Senate Democrats Fail to Block Nuke Funds

[Nambe]

Emmis Interactive/Chicago

Senate Democrats failed to block funding for nuclear weapons research Tuesday that they said could trigger a new arms race and increase the likelihood of cataclysmic war.

Republicans said the money was needed to examine how the nuclear arsenal could be adapted to protect Americans from threats in the post-Cold War era, such as terrorists armed with weapons of mass destruction. They stressed the money would be used only for research and not to build new bombs. ---

The funding was part of a $27.3 billion spending bill for the Energy Department. An amendment by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., to cut the $68.6 million for the weapons research was defeated 53-41 in a mostly party-line vote.

The vote puts the Senate at odds with the House, which cut most of the money for the nuclear weapons programs in its version of the energy bill. The two versions will have to be reconciled by House-Senate negotiators. ---

[villager]

1. the rapture crowd,

determined to hasten the end.

Hadn't been aware the House --of all unlikely things -- actually cut these funds. Perhaps, at least, they can be whittled down for the time being, in a "final" budget...

[Voltaire99]

2. Everyone together now: Christian kooks should not have nukes!

Radioactive clouds can't carry us to heaven. Will somebody please explain that to our violent fundamentalist leaders?

[Emboldened Chimp]

3. I don't get why this isn't big news!

The rethugs in our government want to develop USEABLE nuclear weapons. Do people not give a shit?

[tom_paine]

12. The Imperial Subjects of Amerika are too tired harried hurried

and self-absrobed to give a shit.

THAT is why we stopped desrving the Old Republic, with it's democratic freedoms.

THAT is why we are now deep in the process of losing most or all of it.

[FlashHarry]

4. Which Dems crossed the aisle?

Oh, wait; let me guess... Zel Miller, Ben Nelson...

[Thoth]

5. I'd like to see the tally on this

vote. If my repug senators in NH voted for this (most likely)
I'll call and give em' hell.

[MaineDem]

6. Try this

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00349

Your Senators voted for it, as did mine. :(

[arcane1]

8. glad to say mine did NOT

:bounce:

[The Sushi Bandit]

14. mine didnt vote for this travisty

Hawaii: Akaka (D-HI), Nay Inouye (D-HI), Nay
California: Boxer (D-CA), Nay Feinstein (D-CA), Nay

(i live in both states!)

[Judi Lynn]

11. On edit: scratch this post

I didn't see MaineDem's post before posting the roll call.

Glad to see Chafee crossed over from the Republicans. Too bad he was by himself.

[arcane1]

7. how in HELL do you use nukes on TERRORISTS????

-snip-


Republicans said the money was needed to examine how the nuclear arsenal could be adapted to protect Americans from threats in the post-Cold War era, such as terrorists armed with weapons of mass destruction.

:wtf:

[Chico Man]

10. You know all those people rallying around Arafat's compound?

Dropping one of these babys on that crowd makes the neocons cream their pants.

[DS1]

9. reminds me of the classic bugs bunny sequence backwards

one nuke for me - one nuke for you
one nuke for me - one two nukes for you
one nuke for me - one two three nukes for you

:eyes:

[Q]

13. I had a bad feeling this was going to happen....

...and I'd like to remind everyone that the Pentagon never builds a weapon they don't intend to use.

- Insanity. God help us all.

[Flying_Pig]

15. Filibuster! Filibuster! Filibuster! Filibuster! Filibuster!

The only way Dems are going to stop these bastards, is to filibuster every godamn thing they don't agree with, especially those items like this, that are morally repugnant, and will harm the interests of this nation. This goes for the tax cuts, Bush's appropriations requests, judicial appointments, and anything else that is not good for this nation.

FILIBUSTER!

:grr:

[maggrwaggr]

16. I'm just amazed this isn't the biggest news story of the day

because, well, it IS the biggest news story of the day.

Headlines should read "Senate votes for Nuclear War"

Because that's what it is.

[loudnclear]

17. Pretty soon, we will have little worth saving.

Weapons and more weapons. Hate and more hate. Poverty and more poverty. If you are not rich in America you just don't matter!

[Trek234]

18. Thanks Kerry, Edwards, and Graham!

Graham (D-FL), Not Voting
Kerry (D-MA), Not Voting
Edwards (D-NC), Not Voting

Really earning those primary votes aren't ya?

[Kalliope]

19. Don't forget Lieberman

Lieberman (D-CT), Not voting
:think: Are these guys fit to be President?