Reid Threatens Filibuster over Immigration Bill

AP National ^ | 3-22-2006 | ELLIOT SPAGAT

[old republic]

The nuclear option is only for judicial nominees.
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No its not. The nuclear option is a procedural tactic in which a member of the Senate calls the filibuster out of order and the presiding officer rules in the Senator's favor. If another Senator objects to the ruling of the presiding officer the question is then put before the whole body of the Senate. Since only a simple majority of the Senate is required to change the rules of the chamber, whatever a bare majority of Senators decides becomes the standing rule of the Senate. Basically what that means is that in theory the nuclear option can be used on anything not just judicial nominees. The only requisite to abolishing the filibuster is that a Majority of Senators pass a resolution changing the Chamber's rules. However, Senator's have historically liked the power of being able to use the Filibuster and so would thus be leery about abolishing it altogether.

[old republic]

The longest filibuster on record is only 24 hours! Do it, Harry! DO IT!

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That 24 hour filibuster was only one Senator. All of the Senators in theory would get a chance to speak. So if the Democrats were to filibuster and each Senator took a whole day, thats 44 days of debate. During that 44 days you couldn't transact other important business in the Senate because the floor would be held up by the issue being filibustered.

[jerry639]

Harry (The Weasel) Reid is making threats to filibuster again.
How many times does this make now? He better be careful. He might have backup his mouth some day and I don't think he has the nerve.

[ArcadeQuarters]

Going to the border and pandering to a foreign power and its criminals is completely outrageous and should offend every American. What's next? Is he going to praise Osama bin Laden at ground zero?

[oldbill]

Procedurally what you say is true, but the Gang of 14 and others will only allow it to be used for Judicial nominations.

[mak5]

And Hillary says she will oppose it in "Jesus' name". The Dems are bound and determined to lose yet another election.

[Ben Ficklin]

"Yep, even legal hispanics support border control."

Yep, even Bush, Kennedy, and Hillary support border control.

Yep, even registerd hispanic voters support immigration reform/guest workers.

[Jimbaugh]

Be careful. We thought the same thing in California, and Governor Pete Wilson got his a$$ handed to him. The state Republicans got destroyed.

California problem was an inside job by the people who lie to us and say they believe what we believe in. The Republican leadership in California is on the other side. I have seen it up close. I wouldn't give a dime to the CRP and I was a voting member last convention.

[Mogollon]

Good. The rats just keep on giving us gifts that we will be able to use for getting more conservatives elected to congress.

[Cboldt]

Reid can put his money where his mouth is on Tuesday morning, when a cloture vote will be held on a motion to take up S. 2454 - Securing America's Borders Act.

[Cboldt]

Reid can put his money where his mouth is on Tuesday morning, when a cloture vote will be held on a motion to take up S. 2454 - Securing America's Borders Act.

[Bull Market]

Senator Reid is a Traitor and should be called on it.

[WhiteGuy]

Does it matter? I seriously doubt a truly effective bill will be passed anyway.


Just say NO to amnesty and guest workers!