Replies

thanks I found it... after reading more than I wanted.. LOL

I still don't see any reference to one election in the rules cited nor any reference to unanimous consent for a new vote..... CT keeps alluding to Lott having rewrote some of the rules so maybe he did and there aren't in the version linked above....

They meet early as stated in several notes here to select these leaders prior to the swearing in in Jan. I've looked up some of the others and they've occurred in Nov. or Dec. for different Congresses.....

I'm still confused by Santorum's statements....

Sen. Rick Santorum, the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, said yesterday he "fully expects" Mr. Lott to remain majority leader because the Mississippian, and every other Republican senator, would have to approve of any new leadership votes.
     "I'm confident that Senator Lott will be our leader," said Mr. Santorum in a conference call with reporters yesterday. "I have very little doubt about that right now."
     Mr. Santorum called for a closed-door conference of Senate Republicans on Monday after it was clear that five senators wished to meet Jan. 6 to discuss how to handle the fallout over remarks Mr. Lott made in a tribute at Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party.
     But "the only way I am certain a new election could be called for is by unanimous consent," Mr. Santorum said. Such a scenario has virtually no chance of occurring because Mr. Lott would have to be among those agreeing to open his job to rivals.
     "We have been checking all the [Senate Republican] rules," Mr. Santorum said. "There are no rules for a new election, so we are researching what other avenue would be available should such a request take place."

Santorum quotes

According to deport's post of quotes from Santorum, I am in agreement with deport. Assuming Unanimous Concent is necessary to reconsider the previous vote, one objection could stall further action.

However, there is always a way to overcome these procedural problems.

If an objection is voiced to Unamimous Concent the following could occur.

A motion to Suspend the Rules to Consider the question.

A motion to suspend the rules requires 50% + 1 for passage.

If you could get the 50% +1 to suspend the rules,, then a motion would be made to Reconsider the election of Majority Leader. The Motion to Reconsider must be made by someone who voted with the majority in the previous vote.

The person who origionally moved to elect the Majority Leader may place a Motion to Reconsider on top of the one placed by any another member and thus has control of the action. (this is another stall tactic)

If the Motion to Reconsider passes by 50% + 1, then someone stands up and nominates someone other than the existing Leader.

I don't think there is any limit as to how many people can be nominated. Since the Senate Rules are silent on this matter, I believe it could be "Katy Bar the Door".

Quite Frankly folks, while I find this discussion of Senate Rules and Parlimentary Rules facinating, I think we'd all better step back and Reconsider ourselves.

I predict Lott is going to hold his position. What possible good can we accomplish, as Conservatives, by trashing the quasi Leader of the Conservatives in the Senate.

I understand Lott is not a Conservative, but he's better than Dashole. I understand that Lott doesn't actually lead the Conservative wing of the party. But like it or not, he's the leader, I think he'll remain the leader. I'm going to start trying to accept it. It's going to be a difficult task.

"We have been checking all the [Senate Republican] rules," Mr. Santorum said.

Somewhere in the Senate Rules,,, probably at the end,,, there will be a statement saying any situations which cannot be addressed by the Senate Rules shall be governed by _ _ _ _ _ _. (I don't know what the final authority is,, but in State Legislatures it is generally Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure,,,, that is where I pulled all the maneuvering I previously posted)

If someone can figure out WHAT the final authority is,, you can determine what the outcome will be if you can figure out how many votes Lott has.