ANWR defeated!

[TayTay]

56 - 44. They needed 60 votes to invoke cloture and shut off debate on the Defense bill. They did not get it. (Technically, it is being filibustered, but it shouldn't last long.)

Yeah!:popcorn: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :grouphug:

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: for everyone who stuck together to block this! :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[ProSense]

1. Yay!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[MH1]

2. Great news! n/t

[karynnj]

3. Yay!

Maybe Stevens should rethink the Hulk tie strategy. I don't understand why he even wnats this bill - other than he does - because Kerry says there are still leases in other areas of Alaska for the taking. (Are they less good - or is this just a 25 yr battle he can't drop.

[MH1]

5. Other leases

Based on what I read in JK's speech from Monday, the other leases are in areas where the price differential isn't good enough. In other words, the oil companies can profit more, faster, by spoiling ANWR than by drilling in those areas that have already passed environmental permitting.

JK was suggesting that, instead of spoiling wilderness that once spoiled, can never be restored, we should consider providing subsidies to incentivize drilling in the areas already permitted.

I understand JK's first priority and the right answer to be developing alternative energy sources. I think the subsidy idea is JK's "third way" suggestion to say hey, if we really need to drill for oil so badly, there are other ways we can get there, without spoiling wilderness.

God, I love this guy. (why didn't I pay attention to him before 2004? :kicks_self: )

[karynnj]

6. Thanks

Tay Tay is right - he's just wicked Smart - if non MA people can say that and a really good guy on top of it.

[MH1]

11. I think we have to say

"wicked smaht"

Then we become, briefly at least, honorary Massholes.

(do I have that right, TayTay?)

[TayTay]

12. Oh yeah!

And deepest congratulations to Maria Cantwell who was a point person on this. (Yeah!)

I am very happy. This helps make the no-good, rotten, bad day much, much better.

And Jeo Leiberman voted to block ANWR. Yeah!

[whometense]

8. Watching him on c-span

the past few days, I definitly got the feeling that this is something of a grudge match. He kept blathering semi-incoherently that they promised him this 25 years ago, and he wants his pound of flesh. It seems to have something to do with Tsongas/Kerry, as he kept talking about how wonderful Tsongas was (and by extension, how wonderful Kerry is not????)

It seems like he might consider retirement. I wonder how beloved the old coot is in his home state?

[TayTay]

9. Oh yeah, he was doing that deliberately

Cuz Sen. Tsongas is now deceased and can't say anything against him and because he hates my greatly, deeply, justly and wholeheartedly esteeemd Junior Senator. (Eat perma-frost ya bastid.)

[Island Blue]

4. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!

:bounce: :toast: :kick:

[Luftmensch067]

7. WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! n/t

[emulatorloo]

10. Hell, Yeah. . .n/t

[whometense]

13. Anybody see the press conference?

They just showed it again on c-span. :loveya: :loveya: Nice tie. :-)

[Vektor]

16. Busy working today - will it be available for viewing later?

[whometense]

20. It's up here:

http://c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?z1=&PopupMenu_Name=Congress&CatCodePairs=Issue,C;

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) & Others on Drilling in ANWR
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and others talk about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
12/21/2005: WASHINGTON, DC:

[Vektor]

21. Excellent!

Very proud of our Senators! Even Joe-mentum was with us on this one.

Kerry was stunning in his green tie, and totally kicked ass.

[globalvillage]

23. It's on again CSpan2.

Cantwell and Lieberman did a great job today.
Of course, they didn't rock like the Senator, but they were good.

[TayTay]

24. He really did rock, didn't he.

I noticed how most of the press questions were directed toward Sen. Kerry today as well. Hmmmmmm.

[karynnj]

25. Seeing him politely and intelligently answer the questions

shows how much nicer Presidential press conferences would have been. Also, the green tie really looked nice.

[globalvillage]

26. LOL . Girl, you need to work on those typos.

I had to re-read my post to figure out how the Senator "roched".
Yes, apparently the Kerry-love is everywhere today.
Isn't it grand?

[TayTay]

28. ME Too

Spell check is my friend, spell check is my friend, spell check is my friend. Sigh!

He roched and rocked and rolled. Wonderful day. (It's a beautiful day. Did anyone just hear poor Ted Stevens on the floor of the Senate. I thought he was going to cry. He just might up and resign, he seems that pissed off.)

[karynnj]

29. I missed that - is that the meltdown you guys have been referring to

[globalvillage]

31. Yes. Stevens had a hissy fit

because they removed ANWR. Said he was going home, but then came back to vote.
Weasel.

[globalvillage]

30. What a tough one, though.

Our guys earned their paychecks today.
And Sen Kerry looked pretty happy when ANWR was removed. He should. He worked his ass off today.
Stevens left, but came back to vote. He's such a drama queen.

[ginnyinWI]

14. excellent!

I hated to go out shopping today and not see this happen-- Christmas duties call-- but I set the DVR on record! I'll enjoy going back to see this! :woohoo:

[TayTay]

15. Really, this was such good work.

And yes, nice tie. Nice, nice work. I also loved the way JK said that he would have to fight this fight again next year. Being rethug means never having to say it's over, apparently.

What a great group of Dems.

[Blaukraut]

17. this is great news!

I especially liked Stevens complaining about 'the senator from Massachusetts'. Coming from that weasel, John Kerry should consider this high praise indeed. :-)

[TayTay]

18. As I said, Eat Perma-frost Ted.

Honestly, what a weaselly way to try and get what you want. Ted is over the bend.

[Blaukraut]

19. no doubt!

He must have been promised huge kickbacks by certain oil companies to get this little number passed. It's funny how they try at least once a year to pass drilling in ANWR in some form or another. It's getting old.

[ProSense]

22. Video of statement by Cantwell, Kerry, Lieberman and Lautenberg

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) & Others on Drilling in ANWR
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and others talk about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
12/21/2005: WASHINGTON, DC:

http://www.cspan.org/VideoArchives.asp?z1=&PopupMenu_Name=Congress&CatCodePairs=Issue,C;

[Mass]

27. After Stevens' meltdown today, I think the next Commerce Committee hearing

between Stevens and Cantwell and Kerry will be interesting to watch.