Tool Of Tools
by digby
Looks like Ben Nelson has agreed to allow the Senate to pass a bill to send to conference. But that's it:
"Without in any way intending to be threatening--to be more in the more of promising--let me be clear, this cloture vote is based on full understanding that there will be a limited conference between the Senate and the House," Nelson said. "If there are material changes in that conference report, different from this bill, that adversely affect the agreement, I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote--let me repeat it--I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote if there are material changes to this agreement in the conference report. And I will vote against it if that is the case.
Basically he just told the House of Representatives to go Cheney themselves.
If there's one thing that's clear from all this it's that the filibuster is the tool of egomaniacs and conservatives. Individual liberals don't seem to have the temperament to use it and jackass conservatives do. It's a problem.