Victory for Grassroots as Fast Track Goes Down in Crucial Senate Vote

[kentuck]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/05/12/victory-grassroots-fast-track-goes-down-crucial-senate-vote

<snip>
'We know the forces pushing the job-killing TPP won't stop here, and they should know, neither will we,' says Democracy for America.

In what was immediately heralded as a victory for the grassroots, Senate Democrats on Tuesday stymied President Barack Obama's corporate-driven trade agenda by voting to prevent the chamber from taking up Fast Track legislation.

According to news reports, a cloture motion to cut off a filibuster and proceed to debate fell short of the 60 votes necessary to pass. Sen. Tom Carper, of Delaware, was the only Democrat to vote yes.

Civil society groups lauded Tuesday's outcome and what it could mean for future trade votes.

"The Fast Track train went off the rails today," cheered Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch division. "The U.S. Senate vote was supposed to generate momentum for Fast Track in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it's in deep trouble, with almost every House Democrats and a significant bloc of GOP opposing it."

....more at link

[dgibby]

1. I'd like to be a fly on the wall in the Oval Office right now. n/t

[BillZBubb]

2. Obama terribly misjudged the will of his party.

That was an incredible blunder. But, at least the party saved him from an even worse one.