Jane Hamsher: Why Did Reid Pull the Telecom Bill?

[marmar]

from HuffPost:




Jane Hamsher
Why Did Reid Pull the Telecom Bill?
Posted December 18, 2007 | 11:43 AM (EST)




I'd like to believe that Harry Reid pulled the telecom bill yesterday because members of the Senate actually did realize how shameless and horrifying their soliloquies on behalf of the poor beleaguered telecos made them sound, but I'm skeptical.

As I listened to Barb "Ma Kettle" Mikulski (D-LCD) on the floor of the Senate pining for the days when "blackberries wuz sumpin' yew put on yer breakfast cereal," I didn't pick up an iota of self awareness that might clue her into the fact that having such an intellectually shiftless luddite as a sitting US Senator, charged with making tech policy, was an international embarrassment.

Of course she reached the conclusion the telecoms were great patriots who were only doing their civic duty. She's thick as a brick.

But it doesn't appear that the Washington Post is any brighter. This morning, they faithfully reported that Reid spokesman Jim Manley says "the decision had nothing to do with the efforts of Dodd and his allies."

Who do I look like, Barbara Mikulski?

Marcy Wheeler:

Manley is, of course, full of shit. At the very least, Reid did the math to see that Dodd could filibuster this issue until the Christmas break, and since Reid intended to get funding done before the break, he was faced with postponing the break or punting the appropriations bills to the next year. So whatever else caused Reid to pull the bill, Dodd's demonstration that he was willing to hold the Senate floor was one factor (apparently, Dodd only left the floor once during yesterday's debate).

......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/why-did-reid-pull-the-tel_b_77299.html

[polichick]

1. Got this last night from Democracy for America:

You did it! Minutes ago, Senator Reid pulled the FISA bill from the Senate floor.

Since Friday at noon, you made 2,443 reported calls to Senator Reid demanding he stop this bill. All weekend internet blogs, like Firedoglake and DailyKos, kept it in the news cycle. From the ACLU to the Courage Campaign, progressives took action. And today, Senator Dodd threatened to filibuster. Together, we won.

When Progressives stand up, Beltway Democrats back down.

Today is a victory. But the battle for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party continues. Contribute $15 right now to keep up the fight.

http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/contribute

Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we get back to work.

-Charles

[RufusEarl]

2. I'll repeat this again, thank you Sen. Dodd.

We now have a few weeks to try and get the point across to Sen Reid, that this is a bad bill, I typed emails yesterday till my fingers bleed, and i'm totally convinced i had nothing to do with getting this bad bill put on the back burner.

It will come up again after the first of the year, and i'm also sure it will be the same bill giving the telecoms what they and the Bu$hies want.

Is Sen. Reid really this stupid? Can't he see what this is about, why would he want this bill to pass, that my question? I can't for the life of me figure this one out. Me thinks, we need a real two party system in this country.

Peace!