C-SPAN-2: Conrad brings Senate to a halt. Fireworks!!

[longship]

Will he go nuclear?

Apparently, yes. He's going to object to all business before the Senate until Republicans agree to vote on emergency relief for drought stricken farmers.

Conrad withdrew the amendment yesterday with the agreement that Republicans would allow it to come forward today. He is being prevented today from doing that. So he is going to hold up Senate business until Republicans relent and abide by their agreement.

This is the bill and the Senator who threatened to go nuclear yesterday. He also did the LBJ in-your-face trick with Kay Bailey Hutchison (read at link).

Byron Dorgan spoke in support and Conrad is back up.

DUers. This is our new Democratic Senate in action.

[Nite Owl]

1. Thank you

read your post last night. This could be good.

[Coexist]

2. thanks for the heads up.

Lets get these farmers some help.

[wicket]

3. Time to pop some popcorn

:popcorn:

[pacalo]

4. I have it on now.

Dorgan just pointed out that only the farmers who were affected by Katrina received federal help; those farmers affected by drought & floods in other areas were not.

"Give these natural disasters a name" so that these farmers can get some help, said Dorgan.

[aquart]

82. Call them "Bush".

[Tatiana]

5. Whoa, I can't believe this is Kent Conrad I'm watching!

"This puts me in the position of having to object to conducting the remaining business."

Talking about a letter he received about a family that may be forced off their land if they don't get some assistance. Congress always responds in the case of natural disasters.

[Coexist]

6. Here it comes.

[Tatiana]

7. I'm loving the looks of disbelief. n/t

[helderheid]

8. thanks!

[Graybeard]

9. Repukes lied to Conrad ...

...why am I not surprised by that? They will continue their
thugish tactics to the last day of their majority. Good
riddance to these bastids.

[Tatiana]

10. Lautenberg (D) - NJ talking about number of troops who have died in Iraq.

Holiday season time, need to find some way to give "cheer" to those serving in Iraq. Talking about a gallery his office did ("Faces of the Fallen") with pictures of soldiers who have died.

157 soldiers died since Congress was last in session.

[shadowknows69]

11. He's bashing Seantors who want more troops now

Kicking ass.

[pacalo]

13. "Where were these suggestions when Gen. Shinseki said we needed more troops" (on the outset).

[longship]

12. Conrad is back up

nt

[0rganism]

14. hehe, I dare them to fuck with the filibuster rules now...

I DOUBLE DOG DARE THEIR SORRY ASSES!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

150. a point i completely forgot.

thank you.

[AllegroRondo]

156. the filibuster changes would only affect Bush appointees

such as to the Supreme Court or cabinet positions. The Bolton nomination would fall under this too.

Normal Senate business would not be affected.

[Tatiana]

15. On a completely shallow note, I'm taken with Conrad's tie.

Those striking shades of blue look really good on him.

[pacalo]

16. Calling a quorum now...

"Mr. Akaka..."

::crickets chirping::

"Mr. Alexander..."

[civildisoBDence]

159. 6 year nightmare, followed by a 2 year dream!

This is just a little prelude to what the next two years will be like!

Hell, yeah!

Newsprism

[Tatiana]

17. Another objection registered to Conrad's agricultural bill. n/t

[shadowknows69]

20. Don't back down Conrad

Slow these fuckers down.

[Tatiana]

18. Conrad is refusing to proceed to other business. Asks to proceed to agriculture appropriations bill

again.

"If good faith means something in this chamber, then it means the commitments are kept." (Poor Conrad, doesn't he realize Republicans are nothing but liars?)

[Skidmore]

19. Watching this fine Democratic Senator stick up for farmers is

heartening. However, I think back to the campaign season, and here the farmers had Nussle signs sprouting on their lawns because the GOP had them convinced that the Dems would take away their hunting rifles and their farms. One local farmer painted a billboard sized sign backing Nussle "because we deserve to keep our property when we die." My husband works with farmers who don't even know the names of their representatives, let alone how the legislative process affects them or the markets. One of his coworkers couldn't even name the governor of the state.

[pacalo]

35. Now, that's sad. Either they've been misinformed (Fox News?) or they're not taking the initiative

to find out what's really going on.

[aquart]

86. Because they are working their asses off to survive.

[prairie populist]

144. And trying to pay off the fuel bills racked up this summer thanks to $3 farm diesel

[pacalo]

21. Is he hinting about the Democrats going nuclear?

[longship]

23. Not hinting any longer.

He's doing it!

He's going to object to all further Senate business until the Ag bill comes up.

[pacalo]

27. I'm smiling, longship!

[longship]

22. This is escalating!!!

Conrad has drawn a line in the sand.

Dorgan is up now in support.

This is going to the wall.

[aquart]

111. Dorgan's website shows that's he's working w/Conrad on several bills.

[ThomWV]

24. The Earth Is Shaking Right Now

Dorgan is taking up the cause ....

[Tatiana]

25. Dorgan (D) - ND Reiterating that the Senate isn't doing anything.

"We're not doing anything because people object to doing things." People watching on the TV are going to think Congress doesn't do anything and will wonder why they aren't bringing up the agriculture appropriations bill.

[Subdivisions]

26. Great drama! Someone remind me...why are the Pukes objecting

to helping hurting farmers?

[FlaGranny]

30. Oil execs need the money more. n/t

[Subdivisions]

32. Yep. That's what I thought. n/t

[Tatiana]

28. OMFG, I am simply stunned!

Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan leading the charge in taking a stand against these Republican "do nothing" Congresspeople.

WOW.

[aquart]

108. I just emailed Thank Yous to both.

And added notes to my own senators wondering where they are.

[Tatiana]

29. Another objection to Dorgan's request to proceed to the Ag bill. n/t

[Skidmore]

33. Who did the objecting?

[malaise]

36. I'm loving it

Someone needs to tell the Rethugs that things have changed.

[longship]

37. The Chair, who can act as a Senator.

He's acting on instructions from the Repukes.
He will not allow the Ag bill to come up.

And the stand-off continues.

[Tatiana]

38. Presiding Republican. n/t

[Tatiana]

31. Dorgan adamant, raises his voice for a moment.

2/3 almost 3/4 of the US Senate support this bill.

Will there will be an opportunity for them to offer the amendment?

[Tatiana]

34. "Nobody does chores here in the Senate."

"These are people that work very hard and I think it's time for us to recognize the devastating effect natural disasters have on these families."

"When we get an agreement on when we can bring up the amendment, then we can move on."

Clerk calling the roll (AGAIN.......)

[Oreo]

39. Kick!

I was looking for a thread on this. I started one after I couldn't find anything

THIS IS IT PEOPLE!

[TahitiNut]

40. The Repukelickers must be in caucus - zero on the floor.

That's why the acting President pro-tem had to object "in his role as a Senator" I believe.

Since they just selected their new 'leadership team' for the 110th Congress, I wonder if they're off getting their ducks in line.

Dorgan and Conrad seem to be getting blocked by the GOP out of sheer partisan venom. How dare a state without a Repukelicker Senator ask for relief?

:eyes:

[malaise]

41. Dems should be organizing the

press conference -Reid, Conrad and Dorgan. Great stuff.

[shadowknows69]

42. Everyone should be made to watch CSPAN

Then they'd really see what greedy scumfucks the rethugs are. I mean why should they help out American farmers when India needs a nukular agreement.

[TahitiNut]

57. Every time I watch the Senate in session, I remember ...

... being a guest on the floor and sitting for a minute at the desk you can see at the very left of the screen when the camera is on the podium. That was late summer of '62, also when I was a sideboy for JFK. Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) hosted a few of us and brought us onto the floor when the Senate wasn't in session but the House was. When we went to the House's VIP visitor's gallery, our names were read into the Congressional Record. Heady times. I guess I'm one of the few ordinary citizens who's sat his round rump down both on the floor of the Senate and in the British House of Commons (only to be chastized, of course).

[stevedeshazer]

151. That's incredible

In a good way.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

152. Congratulations to you...

... you have personally witnessed part of the U.S. Congress and the British Parliament. Experiencing one's and another's governmental process is enlightening, isn't it?

You are also old -- which imparts extra wisdom -- but I think you knew that. :-)

Stay nutty.

[Tatiana]

43. I hope Dorgan and Conrad don't back down.

Can we ship a few Dem Senators over to help them out on the floor?

[malaise]

44. They won't n/t

[malaise]

54. Conrad objects again

I love it.

[AbbyR]

155. Where are Lincoln and Pryor?

They are always saying how pro-ag they are.

[longship]

45. I just talked to Kent Conrad's DC office.

The staffer who answered the phone seemed elated. Then I told her that we here at DU were all cheering. She *beamed*.

They seemed to be really charged up about this.

I expressed my views and told them we want them to go to the wall about this.
Apparently, they are already committed to that course.

[helderheid]

47. I sure appreciate this report!

:yourock:

[Oreo]

48. Why doesn't this have 50 recommends?

This is what everybody's been waiting for

[helderheid]

50. I keep trying to recommend but it says I already did

:evilgrin:

[troubleinwinter]

52. Thanks for the reminder. Done.

[Tatiana]

49. Good going, longship!

I don't want to see them back down.

Oh boy. Here's DeMint!

[goclark]

67. I like him, that is the kind of leadership we need for

the PEOPLE.

How can the Repukelicon party not be for the FARMERS!

FARMERS are as American as Apple Pie.

[Robbien]

68. What's the number, please

This man deserves another call.

Do you have the number handy?

[Skidmore]

46. CSPAN has soothing music on today.

Too bad! I liked the music they selected yesterday. It added to the drama of the day.

[napi21]

51. They appear to be back but now presenting something else???

Conrad is back.

[napi21]

59. Conrad insisting on a vote before they do anything else.

He's being a bit too nice, but he said he has acted in good faith, and is now given no other option but to insist on a vote NOW!

[longship]

53. Conrad let a couple pressing matters go through.

But is now calling a halt to things, again.

He says that he did so "in good faith" but now must draw the line until the agreement made to him yesterday "in good faith" is honored.

He says, "I am insisting" that the committment be kept.

[Tatiana]

55. Conrad's back!

He certainly doesn't want to "impede" other pending matters.

Reiterates the promise made to him that he would be allowed to bring up the agriculture bill.

Commitments made but not kept.

No choice left but to object to any other business. He wishes they weren't in this position.

Republicans tried to raise rule 16. Amendement drafted in a way that rule 16 doesn't apply.

Been trying to months just to get a vote.

Insisting on the commitment being kept. We should budget for natural disasters. Maybe that's what we should do.

[LeftCoast]

80. Rule 16?

Just out of curiosity, which one is that?

[helderheid]

56. I'm dancing!

[Greeby]

58. Visual representation

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[helderheid]

60. :D

[Oreo]

63. We're back and Conrad still isn't backing down

Woohoo!

[MazeRat7]

61. So basically the bastids broke another promise.....

And Conrad is a bit steamed about it....

On a different note, budgeting for disasters ? You mean planning ahead ? ...thats crazy talk I tell ya :sarcasm:

MZr7

[longship]

62. I called Randi.

Producer asked for my comment.

I asked if she knew what was happening on the Senate floor. She said, "No."

I told her, "Kent Conrad has brought Senate proceedings to a halt."
I filled her in and told her we are discussing it on DU.

She said, "We'll look into it."

[helderheid]

65. have I mentioned you rock?

[longship]

71. Not me, Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan.

And the rest of the Democrats who are undoubtedly supporting this.

[helderheid]

69. OK, I'm tuned in to both to see if she'll talk about it

[longship]

92. Randi not talking about it.

Darn it. Randi, this is big news.

[Bucky]

64. I have learned an important lesson today. Don't fuck with Conrad.

What's with lying to the guy the week after they all made such pretty speeches about bipartisanship? What this one last hurrah for the fuck-you politics of one party rule? What's beauty here is that this stops all business, including the Bolton nomination, and the Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. I'd love to see ol' Kent sustain a two month filibuster!!

[Tatiana]

66. This is sorta like that time Reid filibustered and read from a book all day.

What was the name of it? Spotlight on something-or-other? I was amazed at his stamina.

[malaise]

83. HaHaHa

Conrad is showing them pictures of the drought affected areas. I think I'll understand all the ways drought affects corn before this is done. I'm loving it.
Pass the popcorn - this could take a while.:popcorn: :rofl:

[Tatiana]

90. LMAO!

Actually, I'm learning something. Crop insurance is not designed for repeated drought/disasters. Coverage level diminished with repeated losses.

:popcorn:

[Spazito]

93. I watched him during that filibuster, it was from his book about his

hometown, Searchlight. From that point on, I have always had a soft spot for him.

[Pastiche423]

100. Searchlight: The Camp That Didn't Fail

is the book Senator Reid read on the Senate floor on Novemner 10, 2003.

7:00 P.M.

Senator Reid is now reading from his book, Searchlight: The Camp That Didn't Fail. His book is a detailed history of the town of Searchlight, Nevada which was founded in 1898. Searchlight also happens to be Senator Reid's hometown. To this point Senator Reid has read aloud three chapters of his 233 page book.


7:30 P.M.

Senator Reid has just informed the Senate that he has another 25 chapters to go before he reaches the end of Searchlight: The Camp That Didn't Fail. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois briefly interrupted Senator Reid to inquire about how the town of Searchlight got its name. Senator Reid has said that the Senator from Illinois will not have to wait that much longer to hear the answer to that question. According to Senator Reid, Searchlight is a small town that's "coming along." It has one motel and a McDonalds with a very tall flag poll.

[Tatiana]

109. LMAO! Yes, that's the one.

I was literally ROTFL when *my* Senator (Durbin) asked him how Searchlight got it's name. And then Reid told him he'd find out soon.

[in_cog_ni_to]

70. NOTHING will go forward until the repuke slimeball LIARS do what

they PROMISED they would do! Go CONRAD! GO DORGAN!

[in_cog_ni_to]

72. 77 Senators voted for Conrad's amendment. Now the poor losers

won't let it go forward. What a bunch of assholes.

[Tatiana]

73. Dorgan quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Each year we have to come to the Senate to ask for a separate disaster package (due to Republicans changing the rules).

"What's it worth to have a kid who knows how to fix a tractor?"

[Hav]

74. .

Thanks for these threads.
Good for Conrad and I hope he has success.

Yep, for the Repubs, their time is finally over :).

[longship]

75. Get your Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan phone numbers here.

Kent Conrad - [phone]
Byron Dorgan - 202-224-2551

Go to it, DUers.

[Tatiana]

78. Called!

My support is appreciated and will be forwarded to the Senators. Gave my name and where I was calling from. The lady in Conrad's office seemed to be surprised I was from IL.

[aquart]

114. Emailed!

[Tatiana]

76. Dorgan - President (Bush) has previously said he would veto legislation like this.

"But in the time since he said that, things have changed."

:rofl:

[longship]

77. But it's a veto-proof majority.

With Senate support at 77, it's likely that the veto will get overridden. That's why the Repukes are puking all over the bill.

[Tatiana]

81. I know! LOL

I just thought that little dig was funny. I wonder how long the thugs will hold out?

[Greeby]

79. Conrad bringing out the visual aids

Tragic picture hes got there

[helderheid]

84. this is heartbreaking - why the fuck are they trying to stop him???

[troubleinwinter]

88. TahitiNut had it: "sheer partisan venom"

[Greeby]

89. The motto of the Republican Party:

"What part of fuck off and die do you not understand?" :puke:

[in_cog_ni_to]

94. They're mad because they lost the election...SORE LOSERS

and this is the last time they will ever be able to control ANYTHING in the Senate. rat bastards.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

96. It is because they are assholes.

Assholes are what they be.

[malaise]

85. Indeed but

I'm ROTFL at the way he has control of the floor.

[Tatiana]

87. Guess we're in for the long haul if he's brought out the visual aids.

Also talking about drought in Minnesota, South Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Texas, and Oklahoma.

[AbbyR]

157. It's bad in Arkansas, too

They just had to condemn a building in the local school district because groundwater had gotten so low the foundation moved - or something like that. And our farmers are really suffering. I say again, where are Lincoln and Pryor?

[Tatiana]

158. That's awful.

Unfortunately, we've got to do a better job of reaching out to our "red state" brothers and sisters. We have to let them know that situations like the one you just described will be ignored when you elect Republicans.

They really have become the Corporate Party.

[AbbyR]

160. Our senators are Democrats....

But they are about as far right as you can get and still BE a Democrat.

[Gregorian]

91. Can anyone explain the nuclear option in layman's terms?

After googling, and getting a basic idea, I'm still a bit fuzzy.

Here's an example of the fun kind of terminology used in describing the nuclear option-
From this amazing link- http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/legislative_issues/federal_issues/hot_issues_in_congress/confirmation_watch/nuclear_option.htm


The way this procedural maneuver would work — as it did in 1975 — would be that, at the time of a cloture vote to end debate, the Senate majority would secure a ruling from the chair that Standing Rule XXII does not apply. The chair, likely the Vice President, would probably agree and rule in favor of the majority. The issue would then be brought to a vote, and the minority, probably through the Minority Leader, would note that the issue is debatable and, hence, also subject to a filibuster.

The parliamentarian, relying on Senate precedent, would agree. The chair would then recognize a non-debatable motion to table. At this point, the majority could overrule the anti-majoritarian precedent, uphold the ruling of the chair, and proceed to a final yea-or-nay vote on the original question by securing a simple majority vote in favor of the motion to table.

[Sgent]

107. The "nuclear option"

is a republican proposed maneuver to eliminate a super-majority requirement for cloture in the case of judicial appointments.

What Conrad is doing is the Democratic planned response to the nuclear option -- a shutdown.

The Senate requires unanimous consent to operate -- otherwise each action must be voted on, each bill read out loud 3 times, each vote confirmed by a second vote, etc. It requires a half dozen votes, 2 full readings of a bill out loud, etc to merely vote on a single resolution.

Conrad is denying that unanimous consent.

[Gregorian]

121. Thanks

I was confused because it isn't really the nuclear option. I thought it was more of a shutdown. But I didn't know why. Thanks for that bit of info. There is a lot going on that most of us do not know about. Even that simple unanimous consent to operate. I didn't know that. It's amazing the depth of content the framers went into, creating this government.

[POAS]

95. This post was made at 3:06 and I just got in at 4:45 and

Conrad is talking. Has he been on the floor talking all this time?

[Cerridwen]

97. DU time on your post shows me 1:45p, it's 2:45p where I am...

goofy time on DU or my PC or your PC?

Hmmmmmmmmm

Edit: changed my time zone in user preferences. D'OH!

[POAS]

102. Times shown are dependent on

the time zone you are in. I was only trying to find out if he's been up there talking for over 1.5 hours.

[Cerridwen]

105. Oops, sorry, didn't understand your question....n/t

[POAS]

110. Is OK.

[longship]

99. Off and on, yes.

He's sharing the task with Byron Dorgan. There have been several quorum calls, none of which went very far before one or the other of the ND Senators stood up again to talk.

They are literally filibustering the chamber and will furthermore object to any Senate business being brought before the chamber. It's like a super filibuster.

[POAS]

101. Good on 'em!

[MazeRat7]

98. Did I understand this Disaster Relief bill was for all the states

that he listed from the Dakotas through Texas OR is this specific to N. Dakota ?

MZr7

[Tatiana]

103. Conrad suspends the reading of the roll.

Then he yields the floor to DeWine (R - Ohio), provided he gets to speak again.

DeWine wants to pay tribute to a marine.

[longship]

104. DeWine is up; Conrad to follow.

Honoring a fallen soldier.

Then, more of the Kent Conrad show.

[MazeRat7]

106. So their answer to the impasse is to "change the subject" ?

:wtf:

[KyndCulture]

112. That was my first thought.

And they don't do this for EVERY fallen soldier so what kinda emotional trick is deWine playin at here.

I'm getting the message, fuck the farmers, send more money to Iraq.

[longship]

113. No. Conrad is letting some things happen.

He won't stop urgent business. (Already done, now.)
He won't stop the honoring of a fallen Marine. (Good for him for that.)

It's called being reasonable in spite of the fact that Repukes are not.

He'll be back up in a bit.

[Robbien]

115. Plus these pauses are handy for potty breaks.

Fillabustering is hard on the kidneys.

[aquart]

116. Well, it does give him a chance to rest his voice.

[Tatiana]

117. DeW(h)ine: ***ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz***

He sounds so insincere. I hope Ohio gets rid of him.

On edit: LOL, forgot they did. Smart people, those Ohioans.

[Oreo]

119. Your wish is granted

He lost last Tuesday

[KyndCulture]

120. They did, I thought.

[Nictuku]

122. They did

Ohio did get rid of DeWine. Sherod Brown is their new Democratic Senator!!

Buh Bye DeWine!!!

[longship]

118. Update: Conrad's doing this smart.

He just let through a "continuing resolution" for appropriations. He doesn't want to shut down government, just the Senate.

Also, DeWine wants to honor more dead soldiers, which nobody should stop.

So we have more DeWhine before we get back to the Kent and Byron show.

[Oreo]

123. From my standpoint

DeWine is helping Conrad here. He's giving him time to bring in more Dem Senators to help keep this up. That or giving Frist an opportunity to reconsider his heartless decision not to help the farmers.

I could be wrong though

[Tatiana]

125. Well, it looks like there might be a bit of dissention.

The Presiding Chair is obviously taking his cue from higher up (Lott? Frist?) in voicing his objections as a Senator. But DeWine looked distinctly uncomfortable and conflicted, in my opinion, when Conrad agreed to yield the floor to him.

[longship]

126. I agree.

Meanwhile, no other bills are being considered, no other Senate business is being handled.

Conrad's going to win this stand-off.

[Buttercup McToots]

128. Ye think?

DeWine is still talkin`...
(gawd, i hate Pat Bucannan)

[prairierose]

124. kick

:kick:

[Oreo]

127. Who's going to read from a phonebook first?

:)

[Uncle Joe]

142. Considering the drought, I was thinking of them reading from " An Inconvenient Truth"

I believe it would be appropriate and maybe it would motivate the Republicans to let the Agricultural relief go forward.

Kudos to both Conrad and Dorgan

Kicked and recommended

[Tatiana]

129. DeW(h)ine yields, thank G-d.

Conrad recognizes the service and sacrifice of soldiers. Acknowledges that DeWhine is leaving the Senate and proceded to give him a good-natured send-off.

DeWhine says that they can work across the aisle and get things done.

LIKE PUTTING THE AG BILL UP FOR A VOTE, MAYBE? HELLO!!!!!

[longship]

130. Conrad has the visual aids again.

Looks like he has more coming.

Kent is standing strong. What an example he is setting.

Repukes cannot stop the Democrats now.

We rule!

[dogday]

131. That is how the Republicans feel....

Tough, you are on your own... Help yourself, we are not going to help you.... I hope they get some help for all those families....

[MazeRat7]

132. Yes... We Are Listening.....

Call and let his staffers know... the numbers are posted earlier in this thread!!!!

I've called and told them we are lisetning down here in Texas and he has my support!!!

MZr7

[Oreo]

133. Another Quorum call

[Cerridwen]

134. Adjorn for the evening while leadership resolves the issue

with the understanding that they return tomorrow with this as the "status quo."

Translation: you ain't gettin' out of it that easy. We're gonna keep doin' this until we get it right!

:evilgrin:

[Tatiana]

135. Another quorum?

Also, I think these proceedings also illustrate the impotance of having two Democratic Senators representing our States. When it comes to the interests of the everyday worker, the Republicans can obviously not be trusted to do what's right or even keep their commitments to bring a bill up for a vote. Dorgan's support of Conrad has been crucial here.

Having two Democratic Senators enables us to know our interests will be fought for in Congress. I feel a lot better knowing my own Senators (Obama and Durbin) will fight for the issues vital to Illinois residents.

[peacetalksforall]

136. Sounds like the Chairman asked for an adjournment for the

evening with half a promise to resume tomorrow. I didn't hear any response. Instead Conrad continued with his ag facts.

[Tatiana]

137. His visual aids were very colorful.

Looks like they will adjourn? Will anyone else speak?

[Oreo]

138. It's ok

No reason to go through the night. As long as when they come back, Conrad starts to hammer them again.

[Cameron27]

139. Thank you so much

I just saw your thread & turned on C-Span & there's a quorum call right now....this is such good news, it's been a long time!

:)

[LSK]

140. everytime I turn on CSPAN2 they are on quorum call

:banghead:

[Cerridwen]

141. The Senate is currently waiting for a senator to come to the floor

to speak.

Conrad yielded the floor stating "note lack of quorum"

"All I ask of my colleagues is that we vote on this" (Paraphrase from memory)

Action is being held up pending deal on Ag amendment (CSPAN Title)

edit to add: CSPAN voiceover saying Senate discussing adjorning for the evening.

[Tatiana]

143. Republican leadership assures Conrad (again!) they will let him offer up the amendment tomorrow.

They want to adjourn for the day.

Notes the absence of a quorum.

Uhhhhhhh, do we *really* trust the Republicans to keep their word on this?

Conrad should continue to tie up Senate business until they get a vote.

[TahitiNut]

145. It sounds like football season in 'Peanuts' - Lucy is a Republican.

:puke:

[donkeyotay]

146. Alright everyone wanting Democrats to move to the center

Here are two fine Democratic senators that the center and moderate Republicans could support - and yet, they also appeal to the base.

Dorgan for President.
Conrad for President.
How's that sound?

[LSK]

147. are they done? they are playing something else now

[longship]

148. New thread with final report on today's proceedings.

I have posted a summary of today's proceedings for evening DUers.

Please take further posts to that thread.
Thanks.

[Chichiri]

149. And these are CONSERVATIVE Democrats from a RED STATE!

Let it not be said that North Dakota isn't good for anything. :-D

[eridani]

153. Standing up for his constituents, and standing up for all of us

I want more of this, a lot more!

[upi402]

154. This shows just how obstructionist Republicans are

When we have to show the public that they are obstructing after January this will be helpful.

I LIKE SPINE!!!:bounce:

[Heywood J]

161. It wasn't mentioned on the other thread yet.

Anyone know what's become of things this morning? Thanks.

[HappyWeasel]

162. Wow! Its ass whooping time!!!

[warrens]

163. You go, Kent

It's been a disaster up there and aid was promised in AUGUST.