LIVE THREAD U.S. Senate Debate on Judiciary

CSpan ^ | 4/27/2005

[katieanna]

Jim Talent of Missouri currently speaking. John Cornyn on deck. Fifteen minutes remaining for the majority.

[TomGuy]

BIDEN JUST SAID THAT THE DEMOCRATS REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE!

I had to take a phone call. Is that true? I repeat, is that true?????

That is what he said...about the Senate. And that is probably true in that each state has 2 Senators. California has 2 Dem Senators, just like NY does. Those 4 Dem Senators represent many more people than, say, 2 Senators from Wyoming and 2 Senators from Kansas.

Originally, the Senators were the state's (as in state legislature's) representation in Washington. National Senators were chosen, not by public vote, but by a vote of the state legislators. That was changed by a Constitutional amendment (I don't have the specific Amendment number handy).

Biden was doing a shellgame dipsy-doodle with that statement. The purpose of the Senate was never to represent numbers of voters; it was, and continues to be, to represent states.

[NeonKnight]

The Repubs have more seats in the House, which is based on population

[BibChr]

LOL

"Tug hair plug here"

"Steal other speaker's turn of phrase here"

"Display impossibly white teeth here"

Dan

[oldbrowser]

Minority rights, minority rights, what about the majority's rights ?

[tiredoflaundry]

Biden was doing a shellgame dipsy-doodle with that statement

Yup, he's trying to play "confuse the public"

[Bahbah]

Biden was doing a shellgame dipsy-doodle with that statement.

Aha, got it. Thanks, TG.

[cotton1706]

Right. He's an idiot.

[TomGuy]

Wonder whether Biden plagiarized his way through the Edward M. Kennedy School of Bloviating?

[oldbrowser]

The Repubs have more seats in the House, which is based on population

That's what I should have said. Thanks for correcting me.

[katieanna]

I'd still like to hear someone on the GOP side raise the 'equal protection' issue. (ie: Requiring 51 votes for some nominees and 60 for others.)

[Mo1]

Joes says .. It breaks the rule to change the rule

So does that mean the Senate can never change procedures on anything?

[YaYa123]

California and New York population numbers alone would make what he says true. My point is, so what? Each state gets 2 senators regardless of population. It was a dumb thing to say, meaningless.........except to Democrats still angry over 2000 and 2004, and still looking for something to hang on to.

[TomGuy]

FoxNews Alert......

Michael Jackson has arrived at courthouse.




FoxNews Alert.....

Michael Jackson exiting vehicle at courthouse.





FoxNews Alert....

Michael Jackson walking under own power toward courthouse.

[Bahbah]

Joes says .. It breaks the rule to change the rule

This is a Dusty Hairy line from yesterday (and before). What he said was they want to break a rule to break the rule, but I had no idea what he was talking about and I still don't.

[So Cal Rocket]

I swear if I heard the "COOLING SAUCER" quote one more time I'm gonna snap!!!

The "cooling saucer" metaphor doesn't even apply here... it refers to legislation coming over from the House which is often passed in haste, sometimes with little debate on the House Floor. The Senate acts as a "cooling saucer" for this type of legislation, and allows for lengthy debate of the legislation before a Senate vote is cast.

In the case of Presidential Nominations, the House has absolutely nothing to do with their confirmation... there is nothing to cool!!

[tiredoflaundry]

[Mo1]

California and New York population numbers alone would make what he says true.

True ... But not every single resident in these states voted for the Dems

Joe is yelling again

[Nyboe]

yeah and how come the "rich" aren't intitled to "equal protection" ....

In my opinion the rich are the most persecuted minority in America today.

[NeonKnight]

California and New York population numbers alone would make what he says true. My point is, so what? Each state gets 2 senators regardless of population. It was a dumb thing to say, meaningless...

As stated earlier, by oldbrowser, the House, which is based solely on population, and which is voted on by district, rather than state, has a good Republican majority. This would imply that Republicans represent the majority of the population.

[Mo1]

The "cooling saucer" metaphor doesn't even apply here... it refers to legislation coming over from the House which is often passed in haste, sometimes with little debate on the House Floor. The Senate acts as a "cooling saucer" for this type of legislation, and allows for lengthy debate of the legislation before a Senate vote is cast.

Joe is trying to re-write history and the Constitution