I’m sorry to say it but Kit Bond is either the dumbest person on the hill or he thinks we’re all stupid. It does not matter what amendment gets attached to the bill. THE POWERS THAT BE will strip away any amendments they don’t want when they get into conference with the House. He knows this, I believe Lott even stated this, and Fat Teddy is counting on this fact.
For him to be saying he’s voting for a chance to amend this bill is beyond ignorant.
“I’m sorry to say it but Kit Bond is either the dumbest person on the hill or he thinks we’re all stupid. It does not matter what amendment gets attached to the bill. THE POWERS THAT BE will strip away any amendments they don’t want when they get into conference with the House. He knows this, I believe Lott even stated this, and Fat Teddy is counting on this fact.
“For him to be saying he’s voting for a chance to amend this bill is beyond ignorant.”
Chances are he thinks we are stupid. After all, Bond has been a Senator for nearly 21 years. After that much time, he should be reasonably well versed as to the workings of the Senate.
You make a good point about the inferior status of amendments in a House-Senate conference. That makes me skeptical about whether Bond’s amendment is substance or subterfuge.
If Bond votes for cloture on Thursday, he is voting to reduce the majority needed for passage from 60 to 51. That makes meaningless the “no” votes of him and eight other Senators.
If he were to vote for cloture and against the bill, that would be tantamount to voting for the bill. Clearly the leaders (Reid and McConnell) know the likely votes of every Senator. Chances are they see fewer than sixty solid “yes” votes, fewer than forty solid “no” votes, and a handful of people like Bond that might want to try to have things both ways.
I’ll be on the phone first thing tomorrow morning to make sure Bond’s office knows which vote (Thursday’s cloture vote) I consider most important, and unforgivable if cast against our expressed will.