The Senate is currently debating the Levin/Reed amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. Watch history in the making live HERE.
Harry Reid called the Republicans' bluff and demanded that, if they really are going to filibuster the amendment, they ought to do it up right by engaging in an old school all night debate, cots and all. As the AP puts it:
Senate Democrats refused to flinch Tuesday as the chamber moved toward a rare, all-night session of debate on legislation to bring troops home this fall.They called for sleeping cots to be rolled into a room off the Senate floor and told members to prepare for repeated votes throughout the evening. Senators even left open the possibility of dispatching the sergeant at arms to summon colleagues from their homes to the floor if lawmakers ignored the debate.
The Levin/Reed amendment, much like the Responsible Redeployment From Iraq Act that passed the House last week, would:
order troops to start leaving in 120 days and complete the pullout by April 30, 2008. Under the bill, an unspecified number of troops could remain behind to fight terrorists, protect U.S. assets and train Iraqi security forces.
So far, the amendment is assured of the support of Republican Senators Olympia Snowe, Chuck Hagel and Gordon Smith in addition to the 49 Democrats in the Senate (not including Johnson who is still recovering and Lieberman who's a wanker and not a Democrat.) As for the WINOs (Waverers In Name Only) I expect none of them to switch over (for example I just heard Sen. Warner announce he will be voting against the amendment.)
Regardless, I expect there may be some fireworks on display tonight. If you're watching let us know what the senators are saying in the comments.
Update [2007-7-17 22:10:47 by Todd Beeton]: Think Progress is liveblogging the filibuster and has some striking photos of a MoveOn vigil and rally being held across from the Capitol.|
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