<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Reid will have to decide whether to trim back the bill to get it through]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by randino http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/ Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:45:10 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/1 Well, no one ever accused Congress

or the Democrats of profiles in courage.

I think the environmental movement is going to provide the backbone and guts that the Dems are lacking.

Nothing that is happening right now is any bolt from the blue surprise. We should realize that the top green priority of 2008 is the smashing of Republican power. Dec 7, 2007 should be like Dec 7, 1941. We have to mobilize. This means war.

Randy Cunningham

Randy Cunningham

]]> Well, no one ever accused Congress

or the Democrats of profiles in courage.

I think the environmental movement is going to provide the backbone and guts that the Dems are lacking.

Nothing that is happening right now is any bolt from the blue surprise. We should realize that the top green priority of 2008 is the smashing of Republican power. Dec 7, 2007 should be like Dec 7, 1941. We have to mobilize. This means war.

Randy Cunningham

Randy Cunningham

]]> Comment #2 by josullivan58 http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/ Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:34:28 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/2 Take a stand

The best thing to do would be to force the republicans to filibuster it. Odds are Bush will veto any bill with increased CAFE standards anyway, so it will be a double defeat to get cave in the Senate and then be vetoed by Bush.

Right now the goal should be to build momentum for meaningful legislation when the new president is in office. Sticking to the original bill will show the obstructionists in congress who is in charge and will show they won't be able to block strong bills.

If the opponents of the bill are forced to publicly filibuster it, they will also have to take the majority of the blame for not getting necessary legislation passed.

]]> Take a stand

The best thing to do would be to force the republicans to filibuster it. Odds are Bush will veto any bill with increased CAFE standards anyway, so it will be a double defeat to get cave in the Senate and then be vetoed by Bush.

Right now the goal should be to build momentum for meaningful legislation when the new president is in office. Sticking to the original bill will show the obstructionists in congress who is in charge and will show they won't be able to block strong bills.

If the opponents of the bill are forced to publicly filibuster it, they will also have to take the majority of the blame for not getting necessary legislation passed.

]]> Comment #3 by rycarson http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/ Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:46:30 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/3 Gotta Love...

the way big media is framing this.

Front page of the Washington Post online reads:

"Energy Bill Vote Blocked"

"Senate democrats fail...."

Note the use of the passive voice in the main headline, and the use of active voice in the sub-head/body.  The word "republican" does not appear on the front page.  Typical.

]]> Gotta Love...

the way big media is framing this.

Front page of the Washington Post online reads:

"Energy Bill Vote Blocked"

"Senate democrats fail...."

Note the use of the passive voice in the main headline, and the use of active voice in the sub-head/body.  The word "republican" does not appear on the front page.  Typical.

]]> Comment #4 by josullivan58 http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/ Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:35:57 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/cloture-vote-fails-in-senate/4 On the other hand

"If the opponents of the bill are forced to publicly filibuster it, they will also have to take the majority of the blame for not getting necessary legislation passed."

There is the possibility that the republican noise machine will spin this as the democrats being incompetent or unnecessarily partisan.

What I'm afraid will happen is that the RES and oil  company tax sections will be removed only to have the bill not to pass congress or be vetoed. Then the CAFE standard will be cut and the only thing left will be the subsidies for industrial agriculture.

]]> On the other hand

"If the opponents of the bill are forced to publicly filibuster it, they will also have to take the majority of the blame for not getting necessary legislation passed."

There is the possibility that the republican noise machine will spin this as the democrats being incompetent or unnecessarily partisan.

What I'm afraid will happen is that the RES and oil  company tax sections will be removed only to have the bill not to pass congress or be vetoed. Then the CAFE standard will be cut and the only thing left will be the subsidies for industrial agriculture.

]]>