Sunday, October 10, 2004
Never on Sunday
There's something damn strange going on in the US Senate right this very minute (2:15 p.m. EDT as I write)
First off, they're in session. This is Sunday. This does not happen.
The reason they're there is that the Thug Administration (Senate branch) is trying to force a cloture motion on the $136 billion (Yes, you hear the ghost of Carl Sagan saying "Billlyuns and billyuns...") manufacturing bill which does useful things like give tax breaks to makers of Chinese ceiling fans.
As best I can tell--this is going on realtime and neither the NYT nor WaPo has the slightest mention of it--we're filibustering to beat the band. Mary Landreau (D-LA) has been carrying the ball for many yards now so Bill Nelson (D-FL) just jumped up to give her a break to sit down and drink some water.
Robert Byrd (D-WV) was ranting earlier from the Bible, citing specifically the commandment forbidding desecration of the Sabbath. Didn't see that part but somebody in Atrios' comment thread described it.
If Sens. Kerry and Edwards are not in their respective campaign planes making for Washington at warp speed, I miss my bet. Something dramatic could be in the works.
It's on C-span.org C-Span2. If you can't get it via cable or satellite click the link, scroll down to the bottom, they have a choice of RealMedia or Windows Media for a video feed.
If you have no cable, no satellite, and no broadband, you may be able to get an audio link there.
Oh, and you have to be impressed with Senatorial dedication to carry on with the nation's work despite there being NFL football, postseason baseball, and championship-runoff NASCAR being underway. In honor of Sen. Byrd we will take as today's sermon topic "Every one who doeth evil hateth the light," Jesus to Nicodemus, John somethingorother.
UPDATE: This would have been a hell of a lot more timely if Blogger hadn't picked this particular moment to go squirrelly on me. I fart in its general direction.
First off, they're in session. This is Sunday. This does not happen.
The reason they're there is that the Thug Administration (Senate branch) is trying to force a cloture motion on the $136 billion (Yes, you hear the ghost of Carl Sagan saying "Billlyuns and billyuns...") manufacturing bill which does useful things like give tax breaks to makers of Chinese ceiling fans.
As best I can tell--this is going on realtime and neither the NYT nor WaPo has the slightest mention of it--we're filibustering to beat the band. Mary Landreau (D-LA) has been carrying the ball for many yards now so Bill Nelson (D-FL) just jumped up to give her a break to sit down and drink some water.
Robert Byrd (D-WV) was ranting earlier from the Bible, citing specifically the commandment forbidding desecration of the Sabbath. Didn't see that part but somebody in Atrios' comment thread described it.
If Sens. Kerry and Edwards are not in their respective campaign planes making for Washington at warp speed, I miss my bet. Something dramatic could be in the works.
It's on C-span.org C-Span2. If you can't get it via cable or satellite click the link, scroll down to the bottom, they have a choice of RealMedia or Windows Media for a video feed.
If you have no cable, no satellite, and no broadband, you may be able to get an audio link there.
Oh, and you have to be impressed with Senatorial dedication to carry on with the nation's work despite there being NFL football, postseason baseball, and championship-runoff NASCAR being underway. In honor of Sen. Byrd we will take as today's sermon topic "Every one who doeth evil hateth the light," Jesus to Nicodemus, John somethingorother.
UPDATE: This would have been a hell of a lot more timely if Blogger hadn't picked this particular moment to go squirrelly on me. I fart in its general direction.
