Anyone know the Senate schedule for tonight?

I see they're in session, but no idea if there's anything going on. Quorum call right now.
edit- C-Span says general speeches, no votes. Guess I'll keep it on for now. Classical music is a nice change of pace.

I think there are massive negotiations going on on those false bills that have everything in them that a Rethug could want. (ANWR, eliminating campaign contributions to PACs that favor Dems, etc.) The Rethugs want to have a big, big smack-down of the Dems and force them to vote against funding the troops, cuz this is the same old bullshit that Rethugs always do. (When in doubt, call the other guy a coward and a terrorist-enabler cuz they won't blanket fund what you want to do. Sigh. Bastids.)

I would guess that the cell phone calls are burning up DC tonight. There are probably only a few Sens actually there at the Capitol tonight. But I bet there are some serious strategy discussions going on. The REthugs want those bills out the door before Christmas.

I just hope that the Dems can get the votes to block these phony defense bills. This is totally despicable behaviour and is what dictatorships do, ram through whatever they want without regard to the rights of the minority. (Go get 'em Sen. Kerry. Lead that filibuster to block ANWR. Oh, I get the warm and fuzzies when I hear stuff like that.)

Posted on Sun, Dec. 18, 2005

LIZ SIDOTIAssociated Press

WASHINGTON - House Republicans abandoned a last-minute attempt to limit individual political donations to independent organizations Sunday, setting up for passage a military measure that had been stalled by the effort.

GOP leaders had sought to attach the campaign finance legislation to a final defense bill, a move aimed at hampering Democratic-aligned groups such as MoveOn.org that were a powerful voice in 2004 and could threaten GOP candidates next year.

A bipartisan group in the Senate joined House Democrats in criticizing the 11th-hour maneuver and refusing to sign off on the plan.

The standoff had put into question the fate of the bill that sets Pentagon policy and, like a separate defense spending measure, includes a ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign terrorism suspects in U.S. custody as well as other restrictions on detainee interrogation and prosecution.

It would have been the first time in more than 40 years Congress would have failed to send the president an authorization bill setting Pentagon policy.

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/politics/13438482.htm