Now on C-SPAN: Debate over defense appropriations bill and attachments

The GOP have tried to attach two pieces of legislation to the defense appropriations bill. The attempt to open ANWR to drilling appears to have failed because of bipartisan opposition in the Senate. They are now trying to attach "camapign finance reform" to the bill in an effort to silence independent groups (527s) most of whom support Democratic candidates. The debate will last one hour and is now airing on C-SPAN.

If they manage to ram this through it's going to wreak havoc on our ability to fight the GOP slime machine next year and in 2008...

I'm watching John Spratt and the Thirty-Something Group on C-Span. This is not debate on the Defense Authorization bill. This is a special order speech. What I've gathered from watching this story all day is that the Republican leadership in the House (the Speaker, Delay?) tacked on something to do with ANWR and something to do with allowing 527's to donate huge amounts after the Bill had been signed by the conferees from the Senate and House. Now that they've been caught out--Warner and Levin vowed to filibuster the bill if allowed to stand--the Repugs refuse to bring the bill the floor. Meanwhile, both houses of Congress are staying over the weekend to finish up important bills and nothing is happening in either house besides special order speeches. It occurred to me that Hastart, or Delay, in cahoots with Bush or Cheney decided to screw up the Defense Bill in order to prevent the Anti-Torture Amendment from being voted into law. They know there're enough supporters to block Bush's veto and so they're doing this to allow continued torture. At the same time, Bush goes on TV today to admit he authorized the telephone spying without warrants and he intends to continue doing it. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised at anything these bastards will try to garner power.

Is this supporting the troops?

The clerk read the bill and the presiding officer said each side would have 30 minutes (or each side would have one hour, I can't remember) to debate. Unfortunately I almost fell asleep during Spratt's lecture so I turned the channel...