60-40 Senate Votes to Stomp out Freedom of Speech

[El Gato]

I can't understand how this bill got through both houses with so much support.

For good reason the bill has been called the Incumbent Protection Act. They are incumbents, are they not?

[afuturegovernor]

John Ensign of Nevada is a current member of the Senate. Spencer Abraham of Michigan and current Engery Sec. maybe is the one your thinking of. Abraham was a very conservative and would have voted against CFR.

[El Gato]

Instead of mentioning a pols name, just paste their picture!

What?! And give us a case of the dry heaves, since we've already tossed our cookies over the mere passage of such an abomination.

[Pegita]

I'd be interested in what the Congressman is saying, Nittany ... do you know where I can find him? Did a search, but he's not on my radar screen. Thanks.

Pegita

[Noumenon]

Hey, don't forget that if libertarians hadn't spoiled two senatorial races, we'd get to have two more republican senators voting yes for CFR, instead of two democratic senators voting yes on CFR.

Isn't that the truth. The lights are going out all over what used to be the Republic. Wonder what's next?

[Wphile]

I'm sick. I don't care if Bush decides not to enforce parts of the law. Signing it is endorsing it. Sh*t, I was hoping he'd have a backbone. What a bummer.

[afuturegovernor]

Gordan Smith voted against CFR...wow he is from liberal Oregon.

[NittanyLion]

He's here, saying "My colleagues and I will now seek to have this entire law declared unconstitutional. We will do that not for the sake of the dishonest President, but on behalf of the Constitution that is under attack.

[Pegita]

Thanks ... I'm on my way.

[LarryLied]

John Ensign of Nevada is a current member of the Senate.

I know, I corrected myself a few replies down. Ensign was knocked out by the Libertarian Party when he ran against Reid in 1998. Ensign won a Senate seat in 2000. Which means it is more than likely both NV Senate seats would be GOP today had not the LP run against Ensign in 1998. Add in Gorton and the LP probably lost the GOP three Senate seats. I couldn't believe they did it. Ensign & Gorton are not a Rhinos by any means.

[El Gato]

This is not a rhetorical question ... who would be the dictator?!

Just one dictator is not required, it can more than one. "Why trade one dictator 1000 miles away for 1000 dictators 1 mile away." ..The Ghost.

[El Gato]

Congress adjourns Monday. They will not reconvene until April 5. A pocket veto is possible.

Unfortunately not, they are merely recessing, not adjourning. The Constitution requires adjournment for a "pocket veto" (Art. 1 Sec. 7.)

[El Gato]

If SCOTUS rules the law unconstitutional, then that is the end of it.

You mean like after they found federally mandated gun free school zones unconstitutional? Congress passed, and Billy Jeff signed, that again the very next chance they had, using a bit more "Interstate Commerce" pixi dust on it, even though the Court ruled that schools and carrying guns were not commerce. Like that. They've ignored "Congress shall make no law", why should they not ignore the Supreme Court?

[El Gato]

not ONE "BLEEPING" DEM SENATOR, INCLUDING GOOD OL' ZELL MILLER, voted against this bill.

Not quite. One did, Ben Nelson of Nebraska. At least I can say that all four Senators, two from my birth state, and two from my adopted state, voted against this PoS.

[NittanyLion]

For good reason the bill has been called the Incumbent Protection Act. They are incumbents, are they not?

Oh, I can understand how the bill got through both houses. I suppose it's just astonishing to me (even as a person who views the government with great cynicism) that this bill passed so easily. I know Congress passes the little unconstitutional stuff because it flies beneath the radar. This one is just so damn blatant.

[RFP]

I thought the line-item veto was ruled unconstitutional because it transferred legislative power to the Executive branch. Does Bush have LIV? I honestly can't remember.

[AntiDemocrat]

Compare this vote to the Acquittal Vote back in February 1999...and you will see some very familiar names favoring Campaign Finance - who also voted to let Clinton go free!

Everybody knows that CFR came about because of illegal donations absconded by both Clinton and Gore. Back in Feb. 1999...the following voted to ACQUIT Bill Clinton. Many of the same names voted today for CFR! See underlined names who voted to acquit Clinton.

• GOP: McCain, Fitzgerald, Lugar, Collins, Snowe, Cochran, Domenici, Specter, Chafee, Thompson, Warner.
• IND: Jeffords.

• Dems voting against it: Breaux, Nelson.

[El Gato]

The President said TODAY, that he would sign the reforms passed today into law.

From: whitehouse.gov

Like many Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, I support common-sense reforms to end abuses in our campaign finance system. The reforms passed today, while flawed in some areas, still improve the current system overall, and I will sign them into law.

The legislation makes some important progress on the timeliness of disclosure, individual contribution limits, and banning soft money from corporations and labor unions, but it does present some legitimate constitutional questions. I continue to believe the best reform is full and timely disclosure of campaign contributions.

------

Now, Congressman BillyBob, was that or was that not the "right thing" to say? I sure don't like the sound of "will sign ... into law".

[El Gato]

Option B is to not enforce those sections which are not constitutional. That would be Bush's style. Brilliant compromise

But then the next President will be free to enforce it. Not good, especially if it is the Hildebeast.

[Chong]

I would have to say the Rats do, but then, it's easier to manipulate the brain-washed, ain't it? Either way, I am so disappointed tonight in the Republican party, bush, etc.