Letters to the Editor
bystander
Published Letters: 1348
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Jkalos
[Read the article: Today]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You really need the full 250 count thread at FDL to get a sense, but selectively pulling comments to offer the gist... The formatting isn't pretty. Whole thing can be found at the link to my sig.
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cboldt February 7th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
26
In response to JimWhite @ 16
Did I really hear Harry say Dodd has cut his “filibuster” down to four hours on Tuesday?
Yes. Final passage looks to be afternoon or evening of Tuesday next week.
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bmaz February 7th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
52
In response to cboldt @ 26
Okay, why even bother with a stated and pre-limited 4 hour filibuster? Am I missing something, or is this just a speech, cause it sure doesn’t look or sound like any filibuster? WTF?
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selise February 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
55
In response to bmaz @ 52
i don’t think it’s been a filibuster since last thursday’s UC.
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bmaz February 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
62
In response to selise @ 55
But why the hell even bother? This is just stupid….
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selise February 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
63
In response to bmaz @ 52
furthermore… when calling senator’s offices on monday, neither dodd’s nor feingold’s office could explain their lack of objection to the UC (although an aide in feingold’s office called me back to say that it was the way that the senate works).
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selise February 7th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
68
In response to bmaz @ 62
kabuki.
remember those posts on the UC - the ones that called it a win for the Ds? i’m thinking that came directly from reid’s office. but i think it was pure bullshit.
bullshit that we are not supposed to see through (like we did last august).
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cboldt February 7th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
197
In response to phred @ 177
if Dodd can hold things up until the 15 day deadline comes and goes,
He can’t, under the rules, if a cloture motion is filed to limit debate on final passage. Also, his getting 4 hours post cloture is itself a deviation upward from Rule XXII. Post-cloture, each senator is limited to ONE hour, but can get time from other senators, up to two hours total.
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cboldt February 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
200
In response to bmaz @ 188
can you explain what value Dodd’s four hours have at this point?
It’s self-serving.
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phred February 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
205
In response to cboldt @ 197
Thanks cboldt, I appreciate the clarification. I just hate being railroaded like this. I was counting on Dodd to at least go down with a fight. Guess that’s not gonna happen. And Russ agreeing to the UC, even though he KNOWS how bad this is. When even your “friends” fail you, what are you left with?
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bmaz February 7th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
208
In response to cboldt @ 200
They just decided to let Dodd engage in a soliloquy? How pathetic for them and Dodd.
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cboldt February 7th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
217
In response to phred @ 205
I was counting on Dodd to at least go down with a fight.
The buzzphrase “traditional filibuster” conjures up images of an event that is possible, but is rarely effective, and can easily be short-circuited with cloture.
When 60+ senators are agin’ ya’, there’s only so much time that can be burned up before the fight is over, Losing is inevitable.
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selise February 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
228
In response to cboldt @ 217
i really thought there was a slim chance to torpedo the bill - but only if no UC on requiring 60 votes for any of the amendments. the Rs had been telegraphing how much they didn’t want to be the ones filibustering, they might have been willing to risk passage of a poison pill. which would leave it up to bush/cheney to veto.
that’s why i thought the UC was the real capitulation.
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cboldt February 7th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
232
some fights are worth fighting if only to stand up for a principle and shame all those unprincipled people around you.
Absolutely. But Senate rules circumscribe the extent of that activity - timewise.
Senator Dodd effectively used the combination of a looming holiday recess and insisting on 30 hours of post cloture debate (on the motion to take up FISA) to push FISA from December into January. Thurmond’s successful (record long) hold the floor and talk was effective — because it too was pushing against an extended recess.
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Arne
[Read the article: Today]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Like cozying up to a porcupine. I doubt you'll even get a Valentine's Day card. And, I'm with Anonymust; beware any gift of chocolates.
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pow wow
[Read the article: Today]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You're a treasure. Thanks.
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Thanks, and thanks
[Read the article: Today]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]EJ: Thanks for that update. One can only hope.
FYI, on a different note, I got an email from Chris Dodd.
Please take a moment to watch this short message I've recorded.
I just wanted to express my thanks once again for all your help throughout this campaign.
http://chrisdodd.com/thankyou/national
Chris Dodd
Paid for by Chris Dodd for President, Inc., PO Box 51882, Washington, DC 20091, Info@ChrisDodd.com
It's a nice thank you. I can't help but think it might have been a back door request for a contribution - there was an earlier email asking supporters to help him retire his campaign debt - and this link does include a contribute button. Perhaps I'm a sucker, but I plan to hit that button later today. I know people's feelings about Chris Dodd are mixed relative to the current FISA situation in the senate, but I remind myself that had he not been willing in the very beginning to take up this issue, telecom immunity would be a done deal by now. The telecoms may ultimately get their immunity, along with Bush and Cheney, but I'd argue if Dodd hadn't been responsive to us, we wouldn't even have the glimmer of hope that the House won't cave.
My $0.02.