Nelson and Tester vote with republicans to stall President's jobs bill

[bigtree]

___ U.S. President Barack Obama's $447 billion jobs bill was knocked down by the Democratic-controlled Senate on Tuesday, as it received 51 votes but fell short of the necessary 60 votes needed to kill the Republican filibuster.

Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Jon Tester of Montana were reportedly the only Democrats to vote against the bill. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., had made it clear earlier that he intended to vote in favor of ending the Republican filibuster, but that he hadn't any intention to support the bill if it reached a final vote.


read: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/229350/20111011/the-u-s-senate-killed-obama-s-jobs-bill-it-failed-to-get-60-votes.htm

[Generic Other]

1. What the hell!

And that my friends is why this party is losing!

[stevedeshazer]

2. I just don't see what Tester thinks he has to gain

Voting against a jobs bill in an election year?

The employment situation in Montana ain't all that great.

[trueblue2007]

5. Tester isn't a DEM.... he is a dam Repuke! any DEM who voted against the jobs bill should be impeac

[BzaDem]

3. Tester apparently did so from the left, at least according to some here.

Many here do not like the SS payroll tax cut and don't like the other tax cuts, and those are his two reasons (unless I missed something) for opposing the bill.

[bigtree]

7. according to the Washington Examiner:

Tester criticized the bill as sending billions in bailout aid to states and containing "tax gimmicks" that don't address deficit reduction.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/10/tester-votes-republicans-against-jobs-bill

[valerief]

8. Like America is going to get ANYTHING BETTER?

Dems are the old men on park benches who throw crumbs to the pigeons. Repubs are old men who shoot pigeons.

[BzaDem]

10. Ah; I missed that. You are correct. n/t

[WillyT]

4. Ok... I Know We Disagree Many Times, But I Gotta Ask...

So why doesn't the Senate Whip and the Senate Leader, and the President himself, sit these fuckers down in a meeting, and say something like, "Look, I really need your vote on this. We HAVE to show unity against the Republicans. And if I can't get your vote on something this important, then I don't think I can support your efforts in the future."

Threat being: If you support me, you will have whatever help appropriate to your re-election and future legislation. If you oppose me, I will direct various entities in the party to look for an alternative to you, and throw all resources to THEIR election. I will work to DEFEAT YOU!

Is it really that difficult?

:shrug:

[bigtree]

6. well, for one

Tester was more concerned with what Montanans thought of him than he was worried the President had any significant influence in his conservative state. He used republican hooks to dismiss the bill, like criricizing the 'bailouts' to the states. He faces a challenge by Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg in 2012.

[valerief]

9. Maybe that was done. Whatever happened to good old fashioned goons?

They use them on the Occupy protesters.

[BzaDem]

11. It isn't a credible threat in Nebraska or Montana. Opposition by a Democratic President helps them

with the public in those states, and it is unlikely that any non-incumbent Democrat would win in either state absent a huge Democratic wave.

[butterfly77]

12. They voted that way because...

they are really republiCONS. THEY NEED TO BE VOTED OUT. THEY ARE DINO'S.