Steve:
I was optimistic like you about the chances of Democrats in November. However, current Gallup poll shows a slide in approval of Democrats. When asked do Republicans have a plan to resolve Iraq problem, 61% said NO. For the same question about Democrats, 67% said Democrats have no plan to resolve Iraq.
I think voters are looking for someone or somebody that can assure some progress on Iraq. They do not see that coming from Democrats. In addition, Rove's plan of painting Republicans as the party that can keep America safe is working.
I do not know why the voters are not concerned about the incompetent way this administration has handeled everything such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Katrina, you name it. Democrtas need to hammere Bush on that day in and day out. Only way Democrats can win is if people see present administration incompetent and they want to try somebody else.
Posted by suresh at September 20, 2006 09:14 AMPerhaps that is by design
Very little happens in the Senate without at least 4 meetings to discuss/plan it.
Posted by Simp at September 20, 2006 09:33 AMBoy, there's something very, very bad lurking underneath the surface of this debate. If the White House, having failed to muscle McCain et al., is willing to let the spectacle of a majority leader pushing a filibuster go forward, they must be wildly afraid of something.
Posted by dj moonbat at September 20, 2006 10:27 AMElection season is in full swing.
There is not much the Republicans WILL DO for the fall elections that they are not ALREADY DOING.
And, incidentally, facts never get in their way.
Posted by CLK at September 20, 2006 11:17 AM
It would seem to me that it is in Bush's/Frist's best interest to get the "best" (most favorable) bill possible passed.
If no bill is passed and the Dems gain control of one branch, a lot of Republicans will be exposed.
As for a 'lame duck' session, the Dems will (or could) filibuster it to death.
Posted by Chief at September 20, 2006 11:20 AMdj, from what I understand, the suspension of habeas corpus is in both versions; I think that's the hidden gotcha.
Posted by iamcoyote at September 20, 2006 11:37 AMgosh, i hope doctor frist doesn't give up his plans to run for president.what would the comedians do?
Posted by benjoya at September 20, 2006 11:50 AMdj, from what I understand, the suspension of habeas corpus is in both versions; I think that's the hidden gotcha.
Well, that was Lindsey Graham's way of trying to address the administration's concerns--throwing habeas out the window, so that the possibility of indefinite detention without trial was still there. But no, that's not what the administration is after, or there would be no reason for Frist's filibuster threat.
No, there must be some ongoing, specific thing they're doing that we don't know about (at least in full) that violates the McCain/Warner/Graham legislation. And since the legislation in question is still way too torture/arbitrary-detention friendly, my guess is that the ongoing specific thing is really dark and bad.
Posted by dj moonbat at September 20, 2006 11:59 AMdj,
I think that they've been spying on politicians and the media relentlessly, from both parties, and have dirt on several folks, or they can anticipate and forestall whatever Kennedy or Feinstein or Rockefeller might do, with that knowledge.
And if we find out that they're spying on Americans and not just the pols but the MoveOn guys and George Soros and Al Franken Randi Rhodes etc, they're going to have some serious 'splainin to do.
And they don't explain things well, do they?
Posted by Duckman GR at September 20, 2006 12:48 PMSeveral legal commentators like balkinization last Friday opined that several current CIA interrogation methods (like 40-plus hours of standing shackled, and "cold cell", where naked detainees are placed in 50 degree cells and hosed down with cold water, then left to await the next dousing) clearly violate the prohibition on "cruel" treatment in Common Article 3 (which applies to detainees) and would thus be prohibited under the Graham-McCain bill.
Torture-Boy wants to continue these forms of "interrogation" as part of his "program", and even Abu can no longer argue they would be legal under Common Article 3. Hence the battle for the new language.
Balkinization is now reporting that Specter (of all people) is now supposedly "opposed" to the lack of habeus corpus provisions of both McCain-Graham and Torture-Boy's bills. We all know what Specter's disapproval that amounts to.
Posted by euzoius at September 20, 2006 01:33 PM"I do not know why the voters are not concerned about the incompetent way this administration has handeled everything such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Katrina, you name it."
Suresh, because the MSM doesn't talk about any of those issues, and if they do, they site the Republican talking points. When most people turn on the tube for their nightly news, no wonder they have no idea what is going on.
Posted by Judith at September 20, 2006 01:56 PMFrist wants to be prez. He's trying to outflank McCain--the favorite in 08--with the wingnut base.
Posted by J. Donne at September 20, 2006 07:01 PMMcCain is not the favorite of the wingnuts. The wingnuts hate him.
Posted by Ga6thDem at September 20, 2006 07:48 PM