Denying Sufficient Second is McConnell's latest trick to thwart conservatism

[cotton1706]

There is no end to the vindictive means Mitch McConnell uses to thwart conservatives and conservatism.

I warned everybody last year that this man was a dangerous oligarch. And now we're seeing the fruits of all his efforts. He got himself reelected and made sure that every one of his incumbent cronies were reelected and also added a few (Rounds, Capito, Tillis, Gardner).

Now he is denying conservatives "sufficient second" on amendments and bills. If motions, amendments and bills are not seconded, they are dead. He means to marginalize conservatives and pummel them into the dust.

The only think we can do is remove some of his cronies next year, for he is just reelected, is corrupt with power, and is digging in, with glee and relish.

[cotton1706]

Republican senators up for reelection in 2016:

Lee (UT) - 2016 - 99% (Average) - 100% (CReview) - 100% (Heritage) - 97% (CFG) - 100% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Paul (KY) - 2016 - 94% (Average) - 93% (CReview) - 87% (Heritage) - 95% (CFG) - 96% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Crapo (ID) - 2016 - 88% (Average) - 76% (CReview) - 88% (Heritage) - 85% (CFG) - 92% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Rubio (FL) - 2016 - 88% (Average) - 80% (CReview) - 92% (Heritage) - 92% (CFG) - 96% (ACU) - 80% (FreedomWorks)

Lankford (OK) - 2016 - 86% (Average) - 60% (CReview) - 76% (Heritage) - 100% (CFG) - 94% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Shelby (AL) - 2016 - 86% (Average) - 66% (CReview) - 99% (Heritage) - 76% (CFG) - 88% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Scott (SC) - 2016 - 85% (Average) - 85% (CReview) - 73% (Heritage) - 90% (CFG) - 96% (ACU) - 83% (FreedomWorks)

Vitter (LA) - 2016 - 80% (Average) - 71% (CReview) - 83% (Heritage) - 60% (CFG) - 86% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Grassley (IA) - 2016 - 80% (Average) - 72% (CReview) - 63% (Heritage) - 91% (CFG) - 92% (ACU) - 83% (FreedomWorks)

Johnson (WI) - 2016 - 78% (Average) - 67% (CReview) - 47% (Heritage) - 95% (CFG) - 96% (ACU) - 83% (FreedomWorks)

Barrasso (WY) - 2016 - 77% (Average) - 61% (CReview) - 70% (Heritage) - 71% (CFG) - 84% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Toomey (PA) - 2016 - 75% (Average) - 63% (CReview) - 59% (Heritage) - 86% (CFG) - 88% (ACU) - 80% (FreedomWorks)

Boozman (AR) - 2016 - 74% (Average) - 50% (CReview) - 76% (Heritage) - 65% (CFG) - 79% (ACU) - 100% (FreedomWorks)

Moran (KS) - 2016 - 72% (Average) - 62% (CReview) - 69% (Heritage) - 69% (CFG) - 75% (ACU) - 83% (FreedomWorks)

McCain (AZ) - 2016 - 68% (Average) - 43% (CReview) - 53% (Heritage) - 88% (CFG) - 91% (ACU) - 67% (FreedomWorks)

Coats (IN) - 2016 - 63% (Average) - 48% (CReview) - 59% (Heritage) - 63% (CFG) - 76% (ACU) - 67% (FreedomWorks)

Thune (SD) - 2016 - 61% (Average) - 52% (CReview) - 59% (Heritage) - 59% (CFG) - 84% (ACU) - 50% (FreedomWorks)

Isakson (GA) - 2016 - 58% (Average) - 40% (CReview) - 64% (Heritage) - 53% (CFG) - 68% (ACU) - 67% (FreedomWorks)

Burr (NC) - 2016 - 57% (Average) - 49% (CReview) - 41% (Heritage) - 74% (CFG) - 88% (ACU) - 33% (FreedomWorks)

Blunt (MO) - 2016 - 55% (Average) - 38% (CReview) - 63% (Heritage) - 47% (CFG) - 76% (ACU) - 50% (FreedomWorks)

Hoeven (ND) - 2016 - 52% (Average) - 26% (CReview) - 53% (Heritage) - 47% (CFG) - 68% (ACU) - 67% (FreedomWorks)

Portman (OH) - 2016 - 49% (Average) - 54% (CReview) - 29% (Heritage) - 77% (CFG) - 68% (ACU) - 17% (FreedomWorks)

Ayotte (NH) - 2016 - 45% (Average) - 41% (CReview) - 29% (Heritage) - 60% (CFG) - 63% (ACU) - 33% (FreedomWorks)

Kirk (IL) - 2016 - 32% (Average) - 28% (CReview) - 17% (Heritage) - 36% (CFG) - 64% (ACU) - 17% (FreedomWorks)

Murkowski (AK) - 2016 - 31% (Average) - 20% (CReview) - 35% (Heritage) - 27% (CFG) - 41% (ACU) - 33% (FreedomWorks)

[TBP]

What constitutes “sufficient second”? Cruz and Lee should routinely second each other.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Sen. Cruz: The Real Story of What Is Happening in Washington (Sep 28, 2015 – 59:47)
……… OR... “Mr Cruz Goes To Washington”

Ted Cruz couldn’t get anyone in the Senate to back him tonight as he tried to get a ban on Planned Parenthood funding and a linkage of the Iran Nuclear deal in a government funding bill. He stood alone on the Senate floor:
Cruz’s amendment would place a one-year ban on federal funding for Planned Parenthood. It would also ban the Obama administration from using funds from the short-term bill to implement the Iran nuclear deal or any “assessed contributions” to the United Nations until lawmakers receive the “side deals” between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The “side deals” have been a key point of contention among opponents of the deal. Cruz and House Republicans have suggested that the 60-day congressional review period for the Iran nuclear deal hasn’t started because the administration hasn’t given lawmakers the agreements.

After the procedural back-and-forth, Cruz slammed Republican leadership, suggesting they repeatedly “surrender” to President Obama.

“You know, President Obama has negotiated a catastrophic nuclear deal with Iran. Republican leadership goes on television all the time and rightly says this is a catastrophic deal,” he added. “I would suggest that if we actually believed the words that are coming out of their mouths, then we should be willing to use any and all constitutional authorities.”

After this Cruz launched into an hour speech, one that Mark Levin just tweeted out saying it’s a MUST LISTEN.

[RKBA Democrat]

We can play this electoral game till we’re blue in the face. Replace one asshat with another till doomsday. The game never changes. I’m tired of political three card monte where I’m the mark.

I’m ready to do something else. Something else that might work.

[Chgogal]

Someone needs to make McConnell's life miserable.

I wonder if Ried’s exercise bike is available?

[Fungi]

Joe Miller will definitely be running against the queen Murkowski. She cheated him out of the seat last time and he will get it this time and I hope he does.

[cotton1706]

“What constitutes “sufficient second”? Cruz and Lee should routinely second each other.”

11 senators are required to second a motion. McConnell has the ENTIRE senate on his side against Cruz.

[Cboldt]

The OP misstates the effect of "sufficient second," as having an effect on what is taken up. The leader chooses what is taken up, and if that isn't agreed on by unanimous consent, then a cloture vote getting 60 votes will cause a bill (or amendment) to become the subject of debate.

"Sufficient second" is the term used to describe getting a recorded (roll call) vote instead of a voice vote. One senator calls for a recorded (roll call) vote, and it takes one fifth of the senators to "second" that, or else the vote is roughly a group vote. Call for the yeas, then call for the nays, the louder group wins.

[JediJones]

The RINOs with megaphones have it?

[timestax]

[cotton1706]

Thank you for the clarification.

[Cboldt]

My pleasure. Senate procedure is arcane, although parts of it loosely resemble Roberts Rules of Order (or similar).

Even on a procedural level, the senate is a completely dysfunctional deliberative body. The rule that is meant to continue or extend debate is used to kill debate, to pick one example.