Speaking of votes, we are near an all time record in senate filibusters. As you know it takes 60 votes to have any bill voted on in the Senate. So, when it has been debated, there is a "cloture" vote and unless there are 60 votes in favor of "cloture" (going to the "floor" for a vote), the bill is not voted on and goes back to committee or into the circular file or the like.

With global warming looming, even that critical issue did not get past cloture:

Well, the final vote was 53-42 for cloture. I'll spare you the all too familiar Senate-speak, but you know what it really means: once again, the Roadblock Republicans throw up the procedural roadblocks to getting big things accomplished. This cloture vote is the 58th of this Congress, only 4 short of the record for a two-year Congress.

(John Kerry). Three democrats voted against cloture (and thereby supported the filibuster), Bayh (D-IN), Byrd (D-WV), and Landrieu (D-LA). Five republicans voted to stop the filibuster: Coleman (R-MN), Collins (R-ME), Smith (R-OR), Snowe (R-ME), and Thune (R-SD). Both independents voted to stop the filibuster: Lieberman (I-CT) and Sanders (I-VT).

The vote tabulation is here.

The destruction of the planet is OK to those who voted to support the filibuster.

Regardless of Senator Byrds holier than thou constitutional expertise his Nay vote confirms again that he is a toady of the coal industry and cares nothing for his beloved mountain state that continues to allow the uninterupted destruction of it's valuable forest and water resources though Mt Top Removal mining. He voted for Gonzales because he believed Alberto.

Time for some real democrats in West By God to oust Byrd and put him out to pasture as he again proves his loyalties lie with the earth destroyers and not the children