anyone watching the Senate right now?

[ginnyinWI]

A heated debate going on about an amendment Reid proposed about who should be allowed security clearance--meaning people like Rove who are being investigated...

I think the Dems are trying to get them on record as being soft on terrorism.

[whometense]

1. Thanks, Ginny,

Just got home, and I'd like to say that Susan Collins is a nitwit.

[MH1]

2. Heh. That's why I hang out here.

I just posted a diary on dkos about it - thinking someone might like a live thread - somewhat wondering why there wasn't one.

I was promptly insulted by long-time poster KagroX. "Haven't you read a newspaper lately" or something similar.

So I deleted the diary. Screw them. What a bunch of yahoos.

Meanwhile - did you see Boxer? she was great (as always)!

On edit: I mistook Kagro's comment - he injected too much snark too fast for my sleep-deprived sensibilities. I posted my apology to him after he explained his comment. But I'll hang out here anyway.

[whometense]

3. Missed her.

Heard Levin get cut off, Collins, and Elmer Fudd Coleman, and Durbin.

[whometense]

4. Talking Points Memo

has this:

From another TPM Reader ...

Harry Reid just introduced an amendment to the homeland security appropriations that would prevent anyone who discloses the identity of a covert CIA operative from having a security clearance. There will be 90 minutes of debate, and then a vote.

It's on C-SPAN2.

Late Update: You've got to watch this. They've got Sen. Coleman (R-WH) as Rove's designate water-carrier ... Now other Republican senators are standing up with cries of fealty. Duce! Duce! Think of Sen. Geary's impromptu speech at Michael's hearing in Godfather II.

I'm afraid I can't watch any more of this or I may have a stroke. Frist is such a mealymouthed asshole he makes me sick.

[ginnyinWI]

5. Great theatre. They're voting now on Frist's. n/t

[whometense]

6. I've never hated anyone

as intensely as I do these people. It kind of scares me. I'm not normally a hater.

Hey, McCain voted no. Is he the only crossover?

Also no:

Hagel
Snowe
Warner
Voinovich too.

[Mass]

7. The amendment is dead. at least 7 or 8 crossovers.

Edit

at this point YES 34 NO 62.

[whometense]

9. Thank god.

But that was f***ing hilarious. Did you see how all those wingnuts waited till they saw which way it was going to go and then safely voted on the winning side? What a bunch of chickenshits.

[Mass]

11. Final vote 33-64.

[whometense]

19. Check out David Sirota

http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=17326780-A8E3-43D1-9BB65588200E3A94

VOTE ALERT: On defensive about Rove, GOP shoots self in the foot

According to sources on Capitol Hill, Republicans are proposing a counter-amendment to the Democrats upcoming legislation that cracks down on those who leak classified government information. The GOP's amendment, while designed to politicize the issue, hilariously ends up boomeranging and embarrassing their own Senators.

The text of the GOP amendment inserts the following language into the Democrats legislation:

"...or any federal officeholder who makes reference to a classified Federal Bureau of Investigation report on the floor of the United States Senate, or any federal officeholder that makes a statement based on a FBI agent¹s comments which is used as propaganda by terrorist organizations thereby putting our servicemen and women at risk, shall not be permitted access to such information or to hold a security clearance for access to such information."

The amendment is clearly targeted at Senator Dick Durbin's (D) controversial comments about Guantanamo Bay, in which he cited FBI files. But what's funny is that, according to one top Democrat's office, the amendment also strips Orin Hatch of his security clearance because he has in the past referenced judicial nominees' FBI files.

In fact, every Senator who participated in an Armed Services Committee hearing on Gitmo yesterday might lose their clearance because the FBI agents comments were discussed. Those Republicans who participated in that hearing were Sens. John Warner (R-VA), John McCain (R-AZ), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), and John Cornyn (R-TX). Will they vote to strip themselves of their own security clearance?

Of course not, which shows how pathetically juvenile and stupid the GOP's response is. Instead of joining with Democrats to protect America's national security, Republicans are pushing a transparent ploy to allow Karl Rove, a national security threat, to continue working in the White House, and to continue to have access to sensitive material that he could once again use to grind an axe against the GOP's political opponents. It's not going to work - Americans don't like national security risks in the White House, no matter how many GOP hacks in the Senate try to change the subject. Stay tuned.

Posted by David Sirota at 2:12 PM | Link
categories: Shameless Hypocrisy, National Insecurity

[Mass]

20. It may sense

It was hillarious to see solid conservatives like Talent, Sessions, or Allen voting against their leadership, and people switching their votes as they realized they were targetted by the amendment.

[TayTay]

21. I saw some of this

I saw Sen. Sweetie (Durbin) come to the floor and try and bring some sanity to the walking clown circus that is the Rethug Senate. OMG. These people haave simply lost it. That amendment was the dumbest thing I have ever heard of!

Apparently the thought of losing their Dear Leader and Rethug Master Mind has unhinged this bunch. They are now submitting things that were clearly drawn up by the janitorial crew. (Sorry, didn't mean to smear good working people.) My dog could have written a better amendment than that.

I tink the Rove ploy worked. It completely bamboozled the Repukes. That was one of the weridest Senate sessions I've ever seen.

I wonder how they can possibly top themselves tomorrow. Is anyone else starting to feel like 2006 is gonig to be a Democratic Year?

[MH1]

12. Agree - hilarious.

People who don't watch this stuff but then watch "reality tv" have no idea what they're missing.

But I have to say this amendment was one of the more whacko I've seen.

[LittleClarkie]

13. Like some kind of loyalty oath

If you say anything bad about our country, even if true, you'll be punished. I thought truth was always a defense.

What about the other amendment? The one about Rove? Is it getting voted on today?

[MH1]

15. Voting on Reid amendment now.

They just read all the votes so far but I forgot to listen for key ones. I heard Specter vote no, so I think it's going down.

That's okay though - gets the repubs on record.

[MH1]

18. Reid amdt: 44-53

Who are the chicken****s who didn't vote?

[whometense]

16. That's the Reid one.

They're voting right now. Looks like it's going to lose too. Only dems voting aye.

[whometense]

14. Completely juvenile.

It's psycho theater.

You can see the crossovers (Hagel, Warner, etc) consider themselves the adults in the room.

I wish I had that exact Kerry quote - remember the one about how they always vote in a bloc?

[MH1]

17. No, I must have missed that one, but I can

imagine.

Like all the repubs are voting 'no' on Reid amendment now.

[LittleClarkie]

8. My diagnosis is that he's an asshole

but then, I've only seen him on video tape.

[whometense]

10. hahahahaha

Perfect.