In the Senate, 'DefCon 1' Nears

NewsMax ^ | 5/17/05 | Vincent Fiore

[wagglebee]

it will be political warfare not seen in the Senate chamber since the combative days of 1964. Then, the Senate set out upon a 57-day marathon to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1964, finally culminating with Democratic Senator Robert Byrd, who railed for some 14 hours against fundamental rights for blacks.

It's really too bad that there isn't any old video footage of Byrd's racist diatribe, it would make for some incredible commercials.

[mystery-ak]

Is tomorrow the day?...should I head for my bunker?....

[tet68]

I keep looking for that blue glow to appear above the
northeastern horizon, it will mean the dawn of a new day!

[DugwayDuke]

"Then, the Senate set out upon a 57-day marathon to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1964, finally culminating with Democratic Senator Robert Byrd, who railed for some 14 hours against fundamental rights for blacks."

I suspect there is a way to end this mess without resorting to 'Global Thermonuclear War'. I wonder what would happen if the republicans forced the democrats to actually 'filibuster' like in the days of yore. I mean, make the dems take to the floor of the senate and talk continuously. If they stop talking, they've broken the filibuster. Yes, if the dems want to filibuster, then really make them filibuster and not this fake phony filibuster where they only threaten to talk forever.

[wagglebee]

The 'Rats have already changed the rules (back in the 1970s IIRC) that makes it possible to filibuster by not giving cloture (the formal process of allowing a vote to occur) without actually having to do it. That's why this isn't as extreme as the left wants everyone to think, all the GOP is going to do is revise rules that the 'Rats (under the leadership of Klansman Byrd) implemented a quarter century ago.

[sirthomasthemore]

Majority Leader Bill Frist will call for a vote on Texas Nominee Priscilla Owens, first nominated by President Bush to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in May 2001.

---

IMO, Justice Brown should go first.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1404964/posts?page=34#34

[curiosity]

The GOP can't afford to force the Dems to do a traditional filibuster. It would prevent any other Senate business from proceeding, which means no social security reform, no tax reform, etc.

[Popman]

[dvwjr]

The Republicans would have to maintain at least 51 Senators on the floor at all times to maintain a quorum, the Democrats could have but a single member on the floor.

Physical exhaustion would do in the Republicans while a single Democrat (who could yield to another) could maintain the filibuster. I don't believe that the Republicans could get enough RINOs to even populate the floor of the Senate if they are going to vote against the 'constitutional' option...


dvwjr

[floridavoter2]

I hope I'm wrong but it just doesn't seem like the Nuclear Option will happen. This whole thing has been stop n go for so long. I wonder if the dems will cave and let these judges have an up or down vote so they can save their fillibustering tactics for the supreme court judges....

[rodguy911]

Will the rubber meet the road freepers want to know.

[jdsteel]

A lot depends on us. I called, as a constituent (I am) one of my Senators, Arlen Specter. I told his office "in the words of Margaret Thatcher, don't go all wobbly on us". UP OR DOWN VOTE.

[Popman]

The "constitutional" option should at all last resort. It will set a very bad precedent for the future. Unfortunately, I think it will come down to that actually happening because the Dems have already set the stage by being obstructionist.

I personally believe behind closed doors the Dems are trying to work out a compromise with the GOP leadership so not to lose face.

That's where I think we will be suckered.........................................again.

We will be pushed into using it and lose because of some scum sucking RINO who will pull a fast one.

[floridavoter2]

Seriously, if the dems can get all their ducks in a row we should be able to get our RINOs, even John McRino in line too.

[dts32041]

Yeah right and they will roll up into a fetal ball.

Then the Demo rats will really be in control and I bet Maine loses its bases and Groton closes in CT.

[TeleStraightShooter]

It will set a very bad precedent for the future.

Frist will not be setting precedent.
Byrd (D-WVa) did it 4 times since 1979.

If the (D)s follow through with their Nuclear Reaction, THAT will set a very bad precedent, and Frist will have to resort to the constitutional Bryd option repeatedly to move anything though the Senate.

[Conservative Infidel]

Not to worry! Frist has only been threatening this for about a year now. We haven't even had 17 UN resolutions yet. As Sadam says, when the US senate threatens something, you have about 12 years before you really have to stare worrying...

[mystery-ak]

Well, I still have time then...sigh!

[ClaireSolt]

There should be film coverage of the '64 filibuster. I vaguely remember them, and I remember the public being disgusted. All this noble talk of protecting the rights of the minority goes up in smoke when they start bringing in the cots so somebody can read the phone book.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I sincerely hope that our side manages to develop a spine over this issue and won't surrender it to the RINOs like they did with the Bolton nomination. Keep those lauch codes ready, guys.