September 6, 2006: The Gang's All Here

The Senate came back into session yesterday. I didn't see any of it so I can't say what happened. I tuned in at 19:08 est...

[19:08]
They are hammering out the finer points of the Defense Appropriations Bill, which they were working on before the Summer Recess and decided to put on hiatus until after the break. On the floor are Sen. Ted Stevens (AK), who is in charge of the bill. Sen. Tom Carper (DE) is arguing for the Democrats. Sen. Barbara Boxer is on the floor leading the majority in floor management.

Carper says it's time to change course, which means changing leadership. He says to President Bush, "If Rumsfeld offers to resign again, accept it."

[19:28]
The Democrats want to vote on a Resolution of NO CONFIDENCE in Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Minority Leader Harry Reid (NV) says it's partisan wrangling that is keeping the Senate from voting on it. Reid sends the letter to the desk and, in an unusual move, allows the amendment to be read. (Usually the reading is dispensed with.)

Stevens kills the Amendment by raising a point of order against it and it falls.

Now, Sen. Ted Kennedy (MA) has an Amendment. Reid co-sponsors it. It requires the administration to make a finding every three months as to whether Iraq is in a civil war. And if so, to make strategic decisions to provide there against. If not, to take steps to avert civil war.

He gives a speech on Iraq and the possibility of civil war. He says the administration needs to deal with reality and be honest about the facts in Iraq.