So Much for a More Open, Respectful GOP Senate -- Barbara Boxer

[kentuck]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-barbara-boxer/so-much-for-a-more-open-r_b_6535936.html

<snip>
I wasn't shocked when Senate Republicans made their first order of business a bill pushed by Canadian special interests. I knew they had made a commitment to Big Oil to force through a vote on the Keystone tar sands pipeline, which would carry the dirtiest oil on earth across our country.

I wasn't even surprised that GOP leaders ended this week's session early so their members could fly to Palm Springs to cozy up to the billionaire oil magnates, the Koch Brothers, at their winter retreat.

<snip>
But things hit a new low last night when Senator McConnell refused -- again and again- - to allow Democrats even one minute to explain their amendments, which the Senate had agreed to consider. He shut down the debate before it even started. You can watch what transpired here:

McConnell would not allow debate on an amendment by Senator Ed Markey to close a loophole that could allow the backers of the Keystone pipeline to avoid paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which is used to pay for clean-up in case of an oil spill. He would not allow debate on an amendment by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse to require more campaign finance disclosure from the people who would benefit most from the development of tar sands oil. He would not allow discussion of Senator Patrick Leahy's measure to protect the vital role of local federal district courts in reviewing any legal challenges to the Keystone pipeline.

.....more

[rurallib]

1. Kick - but did we ever honestly expect they would

do anything they said? There is a treasury to raid, laws to invalidate and there is only two years to do it.

[ybbor]

2. He is one evil turtle!

We better move all in for 2016 to get this shit show thrown out!

[appalachiablue]

3. I like Boxer, she's right, but it's clear what they are for some time, naive to think they'd

turn now. They are dirty, cruel and backed by billions, as is known. Mitch's refusal of these top 3 Dems shows his determination to push the agenda and fulfill what he promised the Kochs, the real players. Looks like the Dems. will have to recruit some equally tough characters like FDR chose Joe Kennedy Sr. to tangle with the financiers because he was one of them. And it's getting really late in the game and much is at stake. LBJ's political skills in Congressional affairs comes to mind; he knew the game, played tough and was effective, same with Ted Kennedy.

[the_sly_pig]

4. Maybe...

If Harry Reid would have had a backbone or most of the rest of the Democrats wouldn't have been wilting tulips, we wouldn't have lost control of the senate. But again, maybe this is what the country deserves for our apathy.

Educated people make better decisions for everyone. Think about the ramifications of the war on education and science.

[pscot]

5. Not like any other Democrat wanted the job.

As a great amerkan once said, you go to battle with the forces you have.

[Shanti Mama]

6. curious about this is SOP

is this standard operating procedure? I don't think so, but I'd like to be informed before I talk about this with 'friends'.