A three-month extension of unemployment benefits for 1.7 million of us failed today in the Senate by just one vote. They had 59 votes, which is of course a majority, but because of the filibuster you need 60.
These four Republicans voted in favor: Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Susan Collins of Maine, Dean Heller of Nevada, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Six Republican senators joined with the Democrats to break a filibuster for a three-month extension of the unemployment benefits that expired on December 28. The vote was 60-37 (Dem Mark Begich of Alaska couldn’t get there).
Thank you to these “good” Republicans — Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Dan Coats of Indiana, Dean Heller of Nevada, and Rob Portman of Ohio — for doing the right thing — at least procedurally — for both our long-term unemployed and our economy.
But now they move to the substantive vote — and they still have to find a way to pay for the thing, so it’s far from done.
Then, of course, it would take a miracle to get it through the House, where 207 of the GOP seats are considered safe, so no incentive to rock the boat there .
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) will block a Rice nomination for Secretary of State if Obama chooses to proceed: “I would place a hold on anybody who wanted to be promoted for any job who had a role in the Benghazi situation.
The battle against Rice has led to charges of sexism and racism. That’s why they’re putting a New Hampshire woman out front, to try to deflect those charges. Both McCain and “Butters” Graham are male, obviously, plus Butters is from South Carolina.
“We are significantly troubled by many of the answers that we got, and some that we didn’t get, concerning evidence that was overwhelming leading up to the attack on our consulate.”
Sen. John McCain after meeting about Benghazi with Ambassador Susan Rice, who was accompanied by Michael Morell, acting director of the CIA.
Senators Lindsey “Butters” Graham (R-SC) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) also were there, so the GOP had the gay and female demographics covered.
Butters said, “The bottom line is that I’m more disturbed than I was before.”
This meeting was supposed to smooth the way for Obama to nominate Rice as Secretary of State. Looks as if O still has a fight on his hands.
Obama needs to address Benghazi himself.
The National Journal offers its latest rankings for Mitt’s VP choice:
# 1 Ohio Senator Rob Portman (up from #4)
# 2 Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (up from #7)
# 3 Florida Senator Marco Rubio (down from #2)
# 4 Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (down from #1)
# 5 Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (up from #8)
# 6 Wild Card (up from #10)
# 7 Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (not ranked)
# 8 New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (down from #5)
# 9 Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (down from #3)
#10 New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte (down from #6)
Nobody on this list would get me to vote for Mitt. I think he’d have to kidnap my son and hold a gun to his head to get me to vote for him.
Embattled Farmers 