Random Notes From The Senate All-Nighter

Here's some miscellaneous notes as I watch Senate Republicans try to say something other than the rubber-stamp talk they’ve been spitting out for years -- along with a count of how many times they use the same old cynical phrases.

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

Desperate Buzzphrase Count:

• "Cut and run" 6

Kit Bond (R-MO)

Freudian slip in describing the alleged dangers of a troop withdrawal: "If we were to leave Iran without finishing the job…" said Bond.

Yikes.

Desperate Buzzphrase Count:

• "Retreat and defeat" 3
• "Cut and run" 2
• "Run and leave" (See "Cut and run") 1
• "Embarrass the president" 1

Jim DeMint (R-SC)

DeMint referred to Democrats as the "minority party" until Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) jumped in to correct him.

Desperate Buzzphrase Count:

• "Retreat" 1
• "Embolden our enemies" 1
• "Embarrass the president" 1

Jim Bunning (R-KY)

"Our enemies are watching us and using our debate on the war in Iraq to strengthen themselves," said Bunning, who obviously took too many line drives to the head during his pro baseball career.

Yeah, because our enemies wouldn't get great joy out of seeing the fear they inspire turning American government into a dictatorship, right?

Desperate Buzzphrase Count:

• "MoveOn.org" 2
• "Cut and Run" 2
• "Follow us home" 1

* * * * * *

8:34 PM: Reid calls for vote on sending the Sergeant at Arms after Republicans who didn’t respond to quorum call. Result: 44-47; Not agreed to, but enough Senators returned to form a quorum.

9:05 PM: Count of Republican objections to proceeding to a vote on Levin-Reed amendment:

• 3:16 PM Senator Lott objects to changing course in Iraq
• 4:02 PM Senator Lott objects to changing course in Iraq
• 6:25 PM Senator Hutchison objects to changing course in Iraq
• 6:31 PM Senator Bond objects to changing course in Iraq
• 7:35 PM Senator Warner objects to changing direction in Iraq

Pure truth from Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to the other side of the aisle: "You'll be joining with us later, if you don’t join with us today."