***** Official LIVE BLOG Senate = Tax Cuts Debate *****

[L. Coyote]

Maybe one more thread is a stupid idea, but we need to all get on one page for LIVE BLOG discussion.

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

(It is an old custom on DU to asterisk LIVE BLOG threads and call them "official" even if nothing is official here. Five star threads are also the typical live blog subject format.)

[L. Coyote]

1. REC if you like the LIVE BLOG idea and format, and having one thread instead of many.

[L. Coyote]

4. Reply here if you want this thread on top and you would like LIVE BLOGs to be unified

in a single thread, instead of a dozen posts repeating the same thing.

Remember, it is not OFFICIAL without five stars :rofl:

[CTyankee]

36. It's good to have them all in one place and follow the action...

:thumbsup:

[gateley]

39. I love the live threads - it's like we're all watching together. Well, I guess we

are.

Thanks for this, L. Coyote!

[L. Coyote]

286. This custom needs to be revived on DU.

[molly77]

160. L Coyote

This should be a live blog. Thanks for putting up C Span. So good to see Bernie Sanders bring attn. to NAFTA being a large contributor to our brokeness. ..the fact that it is never mentioned in congress...the fact that it was supposed to solve immigration problems LOL..the fact that strong manufacturing was the reason WE won WWII...the fact that manufacturing is good with a living wage and benefits.

[Dinger]

2. Go Bernie!

:patriot:

[L. Coyote]

77. Here's what Sanders has to say about what he's doing: "You can call what I am doing today

"You can call what I am doing today whatever you want, you it call it a filibuster, you can call it a very long speech. I'm not here to set any great records or to make a spectacle. I am simply here today to take as long as I can to explain to the American people the fact that we have got to do a lot better than this agreement provides."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/10/131963655/happening-now-sen-sanders-filibuster-of-the-tax-deal?ps=cprs

[rurallib]

3. Thanks coyote and Thank you Senator Sanders.

Didn't know Sanders was going to do this and was pleasantly surprised when I turned on CSPAN.
Is the rest of the senate gone then?

[L. Coyote]

5. The answer is here, and so are most of those watching:

Bernie Sanders on the Senate Floor NOW. C-SPAN Link to live coverage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9743253&mesg_id=9743253

[L. Coyote]

6. "Who is winning and who is losing in the economy"

"Vast majority ... are losing" Sen. Sanders

[shireen]

7. i wish everyone could hear what he's saying

He has provided a wealth of information that people need to know. Too many people don't understand what's really going on.

[L. Coyote]

8. At same time, I'm thinking, "Every American should be hearing this"

[molly77]

234. This is epic

How could you not cry when Bernie was telling about a 50 year old man that is going to have to start walking to work. 8 miles one way. He is sad because he cannot help those in his community who are worse off. From Vermont.

Building consensus . Including conservatives like Alan Greenspan and Paul Volcker who think that the banks should be broken up. Would never have thought a filibuster could be so overwhelming in content.

[shireen]

288. i'm worried that people won't believe him

Many people prefer to be in denial about the hardship that others are facing.
:(

[L. Coyote]

9. "Twenty five percent of children dependent on food stamps"

Finland 2-3 of children in poverty

USA over 20 percent

[rurallib]

10. Bernie is doing what should have been done a long time ago.

[L. Coyote]

11. Hedge fund managers made 25 billion last year

Republicans "We have to lower their taxers"

[L. Coyote]

12. Bank of America got a refund check last year from IRS

[shireen]

13. wow! Landrieu is speaking

surreal!

[L. Coyote]

14. Sen. Mary Landrieu "What about the pressures of the middle class"

"income inequality has skyrocketed"

"middle class income stagnated" under Bush

[L. Coyote]

17. "This recession may never end" if the rich have all the money = HELLO

"We can't grow jobs if people don't have money" Sanders

[shireen]

20. +1

don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand that one!

[L. Coyote]

18. 84% households in LA make less than 75K

[valerief]

59. Wow!!! nt

[L. Coyote]

22. "I'd like at least ONE Republican to give a compassionate argument"

that they had to have it in the package = over ONE MILLION dollar earners get tax cut

[valerief]

61. I think a poodle could give a compassionate argument before a Republican could or would. nt

[malaise]

15. Rec

:hi:

[golddigger]

16. Whoa! Landrieu! I fell off my chair.

[Roland99]

19. Ryan: Tax deal no stimulus package

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/senate-forges-ahead-on-858-billion-tax-package-2010-12-10

Speaking with WSJ's Jerry Seib, Congressman Paul Ryan, Republican from Wisconsin, insisted that the deal between Republicans and the White House on the Bush Tax Cuts was not a second stimulus and that the agreement would promote growth despite adding to the deficit.

*COUGH*bullshit*COUGH*

[AlabamaLibrul]

21. If *Landrieu* is on the horn, they must have a lot of people lined up behind this n/t

[Poboy]

25. Very true, she's a coward and would certainly need lots of 'cover'.

[Graybeard]

23. 3 hours now.

Sanders was given a break by Sherrod Brown

at the 2 hour mark and by Sen. Landrieu now.

[L. Coyote]

28. Woooo Hoooo, keep it going until they arrest Bush for creating the Great Recession

[L. Coyote]

24. Landrieu "WHO" put tax cut for millionaires in the package

[sasha031]

26. sounds like Landau is going to vote for the obama/mcconnell deal

she's being honest about how she voted fr before.

[tishaLA]

27. Landrieu, the queen of offshore drilling, bemoans moral recklessness

what is the world coming to?

[t0dd]

43. But let's ignore the moral recklessness

of a President that conducts secret deals with the pharmaceutical and insurance companies at the start of a health care reform debate. I guess that gets a pass.

[L. Coyote]

29. 128 BILLION surplus under Clinton, "surpluses as far as the eye can see"

[sasha031]

30. so many progressive things could of been done with that money

[L. Coyote]

31. $1.294 TRILLION deficit this year, no surplus in sight

And some Republican said, "Please put in the people in America that make over a million dollars"

[disillusioned73]

32. I just started another one, sorry

k&r:dem:

[L. Coyote]

34. I gave it a REC, for great sentiments.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=9744689&mesg_id=9744689

[disillusioned73]

37. Thanks..

I watched morning shmoe, and it sounded like it was a done deal - then this happened, what a pleasant surprise.

[L. Coyote]

33. "599 people in West Virginia make over a million dollars"

Maybe 3,000 in her state.

[Skidmore]

45. Don't you find it absolutely astounding that this data is news to Landrieu?

That a Democratic legislator has operated under the impression that the main constituency for her party has wealth in the $200K range is amazingly revealing.

[L. Coyote]

35. Caucasian median net worth 70K, Hispanic 8K, African-American 5K

includes home ownership

[DFab420]

38. kickaroo

[gateley]

40. This will be lasting 30 hours? Is that what Landrieu just meant? Where the

fuck are the other Senators who stand w/Bernie on this?

Again, kudos for Landrieu -- She seemed to be so sincere and she contributed a lot of info.

[L. Coyote]

42. That is the scheduled debate time when the bill comes to the floor. Tghis is a colloquy

A COLLOQUY is a floor dialogue between the chairman of a committee and another congressman, and it allows for control of the floor.

[gateley]

48. Thanks - I can't keep up with all the rules and regs. :-) nt

[L. Coyote]

41. Senator Sanders has control of the floor. VIEW @ C-SPAN2

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

[L. Coyote]

44. This is nearly a TRILLION dollar package

Landrieu yields the floor to Sanders

[Trey9007]

46. This back & forward between Landreau and Sanders........

is a perfect example of how the Dem Caucus should always be. You have the most progressive, and one of the more conservative members of the caucus, presenting an argument that is in the best interest of at least 75% of the country. This is proof that if the Dems could limit stupid internal arguments and stay on message, this is the one party that could rule the country.

[L. Coyote]

60. +1,000

[shireen]

83. good point. nt

[Supersedeas]

87. Exactly!

[L. Coyote]

47. SANDERS: Top 400 families during Bush had incomes double, with taxes cut in half.

Since Dec. 1999, "zero net job creation" ... "middle income households made less in 2008"

[gateley]

49. I wish the Senate had to all sit there and listen to this. It might really give them

pause for thought. They "know" all this, but hearing it laid out like this might be a good reminder and open their eyes.

I love this format. So much more informative than all the "I yield to" "how many minutes do I have"? and they have time to really present their arguments in full.

[wordpix]

139. GET DOWN THERE, DEM SENATORS!!!! HELP BERNIE OUT, YOU SPINELESS GOBS

of jelly goo

[L. Coyote]

50. Sanders: "During the Bush years alone, we went from 19M to 11M" manufacturing jobs

"Today, you can get a job at McDonalds"

[JuniperLea]

51. Someone give that man a glass of water!!! eom

[Graybeard]

54. or cough drops.

Hang in there Bernie.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

52. Oh! I've missed these threads!!

Once, Sidney and KitchenWitch and I all got banned because we were posting at the exact same time in a fast moving thread... ahh the good old days..

:hi:
GO BERNIE!

[L. Coyote]

56. Viva_La_Revolution again

[otohara]

53. I Trust Bernie Sanders

[dixiegrrrrl]

55. He is speaking for the working man....one of few who do.

Listening now, thanks for the thread.

[valerief]

57. That's for sure. nt

[L. Coyote]

58. Sanders: "During the Bush years 3.2 million workers lost their pensions"

"pensions are going the way of the dinosaur"

2000-2008 middle class men lost about 8% of their income, women 4%

[L. Coyote]

62. 3.5 million jobs lost during Bush last six months

[florida08]

63. Kick this thread

listening to a great man..talking about the wrecklessness of Wall Street..lost 600,000 private sector jobs during Bush

[L. Coyote]

64. Bush years: "Losing 600,000 private sector jobs in NOT good"

$2,200 drop in middle class income during Bush years.

[florida08]

65. 8 million slipped out of the middle class

into poverty during Bush

[Horse with no Name]

67. Astounding. n/t

[Horse with no Name]

66. Stark fact

8 million people dropped out of the middle class during the Bush years.:wow:
Conversely 8 million people lost their healthcare.

[valerief]

81. "Greed is a disease." He's spot on. Say it, Bernie! nt

[valerief]

68. I wonder if the MSM will mention this. Nah, they'll talk up Palin's book instead.

This is too real.

[L. Coyote]

69. "The Filibuster Is In Its 4th Hour And It's A Catastrophe For Obama" The Business Insider

Sanders is lamblasting BUSH, and they say he is ranting against Obama!!!

The Filibuster Is In Its 4th Hour And It's A Catastrophe For Obama
‎
The Business Insider - 49 minutes ago
The Bernie Sanders filibuster against the tax deal is now in its 4th hour, and currently Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu has joined in. ...
http://gawker.com/5711468/senator-blasts-obama-tax-deal-for-two-hours-straight

[AlabamaLibrul]

73. Well, he's lambasting the Bush tax cuts, which will soon be known as the Obama tax cuts

for the rich if someone doesn't stand against it.

[wordpix]

163. got that right

[Trey9007]

116. The MSM will never cover this.....

because Dems usually are all about facts. Facts are dull, and not too exciting to cover. Facts make for a very boring news hour. However, GOP myths & lies are very entertaining. Expect to see the GOP responce to this filibuster covered as if Hoffa was found.

I have never understood the term "liberal media"..lol...

[L. Coyote]

71. NPR: Happening Now: Sen. Sanders' Filibuster Of The Tax Deal

Happening Now: Sen. Sanders' Filibuster Of The Tax Deal
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/10/131963655/happening-now-sen-sanders-filibuster-of-the-tax-deal?ps=cprs

[Ghost Dog]

121. MSM. Does this count? (blog at abcnews.com)

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/12/hour-5-sanders-still-slamming-senate-tax-bill.html

[wordpix]

140. hey "reality" is watching Sarah plain & stupid load her rifle to shoot an endangered caribou

:puke:

Go, Bernie :woohoo:

[florida08]

70. Has anyone heard Grayson? Just got on so have missed a lot

[AlabamaLibrul]

72. Grayson's a Representative, not a Senator n/t

[florida08]

75. of course..mind went south..thanks

[valerief]

86. You're wrong. Grayson's a WONDERFUL Representative, not just a Representative.

:thumbsup:

[AlabamaLibrul]

88. Indeed he is, well played

[L. Coyote]

74. Top one-tenth of one percent took in 11% of all income in America

Top one percent now at 23.5% of all income. Last time that disparity took place was in 1928, just before the BIG CRASH.

"There is a limit to ... how many yachts you can have." Sanders

[Graybeard]

76. 4 hours.

Go Bernie.

[sasha031]

79. I don't think he's even taken a break

[L. Coyote]

112. Landrieu and Sherrod gave him breaks so far.

[shireen]

78. these crybabies ...

LOL! I love that phrase!

[dixiegrrrrl]

80. live feed also on senate.gov page...I'll be damned.

http://sanders.senate.gov/

[bobbolink]

98. Thank you... I get that much better than C-Span.

Thanks!

[L. Coyote]

82. Sanders: "For these people who have hundreds of millions of dollars" maybe they will say

... there is virtue in sharing.

[gateley]

84. My Senator Cantwell has not made a statement. That pisses me off. Still can't

get through to Murray.

[sasha031]

85. how do you cry for a tax break when 25% of children are on food stamps

[valerief]

91. They. Don't. Care. Do you care when someone steps on a caterpillar?

That's what we are to them. Bugs.

[Waiting For Everyman]

89. Sanders' page with link to retweet the filibuster, and/or watch live.

You can send an email from the "contact" link on the left too.

http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=07C45D73-82A3-432D-9995-45C48D996EC5

[L. Coyote]

90. Bush inherited 5.6 trillion projected surplus, then Bush started War in Iraq = $ 3 trillion debt

[TomClash]

92. Giving tax breaks to the rich creates zero jobs nt

[sasha031]

101. Obama said that this morning on NPR

[L. Coyote]

93. "Corporations are sitting on a huge bundle of money"

"far more effective way that we can create jobs in this country" than tax cuts.

[florida08]

94. heading for 3rd world America

no kidding..I love this man

[Angry Dragon]

95. Nothing to add ........... k&r

[spanone]

96. k&r

[Bozita]

97. From time to time, I've been flipping to CNN and MSNBC to see if they're covering this.

I've done it maybe 15-20 times since 10:30am ET and have yet to find any coverage.

You would think the cable news networks would be interested in showing a real filibuster.

[florida08]

100. yes you would..this is historic

[sasha031]

102. amazing but yet again, it's not

[valerief]

99. School busses also add to traffic jams and more greenhouse gasses.

If we had a good rail system, we wouldn't need to be sitting behind busses.

[DoBotherMe]

103. Kick

[Hannah Bell]

104. kr. is this still going on?

i check the news & it's talking heads mentioning a "revolt" but not providing any of the great info sanders has talked about.

i hoped some of this gets past the media barricade. people need to hear it.

[valerief]

105. "We're 25th! We're 25th!"

In math and science in the world.

Well, we can look at #26 in the face and be proud. Stupid, ignorant, and proud.

[L. Coyote]

106. "If we are not going to become a 3rd world country, we have to begin investing in our infrastructure

[wordpix]

136. no duh

[Celtic Raven]

107. K&R nt

[valerief]

108. Yeah, the uneducated kids end up in prison, but the wealthy make $$$$$$ off those prisons.

They don't want to give them up.

[florida08]

109. Would you vote for Senator Reid's Tax cut bill

Notice how Fraud News frames it..it's Reid's bill not McConnell's




http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/12/09/vote-sen-reids-tax-cut/

[valerief]

113. Another stimulus bill???? If ONLY it was stimulating. nt

[L. Coyote]

110. "75% of youth who apply to military are ineligible to serve"

Good to hear someone talking about education and the future in these terms.

[valerief]

111. And 30% of kids drop out of high school. He asks, "Where do they go?

What jobs do they get?"

Good questions.

[wordpix]

219. take it from me, I work with public schools, a lot of them can barely read/write

[L. Coyote]

114. The Filibuster: Saying he was prepared to speak "as long as possible" against a tax deal

LIVE streram on his page now: http://sanders.senate.gov/

The Filibuster

Saying he was prepared to speak "as long as possible" against a tax deal between the White House and congressional Republicans, Sen. Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor to make the case against deepening the deficit and widening the income gap in America by extending Bush-era tax breaks for the very wealthy. "I think we can do better, and I am here today to take a strong stand against this bill, and I intend to tell my colleagues and the nation exactly why I am in opposition to this bill. You can call what I am doing today whatever you want, you it call it a filibuster, you can call it a very long speech. I'm not here to set any great records or to make a spectacle. I am simply here today to take as long as I can to explain to the American people the fact that we have got to do a lot better than this agreement provides."

[sasha031]

120. this man is a true hero, he hasn't even taken a break

:loveya:

[L. Coyote]

122. Release: Sanders Statement on Tax Cut Deal December 7, 2010 WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 – Sen. Bernie Sande

He had two breaks so far, two other Senators are involved so far.

Release: Sanders Statement on Tax Cut Deal

December 7, 2010

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today on the agreement announced Monday between the White House and congressional Republicans:

“In my view, it is a moral outrage that at a time when this country has a $13.8 trillion national debt, a collapsing middle class and a growing gap between the very rich and everybody else that the Republicans would deny extended unemployment benefits to 2 million workers who are desperately struggling to pay their bills and maintain their dignity. It is also beyond comprehension that the Republicans would hold hostage the entire middle class of this country so that millionaires and billionaires would receive huge tax breaks. In my view, that is not what this country is about and it is not what the American people want to see. Our job is to save the disappearing middle class, not lower taxes for people who are already extraordinarily wealthy and increase the national debt that our children and grandchildren would have to pay.

“The immediate political task in front of us is to rally the American people so that in the next several weeks we can find at least a few Republicans who will join us in saying no to increasing the deficit by giving tax breaks to the wealthy and no to holding the unemployed and the middle class hostage.

“I believe that we have the American people on our side on this issue. My office, and I come from a small state, has received more than 600 calls today, 99 percent of them in opposition to this so-called compromise that the president negotiated with the Republicans.

“I will do everything in my power to stand up for the American middle class and defeat this agreement.”

[wordpix]

141. BERNIE FOR PRESIDENT! Obama, do you think you're getting donations from 'just folks' for

your stand on these cuts?

I DON'T THINK SO

[L. Coyote]

115. Rupert Murdoc 1.3 million tax break, Diamond 1.1M (JPM-Chase),

Those who got multi-billion dollar bailouts will get million dollar tax breaks if the Obama tax cuts pass.

[L. Coyote]

117. Not one Republican vote to give soldiers $250 cost-of-living raise.

[L. Coyote]

118. "Bush-era nonsense" = trickle down economics

Those people who make their income off investments, you will pay less tax than fireman, police, teachers, nurses, .....

[L. Coyote]

119. "Horrendous proposal regarding the estate tax"

Proposal lowers estate tax substantially.

Teddy Roosevelt "No man should receive a dollar unless that dollar has been honestly earned." 1910

[thereismore]

129. I wonder if Ron Paul is for the inheritance tax. Based on the "earned" criterion, he should be.

Everybody should be, really.

[L. Coyote]

123. "32.7 billion dollar tax break" for the Walton family (Wal-Mart)

if this passes. "50,000,000 seniors and disabled vets" getting $250 costs less.

Estate tax rate under Clinton 55%
Proposal 35%

This tax only applies to the top 0.3 percent of Americans.

[wordpix]

144. OMG - Obama, you'd better speak up---you've sunk your presidency

[gateley]

124. Hope there's a Red Bull delivery soon. nt

[spanone]

125. now bernie's getting to the social security issue....

[NuttyFluffers]

126. riveting. love watching C-SPAN. K&R

:popcorn:

(curious note: why does Bernie actually have to filibuster old skool style and republican senators never really had to...)

[crikkett]

146. he's speaking so that we'd all watch & because he'll lose the vote for cloture.

Am I right?

[fredamae]

127. Which Senators Ask/Demanded

Tax Breaks for the wealthy be included in this legislation?

I would like to know exactly Who is responsible for this.

I would like to hear their justification.

Because of an obvious conflict of interest based upon the wealth and potential personal Gain from the passage of this legislation, perhaps This issue should be referred to the people for a vote?

[bvar22]

128. Make NO mistake. These cuts are PERMANENT!

Nothing will change in two years....

[southmost]

131. I doubt this nation's permanency with these types of tax cuts

what a mess

[southmost]

the main reason the rich want the money

is to keep buying off whats left of our govt.

and they are reaping huge (as in 2010 election)

[suffragette]

130. K&R

[florida08]

132. yes yes yes

can't be concerned about the debt when you're voting to give tax breaks to the millionaires/billionaires..no more hypocrisy

[Horse with no Name]

133. Awesome!

And so truthful.

[L. Coyote]

134. "What kind of honest conservative can vote to raise the national debt?"

"No more lectures about your concern about the national debt... "

Just say rich people donated to my campaign and i have to do what they say.

[florida08]

135. lol

you tell 'em Bernie

[valerief]

137. +1

[wordpix]

147. GO!!!! "Honest conservative?????" LOL NO. SUCH. THING

[valerief]

153. Got that right!!!! nt

[Tatiana]

138. Bernie Sanders is a true American hero.

Just listening to him talk about how many millions of people fell (were pushed!) out of the middle class into poverty makes me :cry:

Why don't any of the other damn politicians care???? Why aren't we NAILING the conservatives who threaten austerity for the masses and more greed for the top 0.2%?

[malaise]

142. Ditto

Go Bernie Sanders

[valerief]

151. +666 trillion

[florida08]

143. exactly right

the argument will be deficit must be cut..and it's the social programs that will be the ones they will ax

[EmeraldCityGrl]

145. This dear man brings tears to my eyes.

This is an example of the government I want. I hope his lines are jammed.

[florida08]

150. ditto

[L. Coyote]

148. Bernie Sanders Reads 'Third World America' During Senate Speech, Huffington Post - 21 minutes ago

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/10/bernie-sanders-third-world-america-arianna-huffington_n_795158.html

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) invoked Arianna's book Third World America on Friday during a lengthy Senate speech against the Obama tax cut deal.

During the marathon session, the Vermont senator opened up Arianna's latest book. "I am indebted to a very fine book written by an old friend of mine called Arianna Huffington," he said. "And the title of her book -- and I know why she did it -- is called Third World America."

Sanders then elaborated on the book's title:

"The theme of her book is, if we do not get our act together -- in terms of infrastructure, in terms of education, in terms of health care -- that's where we are headed. This great country is headed in the direction of being a third world nation."

[valerief]

152. Ten to one, he'll not mention Palin's book even once. nt

[L. Coyote]

161. My first laugh since this speech began

Thanks

[L. Coyote]

149. SLATE: Bernie Sanders Reads Slate. You Should, Too.

Bernie Sanders Reads Slate. You Should, Too.
Posted Friday, December 10, 2010 3:41 PM | By David Weigel
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/10/bernie-sanders-third-world-america-arianna-huffington_n_795158.html

At what was, at this hour, the midpoint of Sen. Bernie Sanders' quasi-filibuster of the tax cut deal, he pointed viewers to the "very good web site" called Slate and this article by Tom Vanderbilt about why trains run slower now than they did in the 19th century.

It is here that one sees the wheels of progress actually running backward. The aforementioned Montreal Limited, for example, circa 1942, would pull out of New York's Grand Central Station at 11:15 p.m., arriving at Montreal's (now defunct) Windsor Station at 8:25 a.m., a little more than nine hours later. To make that journey today, from New York's Penn Station on the Adirondack, requires a nearly 12-hour ride. The trip from Chicago to Minneapolis via the Olympian Hiawatha in the 1950s took about four and a half hours; today, via Amtrak's Empire Builder, the journey is more than eight hours. Going from Brattleboro, Vt., to New York City on the Boston and Maine Railroad's Washingtonian took less than five hours in 1938; today, Amtrak's Vermonter (the only option) takes six hours—if it's on time, which it isn't, nearly 75 percent of the time.

[L. Coyote]

154. PolitiFact: Sanders telling the truth on vast income inequality ‎ dKos - Joan McCarter - VIDEO...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/10/927876/-PolitiFact:-Sanders-telling-the-truth-on-vast-income-inequality

[wordpix]

155. DEMOCRATIC SENATORS! GET TO THE CAPITOL IMMEDIATELY & HELP BERNIE OUT

:grr:


WHERE ARE THEY????

[wordpix]

156. "Literally very hard to find a product not manufactured in China"---my shoppping experience, too

[wordpix]

157. 17 million manufacturing jobs down to 8 million under Boosh

[wordpix]

159. Calling my senators now to ask them to help Bernie out!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

164. same here. Patty Murray, Marie Cantwell where are you ?

[wordpix]

169. LIEberman, Dodd, where are YOU? Dodd's in CT. WTF? Get on a plane, Chris

[L. Coyote]

158. DU Video: Bernie Sanders FILIBUSTER: Economy's Winners and Losers

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x534136

[florida08]

162. another great example

auto workers wages cut in half..is this the future of America?..yes Bernie..that's what they want

[valerief]

165. "CHINA, CHINA, CHINA, CHINA!" Until GE and the others want a bailout.

Then it's, "USA USA USA."

[Hannah Bell]

199. +100

[Krakowiak]

166. Just owned GE - "Didn't see GE going to China when it needed billions in bailout money" nt

[wordpix]

167. quoting Jack Welch & Immelt "We have every plant we own on a barge"-i.e. move to where it's cheapest

labor

[JBoy]

168. Tearing a strip off GE!

After massive outsourcing of jobs to China, GE still got a $16Billion bailout from US taxpayers. Bernie says "they didn't go to China for their bailout!!"

[JBoy]

170. Bernie is touring the Rogue's Gallery of outsourcers!

[wordpix]

171. on to US Chamber of Commerce - "funnel for money into campaigns---undisclosed"

[wordpix]

175. "urged American companies to send jobs overseas"---pres & CEO of CoC

[dixiegrrrrl]

172. Those who can, will you send an e-mail of thanks to Bernie?

or call the WH switchboard with thanks.( that would be even better)

202-456-6213

I can't get thru to his sanders.senate.gov page...it seems over whelmed.
Maybe later to night we can email him there???

[EmeraldCityGrl]

178. Could only get through on his Burlington line. They were wonderful.

[wordpix]

179. Call Senators and ask them to relieve Bernie & keep filibuster going!

[florida08]

181. were you able to get thru on the number

just tried..ring ring ring..perhaps there is a long holding?

[dana_b]

285. I called his Vermont office

and thanked them. I also made a donation.

[florida08]

294. thanks for the response

will follow your lead on Monday :hi:

[DemReadingDU]

173. How long can he talk?

Does Bernie decide to stop eventually, or does someone kick him out? Is there a time limit?

[L. Coyote]

176. With such incredible vigor and clarity?

[wordpix]

177. he needs a relief pitcher----where are our DEMOCRATIC SENATORS?

[sasha031]

182. good question

perhaps...:hide:

[L. Coyote]

174. FACEBOOK: I Support Bernie Sanders' Filibuster of the Tax Cuts for the Rich

Like this

[Bryn]

202. Thanks. I went there and liked it.

It needs more people to 1 million!

[jannyk]

180. kicking to the top. Go Bernie!! Hi L. Coyote, long time no see :)

:hi:

[L. Coyote]

211. This event brought me "home" to the den again.

A howl back at you too.

[florida08]

183. people asking on Twitter

why is the media ignoring Senator Sanders

http://twitter.com/#search?q=berniesanders

[wordpix]

186. to hell with the media ignoring him---how about Dem senators who swore against tax cuts for rich?

[florida08]

189. yeah..where are they?..I doubt they're even in the chamber

[wordpix]

194. mine, Dodd, is in CT and LIEberman's not answering the phone at 4:20 pm

[wordpix]

196. It's Friday, time to go home and par-tay if you're a senator - gotta keep the $$$ coming in

just show up and smile and watch the campaign donations roll

[NorthCarolina]

184. Pathetic. Obama passes the ball to Clinton....heads off to XMAS Party.

You can't make this shit up. :rofl:

[florida08]

195. yeah ..the man who gave us NAFTA

and the repeal of Glass-Steagall is going to bat for more of the same..

[DemReadingDU]

a business model based on fraud

good one, no wonder we are in trouble

[wordpix]

185. "Wall Street based on a model of fraud"---talking about mergers, wealth, power, lawyers & Congress

[wordpix]

187. Wells Fargo, BoA, JP Morgan Chase, 3/4 of largest banks now larger than ever after bailouts

[wordpix]

193. largest 4 banks own 63% of GDP

[L. Coyote]

188. WA POST Poll: Bernie Sanders: Waste of time or proving a point?

Bernie Sanders: Waste of time or proving a point?
By Chris Cillizza
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/fix-poll/bernie-sanders-waste-of-time-o.html


Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (D) has been speaking on the Senate floor for the better part of the last six hours in a protest of the tax cut compromise that President Obama cut earlier this week.

Sanders' speak-a-thon is only prolonging the inevitable: a cloture vote on the compromise at 3 pm Monday.

But, opponents of the legislation insist the attention his speech is drawing is its own reward -- shining a light on what liberals believe to be a very bad deal.

So, what do you make of the Sanders' stand? Is he proving an important point about the tax compromise or just wasting the Senate's time on a slow Friday afternoon? Vote below.
What do you make of Sen. Bernie Sanders' speak-a-thon?

* Waste of time
* Who is Bernie Sanders?
* Proves an important point

[L. Coyote]

190. Current results

* Waste of time
9%
* Proves an important point
86%
* Who is Bernie Sanders?
3%

[florida08]

191. yay!..those are good numbers

[L. Coyote]

192. "Four financial institutions have assets greater than 52% of our economic output"

"Largest 6 banks have assets in excess of 63% of GDP"

[dixiegrrrrl]

198. That explains SO much, doesn't it?

Look how many Congress members they own.

[FredStembottom]

197. EVERYTHING being said!

I am so not used to this!

Get on FaceBook, everyone! Call, emai whoever you can. lGet your friends and neighbors behind the honesty!

I am home sick today. Feel terrible. But history isn't waiting for me. Bernie is acting. I must, too.
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN2.aspx

[wordpix]

200. that day is going to come again when these financial institutions come to ask for more bailouts

[tomm2thumbs]

201. I can haz Bernie as my senator please?

you folks from Vermont are lucky ducks

[valerief]

210. He IS our senator. Every senator's vote affect us ALL. Coburn is a senator of us all.

Sick thought, huh?

[tomm2thumbs]

221. good point - glad the smart one is on our side of the battle...

very glad indeed

[valerief]

227. Sad there's not many smart ones doing the right thing. nt

[wordpix]

203. "Wall St. sends its lobbyists down here in droves"

[sasha031]

204. Oh, he's talking about those commies in the UK

:sarcasm:

[wordpix]

205. Greenspan did a lot of damage but at least he admitted he was wrong

"if they're too big to fail, they're too big"---Architect of deregulation, A. Greespan

[valerief]

208. Fat good that does us. nt

[pgodbold]

206. I stand amazed. I had lost all hope of these comments being made in public at all much less

in the senate AND Mary Landrieu... she was amazing. I could not be prouder of her. This afternoon is golden for me.

[wordpix]

213. Wall St. as casino

[sasha031]

207. Wall Street gangsters

:applause:

[valerief]

209. +666 trillion!!!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

212. "Credit Unions have done fine for over 30 years" ( with decent credit rates)

[wordpix]

214. history will prove these are crooks on Wall Street

[rainbow4321]

215. So what if he has to use the bathroom??

Does he get to or is he outta luck?

[wordpix]

217. hopefully he's got a can behind the podium

:eyes:

[wordpix]

216. Bernie's running out of steam----spineless Dems won't help him out!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

218. Shame on all of them.

[L. Coyote]

220. LA TIMES: Vermont Democrat rails against tax bill for hours, lone voice in otherwise empty Senate

Vermont Democrat rails against tax bill for hours, lone voice in otherwise empty Senate
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-tax-cuts-sanders,0,5289322.story

This is the same AP short story, but

LA Times does not know Bernie is an Independent :rofl:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is fighting President Barack Obama's proposed tax cut compromise with a lengthy speech in the Senate.

Sanders, 69, says it is unconscionable to increase the national debt "by giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires who don't need it." He spoke for several hours Friday in an otherwise empty Senate chamber. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who also opposes the bill, briefly spelled him so he could take a break.

[NorthCarolina]

264. ..

self delete

[wordpix]

222. reading letter from VT woman who has to choose between diapers & heating fuel

[wordpix]

223. and another who had to burn furniture b/c she couldn't afford heating oil

[wordpix]

224. "and my friends here are talking about tax breaks for billionaires?"

[valerief]

225. Congress is talking about letting the US die, except for Wall St., and making

their fortune from China and India. Their consumers will be there, too.

[WillyT]

226. HUGE K & R !!!

:patriot:

:kick:

[jannyk]

228. kicking to the top

[AmandaMae]

229. I'm not that familiar with this process. How long do you think he'll go for?

[L. Coyote]

231. If someone helps him, it could be for days.

Alone, he will collapse or need to stop. Lesser men would die from this.

Wayne Morse rose on the Senate floor on April 24, 1953. Described as "a lean trim man, with a clipped mustache, sharp nose, and bushy black eyebrows," he began a filibuster against Tidelands Oil legislation. When he concluded after 22 hours and 26 minutes, he had broken the 18-hour record set in 1908 by his mentor, Robert La Follette. Morse kept that distinction until 1957, when Strom Thurmond logged the current record of 24 hours and 18 minutes.
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Wayne_Morse_Sets_Filibuster_Record.htm

[L. Coyote]

230. SALON: Bernie Sanders' epic tax cut filibuster rant

http://www.salon.com/news/bernard_sanders/?story=/tech/htww/2010/12/10/bernie_sanders_epic_filibuster_rant

The senator brings government to a glorious halt with an extraordinary diatribe against U.S. economic policy
By Andrew Leonard

On CSPAN, six hours after first taking the podium to filibuster against the tax cut deal at around 10:25 a.m. Friday morning, Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is still talking. The CSPAN subtitle is "U.S. Senate: Tax Cuts & Unemployment Benefits," but for the last few minutes he has been blasting trade polices that disadvantage American workers.

But that's fine. His epic rant -- perhaps one of the most extraordinary critiques of how the American economy has been managed over the last several decades delivered in living memory -- is an endless sequence of connecting the dots from one outrage to another. Even as I wrote this paragraph, he segued effortlessly from trade policy to Wall Street.

"But it is not just a disastrous trade policy that has brought us where we are today. The immediate cause of this crisis, and it gets me just sick talking about it ... is what the crooks on Wall Street have done to the American people."

Sanders then delivers a capsule history of deregulation, blasts Alan Greenspan, noted that the late '90s he had predicted everything that ultimately happened, but failed to rally legislative support to stop the runaway train -- "and the rest is unfortunately history."

......

[immoderate]

242. He's going "Chomsky" on them!

B-)

--imm

[L. Coyote]

232. Over seven hours now. This is historic, and the content is unprecedented.

"There is a huge feeling odf anger and frustration, even disgust, at what goes on here inb Washington."

"What worries me .. the rich ... need to be richer ... greed and greed and more greed .... they hire lobbyists ... hotshot lawyers ... " to get tax cuts.

[dixiegrrrrl]

233. He is quoting from The Center for Responsible Politics!!

Lobbyists spent 3.7 billion in 2009.

[L. Coyote]

235. 3.47 billion spent in lobbying Congress in 2009 = 6.5 million per Congress critter

$17,750 per Congress critter per day, 365 days a year.

[dixiegrrrrl]

236. Did he just say Mediacom and Comcast were wanting to merger???

AArrgghh....

rollerball is coming true.

[gateley]

237. He's still coherent and making so much sense this far into it. I'm slack-jawed and

drooling from just WATCHING it these many hours!

:yourock:

[AngryOldDem]

239. I tuned in just now.

Was busy with work all day, and my God, he is amazing seven hours in!

His criticism of Obama is spot. on.

[AngryOldDem]

238. Thank you, Sen. Sanders

Finally...someone who comes out and says that we don't have to settle for the old, "it's bad but it's better than nothing" crap.

Keep going...we need more people like you in Washington.

[Missy Vixen]

240. Go, Senator, GO!

Bring that man a drink of water. He's telling the American people how things are!

:woohoo:

[Kali]

241. this thread is making me sob!

reading his words reported here - it just hurts

how fucking selfish and greedy the pukes and rich whores don't give a FUCK about any of us

[DoBotherMe]

251. Me too!

There's no way I could watch it. :hug: Dana ; )

[AngryOldDem]

243. Sam Walton and family are now poster children as to why the rich don't need tax cuts.

:bounce:

[JDPriestly]

244. This is such a good point!

[AngryOldDem]

245. It is...now he';s going into the decadence that most of these people indulge in,

Competing for the best yachts, cars, mansions, etc...yeah...I know **I** feel the benefits of their largesse every day. .:sarcasm:

Meanwhile, where I live, families are having the heat cut off in their homes, right at the start of a very, very frigid winter.

Bernie is truly speaking truth to power here.

[Frank Booth]

246. Bernie Sanders has proved he's got the biggest balls in the Senate, and the biggest bladder.

Under Rule XIX of the Senate, senators who have been recognized to speak may do so for as long as they wish, and cannot be forced to cede the floor or even interrupted without their consent, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Sanders has twice deferred to his colleagues — for 45 minutes to Sherrod Brown (D- Ohio), and to Mary Landrieu (D-La.) for over a half hour.

"I don't know how I'm going to vote, but I'm not voting quietly," Landrieu said.

Even when he defers to a colleague, Sanders must remain standing on the floor. He also cannot eat — he hasn't since arriving at the Capitol at 9 a.m. — but is permitted to take sips of water.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-sanders-filibuster-20101211,0,2167403.story

[sasha031]

252. I'm worried about him

[Blue_In_AK]

254. And yet Republicans can simply say

"we're not voting for cloture," and get their way. It's sick.

[rainbow4321]

265. No kidding..everytime he takes a drink of water

I'm thinking the same thing.

[sasha031]

247. anyone worried about Bernie becoming exhausted

[L. Coyote]

248. Yes, for hours now!!

I also hope he didn't have too much coffee :rofl:

[sasha031]

249. He's 70yrs old Coyote, I'm furious that someone doesn't help him with this torch

[nadinbrzezinski]

250. I am in awe at this man

I am really in awe

[L. Coyote]

253. POLITICO: Bernie Sanders filibuster stalls Senate

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46246.html

"By early evening, his name became the most popular term on Twitter both in America and worldwide. The phone lines at Sanders’ office were jammed with calls.

Sanders did not have an end time planned, according to one of his aides, who warned the senator’s staff had prepared a stack of letters and speeches for him to read that was several inches thick. However, Sanders is not allowed to sit down or leave the floor even to use the restroom – although he did take a quick break to take questions from Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu and Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown."

..

[AlabamaLibrul]

255. HE'S STILL GOING! I left earlier, has anyone else joined? n/t

[L. Coyote]

257. Not for over four hours

[L. Coyote]

256. TWITTER Realtime results for Bernie Sanders

http://twitter.com/search?q=Bernie+Sanders#search?q=Bernie%20Sanders

Astounding number of Tweets, enough to turn Sarah Palin a bright Green with envy.

[Echotrail]

261. Bernie Sanders is trending #1 worldwide!

Go Bernie!

[L. Coyote]

262. Click the link, then watch the numbers climb

My browser now at 1,151 tweets since I opened the Twitter window

[L. Coyote]

268. 5,114 and rolling along at a fast clip

172 tweets a minute

[L. Coyote]

281. 7,210 now. Whew,

This will start to slow now that he has concluded, no doubt.

[florida08]

258. Well it tells you where our senators stand

the cowards..almost 9 hours now..

[wordpix]

293. BIG ZEROS

[Echotrail]

259. Other senators should hang their heads in shame

Everything Sanders is saying is the truth. (Verified by PoliFact)

People are hurting! Some don't have enough to eat. The safety nets have been cut with more threatened under the GOP takeover of Congress.

What don't these b*$***$ understand? This is not the time to extend tax breaks to the wealthiest, let alone increase the cuts over and above what Bush gave them. That's what the Obama-GOP agreement does.

[Poboy]

260. The ONLY senator to speak up for the people. Amazing.

[L. Coyote]

263. SANDERS: "What are you smoking?" if you favor tax breaks for millionaires.

:rofl:

[florida08]

266. lol

made us laugh too

[AngryOldDem]

267. Kick

[golddigger]

269. I have been crying non-stop for 2 hrs watching this treasure.

[indimuse]

270. HUGE KNR!! nt

[indimuse]

271. HUGE KNR!! nt

[ljm2002]

272. Whoa, preach it Bernie!

Brilliant, heartfelt, tenacious, and inspiring.

[LBJDemocrat]

273. Bernie Sanders is an American hero

But it's sad that it takes a 69-year old man to work like this to honor the pledge that Obama campaigned on and later broke.

[stlsaxman]

274. "Let me conclude..." oh no!!!!!

[Pistarkle]

275. Thanks for the live blog. Here are my thoughts...

I hate the thought of having to compromise on the tax cuts, but no compromise is only in your corner when YOU have the upper hand. Right now the Republicans HAVE the upper hand – more than enough “no” votes in the Senate to keep tax cuts for the wealthy in ANY compromise. If Democratic candidates campaigned on tax cuts for the wealthy during the 2010 Campaign as the President suggested, perhaps 90% rather than 40% of eligible voters would have voted in the midterms and the Democrats would have the upper hand regarding the tax cut controversy, but that’s past history.

Because of the midterm results, Republicans will be in charge of the House and the 60 vote filibuster-proof Senate on the side of Democrats will be out the door come January 1st. At least now a compromise will benefit the middle class, the poor, and the unemployed and small businesses with the extension of unemployment benefits, tax cuts for the middle class, payroll tax cuts, and incentives for small businesses to create jobs. It’s not the best of both worlds, but it’s better than nothing at all. After January 1st when the Republicans are in charge of the House, you can be guaranteed that those benefits will be ‘gone with the wind’.

WE criticized the President and Democrats when we didn’t get the public option but WE didn’t fight for it. We let the Tea Party and health insurance industry do ALL of the squawking and we didn’t start raising Cain until after the fact. WE must deliver the upper hand. WE must speak out in ONE voice. WE must shame the Republicans into ending those tax cuts THROUGHOUT the next two years. WE must hold local rallies. WE must fight for our rights in local AND national newspapers, internet, radio and media outlets. WE must email, fax and call Republican Congressional offices EVERY DAY. We must let Tea Party-backed Republicans know that if they continue to fight for the wealthy and ignore the middle class, the poor and the unemployed, WE WILL vote them out in 2012 and WE must mean it!

[cal04]

276. thank you L. Coyote for the thread

:hi:

[GCP]

277. Bernie's finished

Thank you for your service, Sir!

[L. Coyote]

278. "Let me conclude .. if the American people stand up and say

...we don't need tax cuts for millionaires and billionares.... and with that Madam President, I will yield the floor." 7:00 PM EST

AMAZING DAY!

[Life Long Dem]

279. Anyone happen to have the time?

Tic tock... tic tock!

[davidwparker]

280. Thank you, Bernie. This nation is blessed because of you.

[florida08]

282. Thankyou for this thread

Applause and my utmost respect and gratitude for a real statesmen..Senator Bernie Sanders:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[nadinbrzezinski]

283. Senator MY FULL RESPECT for you

[senseandsensibility]

284. Been at work all day

Is he still going?

[L. Coyote]

287. 10:25 AM until 7:00 PM without sitting or leaving the chamber. DANG!!!!

Hope I can do that at age 69. I know I can't now :rofl:

[senseandsensibility]

289. Sheesh...my great timing

I heard snippets of this on Thom Hartmann today while I was at work. I looked forward to coming home and seeing it live. He ends within a couple minutes of me walking in my door. Oh well, my thanks to Senator Sanders. Now what, I wonder?

[jillan]

290. I've been gone all day too and it was *killing* me to be away today.

Luckily I was able to listen to the radio. Thom Hartmann played clips off and on throughout his show, but when Randi came on, she pretty much called us a bunch of whiners. :eyes:

Can't wait until Keith & Rachel are on. I'm sure they will have highlights.

[senseandsensibility]

291. Did you see the top of Keith's show?

Great hightlights! I love Bernie. It was just amazing to watch. I only wish I could have seen it live.

[L. Coyote]

295. MUST SEE indeed. Those are great clips! LINK:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#40613478

[CONN]

292. Thank you Sen. Bernie Sanders (eom)

[L. Coyote]

296. Filibernie's Greatest Hits = some of the best excerpts

Filibernie's Greatest Hits
Josh Harkinson
Fri Dec. 10, 2010 5:37 PM PST
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/12/bernie-sanders-filibuster


At 10:24 on Friday morning, Senator Bernard Sanders, an independent from Vermont and self-described socialist, took to the podium in the Senate to denounce the Obama/GOP tax accord. He did not leave for another eight and a half hours. His old-school filibuster, which technically wasn't a filibuster at all, was ignored or downplayed by much of the media. But that didn't stop it from going viral. By early evening, Sanders' name had become the second-most-popular term on Google and tops on Twitter, where untold thousands rallied to his cause under the hash tag #filibernie.

An impassioned tirade of the sort that many liberals had once hoped to hear from the President, the speech was even more interesting in chunks larger than 140 characters. In the (likely) event that you didn't have time to listen to the whole thing, here are some of best excerpts: ......

[L. Coyote]

297. DU VIDEO: KO: "Berniebuster"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x534358

[L. Coyote]

298. C-SPAN links to the ENTIRE FILIBUSTER stream online in three parts

http://cspan.org/Watch/Media/2010/12/11/HP/R/41812/Sen+Sanders+Holds+8+12+hour+Tax+Cut+Filibuster.aspx

This just in from Bernie Sanders' Support Facebook post:
I Support Bernie Sanders' Filibuster of the Tax Cuts for the Rich
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Support-Bernie-Sanders-Filibuster-of-the-Tax-Cuts-for-the-Rich/162643503777907

Let me know if you can watch the entire filibuster standing and without a bathroom or food break :rofl: