Maybe, but . . .
From Five Minutes to Eternity
Most everyone knows how senators can filibuster bills to death on the Senate floor. But less common is the committee filibuster.
That's what some Senate Judiciary Committee members seemed to be doing Tuesday in an effort to block passage of a bill that would help states improve use of DNA evidence so the guilty go to jail and the innocent who have languished decades in prison for crimes they didn't commit can be released.
_____In the Loop_____
•
British Diplomat Ducks His Gaffe (The Washington Post, Sep 24, 2004)
•
Thompson's Trading Spaces (The Washington Post, Sep 22, 2004)
•
State Dept. Web Site Still Out of the Loop (The Washington Post, Sep 20, 2004)
•
A Late Development in Fontgate (The Washington Post, Sep 15, 2004)
•
Harmonizing Energies in Missile Defense (The Washington Post, Sep 13, 2004)
•
More In the Loop
|
| |
 
Friday's Question:
| | |
|
The bill overwhelmingly passed the House 357 to 67 last year, with support from the likes of Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and independent socialist Rep. Bernard Sanders (Vt.). Even so, the Justice Department and Senate Republicans demanded and got changes. But the bill still seemed stuck, and the Senate is leaving town soon.
At a committee vote Tuesday, Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), who sponsored the bill with ranking Democrat Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), interrupted opposing Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).
"Senator," Hatch said, "if I could interrupt one more time. . . . The senator could give illustrations all day long. . . . I think the senator has made his case. But I think it is time to vote. . . . I am going to have to cut off debate here."
"Mr. Chairman, how long have I spoken?" Sessions asked.
"It seems to me about half an hour, maybe a little bit more," Hatch said.
"Only seems like five minutes to me," Sessions cracked.
"I know it seems like five minutes to you," Hatch said. "It seems like an eternity to me is all I can say." The room broke up.
For Nader, Standing Room Only
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is taking his election run very seriously, perhaps too seriously. On Thursday, Nader was on a jammed shuttle bus at Dulles, heading out to the midfield terminal to catch a US Airways flight to Louisville.
He sat straddling two seats on the bus as it filled up. He kept his head down, perhaps focusing on the speech he was to give at the University of Kentucky that day. Or perhaps he was totally engrossed in studying for his debate prep for next week should he get an invite? Taking one of his power naps?
Two women well on the far side of 60 couldn't find seats and were standing. Ditto an elderly gentleman. Another passenger standing next to Nader says he nudged him and asked: "Do you think it's necessary to take up two seats?" No response from Nader.
Well, the kids liked the speech.
