Energy bill blocked....

For the time being.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 — Opponents of the energy bill succeeded today in blocking the measure in the Senate, leaving the future of the legislation uncertain.

Fifty-seven senators voted in favor of cutting off debate and moving to a yes-or-no vote on the measure itself. But under Senate rules, 60 votes are required to halt debate, so the bill's backers need to find three more votes to prevail. Forty senators voted to keep the debate going.

Call your senators to thank them if they voted to defeat the bill. (Go here for the vote tally.) Chew them out if they voted "yea."

And while you're at it, tell them to defeat the trojan-horse prescription drug bill. (For more, see Paul Krugman's editorial.

Full story here.