SENATE WATCH-10/16/2003 (#1-9:30 AM)

[goobergunch]

108th Congress
1st Session
Thursday, October 16, 2003

The Senate convenes at 9:30 AM.

Following a period of morning business (not to exceed 60 minutes), the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1689, the Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations bill. Byrd Amdt. 1818, to impose a limitation on the use of sums appropriated for the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund, will be the pending amendment.

[baby_bear]

1. Kennedy to assail Bush over Iraq war- Senate floor today

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2003/10/16/kennedy_to_assail_bush_over_iraq_war/

<snip>
Ratcheting up his criticism of the war in Iraq, Senator Edward M. Kennedy accuses the Bush administration of telling "lie after lie after lie" to defend its policy in a fiery speech prepared for delivery today on the Senate floor.

"The trumped up reasons for going to war have collapsed," Kennedy says in a speech that underscores his opposition to President Bush's request for $87 billion to fund military operations and rebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. An advance copy of the speech was obtained by the Globe.

"The administration still refuses to face the truth or tell the truth," Kennedy says, accusing the White House of misleading the public about every aspect of the war, from the financial costs to the motivation and the aftermath. "Instead the White House responds by covering up its failures and trying to sell its rosy version of events by repeating it with maximum frequency and volume, and minimum regard for realities on the ground."
...
"All the administration's rationalizations as we prepared to go to war now stand revealed as double-talk. The American people were told Saddam Hussein was building nuclear weapons. He was not. We were told he had stockpiles of other weapons of mass destruction. He did not. We were told he was involved in 9/11. He was not. We were told Iraq was attracting terrorists from Al Qaeda. It was not. We were told our soldiers would be viewed as liberators. They are not. We were told Iraq could pay for its own reconstruction. It cannot. We were told the war would make America safer. It has not."


</snip>

s_m

[Guaranteed]

2. Sweet!

I'm THERE.

[SteveG]

3. Byrd up now

Doing a great job

[realFedUp]

4. What was the House vote on this supplemental?

Did they vote already and what was the vote?

[joanski01]

5. The amendment to watch

is Senator Byrd's. Ted Stevens is going to ask to table it.

Byrd describes this amendment, in short, as "UN in - US out". This amendment will hold the pResident accountable. Won't give him the $10 billion until he gives detailed plans, gives an exit strategy, etc. I think it was Senator Harken who mentioned "kings" and "dictators" again. Wow! Really good stuff today.

[revcarol]

6. No vote on Byrd's amendment until this aft.

One female senator(not Hillary, I was only listening, not watching) spoke for Byrd's amendment...and Leahy was HOT!!

It would make the U. S. get a new resolution from the UN for a multi-national force under U. S. command(the only bad part) and make the administration prove they have a plan for reconstruction in Iraq and that it was working and on timetable and report back in 6 months, in order to get the other $10 Billion, which CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TO AUTHORIZE.

call your Senators now!! NO BLANK CHECK.Vote for the Byrd Amendment!!

[joanski01]

7. I believe that was

Barbara Boxer whom you were listening to. Leahy WAS hot. He was practically yelling. Senator Harken said we trusted you the first time, Mr. pResident, but not again (something to that effect. Harken was careful not to say the words I "don't trust" you this time. I believe it was Harken to said that Haliburten was overcharging for gas in Iraq by .66 cents. He said it was the American people's tax money going to Haliburten. Also, one of the Senators said something about "war profiteering".

Also, John Kerry is one of the co-sponsors of Byrd's amendment.

[joanski0]

8. Chuck Schumer introducing an

amendment calling for the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate leaking of CIA operative's name. Saying Ashcroft should recuse himself from the investigation.

Putting article into record about Federal prosecuters objecting to the way the investigation is being conducted.

[goobergunch]

9. On the Motion to Table the Byrd Amendment

AGREED TO Yeas 57 Nays 42.

:puke:

Breaux, Landrieu, and Bayh voted in the affirmative.

[goobergunch]

10. Motion to Table the Lautenberg Amendment ADOPTED 65-34

This amendment holds Cheney responsible for the Halliburton stuff.

Democrats voting in the affirmative: Bayh, Biden, Carper, Conrad, Dorgan, Graham (FL), Jeffords, Landrieu, Lincoln, Miller, Nelson (NE), Nelson (FL)

Republicans voting in the negative: None.

There were a lot of votes being switched, so the above list may not be accurate.

:puke:

[goobergunch]

11. BBV ALERT: Dodd & McConnell to have colloquy on HAVA

It'll happen later. -Dodd

McConnell calls it "Civil Rights legislation". They want it fully funded....

Dodd will NOT bring it up on the Iraq supplemental.

[goobergunch]

12. Inouye:

will SUPPORT the resolution although he opposed going to war.

:(