For now. Cloture fails, 52-44. Standby for the roll and reaction.

Update: I’m hoping to get some video up of Durbin but the Beauchamp news may have me sidetracked for awhile. Here’s the roll, though, as promised. Recall that the shamnesty cloture vote this summer failed with 53 votes, not 44, although it was more politically important for the participants to be seen on the right side in that one than it was here, which probably accounts for most of the difference.

Quick and easy scan of Democrats voting against: Baucus, Byrd, Conrad, Dorgan, Landrieu, Pryor, Tester, and good ol’ McCaskill, whose objections to amnesty evidently don’t end at labor concerns. Republicans voting for: Bennett, Coleman, Collins, our friend Larry Craig, Hagel, Hatch, Hutchison, Lott, Lugar, “Amnesty Mel” Martinez, Snowe, and Sam Brownback, who was free to show his true colors today sans 11th-hour switch.

Media myths about the Jena 6

A local journalist tells the story you haven't heard.

By Craig Franklin

from the October 24, 2007 edition

Page 1 of 3

Opinion editor Josh Burek talks with Craig Franklin about the distorted story of the Jena 6.

Jena, La. - By now, almost everyone in America has heard of Jena, La., because they've all heard the story of the "Jena 6." White students hanging nooses barely punished, a schoolyard fight, excessive punishment for the six black attackers, racist local officials, public outrage and protests – the outside media made sure everyone knew the basics.

There's just one problem: The media got most of the basics wrong. In fact, I have never before witnessed such a disgrace in professional journalism. Myths replaced facts, and journalists abdicated their solemn duty to investigate every claim because they were seduced by a powerfully appealing but false narrative of racial injustice.

I should know. I live in Jena. My wife has taught at Jena High School for many years. And most important, I am probably the only reporter who has covered these events from the very beginning.

The reason the Jena cases have been propelled into the world spotlight is two-fold: First, because local officials did not speak publicly early on about the true events of the past year, the media simply formed their stories based on one-side's statements – the Jena 6. Second, the media were downright lazy in their efforts to find the truth. Often, they simply reported what they'd read on blogs, which expressed only one side of the issue. [link]

Labels: amnesty, crime, criminals, senate