Senate tied in knots by filibusters

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | July 20, 2007 | Margaret Talev

[CharlesWayneCT]

This figure accompanied the article:

I don't think we have enough information to come to any conclusions. For example, the minority uses the filibuster sometimes not to BLOCK legislation, but to force the majority to give them consideration of some of the minority views.

So it could be the reason for the filibusters is that the new Democrat majority is being intransigent, pulling bills rather than allowing republican modifications with wide support.

Also, we know Reid is calling for an unprecendented number of cloture votes. He's filing cloture the minute he brings bills to the floor. That is not how it is done, and that could be the reason for all the extra cloture votes.

Also, Reid is calling for cloture when he knows he will lose. Most majority leaders would only call for cloture in that case in a few instances where they wanted to send a message.

In fact, most failed cloture votes are meant to send a message, and it's clear McClatchy is trying to help Reid send the message he wants -- it's not My FAULT.

[2banana]

But it has been especially pronounced since the Democrats' razor-thin win in last year's election, giving them effectively a 51-49 Senate majority, and the Republicans' exile to the minority.

No - they have a 50-49 majority. Lieberman is an "I"

From Reconstruction to 1964, the filibuster was largely a tool used by segregationists to fight civil rights legislation.

WRONGO. It was used by DEMOCRATS to fight civil rights legislation

[Schnucki]

What about judicial vacancies?

Could the blockage of most all of Bush's judicial candidates have anything to do with this?

[Brujo]

The reasons behind it are too complex to pin on one party.

But I will anyway ... /sarc

[E. Pluribus Unum]

GRIDLOCK is GOOD.

[VRWCmember]

"The minority party has decided we have to get to 60 votes on almost everything we vote on of substance," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. "That's not the way this place is supposed to work."

Can anyone find Ms McCaskill's complaints about the decision by the democrats that any federal appellate court nominee by W required 60 votes just to get an up or down vote for confirmation? I don't remember her outrage back then.

[dfwgator]

This year Senate Republicans are threatening filibusters to block more legislation than ever before, a pattern that's rooted in — and could increase — the pettiness and dysfunction in Congress.

He says that as if that was a bad thing.

[dfwgator]

Oops, he is a she.

[VeniVidiVici]

WRONGO. It was used by DEMOCRATS to fight civil rights legislation

Yeah, funny how the author weasled her way around that. Also managing to connect Republicans, fillibuster, segregationists and civil rights all at the same time.

Excellent propaganda piece. Her employer must pay her well.

[johnny7]

it's clear McClatchy is trying to help Reid send the message he wants

That was the sole purpose of the piece...

[Red Badger]

Senate tied in knots by filibusters

They say this like it's a bad thing..........

[Joe Boucher]

If the senate is tied up in filibusters at least the fools aren’t making piss poor laws and spending MY MONEY.

[bray]

Do Nothing Nancy and Harry Reitard have proposed the most outrageous legislation in 200 years.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Eagle of Liberty]

To which Reid responds: "The problem we have is that we don't have many moderate Republicans."

Man, where is the BARF ALERT. Yep. That's the problem, Reid. Not enough moderate Republicans. The problem couldn't be that there are TOO MANY whack-job Democrats that act like children. You guys were whiny cry babies when you lost power with no desire to fix problems like SS and tax reform and then you cried "Advise and Consent" on Judicial nominees that have ALWAYS only required 51 votes. You made it become 60 votes and now you guys have the gall to complain about a perfectly legitimate Parliamentary Procedure?

You guys show more and more of your true colors when things don't go your way. Your true intentions are to silence the Republicans and Americans that disagree with your madness and to convert this country into Russia-West. Well, fugetaboutit!

[gridlock]

The Democrats are calling cloture votes when they do not have the votes to carry them. This is new and different. But that does not mean the Republicans are more intransigent than the Democrats were.

Previously, if a matter did not have enough votes for cloture, the vote was never called. That was back when adults were in charge of the Senate. Now we have Reid with all of his petulant antics and slumber parties, so we can expect a lot more of this nonsense.

The Democrats burst the dam by threatening to Filibuster judicial appointments. I will not cry any tears for them now that they are getting payback from the ‘Pubbies.

[gridlock]

GRIDLOCK is GOOD.

Well, it's about time somebody around here said it!

[cinives]

The problem we have is that we don't have many moderate Republicans.

Don't have many moderate Democraps either ... they're all lefty-looney socialists.

[upsdriver]

“The minority party has decided we have to get to 60 votes on almost everything we vote on of substance,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. “That’s not the way this place is supposed to work.”

Hey, Dems, paybacks a bitch, ain’t it?

[zerosix]

"The trend has been evolving for 30 years. The reasons behind it are too complex to pin on one party. But it has been especially pronounced since the Democrats' razor-thin win in last year's election, giving them effectively a 51-49 Senate majority, and the Republicans' exile to the minority.

No, Margaret dear, the filibuster tactic was honed very effectively when Republicans held a one vote majority and stupidly agreed to "share" with their arch enemies, the dimocRATS, only to have the dimocRATS stop any and all legislation until it had their liberal/socialist fingerprints all over it.

This time, neither Trent (we've gotta do something about talk radio)Lott and Bush's handpicked successor, weanie Bill Frist, are in charge, Mitch McConnell is in place to pull some parliamentary tricks out of his hat.

[tobyhill]

I believe it’s 49-49-2 but both Independents caucus with Rats. If Lieberman would have caucused with the Republicans because the way the Rats treated him Cheney would have been the tie breaker and Republicans would have held on.