Durbin: Senate all-nighter "no great sacrifice"

By Jim Tankersley

Break out your PJ's, store up some snack food and fluff up your pillows: The Senate is hurtling toward an all-night debate over the Iraq war, with Republicans promising to filibuster a plan to set a timeline for troop withdrawal. Usually that threat alone is enough to block legislation. Tonight, Democrats are set to force their GOP counterparts to follow through and stage the sort of talk-a-thon that grinds Senate business to a halt and postpones a final vote indefinitely.

Republicans have labeled the move a publicity stunt, but in a morning prelude to tonight's debate, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), said it's what America deserves.

"The Senate spending a sleepless night is no great sacrifice," Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said near the end of a back-and-forth with the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky). "Soldiers and the families who pray for them spend many sleepless nights. It's time for the Senate to do the same.

"It's time for us to come to the floor and express what's in our hearts about this war, a war that has claimed over 3,611 American lives, a war which has cost us 30,000 injuries, 10,000 severe injuries – amputations, traumatic brain injuries, severe burns – a war that has cost us over $500 billion and costs us more than $12 billion a month, is it worth one night of lost sleep to discuss and debate that? You bet it is."

In what promises to be a rarity today, McConnell said pretty much the same thing: "It's perfectly fine for us (Republicans) to stay here today and this evening to discuss this very important issue," he said on the Senate floor, adding later: "It is the significant issue in the country at this particular juncture."

Here's the unofficial transcript of Durbin's morning Iraq speech, McConnell's response, and some of their (admittedly jargon-heavy at times) back-and-forth:

MR. DURBIN: THIS MORNING, AFTER MORNING BUSINESS WE WILL RESUME
CONSIDERATION OF THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL. THIS IS AN
ANNUAL BILL THAT COMES BEFORE US RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE AND THE CONDUCT OF AMERICA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE. IT'S AN
IMPORTANT BILL MADE MORE IMPORTANT THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE FOCUS
OF DEBATE AT THIS MOMENT IS ON THE WAR IN IRAQ. WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS ON THE MINDS OF MOST AMERICANS.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A BODY, THE UNITED STATES
SENATE, WHERE WE REPRESENT PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY OF I BELIEVE
THE DEBATE SHOULD BE AN OPEN DEBATE, ONE THAT GIVES OPPORTUNITY
FOR BOTH POINTS OF VIEW TO BE EXPRESSED. I ALSO BELIEVE AT THE
END OF THE DEBATE ON THE CENTRAL ISSUE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ WE
SHOULD TAKE A MAJORITY VOTE AND DECIDE WHAT THE SENATE STANDS
FOR WHEN IT COMES IT OUR POLICY. THOSE WHO STAND FOR THE
PRESIDENT'S POSITION CAN OH POSE THE LEVIN-REED AMENDMENT WHICH
IS PENDING AND WILL BE CONSIDERED SOON. IT'S AN AMENDMENT WHICH
ESTABLISHES A TIMETABLE FOR AMERICAN TROOPS TO START COMING
HOME. IT'S A TIMETABLE FOR ENDING THIS WAR RESPONSIBLY, ENDING
OUR COMBAT ROLE BY THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR. IT IS THE ONLY
AMENDMENT PENDING WHICH IS SPECIFIC AND REALLY WILL CHANGE THE
POLICY AND DIRECTION IN IRAQ. UNFORTUNATELY, MR. PRESIDENT, THE
PROCEDURAL ISSUES AHEAD OF US ARE VERY COMPLICATED. THE SENATOR
REPUBLICAN LEADER, SENATOR McCONNELL OF KENTUCKY, HAS INSISTED
INSTEAD OF A MAJORITY VOTE ON THE WAR IN IRAQ THAT IT WILL BE
NECESSARY TO HAVE 60 VOTES. I THINK THAT'S UNFORTUNATE. LAST
YEAR IN THE COURSE OF DEBATING THE DENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL,
THERE WERE TWO MAJOR AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE WAR IN IRAQ.
BOTH OF THOSE AMENDMENTS WERE CONSIDERED AND HELD TO A MAJORITY
VOTE STANDARD. EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR THE WAR ON IERKS ANOTHER
SUPPLEMENT -- ON IRAQ, ANOTHER QUESTION CAME UP, BUT SINCE THAT
TIME THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVE STEPPED FORWARD AND SAID
THEY DISAGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY AND WILL VOTE TO
CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THIS WAR. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS CLEAR
THAT WE HAVE A MAJORITY SUPPORTING THIS CHANGE IN DIRECTION.
NOW THE REPUBLICAN LEADER INSISTS ON 60 VOTES, INSISTS ON
FILLIBUSTERRING THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BEFORE THE SENATE, IS
TRYING TO STOP THE DEBATE ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL CHANGE
DIRECTION IN IRAQ. AS A RESULT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN UNUSUAL
SESSION OF THIS UNITED STATES SENATE WHICH WILL COMMENCE
SHORTLY AND RUN AROUND THE CLOCK UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING WHEN WE
WILL FACE A CLOTURE VOTE. A CLOTURE VOTE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
SENATORS TO STEP FORWARD AND SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY TRULY WANT
A CHANGE IN THE POLICY OF THIS WAR. THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY HAS
INSISTED ON THE 60-VOTE THRESHHOLD KNOWING IT'S MORE DIFFICULT
TO REACH BUT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP ON THIS. WE BELIEVE WITH THE
THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO ALREADY HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PRESIDENT'S POLICY, OTHERS MAY JOIN.
WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICAN SENATORS BACK IF THEIR HOME STATES HAVE
SAID PUBLICLY AND REPEATEDLY THAT THEY WANT TO VOTE TO CHANGE
POLICY. THEY HAVE THAT CHANCE ON THE LEVIN-REED AMENDMENT WHICH
WE WILL VOTE ON TOMORROW MORNING. THIS SESSION IS NOT LIKELY TO
END WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND
INVITATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO COME TO THE FLOOR AND
EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS WAR IN IRAQ. FOR THOSE WHO
SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S POSITION AND WANT TO CONTINUE ALONG
THIS PRESENT COURSE, THEY HAVE THEIR CHANCE. FOR THOSE ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO BRING THIS WAR TO AN
END, THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR OPPORTUNITY. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT
THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY HAS INSISTED ON THIS PROCEDURAL
OBSTACLE, HAS INSISTED ON FILLIBUSTERRING THIS AMENDMENT, IS
TRYING TO STOP US FROM GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE ISSUE ABOUT
CHANGING THIS POLICY IN IRAQ BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THIS
AND THEY KNOW THAT THOSE WHO ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO PROTECT
THE PRESIDENT, PROTECT HIM POLITICALLY, PROTECT HIS POSITION,
ARE GOING TO BE WELL-KNOWN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AT THE END OF
THIS DEBATE. I HOPE THAT THOSE WHO AGREE WITH US ON THE DEPTH
SIDE AND THE THREE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE JOINED US, WILL COME
TOGETHER WITH US AND DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THIS POLICY, CHANGE
THIS WAR IN IRAQ AND BRING IT TO AN END RESPONSIBLY. I YIELD.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR LEADER.

-------------------------

MR. McCONNELL: LISTENING TO MY GOOD FRIENDS FROM ILLINOIS THE
MAJORITY WHIP DISCUSSING 60 VOTE THRESHHOLDS REMINDS ME OF WHAT
THE MAJORITY LEADER SAID ON JANUARY 30 OF 2007 -- AND I QUOTE
-- "60 VOTES ARE REQUIRED FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING." I'VE
TALKED TO SENATOR McCONNELL ABOUT THIS. WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH
A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS THAT REQUIRE 60 VOTES BECAUSE AS YOU
KNOW IN THE SENATE, A LOT OF TIMES 60 VOTES ARE REQUIRED FOR
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. NOW, THAT'S LIFE IN THE SENATE. ON
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL WE HAD TWO AMENDMENTS LAST YEAR,
KENNEDY AND ENZI AMENDMENTS THAT BOTH REQUIRED 60 VOTES. WE'RE
HAPPY TO HAVE THIS DEBATE TONE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE OTHER
SIDE LAST EVENING AGREED TO ACCEPT THE CORNYN AMENDMENT TO THE
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL. AS WE INDICATED WE HAVE A REQUEST
FOR ROLL CALL VOTE ON THAT AMENDMENT. HOWEVER, WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO SCHEDULE THAT VOTE AT A REASONABLE TIME TODAY. I'M
TOLD AND WE JUST HEARD AGAIN THAT WE PLAN TO BE HERE THIS
EVENING LEADING UP TO THE CLOTURE VOTE ON THE LEVIN AMENDMENT.
WE WOULD BE HAPPY IT HAVE THAT VOTE TODAY. THERE'S NO
PARTICULAR REASON TO HAVE THE LEVIN-R EMPTY ED VOTE TOMORROW,
WE COULD HAVE IT TODAY. BUT, LOOK, IT'S PERFECTLY FINE WITH US
TO STAY HERE TODAY AND THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS THIS VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE. I COULDN'T AGREE WITH MY FRIENDS FROM ILLINOIS
MORE. IT IS THE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY AT THIS
PARTICULAR JUNCTURE. WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE
MAJORITY WHIP AND THE MAJORITY LEADER IT WORK OUT A FLOOR
SCHEDULE THAT ALLOWS US TO ROTATE BACK AND FORTH ON A REGULAR
BASIS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON AND THE EVENING. WE WILL LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING THAT OUT IN A WAY THAT'S FAR IT BOTH SIDES
AND GIVES US AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR VIGOROUS DEBATE ABOUT THIS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I YIELD THE FLOOR.
-------------------------
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY WHIP.

MR. DURBIN: PURSUANT TO THAT STATEMENT I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THE CORNYN AMENDMENT BE

SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE AT 2:15 AND THAT IT BE A MAJORITY VOTE AND
THAT SENATOR McCONNELL CAN WITHDRAW HIS AMENDMENT WHICH IS
CURRENTLY PENDING.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
CONDITION CONRESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, SENATOR CORNYN IS
IN A HEARING THIS MORNING SO WE WOULD WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE
BIT OF TIME FOR HIM THIS AFTERNOON BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO WORK THIS OUT SHORTLY AND WE CAN HAVE SOME DISCUSSION
HERE WITH THE FLOOR STAFF AND SEE IF WE CAPTAIN LOCK THIS IN.
THERE'S NO PARTICULAR REASON WE COULDN'T WORK THIS OUT. FOR THE
MOMENT I OBJECT -- MAYBE 2:45, WOULD THAT BE ACCEPTABLE?

Mr. DURBIN: I AMEND MY UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO 2:45 WITH TIME ACTUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN

2:15 AND 2:45 ON THE CORNYN AMENDMENT WHICH WILL THEN BE CALLED
IF A VOTE WITH THE STANDARD OF -- CALLED FOR A VOTE WITH THE
STANDARD OF A MAJORITY AS TO WHETHER IT PASSES OR FAILS.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?


MR. DURBIN: NO SECOND-DEGREE AMENDMENTS, I MIGHT ADD AND THE
McCONNELL AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
-----------------------

MR. McCONNELL: RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT, STATE THE CONSENT
AGREEMENT AGAIN, THE REQUEST, AGAIN. DUB DUSH MAYBE I CAN TRY.
THAT IS DEBATE WILL COMMENCE AT

2:15 ON THE CORNYN AMENDMENT EQUALLY DIVIDED FOR 30 MINUTES

AT 2:45 THE CORNYN AMENDMENT WILL BE CALLED FOR CONSIDERATION,
FOR A VOTE, WITH NO SECOND-DEGREE AMENDMENTS; THAT THE VOTE
STANDARD FOR PASSAGE OF THE CORNYN AMENDMENT WILL BE A MAJORITY
VOTE AND THAT SENATOR McCONNELL WILL WITHDRAW HIS PENDING
AMENDMENT AND, I THINK THAT IS ABOUT THE SUM AND SUBSTANCE OF
THIS CONSENT. AND THE McCONNELL CLOTURE VOTE WHICH HAS BEEN --
OR THE MOTION WHICH WOULD WOULD BE WITHDRAWN.

------------------------------
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION TO THE REQUEST?
IF NOT, SO ORDERED.
----------------------------
MR. DURBIN: MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO
THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER, HE FOUND TWO AMENDMENTS WHERE
WE REQUIRED A 60-VOTE MARGIN ON THE LAST DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
BILL. THOSE TWO AMENDMENTS DID NOT RELATE TO THE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL. THEY WERE MINIMUM WAGE AMENDMENTS AND THEY
REQUIRED BUDGET POINTS OF ORDER. THE SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY HAS
BEEN UNABLE TO FIND AN IRAQ AMENDMENT IN THE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL OR IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL
WHICH REQUIRED THIS EXTRAORDINARY MAJORITY. NOW, THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER HAS AGREED TO A MAJORITY VOTE ON THE CORNYN AMENDMENT,
SOMETHING THAT WE OFFERED YESTERDAY. NOW WE'RE ASKING, I HOPE,
THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS DEBATE, HE WILL CONSIDER HIS
POSITION ON THE LEVIN-REED AMENDMENT. THIS, TOO, SHOULD BE A
MAJORITY AMENDMENT. UP-OR-DOWN VOTE. WHAT IS SO FRIGHTENING ON
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE TO FACE A MAJORITY VOTE. WE
KNOW AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT TO
CHANGE POLICY IN IRAQ YET THE REPUBLICANS HAVE INSISTED ON THE
KEY AMENDMENT,-- THE LEVIN-REMPTY ED AMENDMENT, THEY WANT 60 VOTES TO BE
CONSIDERED. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DEBATE THAT AND WE ARE GOING
TO DEBATE IT LONG AND HARD BETWEEN NOW AND 24 HOURS FROM NOW.
THE SENATE WILL BE IN A RARE ALL-NIGHT SESSION. SOME OF THE
CRITICS OF THIS ALL-NIGHT SESSION HAVE SAID THAT IT IS JUST AN
EFFORT TO GET SOME PUBLICITY. WELL, IF THEY ARE ARGUING IT IS
AN UNFORTUNATE TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
THEY'RE RIGHT BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO DEBATE
THIS HONESTLY AND OPENLY. I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE, AS WELL, THAT
THE SENATE SPENDING A SLEEPLESS NIGHT IS NO GREAT SACRIFICE.
SOLDIERS AND THE FAMILIES WHO PRAY FOR THEM SPEND MANY
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. IT'S TIME FOR THE SENATE TO DO THE SAME. IT'S
TIME FOR US TO COME TO THE FLOOR AND EXPRESS WHAT'S IN OUR
HEART ABOUT THIS WAR, A WAR THAT HAS CLAIMED OVER 3,611
AMERICAN LIVES, A WAR WHICH HAS COST US 30,000 INJURIES, 10,000
SEVERE INJURIES -- AMPUTATIONS, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES,
SEVERE BURNS, A WAR THAT HAS COST US OVER $500 BILLION AND
COSTS US MORE THAN $12 BILLION A MONTH, IS IT WORTH ONE NIGHT
OF LOST SLEEP TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE THAT?
YOU BET IT IS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. I HOPE THAT THE
REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER, MR. McCONNELL OF KENTUCKY, HAVING
AGREED TO A MAJORITY VOTE ON THE CORNYN AMENDMENT, A REPUBLICAN
AMENDMENT, WILL NOW GIVE US A MAJORITY VOTE, AN UP-OR-DOWN
VOTE, ON THE LEVIN-REED AMENDMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHY HE WOULD
AGREE TO ONE STANDARD FOR ONE IRAQ AMENDMENT AND INSIST ON A
HIGHER STANDARD FOR A DEMOCRAT IRAQ AMENDMENT. I THINK MOST
MACHINES CAN SEE THROUGH THAT. I YIELD THE FLOOR.