Democrats Take Control On Hill (Senator Johnson Update)

Washington Post ^ | 5 January 2007 | Jonathan Weisman and Shailagh Murray

[shrinkermd]

As I read this, it seems to mean regardless of the outcome of Senator Johnson's tenure, the outcome would remain the same--RAT Senate for the next 2 years. Am I right?

[Pukin Dog]

No, you are not right.

The Democrats would never filibuster a move for realignment should Johnson die, because Republicans would just prevent a quorum. The Senate would be effectively closed for business.

[prov1813man]

Yes, it seems you are right. This falls under the recent parliamentary "adjustment" whereby, if dims win elections, they are in charge and, when pubs win, the dims are still in charge.

This is more commonly termed the "who's your daddy?" provision offered up by republican "leadership" eager to be popular with the media and avoid having their milk money stolen by the Pelosi gang.

[taxcontrol]

While I understand your point... the Republicans just blinked and showed that they don't have the backbone for a fight in the Senate.

[okie01]

Am I right?

Apparently so. It appears that, if Johnson is unable to fulfill his duties...and the GOP governor of South Dakota appoints a Republican to the seat, creating a 50/50 Senate...the Democrats will filibuster a rules change...and the Republicans are content to remain in the minority for the duration.

Mitch McConnell was evidently unwilling to play Tom Daschle to Harry Reid's Trent Lott.

I've no idea why...but I'll guess: McConnell senses that, if the above scenario came to pass, at least one of the Senate's RINOs would do a Jim Jeffords.

[dayglored]

> ... Republicans would just prevent a quorum. The Senate would be effectively closed for business.

And this would be bad, because,.... uh, why??

"My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them." -- Barry Goldwater

(Only half joking...)

[Pukin Dog]

No, and this is something FReepers need to learn.

Just because you don't see the punch coming, doesn't mean it wasn't thrown. Our side is much too quick to assume that our side is doing nothing, just because we don't hear about it.

There are other ways to fight, than "in-your-face."

[newzjunkey]

[newzjunkey]

Our side is much too quick to assume that our side is doing nothing, just because we don't hear about it.

There are other ways to fight, than "in-your-face."

You haven't been watching the GOP long, have you?

[conservative blonde]

McConnell was talking on FOX this morning like some good legislation can come out of having the President GOP and the House and Senate Rats. For some reason Republican leaders seem to enjoy being stepped on.

[canuck_conservative]

Good one LOL

[Jimmy Valentine]

"There are other ways to fight, than "in-your-face."

Well and truly said.

But going to the mattresses now and again for a good old fashioned political shootout with no quarter asked or given clears the air and gives better political definition, I suggest.

[Rummyfan]

While I understand your point... the Republicans just blinked and showed that they don't have the backbone for a fight in the Senate.

Aaaarrrrgh..... when have they ever shown otherwise?

[MPJackal]

"the Republicans just blinked and showed that they don't have the backbone for a fight in the Senate."

Or anywhere else. The GOP is a huge disappointment. It truly has become nothing more than the lessor of two evils.

[Jewels1091]

you can't have a proxy vote if the person can't talk to give permission...

[okie01]

...some good legislation can come out of...

Why is it that "good legislation" is something a GOP House and GOP Senate and GOP President couldn't get done?

The "good legislation" we're likely to get from a divided government -- in the spirit of "bipartisanship", of course -- frankly scares me.

[Logical me]

All this means nothing. We are stuck with these insane RATS for at least 2 years and there is literally no way we can take back the House. So just settle back and enjoy the bugeyed RAT. She already instigated and changed a House rule that now allows a tax increase with just a simple majority. America is if for hell for two years. As far as the Senate, just forget it. You add the RINOS and the two Independents to the RATS, not a chance. Those yellow belly Republican voters got just what they wanted, utter chaos.

[cryptical]

There are other ways to fight, than "in-your-face."

The GOP, now with 23% more of that Frenchiness.

[shrinkermd]

The issue here is not strategy but psychology.

Closing down the Senate means closing down the government.

This means that the "mass man" will see this as closing down God since the government and statism has decreed the government is more important than God. Somehow the MSM would find that the whales, women or senior citizens might suffer and the government would have to be reopened under the old rules.

Never forget that Mussolini is laughing at us someplace. In order to beat the fascist aggressor we psychologically identified with the aggressor; presently, Mussolini's adage "...All for the State; nothing outside the State; nothing against the State"is now the rallying cry for both the "mass man" and his cheer leader, the MSM.

Not kidding. No way will the Senate shut down over a rule advocating Pubbies rights.