Posted on 03/04/2005 11:28:30 AM PST by CT CONSERVATIVE
Sen. Byrd said that restoring Senate tradition could rob a senator of the right to speak out against an overreaching executive branch or a wrongheaded policy. It could destroy the Senate's very essence -- the constitutional privilege of free speech and debate. But historyand Sen. Byrds own actionsprove otherwise.
In fact, Sen. Byrd is often credited with pioneering the Senate procedure he now derides as a denial of free speech and a threat to our liberties. Recall that it was Sen. Byrd who led the charge to establish new Senate precedents in 1977, 1979, 1980, and 1987 - including a number of precedents that were designed specifically to stop filibusters and other delay tactics that were previously authorized under Senate rules or prior precedents:
(Excerpt) Read more at cornyn.senate.gov ...
You have to give Robert Byrd credit - he really shows you how to do things and have no shame.
I hope these new guys like Cornyn, Coburn, etc. will take Byrd on and not treat him with such "reverance" as the dean of the Senate like the other do. His nonsense must be confronted head on.
Thanx.....exactly what I was looking for!
BTTT
You got a point, but the GOP has never successfully tried to filibuster a judicial nominee, the person (Abe Fortas?) that dems claim the republicans did filibuster was actually pulled because alot of southern democrats opposed him.
If you really want to laugh, guess which dem helped to lead the charge on the filibuster.
Senator Byrd.
I don't know, when Senator Sanctorum first came to the senate, him and Byrd got into it, people thought they were going to get into a fist fight, what ticked me off was that Senator Sanctorum was rebuked by his fellow republicans and chastised.
Now granted, Senator Coburn looks like he's just waiting to pick a fight with Byrd, and cites him name every now and then as the model in knowing senate rules and procedures.
Newt has already referred to Senator Coburn as the new Jesse Helms.
Problem was Fortas was corrupt and the info started coming out when LBJ tried to elevate him. Both R and D opposed him and within about 2 years he had to resign from the court.
sheets ping
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