By the shores of Gitche Gumee, by the shining Big-Sea-Water

Hi from the north woods:


Here's the High Bridge looking from Superior, WI, toward Duluth, MN:
And here's one of the spits of land between Lake Superior and the St. Louis River:
Lovely people (more about that later) and lovely country.

Now on to business:

Harry Reid forced the issue yesterday :

Moments ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that in response to conservative obstructionism, he plans to force war supporters to physically remain in the Senate and filibuster Iraq withdrawal legislation. Reid accused conservatives of “protecting the President rather than protecting our troops” by “denying us an up or down vote on the most important issue our country faces.” He said that if a vote on the Reed/Levin Iraq legislation is not allowed today or tomorrow, he will keep the Senate in session “straight through the night on Tuesday” and force a filibuster.

So how did that work out?

After forcing conservatives to stand all-night and filibuster the Levin-Reed Iraq redeployment bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has pulled the entire Defense Authorization bill from consideration on the Senate floor.

Following this morning’s vote against ending debate, Reid argued that the Defense Authorization legislation should not be considered until the Senate is prepared to offer a future course for Iraq.

Indeed.

Did any Republicans cross over and vote on the side of righteousness:

Collins (R-ME)
Hagel (R-NE)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)

So who voted against cloture, and for continuing filibuster?

Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Barrasso (R-WY) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) Crapo (R-ID)

DeMint (R-SC) Dole (R-NC) Domenici (R-NM) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Kyl (R-AZ) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lott (R-MS) Lugar (R-IN)

Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Murkowski (R-AK) Reid (D-NV) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Sununu (R-NH) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA)

Clearly most of the usual suspects. Note that, while many of us on the Left, aka the right side of this issue, have been encouraged by the stomach rumblings of John Warner, Arlen Specter, Richard Lugar and a few others, the proof is in this vote.

No timetables, no relief for American Troops, no attention paid to the rationale electorate, just to wingnuttia.

Bastards.