Cloture vote ongoing! CSpan2. Directly prior to vote, Bernie Sanders tore up the Senate floor!

[flpoljunkie]

Sanders had very little time, but he made plain that banks whose assets represent 63% of our GDP will not be allowed to fail. They are, by their nature, 'too big to fail.'

[flpoljunkie]

1. Ben Nelson votes with the Republicans and against cloture! Provides cover for the Republicans!

[DCBob]

2. Grassly no too.

dead.

[flpoljunkie]

3. The Republicans are really good at closing ranks. Dems, not so much!

[DrToast]

5. You know what else they're good at?

Lying about things until people believe their lies.

I sure hope this doesn't come back to bite us in the ass.

That said, I don't think we had a choice but to draw the line in the sand. A bullshit reform bill doesn't help much.

[flpoljunkie]

15. No doubt about it. Republicans are excellent liars. They totally lack integrity.

You could respect an honest and thoughtful disagreement, but no! They lie through their teeth with incredible ease!

[Inuca]

6. Actually, they are

Ben Nelson is no effing Democrat!!!

[DrToast]

7. If Nelson was the only one that broke, I consider that a victory

Like you said, he's practically a Republican anyway.

[DCBob]

11. Except we need that scumbag to break the fili..

plus one R.

[DCBob]

4. the maine girls -- NO

ugh.

[mvd]

10. Unbelievable. Nelson and Lieberman (who actually voted right here)

have to not be treated with such kid gloves. On vote after vote, they let us down.

Snowe and Collins vote with their party when it comes to the big bucks flowing.

If we can't frame this debate well, we can't frame anything. Please MAKE them filibuster! Even the Repukes said they may not be able to survive multiple votes.

[DCBob]

13. Nelson the turdhusker voted no..

Yep, Snowe and Collins let us down again.. but I think they will break ranks on the next vote.

[mvd]

19. It will definitely pass eventually if we persist and frame it right

It's too important to go down.

[DCBob]

24. I agree... its just unfortunate for it to get stalled like this for no real reason.

except politics.

[flpoljunkie]

20. TPM: Nelson told CNN he's worried bill will 'adversely impact Main Street.' What a liar!

Nelson To CNN: Bill Would 'Adversely Impact Main Street'

17 MINUTES AGO

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-DE), who joined Republicans in voting no on financial reform, explains to CNN that he's worried "this legislation will adversely impact Main Street when the focus needs to be on Wall Street. ... I don't think everyone is aware of the unintended consequences."

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/live/financial-reform-wire/?ref=fpblg

[mvd]

21. What a terrible excuse

Spoken by Nelson just like a Repuke.

[DCBob]

25. HA! The pretzel excuse...

Pathetic.

[tishaLA]

29. And he told someone else he hadn't yet read the bill

So which one is it? Poor old Ben can't keep his shitty stories straight.

[DCBob]

8. Ok the GOPers won that round.. Now what??

I did hear Harry will put back up for vote later this week, maybe Thursday.

[flpoljunkie]

9. What we must avoid is a bipartisan 'baked in the cake' agreement before the bill comes to the floor.

The bill must be made stronger through amendments. Remember what Durbin said, 'Frankly, banks own the place.' We must speak out now--and in large numbers.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Email your senators here! Tell them to strengthen financial reform legislation.

Tell the Senate to Strengthen Financial Reform Legislation and Hold Big Banks Accountable

Senator Dodd has released his financial reform proposal. AFR thanks Senator Dodd for taking this important step towards fixing our broken system. This bill takes some important steps to protect consumers, curb Wall Street's greedy and risky behavior, and end the era of "too big to fail." But, it doesn't go far enough. The bill must strengthened as it moves through the Senate.

It has been a year and a half since our economy crashed and the Senate must not wait any longer. Tell them to get moving right away to strengthen the bill and hold big banks accountable.

Text of email:

Senator Dodd has proposed a new financial reform bill called the “Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010.” This bill needs to be strengthened to ensure that we protect consumers from abusive financial products and rein in Wall Street. This is the moment to ensure our economy gets back on track. We must prevent more bailouts and economic meltdowns.

Please get to work on financial reform right away! We cannot delay any longer. It has already been a year and a half since the financial meltdown.

Please work to strengthen the bill as follows:

- Create a truly independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). The bill allows a “council of regulators” to overturn decisions made by the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. This council will dominated by the institutions that failed consumers in the past, and the CFPA shouldn’t be beholden to them.

- Regulate All Financial Companies. The CFPA should have enforcement authority over all financial companies, no matter what size they are.

- End the Casino Economy. The bill should more clearly and effectively regulate all Wall Street’s trades, including shadow markets, without loopholes that undermine these rules.

- Prevent More Bailouts and End “Too Big to Fail.” Wall Street banks must not be allowed to be too big to fail, nor should they be allowed to take reckless risks that the public ends up paying for.

http://capwiz.com/affil/issues/alert/?alertid=14833271

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. Even in the face of polls that prove overwhelming support for strick banking regs.

I just don't get it at all.

How did Brown vote? I'm most interested in him.

[flpoljunkie]

16. All the Republicans voted NO.

[DrToast]

17. Yeah, it shows how afraid they are of us, huh?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. Apparently. The goal is to continue to scapegoat brown and black people.

While we're at each other's throat, Wall Street is steady robbing the country's treasury.

It's the new and improved Southern Strategy. I shouldn't be so naive.

[flpoljunkie]

18. Why are they taking so long?

[flpoljunkie]

22. Reid votes No so he can bring cloture up again. Final vote 57-41.

[DCBob]

26. Explain that please..

thanks.

[POAS]

28. Only a Senator who voted on the

winning side may call the question up for another vote, the only way for that to be likely to happen is if someone (usually the leader on the losing side) switches their vote so they can call the question again at a later time.

[DCBob]

30. Never heard that before.. weird rule.

thanks!

[activa8tr]

31. Makes perfect sense, tho. IMHO n/t

[DCBob]

32. Except that it is totally confusing to the general public who just glance at the news..

and see Reid voted against the bill... millions will scratch head and go "huh?".

[DCBob]

27. Two GOPers did not vote..

Sens. Kit Bond (R-MO) and Robert Bennet (R-UT).. wonder why?