Senate Nears Final Vote on Detainee Bill

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/28/washington/29detaincnd.html?hp&ex=1159502400&en=f804341525b03650&ei=5094&partner=homepage

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 — The Senate today rejected an amendment to a bill creating a new system for interrogating and trying terror suspects that would have guaranteed such suspects access to the courts to challenge their imprisonment.

The vote was 51 to 48 against the amendment, which was offered by the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont. The action set the stage for final passage of the bill, which was approved on Wednesday by the House of Representatives.

The bill’s ultimate passage was assured on Wednesday when Democrats agreed to forgo a filibuster in return for consideration of the amendment. Any changes in the Senate bill, however, would have made it impossible for Republican leaders to meet their goal of sending the bill to the White House before adjourning on Friday to hit the campaign trail.

Underscoring the political stakes involved, White House spokesman Tony Snow said today that President Bush will emphasize Democratic opposition to the bill in campaign appearances.

more...

[madame defarge]

1. Important question...

Did the Senate vote on the SAME bill as the House? Or do they now have to reconcile the bills after the election? Also, what recourse do we have to combat this bill once the Torturer in Chief signs it into law? Any constitutional attorneys out there who can answer this???

[rodeodance]

3. the house yest. said it ewas identical yet if any of these amendments

pass, they will not be.

[rodeodance]

2. I am so sick of this who thing!

......Underscoring the political stakes involved, White House spokesman Tony Snow said today that President Bush will emphasize Democratic opposition to the bill in campaign appearances.

[Dhalgren]

4. I cannot fucking believe that voting against the torture bill can be

spun as a negative! Who the hell are we? Where the hell are we from? Voting FOR a torture bill should be the political kiss of death in this country! I, too, am sick as hell of all this fascist bullshit!

[Hav]

6. .

Why? You didn't hear it? Apparently, Democrats like to coddle terrorists. Because every detainee is guilty.
I'm wondering whether this political crap has always been so dirty and ugly in America.

[Zenlitened]

5. Democrats running for office need to play the fear card now.

Fear of a government that can make you disappear, just by saying you might be a terrorist, just by insisting you're not a citizen, just by deciding to lump you into a special category where they can do whatever they want with you.

This is not about terrorists... it's about the rest of us!

When you don't have the right to say, "Hey, you've got the wrong person! I can prove it, just lemme prove it!"...

Well, baby you ain't livin' in America no more.



:mad:

[Mass]

7. Question: could they have won a filibuster? If not, what was better.

Try to pass a Specter/Feingold amendment (it nearly passed), or risk a filibuster that was going to fail.

I am not sure. I certainly wished they had the 40 votes and, if they had it, they are crazy not to have filibustered. But, if they did not have it, what was the best solution? Grandstanding by trying a filibuster that was doomed to fail or try to make the bill better.

[mike_c]

8. a filibuster would not have failed if 41 dems stood firm....

That is all it would have taken to block this bill until the recess. Reid gave that away for nothing. All of the eloquent and impassioned speeches were for nothing and every dem senator knew it. All those speeches were to pacify us-- to convince us they were SO opposed to this monstrous legislation. But it was all a show, and we are the rubes.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

9. How About Going The Fuck Home And Campaigning

That's all they give a shit about anyways. Keeping their fucking FACIST jobs, so they can impose their Fucking will on the worthless citizens.

This country and it's leaders disgusts the sHIT out of me.