Speaking of voting ...

Senator Johnson (D-SD) is a voting member again. He had been down (had a "stroke") and had not cast any votes in the 110th Congress.

The voting member count now is 49 D, 49 R, and 2 I.

The two indys vote with the dems and with the republicans, depending on the issues in any particular bill. As an example, on all Iraq war matters, one indy (Lieberman I-CT) votes with the republicans.

Upon a tie vote, Dick Cheney casts the tie breaker.

So much for the voting myth that the dems "control" congress. The republicans have just as much "control", in the sense that there is not enough votes on the democratic side to override a filibuster.

Even if the two indys vote with the dems, the republicans still have 49 votes, and the dems 51 in that case.

Which is 9 short of stopping a filibuster. Thus, if the republicans do not like a bill they have filibuster control and can stop that bill in its tracks. They have done so about 50 times already in the 110th Congress.

The Senate version of Holt HR 811, S. 559, will face this reality if HR 811 passes in the House.

Please read this document which explains the nature of amendments in the House of Representatives.

You will then know the difference between an "amendment in the nature of a substitute", a "substitute amendment" (which is entirely different from an "amendment in the nature of a substitute"), and a "perfecting amendment".

I have yet to see an article anywhere that distinguises the meaning, purpose, and import that these differing amendments have.

The use of the word "amendment", without explaining the type being discussed, lacks fundamental clarity.

Likewise the use of the word "law" can lack clarity in some contexts, because regulations, statutes, constitutions, and cases are all "law".

But as it works out, like House amendments, they are entitely different issues in practice and implementation.

Which doesn't have a damn thing to do with whether the flawed legislation that is S 559 or the massively screwed up legislation that is HR 811 should be allowed to pass.

(Not to mention Feinstein's actively malignant version of election reform)

But then Dredd would have to address the issues involved rather than pursue his nonstop shilling for passage of these bills.

Dredd,

dude I been saying that awhile now, to keep saying the democrats control congress is a joke.

Feinstein needs to go. I do hope someone (not corrupt) will step up to replace her stinky ass.

Looks like were back in the same old repetitive gun control law nonsense again. The microstamping bill 3xx or 14xx or whatever the hell the number is now, i read the story on sfgate this morning and was thinking gee this is sure great, lets make it so gangbangers can traffic in arms and shells to setup the honest people who are going to be tracked spied on and snooped on.

(probably a double redundant echo in there somewhere, but I don't care.)

Also to whoever said originally, as goes California so goes the rest of the nation.

BULL SHIT.

That kind of un-thinking needs to be stopped.

If something is good then fine adopt it, but when it's stupid bagh... I am tired of ranting. Tired of this crap. Tired of this nonsense. Tired of fighting. Tired of wordsmiths!

Restore the Constitution.

Are you for it? Or are you against it?

That's the question I will ask of ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE in government now. They have proven they can not be trusted.