The U.S. Senate had a vote tonight on “a bill to reduce the Federal budget deficit by closing big oil tax loopholes.” Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins actually voted for it. But no other Republicans did. And three Democrats voted against it. Can you guess who they were? Two of them are kind of obvious. Mark Begich of Alaska and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana represent petro-states. But Ben Nelson represents Nebraska. The Department of Energy says that Nebraska’s oil reserves are “small.” So, why did Nelson oppose the bill? Anyone want to guess?
The answer is probably related to the reason why Ben Nelson has drawn a line in the sand and declared that he is no more willing to raise taxes to address the deficit than the wingnuttiest wingnut in the land.
The bill actually won a majority (52-48), but you know the drill. The vote wasn’t actually on the bill, but on the motion to proceed to the bill. And a motion to proceed needs 60 votes to pass in the U.S. Senate. Ergo, the Big Oil companies will continue to get huge tax breaks while they are absolutely raping the U.S consumer and making record profits.
I am sure you won’t have to look far to find someone who thinks this is the president’s fault.
I am sure you won’t have to look far to find someone who thinks this is the president’s fault.
A better way to word this:
I’m sure you won’t have to look far to find someone say that this was just a big waste of time with political theater, and Obama should be out there focusing on employment and jobs instead of pointless kabuki that everyone knew would end in the way that it did. Although your wording will probably find some matches, too.
Eh, I like to have votes that clarify who is a whore and who isn’t.
Oh, so do I. I’m just saying there will be liberal dissenters who think that this was a waste of time because we all know the outcome.
I’m one of those. I trashed Schumer on my blog, for trying to fundraise and list-build off the issue.
Don’t get me wrong, i like to see who’s the whore and who isn’t too, but that doesn’t mean the vote wasn’t otherwise a waste of time. I don’t blame Obama for it though. I do blame Democrats and their overall lack of unity and strategy.
ICAM. i like it when they have to put a vote on the record
Isn’t everything kabuki right now? I don’t know how anything can get done with employment and jobs with the House the way it is.
It’s pretty funny that the bill was actually unconstitutional so none of it matters. It’s good theater and it’s not like they’ll address something serious.
Excuse me? Obama is out there talking about every issue under the sun including jobs. Do you see him on the senate floor involved in this so-called kabuki theater?
Please re-read what I posted…I did not imply I am blaming him. I did, however, imply that there will be liberal dissenters out there who will.
Speaking of naming names, Politico reports that Russ Feingold has done just that and called out Senators Joe Lieberman and Claire McCaskill as well as Rep. Steny Hoyer for opposing new transparency measures for corporate donations. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55133.html