10:30 10:50 a.m.: Cloture 2 — Something Wicked This Way Comes; Update: Ensign will vote no, Cochran may vote yes; Update: What’s your alternative, asks Teddy — a Gestapo? Update: 53 NO’S — CLOTURE FAILS! Update: Roll of glory added!
posted at 9:27 am on June 28, 2007 by Allahpundit
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We’re prepared for any contingency. Victory means a Humpbot cameo; defeat means I get tanked on hard liquor in the middle of the day. It’s win/win, really. The boss has already done a quickie round-up of stories this morning predicting the bill’s demise. John Hawkins’s Senate source lends his voice to the chorus:
To begin with, my source said he is guardedly optimistic that the bill will fail the 2nd cloture vote tomorrow. That is because he thinks that some of the senators who voted for cloture on Tuesday were doing so because they were being “senatorial” by allowing a debate. But, that only goes so far, and everyone realizes at this point that the Thursday vote is the final vote on amnesty as far as the base is concerned. In other words, a “yes” on cloture is a “yes” to amnesty.
At that point, I asked about the “fool the yahoos” maneuver. Will there be senators voting “yes” on cloture and then voting against the final bill and hoping that they can avoid being tagged as supporting amnesty? He said that because of all the attention this issue has gotten, the base isn’t going to be fooled and that anyone who does that will just have to hope that his election isn’t close enough that thousands conservatives sitting at home can swing it the other way.
McCain’s Iowa campaign chairman told WaPo yesterday he wished the issue of immigration had never come to the floor. As for St. John’s crony-in-chief, he’s featured prominently in the Times’s story this morning about senators being threatened by nutjobs angry over the bill. See-Dub will clue you in to the agenda behind the piece if you haven’t guessed already, but here’s your quote of the day from the man who once derided amnesty opponents as “bigots” before a crowd of swooning La Raza members:
“One of the requirements of public service in modern America is dealing with a few voices that are full of hate,” Mr. Graham said. “And our discourse and the way we politic, the way we engage each other, brings that out.”
It’s bringing something out: according to freshman Blue Dog Jon Tester, the feedback he’s getting from constituents is more overwhelmingly opposed on this issue than it is on Iraq, where public opposition currently hovers in the mid- to high-60s.
Updates will be flying fast and furious in an hour or so. I’ll do my best to liveblog the vote, although on Tuesday they didn’t repeat each senator’s vote after calling his/her name so it may not be possible. While you wait, read John Shadegg’s nightmare scenario at NRO about the various loopholes built into the bill that would let illegals caught while sneaking across the border nonetheless obtain legal status. Oh, and read this piece at Politico, which is comic in its adulation of Ted Kennedy even by normal media standards.
Humpbot waits in the wings, wondering if it’s his time to shine. Exit question: Pelosi and the gang deserve a pay raise, don’t you think?
Update: Here’s a no we weren’t counting on — Ensign has flipped. Don’t fear the reaper!
Update: They’re trying to flip Thad Cochran the other way now. If my vote tally last night was right, then we don’t need him.
Update: This must be one of those “voices of hate” Lindsey Graham was wringing his hands about. This debate was Godwinned weeks ago; might as well keep it up to the bitter end.
How many times does Teddy need to be told “close the borders first” before he grasps that that’s the alternative?
Update: Reid’s taken abuse, Bush has taken abuse, McCain and Graham and Kyl and Martinez have taken abuse enough for a lifetime, but one guy has stayed miraculously clean even though he’s sat idly by and let this sham take its course despite the uproar from his base and the pleas from Sessions et al. Save a little bile for him.
Update: How absurd has it gotten?
In case you didn’t catch this, the opponents of shamnesty are rushing through their statements because the Grand Schemers have only given them 10 minutes to speak. The shamnesty senators will get the rest of the hour to talk. “Typical,” says Session, of the way this debate has gone. And so starkly absurd. You’ve got the pro-amnesty senators on the floor now all bleating about how debate shouldn’t be ended…having just limited their opponents’ time to a measly 10 minutes.
Update: Here we go. Standby for liveblog totals.
First run-through is 19-21. Webb voted no! I think most of them deliberately haven’t voted yet, though, so that they can see what the first totals look like and then vote accordingly.
25-30 now! Humpbot is warming up…
31-38! TWO MORE.
I count fully 53 no’s. We did it.
Robot libido
Uploaded by sabo-tage
Update: Here’s the roll. Gonna go do the cross-check to see who switched.
Update: The yes/no switchers were Bingaman, Bond, Brown, Brownback, Burr, Coleman, Collins, Domenici, Ensign, Harkin, McConnell, Murkowski, Ben Nelson, Pryor, Stevens, Voinovich(!), Warner, and Webb. Republicans are in boldfaced. I guess you can thank Sean Hannity for shaming Voinovich into flipping.
It’s worth going back and looking at the order in which they voted, to see who held back and waited to gauge how the vote was going before casting his/her ballot. I’ll bet Mitch McConnell was one of them.
Update: Well, well. Brownback initially voted yes — and then switched to no when he realized he was going to lose. Disgraceful.
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It passed…God help us all.
Dark-Star on June 28, 2007 at 9:30 AM
Along with the pic of Humpbot we need a pic of Jobu….every little bit helps.
Limerick on June 28, 2007 at 9:35 AM
Teddy is speaking now….
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan2_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2
Limerick on June 28, 2007 at 9:36 AM
why not get bombed either way?
libertytexan on June 28, 2007 at 9:38 AM
Teddy just said we want the ‘Gestapo’ to put them on buses.
Limerick on June 28, 2007 at 9:41 AM
Gee, ya think, John? Think this was bad for your campaign? Well freakin’ duh … and boo-freakin’-hoo.
Here’s a novel idea, Sen. McVain - instead of seeking headlines and approval from the MSM, why don’t you next time defend concepts of law and order, citizenship, sovereignty, and assmilation into the culture and, oh yeah, side with the conservative base for a change.
Whoops, too late.
thirteen28 on June 28, 2007 at 9:43 AM
The Senate disgraces themselves more and more.
Mr. Bingley on June 28, 2007 at 9:45 AM
If Teddy wants to find out where the modern American Gestapo is right now, all he needs to do is look in a mirror.
Always Right on June 28, 2007 at 9:45 AM
I’ve got a bad feeling about the upcoming cloture vote. My suggestion is that Allah start drinking heavily right now. If the cloture vote fails, he can respond with a drunken cheer. If it succeeds, he’s already well on the path to insensibility.
Physics Geek on June 28, 2007 at 9:45 AM
A government “of the people, by the people and for the people” . . . my backside!
rplat on June 28, 2007 at 9:47 AM
Allah,
Usually they will call the roll and several Senators will record their vote while that’s taking place. Next they will call out a list of those voting in the affirmative and those voting negative so you have a good start to the list from that. After that takes place Senators that haven’t voted will come forward and their name and vote will be called out individually.
Oh and Kerry usually screws up and has to change his vote a few times so probably he should just be added to the yes votes and ignored from then on.
RW_theoriginal on June 28, 2007 at 9:48 AM
El Senador Kennedy and The Specter have already poisoned the well. The hell we didn’t offer any other suggestions Specter, we told you idiots to ENFORCE THE #%&^ing LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS!
Geebus these tools need to be kicked out, unfortunetely my buddy The Fatman won’t be out of office until he retires or dies.
BKennedy on June 28, 2007 at 9:48 AM
Specter is such a tool. Nobody wanted to offer Amendments??????????? Nobody wanted to improve this bill??????? Nobody has offered anything better???????
Enforce the law!!!!!
Win or lose, the next round of phone calls and emails have to be to enforce the existing laws. Impeach everyone who stifles the law.
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 9:48 AM
As I look outside my window, I see it is rainy, dark, and windy. I hope it’s not a omen.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:48 AM
Good idea. Maybe he’ll pass out before he can get to the robots.
RedWinged Blackbird on June 28, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Fatboy isn’t going to retire. I’m afraid the jaws of life will have to be used to pry him out of that seat.
crazy_legs on June 28, 2007 at 9:49 AM
Specter needs to go.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:49 AM
I’m watching CSPAN2 like it’s the friggin Superbowl or something, how have things come to this…
wowbagger on June 28, 2007 at 9:50 AM
“I’m not going to say that their commitments were breached, but that’s a term that could be used.”
WTF? Specter is actually encouraging the amnesty two-step. He knows that if cloture passes today, it’ll most likely pass final tomorrow. He’s demonizing those who are going to vote against cloture.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:51 AM
Break out the liquor. :(
JayHaw Phrenzie on June 28, 2007 at 9:52 AM
Specter is saying we are beat so sit down and shut up. What a goon.
Limerick on June 28, 2007 at 9:53 AM
Just when you thought it couldnt get worse….
DIANNE FEINSTEIN !!!!!
Always Right on June 28, 2007 at 9:53 AM
So, wait. Specter’s telling people not to be responsible for killing the bill, so don’t vote against cloture. This way, you can let the bill pass, and you don’t have to be responsible for it. WTF?
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:53 AM
If this thing passes, we need to flood the lines.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:53 AM
They could do worse, he could offer to drive them himself…
elgeneralisimo on June 28, 2007 at 9:54 AM
Did he just say vote for cloture so you can vote against the bill so you are not held accountable? Idiot, that doesn’t fly anymore.
Feinstein: this bill is the most important bill eva. Like more important than going to war?
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 9:54 AM
Something wicked indeed - Sen Feinstein.
Tru2my2 on June 28, 2007 at 9:54 AM
Here comes Swinestein, talking about “threats” and “doing the right thing” and “not understanding the bill.” You mean like Voinovich? Half of these Senate twits haven’t read the bill, and we know none of these dopes will take care of security, they’ve had 21 years to enforce the ‘86 laws.
BKennedy on June 28, 2007 at 9:55 AM
I do Diane……..vote no on cloture, save your job.
Limerick on June 28, 2007 at 9:55 AM
They’re blantantly saying that they hear constituent concerns, but they don’t care. They think they knows what’s best.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:56 AM
I think killing this nonsense bill immediately would be a fine “senatorial” example, solely on the grounds that it’s a waste of time.
mojowire on June 28, 2007 at 9:56 AM
oh there it is…it’s the talk show hosts fault….
Tru2my2 on June 28, 2007 at 9:57 AM
Dirtbag Diane slamming talk show hosts!!!!!
IrishEi on June 28, 2007 at 9:57 AM
Ensign is a definite NO on cloture today.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:57 AM
Yes it is because you won’t enforce the laws…..grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Limerick on June 28, 2007 at 9:57 AM
The vote happened already????
Darksean on June 28, 2007 at 9:59 AM
The brownsuit
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 9:59 AM
No.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Nope. Scheduled for 10:30am.
IrishEi on June 28, 2007 at 9:59 AM
Whew!
Let’s hope this monster gets killed.
Thanks.
Darksean on June 28, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Kyl says that 40 Senators are thwarting the will of the majority…of the Senate, that is. NOT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE YOU JACKASS
WisCon on June 28, 2007 at 10:02 AM
“Doing nothing is not acceptable.”
That’s right! Enforce. the. laws. already. on. the. books.
IrishEi on June 28, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Kyl’s argument:
Congress has been incompetent. We have passed awful laws and have not enforced them. We need to pass these laws in order to enforce those laws that we messed up before. We got it this time. No really.
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Here’s Jon Kyl, in pro-amnesty style. Already invoked “bipartisanship,” as if a selling out of the American people is preferable to a partisan divide where one of them takes our side.
At least Kyl, it can be said, isn’t on a
well-poisoning warpath to demonize opponents of shamnesty.(Spoke too soon) He is, however, dead-set on passing legislation because “the majority” want it. He must mean the majority of Senators, because surely he knows everyone’s email has been flooded with “vote no on amnesty you dunce.”BKennedy on June 28, 2007 at 10:02 AM
The C-span superbowl is on I lose my cable, great..Keep on posting till I can get ahold of those chuckleheads over at comcast. Laura’s on.
Legions on June 28, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Kyl just said that flaws in the bill have been pointed out to them by constituents, talk show hosts, and others.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Ensign, Webb — sweet.
Bond — sweet.
Graham looking for a place to hide — too sweet for words.
Teddy Kennedy and John McCain with that look on their ugly fat faces at noon today — priceless.
Jaibones on June 28, 2007 at 10:03 AM
“will of the majority”?
Guardian on June 28, 2007 at 10:03 AM
JEFF SPEAKS!
Pilgrim on June 28, 2007 at 10:04 AM
According to Ponnuru, at the Corner, Thad Cochran (R., Miss.)is being pressured to switch his vote from no to yes.
Sue on June 28, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Cloture vote is actually scheduled for 10:50 am
rslancer14 on June 28, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Dole!!!
Guardian on June 28, 2007 at 10:05 AM
So there’s the rub. Graham’s harsh enforcement amendment will only be offered after the passage of cloture. So vote for cloture and we get to consider the Lindsey tough enforcement amendment that we couldn’t put in the bill originally.
Yawn…
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Sen Dole - she gets it.
Tru2my2 on June 28, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Mrs. Dole thanks DeMint and Sessions…but where is the minority Leader??? Still trying to strong arm people? Perhaps we need a vote on a new Minority Leader. How about Jeff Sessions from the Great State of Alabama?
Pilgrim on June 28, 2007 at 10:06 AM
and they cut her off…..
Tru2my2 on June 28, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Corker is up.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:07 AM
OK, I am starting to feel optimistic that we have a humping robot in our near future
conservnut on June 28, 2007 at 10:08 AM
mmm…Humping Robot…
Pilgrim on June 28, 2007 at 10:09 AM
Or, heaven help us all, Rosie.
BacaDog on June 28, 2007 at 10:10 AM
It’s DeMint Time!
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Weird on this side of the looking glass, eh?
apostle26 on June 28, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Here comes Elizabeth Dole.
Smart as a tack, that one. “Promises not proof,” ain’t that the truth.
And here is Corker.
Took a good jab at Specter’s weak “nobody put anything forward” BS. Good points about the American people losing confidence in the competence of government. No attacks, but no BS. Corker is a good egg.
Here’s Demint.
“Crisis of Confidence” indeed. Listening to the concerns of the American people, now this guy is on fire.
BKennedy on June 28, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Wahhhhhh! Guess who’s up
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Grahamnesty,
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:11 AM
When my kids were young, they used to swing back and forth like Sen Graham is doing….I called it the Potty Dance.
Tru2my2 on June 28, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Is Graham actually saying that the polls from everywhere, that shows Americans don’t like this legislation, is inaccurate?
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:12 AM
“I don’t claim to be on the right or the wrong side of the American people” -Graham
Ummm, I don’t think there’s any question about that…
apostle26 on June 28, 2007 at 10:13 AM
what an embarrassment this guy is.
wowbagger on June 28, 2007 at 10:13 AM
The best word to describe Lindsey Graham is simply
BUFFOON.
Always Right on June 28, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Being cautiously optimistic…
Can’t wait to hear what Grahmnesty has to say. /sarc
crazy_legs on June 28, 2007 at 10:13 AM
“To my friends who call me endlessly”
Heh. Hi Lindsay. How ‘ya doin, since yesterday?
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:13 AM
If he has a place in anderson to get fake ids why doesn’t he tip someone to close it down.
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 10:14 AM
The guy working the camera has his work cut out for him… can’t keep still.
wowbagger on June 28, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Does he realize that their approval has fallen since they’ve brought this amnesty up?
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Lindsey Graham sounds like the old drunken crank who calls talk radio shows at 3am and talks nonsense nonstop until the host needs to take a commercial break.
maybe he mixed some Red Bull in with his morning Vodka.
Always Right on June 28, 2007 at 10:14 AM
playing a game is right. and we are the pawns!!
Guardian on June 28, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Again with this current law doesn’t work. How would you know?????????
sunny on June 28, 2007 at 10:15 AM
I just called Brownback. “All circuits are busy. Please try again.” The phones must be jammed. Keep calling.
Thomas the Wraith on June 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Mr. Graham, remember this day if you vote YES. It will be the last time you see a bill past next year.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM
*hic*
Tru2my2 on June 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM
finally
apostle26 on June 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Ah, Lord Grahamnesty. Will we get another bigot line? Ah, ranting about bipartisanship and recognizing there are Democrats and Republicans. No %^$# Sherlock. Invoking 9/11 as well, this man knows no low.
Yeah, the 12 million won’t be ignored. Just like the 3 million weren’t ignored in 86. Just like last years bill was not ignored. Now Graham says there will never be a merit-based system, and says most of the bill is Bush’s doing. What a crock.
BKennedy on June 28, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Graham: “You don’t understand what’s going on here.”
Amen Lindsey…because it was worked out behind closed doors in the caucus rooms of the Senate. This bill hasn’t seen the light of day. Checked THOMAS this morning…old Bill is there…the amendments presented yesterday are no where to be found.
Pilgrim on June 28, 2007 at 10:17 AM
By God, but I can’t stand that man!! I want to move to South Carolina just so I kin vote against him!!!!
Ex-tex on June 28, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Um, I think he was the old drunken crank, who calls talk radio shows at 3am, and talks nonsense nonstop until the host needs to take a commercial break.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:17 AM
I think I may run for office…if these idiots can get elected anyone can.
EnochCain on June 28, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Here’s the analogy: Senator I have a headache. OK here’s an enema. Graham says this is as good as it gets. God help us.
JackS on June 28, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Sen Salazar: String tie with a business suit.
Huh???
Always Right on June 28, 2007 at 10:18 AM
“hate and venom”
-towards illegals…..or Senators?
apostle26 on June 28, 2007 at 10:18 AM
We’re called the United States of America, because we’re united states, in the Americas. Not because we have a government that can work bipartisanly.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:19 AM
Salazar is an idiot! Yes, how dare we question all that hard work you’re doing…
DCJeff on June 28, 2007 at 10:20 AM
shut up already, stringman
Tru2my2 on June 28, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Michelle says that Gregg hasn’t committed one way or another. We need to call him. Pick an office line:
(202)224-3324
(603)622-7979
(603)577-3823
(603)225-7115
(603)431-2171
(603)752-2604
The first is Washington.
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:20 AM
I think it’s more sinister than that. I’ve been trying to call and fax him since last week. The phone mailbox is full if you ever get through, and the fax line is busy but if you should get through, it rings and rings and never picks up.
Just before the last cloture vote I got through to one of his local offices. The staffer tried to shut me up before I got to say anything. I told him he had no idea what my point was going to be. He said, “Yes I do. You don’t like amnesty.” *SLAM*
IrishEi on June 28, 2007 at 10:21 AM
On a side note, wasn’t Chavez against illegal immigration?
amerpundit on June 28, 2007 at 10:22 AM
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!!! I love Sessions!
DCJeff on June 28, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Awesome! We’ve destroyed the phone system!
IrishEi on June 28, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Ha. Same here.
Spirit of 1776 on June 28, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Go Sessions!!
Guardian on June 28, 2007 at 10:23 AM
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