' to approve the amendment.

So some Rethugs can vote how they actually feel, since it doesn't matter anyway. BTW, the Enzi 'poison pill' amendment will also 'fail.' (I hope.)

[whometense]

9. Ahh...

thanks. I think it had 56 votes? So that's a fail.

Enzi's is doing much worse.

[Inuca]

10. This may be it!

Budgetary point of order or whatever it is called was mentioned yesterday by both Kennedy and Enzi, hence the 60 votes. The Enzi poison pill (like the description) seems to be getting fewer votes than Kennedy. By the way, what happened with Dodd's Guantanamo thing yesterday?

[TayTay]

11. I think there will be a vote after the vote on the Kerry Amendment

Curious that the winthdrawal amendment that poses a 1 year deadline is called the Kerry Amendment by almost everyone. I thought it was the Kerry/Feingold amendment. Most of the Rethugs just call it the Kerry Amendment.

[Blaukraut]

12. Curious indeed

I wonder what devilry they're planning with the ommission of Feingold's name?

[wisteria]

13. Frankly, I think Rove is out to put and end to Kerry. He doesn't

mind Feingold, he can take care of him later. This is why it is so important to stand up to this bully. Why don't the other dem's "get it".

[Blaukraut]

14. I'd like to 'put an end' to Rove

There has to be something, anything, that can be used on him! Some sort of scandal, skeleton in his closet we can make hay of.
Oh, why can't he go the way of his mentor Atwater.

[JanusAscending]

15. I think I read yesterday at GD, that Feingold was willing

to compromise with the other Dems ammendment, but that "our guy" was holding firm on his stance. This may be why all the venom will be aimed at him????? edited for a P.S. I've just about had enough of Warner from VA over the past two days!! He needs to retire!!!

[Blaukraut]

16. He should marry Liz Taylor again. Keep him busy at home.

Warner is about as useless as an old shoe with shit on the sole.

[Inuca]

18. Confusing subject :-)

I thought you were referring to Feingold! She's a bit old for him...

[Blaukraut]

20. Oh hell, he needs a wife before '08, too.

But you just had me spitting my coffee all over my keyboard.
Picture it; Russ and Liz in married bliss. (She does like younger men these days!):spray:

[Inuca]

17. This sounds like BS

If Feingold likes the compromise appealing, who's stopping him from supporting it and dropping his name from Kerry's amendment?

[JanusAscending]

19. Please don't shoot the messenger,

I agree with you, but this is what I read yesterday. I'll try to find the post. DC