COLBERT GOT EVERYTHING RIGHT... BUT HE LEFT ONE THING OUT

I stayed up and watched The Colbert Report last night and he did a great dialogue about the all-nighter in the Senate. I nearly called Amato to ask him to make sure and make a clip... but then I realized he would and I didn't want to miss any potential jokes about the Republican secret weapon for uninterrupted filibuster potential: the diapered senator from Louisiana, David Vitter (or does he only wear those when he gets in an amorous mood).

Anyway, Colbert hit all the main points. Watch the clip at Crooks & Liars. My favorite line: "This is an opportunity for Republican senators to stand up for what they believe in: keeping us in Iraq no matter what!" He also articulated the WINO argument: "Just because some Republicans senators have recently spoken out against the war does not mean they should be forced to actually vote against it. It's like a relationship: you just have to trust how they feel. Don't make them say those three little words: 'end the war.'"

What Colbert didn't get into is the futility of Reid's strategy. The only way to get habitually rubber stamp Republicans like John Sununu (R-NH), Norm Coleman (R-OR), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Warner (R-VA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Pete "Sneaky Pete" Domenici (R-NM), Ted Stevens (R-AK), George Voinovich (R-OH), etc ever break down and vote to end the occupation of Iraq is to hold them up to the bright light so their constituents can see them filibustering the prevent a vote on ending the war. Last night it worked with Bush-Lieberman puppet Susan Collins who, bewildered, frightened and panic-stricken-- knowing her chances for re-election have turned to mush-- flip-flopped again and voted for cloture. Reid doesn't need all night sessions-- although I'm sure Wendy (Vitter's wife Wendy, not his prostitute Wendy) is urging Reid to have them all the time. Reid needs to make the Republicans stand up and filibuster whenever they get in that obstructionist mood. Watch this clip. Every single time you hear Miss McConnell-- or one of his clones-- say "I object," it would entail a long, public filibuster. That's how it should be. Their constituents should see them preventing the Senate from voting on the legislation to end the war and on the legislation Americans want to see debated in the Senate.