ESTRADA Live Thread- 3/06/03

self | 3/6/03 | RobFromGa

[Green]

Do we know if McConnell is present today or is he still out?

[Howlin]

And I gave up cussing for Lent!

Don't worry, I'm saying enough for both of us.

[PhiKapMom]

What is so difficult about making up your mind? You either want to keep a filibuster going or you do not? Mushy middle doesn't cut it.

[mabelkitty]

Leahy is showing his hand.

We won. They are getting in their digs now and making it look like they did everything possible, but cannot stop the Evil Bush Administration from doing this.

We definately won.

I stay maybe today. If Dems think Bush speech is about war, it will wrap up today. If not, tomorrow.

[Howlin]

I have no idea.

[cyncooper]

hearing Leahy speak is one of them

Leahy is practically quacking, in his indignation. He sounds ridiculous.

Had the gall to start a sentence "the truth is...". Ha, now had the nerve to say "that's false and they know it."

[pgyanke]

I'm piecing together some bits of strategy and wanted to share... some I read this morning and some I am surmising...

The cloture vote is going to shift power away from the Democrats. If they succeed in their filibustery efforts by killing the current cloture motion, Frist will force them to continue. Republican initiatives will come to the floor and the Democrats can either filibuster the entire political process to stop them or allow votes that they will lose. Any motion or bill suggested on the Democrat side will be met with, "you're in the process of a filibuster. If you would like to move on to another topic, file for cloture." I don't know if the Senate rules allow this, but I thought it was an interesting theory when I read it this am on another thread.

President Bush's announcement of a press conference tonight is two-fold...it puts immediate pressure on the D's to either vote against cloture and have their obstruction become VERY public or allow the Senate to move on and receive praise from the President. I think this is all part of the "increased attention" Senator Frist mentioned on Tuesday.

Just a thought or two...

[pghkevin]

I was thinking the same thing. Sounds like he is doing his best panic at the finish line speech.

[mabelkitty]

Leahy - they want an apology; they've gone from fighting to conciliation.

Is he doing this on his own, or is he reading from something?

[PhiKapMom]

You and me both -- my mute button is my absolute favorite button on the remote. There are certain people listen to that I don't like -- Leahy isn't one of them!

[jdontom]

Thanks for the ping Howlin, at least you haven't forgot about us! Thanks Again.......

[RobFromGa]

I think we win soon too, Leahy looks and sounds bad. We'll know soon.

[mabelkitty]

He's not participating in the vote. Is he there today?

[PhiKapMom]

He is reading from prepared text -- very seldom looks up!

[Republic of Texas]

I don't doubt that President Bush is willing to play hardball on Estrada, but I have my fears about Senate Republicans.

[cyncooper]

Leahy is showing his hand.

We won. They are getting in their digs now and making it look like they did everything possible, but cannot stop the Evil Bush Administration from doing this.

I had the same idea with Daschle when he said along the lines "if Estrada gets the vote eventually" (paraphrase). Afraid wishful thinking might be coloring my perception, but one can hope.

[Howlin]

But how can he claim it's his health if he's ON THE FLOOR......don't you have to be ON THE FLOOR to abstain???

[alnick]

What has already happened is our guys are fighting for Estrada. :-)

[RobFromGa]

Reid-
Thanking Leahy for his fight. It is going to be a GOP win.

[Howlin]

Hmmm......well, MSNBC said this morning it was going to be the 13th; I guess some are going in first? :-)