Senate backs embryonic stem cell bill

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday easily approved legislation that would expand embryonic stem cell research, which President George W. Bush has vowed to veto.

Backers of the bipartisan bill, already approved by the House of Representatives, acknowledge they do not have the two-thirds majority necessary to override Bush's veto in both the House and the Senate. The Senate vote was 63-37.

Bush, who in 2001 permitted limited research on already existing stem cell lines, said he opposes expansion on moral grounds because days-old embryos are destroyed when stem cells are extracted.

But supporters of the legislation, including former first lady Nancy Reagan, say the research holds out hope for millions of people suffering from such diseases as Parkinson's or diabetes. The bill allows scientists to use only embryos left over from fertility treatments that would otherwise be discarded.

The Senate also is set to pass later Tuesday two related bills which Bush supports.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-07-18T210211Z_01_WAT006064_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS-STEMCELL.xml

Bush will use his first veto vote ever against this bill. Appalling.

The vote in the House fell far short of a veto-proof margin. In the event of a veto, the plan was always for the House to go first. It would sustain the veto and there would be no need for a second vote in the Senate. It would've been nice to have the veto-proof margin in the Senate, but at the end of the day it wouldn't have made any diffeernce.

I could be very wrong, but I don't think he wants THAT to be his legacy in history!

Why mess up a perfect record. :shrug:

Do you think King george even gives a Shit about his "legacy?"

He's in it to do things for his friends and corporate buddies. He'll veto this without any problem, and won't look back.

King george doesn't care about his legacy. He'll be dead by then, and can probably find someone to pay off to write something positive thereafter.

I think he is very concerned about his legacy, perhaps to the point of obsession, and to the detriment of people not only in America but all across the globe.

remember what he told Bob Woodward? " History? We'll all be dead"

literally

really wants! His ego is much to big for him not to care!

NOBODY get's to the Presidency and doesn't care about what the history books say about them!

Between Dubya-Dubya III and bring 'em on, and now this....one must be breathing in order to read a history book

He doesn't CARE WHAT WE THINK.

The rapture will burn all the
documents. :crazy:

one infallible character trait. He f**ks up everything he touches.

Don't be giving this guy too damn much credit. He isn't running things, he's a pathetic cowardly classless spoiled turd-in-a-punchbown failure. The litmus test of how big a failure he is is look at the bunch of crooked murderous bastards he's aligned himself with. Look at the men he's letting use his ass.

Now I understand that they weren't behind him when he was governor of Texas. But look at how he screwed the people of Texas over. How he spent like crazy on pet projects, made the state a laughing stock with his mouth and spoiled frat boy behavior, how he managed to completely destroy the Texas school system, how he disgraced himself and the office all by himself.

This is the same thing only on a larger scale. And he's letting the liars and theives that are the neocons destroy everything that's good about our country. But what does he care? He can claim the title of 'War President' with a mandate?

I wonder what the fundies would do?

that is an excellent way of utilizing this veto in the mid-terms and more importantly in the presidential election of 2008.

GOP Split Over Stem Cells Could Resonate
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

Tuesday, July 18, 2006
(07-18) 15:59 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Republican presidential hopefuls split on whether to provide more federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research, reflecting a GOP rift on an issue that could have political consequences in this year's midterm elections and in 2008.

"President Bush and I do not differ about the need for strong guidelines governing stem cell research," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. However, the heart surgeon added: "The limit on cell lines available for federally funded research is too restrictive."

Frist and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., abortion opponents who are considering presidential bids, broke with Bush — and the social conservatives who are crucial to the GOP — when they voted Tuesday for a bill that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Three other potential Republican presidential candidates — Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and George Allen of Virginia — opposed the bill.

"We're talking about fragile early human life. It should be treated as sacred," Brownback said.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/07/18/politics/p155950D77.DTL&type=politics

The Repukes would be growing the things in their basements.

Said the RW is opposed to stem cell research because they don't think innocent lives should be sacrificed even if it could save others.

But he said that's exactly their justification for bombing Iraqis - taking innocent lives with the greater goal of "saving" others.

Only one Dem Senator voted against it (Nelson) and 70% of the public is for it. Could the Dems not take advantage of this situation and take over both houses, bring this up for a veto-proof vote, then tell Bush and the 30% of the population to fuck off?
:think:

Of course, Diebold probably already has this scenario taken care of and the Dems have proven to be ineffective when given HUGE gifts.

:banghead: