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Prepping for the SOTU
The old gas bag is gonna talk to us tonight. Officially it’s called the State of the Union address. Unofficially, I like to think of it as lies, lies, and more lies. Not that you’d get the impression that I’m bitter toward the prez or anything.
So, I haven’t completely decided yet whether I’ll tune in to the shindig tonight. His voice makes me retch. Still, it’s his last one and that’s worth a celebration in and of itself. I’ll probably tune in.
What I expect to hear:
The terrorists are bad.
They’re gonna kill us all.
The Democrats are evil.
Iraq is going great.
The surge worked.
Iran is evil.
Increased defense spending next year.
The underlying economy is solid.
His stimulus package is gonna be the best thing since sliced bread.
I’m sure he’ll surprise us with something else...pick a fantasy. I have decided not to throw anything at the television when he speaks. It’s too little and I’d break it. Not the teevee’s fault, anyway. I don’t know how long I’ll last before I have to shut it off in total disgust.
One more. If the Democrats don’t pass the Protect America Act we’ll be unable to wiretap any more civilians and so it’ll be all their fault when Osama blows up Topeka or Crawford. So they’d better do it right now!
True, though that’s covered under Democrats Are Evil. There should be several variations on that theme.
I haven’t been paying attention to what’s going on in Congress today. I heard that Hillary and Obama were going to be there to vote against cloture, but haven’t checked in to see how that’s all progressing. If I had to take a stab at it, I’d guess we’ll have good theater for a while, then the prez will get what he wants. I’d be so excited to be wrong. I’d like to see them filibuster until spring, if necessary. And make Harry eat crow or humble pie. I was so angry with him last week.
That’s a terrific article by Glenn, by the way. He really is a national treasure.
Cloture to allow the vote on the Intelligence Committee bill (w/ immunity) failed.
Then cloture on a 30-day extension of the PAA failed. Not a single Republican voted in favor of moving toward a vote on the extension. FISA remains as it was.
Now Reid is talking about taking up a House bill for an extension, which is expected to pass tomorrow.
Well, GW didn’t disappoint, did he? Gawd, what a spew of rubbish.
Do you think the Repubs will even allow a vote on an extension bill tomorrow? The boss gave them their marching orders tonight. He told us it’s all gotta be done by Friday or we’re all unprotected. As you predicted.
If they don’t allow a vote on an extension bill, let the whole danged thing die. It was a lousy law to start with and nothin is going to improve it. And wonder of wonders, the appropriate authorities would still be able to wiretap and protect the country.
Harry is Majority Leader, so he can call a vote. Whether it gets through is another question altogether.
I dunno, maybe I’m not remembering correctly, but doesn’t it only take one senator’s objection to table a bill for 3 days? McConnell doesn’t want the 30 day extension and the Prez said he’d veto one anyway. McConnell says he might consider a much shorter extension, but, with the House not in session for the rest of the week (after the vote tomorrow), how’s he going to get one? Which seems to leave the House’s 30 day extension as the only option to get something passed before the PAA wobbles off into the sunset. At least that’s what I’ve been able to piece together tonight. It’s very confusing and I can’t make head nor tail of what the Republicans are thinking at this point.
Happy Birthday
