I never thought I'd be saying this, but I was proud of my senators today!

[_dynamicdems]

This is a first for me. BOTH NH Republicans, Gregg and Sununum voted to end the debate on the same sex marriage amendment. I can't believe it!

These guys never cross over!

[TayTay]

1. OMG! Wow

Maybe some of being close to Massachusetts rubbed off on them. (Just kidding and they would be horrified at the thought.)

Good for them. Now, if only they would do the same for the Tax Our Kids Act that is before the Senate tomorrow. (I hope that they DON'T invoke cloture.) This phony death tax is as bad a piece of legislation as there can be. Gregg will probably get up in the morning whistling at the thought of heaping debt on our kids and grandkids. He loves it when that happens.

[_dynamicdems]

2. In all honesty, they probably don't want to waste the time on something

that isn't going to pass. They want to get on with their evil Republican agenda. You know where they side on the estate tax...and it's not with us!

Wal-Mart has been lobbying heavily for this:

Dear XXXX,

The Walton family has no shame.

At the same time America faces a costly war, record debt and soaring gas prices, the Walton family, worth over $80 billion, has the nerve to lobby our government to repeal the estate tax.

Repealing the estate tax will not benefit 99% of Americans, and will give the wealthiest 1% of Americans a nearly $1 trillion tax giveaway over the next 10 years. In fact, the Walton family alone will get a $32 billion tax break.

Are we going to let President Bush and the right-wing Republicans in the U.S. Senate give the Walton family a $32 billion tax cut while real Americans struggle just to make ends meet?

Your action is critical. The showdown over the estate tax is tomorrow and the vote is very close.

Please write your U.S. Senator today and tell him/her to stand up for the American people and oppose repealing the estate tax for billionaires like the Waltons.

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/letters/tax.html

According to a new report by Public Citizen and United for a Fair Economy, over the last decade, the Walton family, along with 17 other wealthy families, has spent nearly $200 million to lobby Congress to repeal the estate tax.

This is not democracy. America was founded on the belief that our government should be of, by and for the people. Unfortunately, under President Bush and the Republican Party, Wal-Mart and the Walton family has been able to use our government to line its own pockets at the expense of the American people.

Rather than stand up for America, Wal-Mart uses its influence to ship our jobs overseas and not provide company health care to more than half of its employees. We cannot allow Wal-Mart, and now the Walton family, to take America in the wrong direction.

It’s time to take our country back from billionaires and billion dollar corporations and fight for the American people.

Please write your U.S. Senator today and tell him/her you oppose repealing the estate tax for billionaires like the Walton family while average Americans are struggling to get by:

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/letters/tax.html

Only you have the power to change Wal-Mart, fight for everyday people and change America for the better.

Thank you for all that you,

Buffy Wicks
WakeUpWalMart.com

P.S. Please forward this message on to at least 5 of your friends. The faster we grow the faster we can have real change in America.

[rox63]

3. Actually, all the New England rethug Senators rejected it

Both of the NH Senators, both of the Maine Senators, and Chafee from RI all voted against the amendment. Made me proud of our region. Even our rethugs are slightly less evil than the average rethug. :)

[ginnyinWI]

12. I'm more cynical about Repubs in blue states

The thing they want most is to find something, anything to use to distance themselves from the president-turned-albatross. So if * wants it, you can bet blue state Repubs do not. They're on the hot seat now.

[globalvillage]

4. Anyone know whay mine did?

I'm prepared to be disappointed. I know what Santorum did, there's no need for me to check on that.

My Senators suck.

:-(

[TayTay]

5. Best mind of the 14th Century: Yeah

Specter: Nay! So, half is not bad. (Ahm, I can lend you my Senator for a while, if you like. A little while, lest people get mad.)

[globalvillage]

6. OMG!

That would be awesome! I promise to return him in pretty much the same condition.
Um, you did mean the taller one, didn't you? Not that I'd turn down the other.
Just wondering how much punctuation to use!!!!!!!!!

This rocks! Are you taking my jr sen, or do we just dump him now and dispose with the Nov formalities?

:-)

[TayTay]

8. GV: Please do not send Icky Ricky here, it might kill him

Seeing as how he blamed the Church Pedophilia scandal on the liberal atmosphere in Mass and on Sens Kerry & Kennedy in particular. Remember that one? (BTW, I really dislike him. What a friggin bastid.) Icky would get here, inhale all the liberal fumes and probably have a full blown fit, right on Boston Common. (Hmmm, on second thought, that doesn't sound too bad. Maybe we could film it. Hmmm.)

Taller Sen, for a short time. Whome has the sign-out sheet. Get him back on time. LOL!

[globalvillage]

11. Cool, a bonus.

This is more than I could have hoped for. I think the pay-per-view folks might be interested. I'll have my people call your people.
Funny, I can see Ricky's head explode on crossing the border into Mass, but when you send Sen K here, I imagine the central PA folks will fall in love with him in no time.

BTW, I drove across PA Monday and today. No bush* stickers (except at my very red destination), no Santorum, couple Kerry, couple Casey.

How could I forget the Santorum Mass-bashing? IIRC, I posted an apology.

[globalvillage]

7. Tay, just to be clear

Was that a cloture vote, or on the amendment? I missed the entire day, so I'm not sure what happened, except that the amendment didn't pass.

[TayTay]

9. Wonk alert: It was badly defeated

It couldn't even pass the first hurdle.

The vote today was to get to 60 votes to cut off debate. The vote was 49 Yeah (to invoke cloture and get to a vote) and 48 Nay. They didn't even get 50% of the Senate, duly sworn and elected, never mind the 60 needed to get cloture.

Also, an Amendment to the Constitution requires 67 votes in order to clear the Senate. They actually lost two Senators from the last time. This will not pass and will not be brought up again. It was utter and complete defeat.

[globalvillage]

10. Thanks.

My shithead senator is talking about it on CNN now.
Oh, so sad for you, Ricky. The gays will be destroying your marriage any day now.