TRUST GRASSLEY: Strategic Voice Vote on Kavanaugh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ro-ICGt18&feature=youtu.be&t=4h10m20s
This is MUST SEE TV.
VIDEO above queued to last portion of the hearing.
There are two of many arcane Senate rules that the DEMs would seek to cleverly obstruct to continue delaying and bottling Judge K up in committee - the 2 person rule and the 2 hour rule.
The 2 person rule means that a quorum under such circumstances must include at least two members of the minority - and, for good reason, you don’t want the minority (and REPs have been too lol) being wholly unrepresented.
The 2 hour rule is more obscure - but, basically, you’ve got two hours to shut things down and exit the building if you want the nomination to hold and move to the floor.
The kicker is the voice vote! MAGA!
TRUST GRASSLEY :)
For the video impaired:
DEMs had been resisting all day. Some quickly walked out of the executive session with friendly MSM trailing behind. Then member remarks began but the fireworks were yesterday. DEMs played some 4 hour delay card and the vote was rescheduled for the afternoon.
Rumors abound that the gang-o-Flake is meeting, DiChi brow beaten Murkowski, “Save Me Please!” Manchin, other DEMs and gang’s all there! Why it’s even said that RR was out of his brackets[] and there on the hill arranging the terms of a deal to get a (supposedly) follow-up “investigation” by the F-I ... hopefully if WH to also include some further review of Doctored Ford and her “beach friends”, the coordinated attorney referral from DiChi, etc. or if BH then it’s all set for more mischief - either way, good guys have everything, trust The Plan, etc.
The hearing room remains vacant for some time as DEMs “resist” and hold out on MSM shows in full obeyance. Then, Hannity says, Flake, “caved to pressure” ... here he comes, back into the hearing room (right where the video above is queued (4h10m20s)
Flake is then immediately recognized by Grassley who’s been patiently waiting & eating popcorn or something with all the REPs present and only DiChi on the side. Grassley appears to know exactly what’s happening as Flake comes back in, they exchange verbally, and as he takes his seat, the rest of the DEMs come back in.
Grassley then recognizes Flake ON A POINT OF PERSONAL *PRIVILEGE*. No motion. No standing. mere privilege.
In true Flake form, he explains the grand “deal” - though not emphasized - VOTE 1st, TALK LATER ROFL while Grassley gives DEMs some say. ...
The Grassley again says, “CALL THE ROLL.”
As it starts to go down the REP line, DiChi is confused and asking something of her staff, Leahy asks, “what are we voting on?”
Grassley says, “WE ARE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO REPORT THE NOMINATION TO THE FLOOR.” DUMMIES “THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.” (Grassley didn’t really say DUMMIES lol)
DiChi: “That’s not my understanding, Mr. Chairman, please let him explain it.”
Flake says, “That is my understanding”.
Grassley: Since you’re the deciding vote, “CALL THE ROLL!”
Roll is taken. Voice Vote. ONE TIME AROUND. IT’S TIME :)
All REPs vote AYE including Flake, who’d been rumored to have been contemplating voting “Present”
The vote comes around to the DEM side and a confused DiChi: “On the nominee, NO”. Leahy repeats as do several more of the others to clarify they mean they’re voting NO on Judge K, not on some theoretical amendment they thought they were coming back from the hall to vote on. The rest just vote NO outright.
TRUST GRASSLEY.
SUCKERS! ROFLMAO!
Judge K - have a beer! :)
The Clerk: 11 AYES, 10 NOs
Grassley: “THE NOMINEE WILL BE REPORTED TO THE FLOOR”
Grassley lets Creepy Coons talk about the DEMs new found love and respect for this F-I investigation. They may be getting more than they’ve been asking for. Otherwise it could be done by Monday. Then slam dunk, 52-48 with Pence still presiding.
DiChi: “I misunderstood, Sen. Flake, what you were doing” ... “so I will support that motion”
Lindsey Graham: “It doesn’t matter what we say here”, it’s up to McConnell now! ROFL
Leaky Leahy: blah, blah, no action on the floor of the US Senate, is that correct?
Flake: “I can’t make that agreement” ... “It may not take them a week”
Grassley: “Just a minute. All I said ... was I’d advocate for the position he took”
Klobuchar: blah, blah, “there’s not really a set agreement here”, Flake is doing good for the Senate. blah, blah. “That is what this is about.” blah, blah “This is very important what happened right now!”
Cornyn: this is going to be limited but - in case they forgot, they just voted, we aren’t involved here anymore
DiChi: “Does your amendment include continuing the investigation?
Flake: “THERE IS NO AMENDMENT” [DiChi head explodes!]
blah ... “We can then move on”
Grassley: “BECAUSE OF THE TWO HOUR RULE WE’RE ADJOURNED”
THE GAVEL GOES DOWN!
DiChi: “WHAT?”
https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1045800637596872704
@SenateCloakroom
“Agreed to by Voice Vote: Motion to proceed to Executive Session to consider Exec. Cal. #1127 Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States”
That was a great description! Thank Q.
Check out the fourth paragraph. [RR]
I heard it live on Rush’s show, but I didn’t realize all the nuances going on. Thanks.
From a cruise ship somewhere in the mediterranean, many thanks!
Great reply. Well done.
Here is a good write-up on the vote today from Voat QRV
For all those hating on Flake ... It was Shakespeare!
https://voat.co/v/theawakening/2753184
I know this is long ... but there’s no TLDR version. What happened yesterday was Shakespeare, so I’m hoping a few of you make the effort.
Almost every post on the boards is attacking Flake. He’s a swamp creature, but what he, Grassley, and Reps pulled off in that hearing room was genius.
When they returned after recess .... every Republican Senator was sitting in their seat except Cruz ... nearly all of them. Only one of the Dems was in their seat, the rest were standing in the doorway or were in the hallway. A staffer whispers in Grassley’s ear and he looks around, first right ... Reps all seated, then left, Dems still standing around. Then he hits the gavel, Cruz enters and takes his seat, Dems still standing around. Grassley stares at the door for a while ... knocks the gavel a few times, but much quieter than before. Flake enters, whispers something to Grassley in passing and takes his seat.
Then ... “As a point of personal privilege, I’m going to invite Senator Flake to speak. Normally we would start the vote right now.” ... Dems still standing around the entrance ... and it’s no big deal, no hurry, Senator Flake is speaking, it’s not the vote.
Flake “I’ve been speaking to the other side and I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but not more than one week to allow the FBI to conduct an investigation.” The other side were aware that Sen. Flake was only going to vote “yes” based on an FBI investigation. The “one week” was probably news to them. They are still making their way to their seats.
Senator Flake “I will vote to advance the vote to the floor with that understanding.” Then he compliments the chairman and the committee. He already knows it’s over!
Grassley IMMEDIATELY calls roll (vote) you can hear some Dems say “wait ... “ they are still making their way to their seats, only 3-4 of them are seated. Feinstein interrupts and grabs Sen. Grassley’s arm ... “What are we voting on? Can we have a description” ..... The Dems are in complete disarray. They do not know what’s happening. Sen. Grassley raises his voice, pulls away from Feinstein and says “We are voting on the motion to report the nomination to the floor .... Call the role!” Sen. Feinstein ... “but that’s not my understanding” (she thought she had a different deal with Flake) Flake responds “Well my understanding is the deal that the Democrats would accept a one week investigation limited in time and scope.” ... Feinstein starts to argue “Well ... “ ... Then Sen. Grassley jumps in .... “we’ll decide that and if there’s any further discussion we’ll have it after the roll .... CALL THE ROLL!”
As the roll starts .... some of the Dems are still making their way to their seats. As the 11 Reps vote yes, Sen. Feinstein grabs Grassley again ... “This is on the nominee?” she’s still confused. He says “Yes”, she votes “On the nominee, No.” Noise in the room increases as the Dems are asking what is happening and taking their seats. Some still asking “On the Nominee?” Finally, the Chairman votes “Yes.” and on hearing the roll was 11/10 declares “The nominee will be reported to the floor.” It’s over and the Dems are still trying to figure out what just happened, some still haven’t made it to their seats. Sen. Coons (who did make it to his seat) realises that the nomination and investigation were separate and proposes that the investigation over the coming week is bi-partisan and is thanked. Feinstein then admits she was confused and thought the two were linked and seconds the bi-partisan motion for the investigation. (She has no choice)
Then Senator Graham sums it all up. “I love this committee but we’re not the majority leader. Sen. Flake has said what it would take for him to support the vote, but it really doesn’t matter what we say here ... because it’s up to Schumer and McConnell.” (In other words, any further discussion/motions regarding the investigation are pointless because it’s out of our hands now) ... Next up is Leaky Leahy asking for a commitment that there is no movement on the nomination on the Senate floor ... and before Grassley can speak, Sen Flake, the guy you are hating on, jumps in and says “Let me say again, I cannot make that commitment for the Leadership ... but I would only be comfortable moving forward on the floor when the FBI has done more investigation than they have done already! It may not take them a week ... “ so he’s saying that he’ll vote as soon as the FBI have done something, but is not committing to the week, just that he’ll vote after they do something.
After a few back and forths ... Feinstein asks Flake if his “amendment includes continuing the investigation through this period of time.” She is still confused. Flake responds “There is no amendment.” and he’s just saying that he wants the Democrats to feel comfortable as they move forward knowing an investigation has occurred and will heal the divisions. He is willing to contact the WH personally to request the investigation and it would be short and limited in scope ... sound familiar? President Trump echoes Flake and made a statement shortly after, “be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.” ... Anyhow, immediately after Sen. Flake said this, Sen. Grassley bangs his gavel, invokes the 2 hour rule. The meeting is over .... no more discussion, no more delays, no threats to walk out of the room before voting .... oh, and some of the Dems are still standing and wondering wth just happened. ....
So if you want to hate on Flake, you can, but not for this. This was 5D chess. This was the plan.
You can watch it all play out ... start at 4.40.00 on the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeyzYkisuwsYouTube
This makes much sense. Grassley did beat them at their own game. Flake actually may have played a good role and we’ll see. Thank you for the breakdown. I had read about Leahy and Feinstein being confused at the speed Grassley held the vote. No huddle offense! About D time!
I finally got a chance to watch the video, thanks again for posting.
I wonder if the fox news cameraperson was tipped off about the strategy. Either that or the cameraperson seemed psychic...
After carefully reading that description, I’m a lot more comfortable with this. I think FineSwine got herself hoodwinked. Not sure if Flakey was in on it, but Grassley sure found the handle and took control.
A Must Save Post# 1826
Excellent insight!