I have to agree with you completely. As was said on another thread, "The GOP needs to find its spine".
This is absolutely freaking brilliant, right down to the choice of Pickering as the test case. He is already on the bench by a recess appointment, and so far he has not overturned the Constitution or reinstituted slavery in Mississippi. The democrats will look totally ridiculous for effectively shutting down the legislative branch over his appointment. The Senate rules that DO need to be changed are those that allow the "virtual filibuster." There hasn't been a real filibuster since C-SPAN hit the airwaves. Force the minority to actually debate the bill or nomination for hours while other pressing issues are ignored. If the bill or nomination is important enough, the people will support the filibuster. If it isn't, they won't.
A real filibuster would be difficult to do thanks to Senate rules, calendar days etc.
Change all that, and it could work.
Morris is right on the money. The problem is that none of the Senators R or D will accept having to work longer hours.
This is the sort of tacticle approach the Republicans should use. Make 'em have a real filibuster. The gentlemens' agreement to pretend there is a filibuster with out requiring the minority to actually talk continuously is a key cause of the problem.
Since the loss of only a couple of percent of minority voters would crush Democrat candidates chances of winning office. The Dems are terrified of publically having to speak out in opposition of minority nominees.
It takes 51 votes to get rid of the filibuster, just do it. Then we can get our conservative judges appointed. Stop trying to take the gutless way out. We have the votes, use them. This should be old news by now.
I think the filibuster has its appropriate place but it also needs to be done correctly.
I remember as a kid, my brother and I like to chase each other around a hallway in our house. Our parents were always getting on to us. One day, caught in the act, Dad MADE us do laps around that same hallway. When we'd slow down, he'd say..."Keep running!" It got old and wasn't fun anymore. LOL
Really?..And do you think that for a moment, the coverage of said filibuster outside of this FOrum and Fox News would be anything short of messianic.
ABCCBSNBCCNNPMSNBCNYTimesWaPo, would portray the dissenting Democrats in such a glorious light that it would like they were fighting the Civil Rights battles all over agin, of course it would also fail to mention that the Dems were against Civil Rights in the first place.
Hypocrisy only chokes SOME republicans, but to Democrats its an appetizer that surpasses Caviar in its elegance.
Robert Byrd thundering on about Civil Rights and the Republicans rolling them back...24/7, Wall to Wall coverage.
Picture that.
Rush made the same suggestion several years ago. I don't know if he's made it lately.
I see no need to force a 24/7 filibuster. Just require them to tie up the Senate during normal business hours. Let the filibustering Senators go home, get a good nights' sleep, and restart in the morning.
The thing that kills a filibuster is the political cost of bringing Congress to a screeching halt. We can just as easily get that if the Dems drone on for 10 hours a day than if they do it for 24.
Bingo, Dick, bingo.
If the democRATs want a filibuster, let 'em! The senate president can and should enforce attendance of the entire senate while it is going on, too. Can you imagine how ugly ol' Kennedy and dingy Harry Reid will look after a couple of days without sleep?
Plenty good for 'em!
One small correction...it's "cloture" vote, not "closure", Toesucker...
I disagree with this premise. There is nothing in the constituion about a supermajority being needed to passage of appointments, thus, filibustering appointments of any kind is unconstitutional. And if Republicans are afraid that this means Dems will be able to push through liberal judges if they lose control...well, don't lose control! Fact is, when they were in the majority, they did!
Both parties need to realize that this is why we have elections. If the Dems don't like the Republican majority appointing "conservative" judges, then they had better started winning more elections. Meanwhile, the people have spoken at the ballot box.
Hell, yes. Let them BS and talk,and talk,etc..that's
all the likes of Kerry, Druban, Schmucker, (Schumer),
Kennedy..and the biggest one...Dodd... it is downtight disgusting to hear him talk like he
is a rational person....only guy in the Senate with
any integrity for Dems is Liebermann...and he is the
same vote ..90% of time. Jake
Save the traditional filibuster.
I see C-Span, from time to time.
It would be great, to see Senator Jefferson Smith
filibustering something or another.
I WANT to see a REAL filibuster.
both sides got together and changed the rules so they could keep the power of the power of the filibuster without having to actually do the physical act of maintaining the control of the floor for 24 hours a day and seven days a week like a real filibuster requires.
In a real filibuster both sides had to remain close by in case of a break. They couldn't leave and go to their dinner parties and cocktail lounges and Mistresses.
They made it convenient. Hence you have one side abusing it.It shouldn't be done away with but it should never have been made easy to do.
It should have been left like it was a tough grueling thing that required both sides to remain at their post 24 hours a day.
How long do you think Teddy could stay away from his bottle or for that matter any of these lazy never had a real job people on both sides would inconvenience themselves over a trivial issue.
The Republicans don't want to go back to a real filibuster anymore than the Democrats and the Democrats know it.
Once again the Democrats have called the Republicans hand with a strong bluff. If the past gives any indication of a response the Republicans will fold. The Democrats know that to.
If the Republicans are ever going to govern even while they are in the majority they are going to have to call the Democrats hand and prove to them they are in charge.
This is the Republicans last bite at the apple, at least as far as I'm concerned .
We've given them everything they have asked for both houses and the presidency and over ten years to do something to stop the rot and decay brought on by liberal politic ans and activists judges.
If they can't produce now they never will and we need to waste our vote somewhere else.