Senate tied in knots by filibusters

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | July 20, 2007 | Margaret Talev

[mrmargaritaville]

Good

[the anti-liberal]

"GRIDLOCK is GOOD."

Except in a time of war.

There must be some way to hold the Democrats accountable for aiding and abetting the enemy, as they have been. I'm getting very sick of it - killing the John Doe amendment in committee, for example.

[Eagle of Liberty]

The longest and most notorious filibusters were against civil rights, voting rights, and school bussing.

Amazing how this hit piece conveniently leaves out that SENATOR BYRD, a DEMOCRAT, went on for 14 hours in his notorious filibuster AGAINST the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I will say that again for the author of this piece of Charmin to absorb it.

SENATOR BYRD, A DEMOCRAT, IN ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS FILIBUSTERS, WENT ON FOR 14 HOURS AGAINST A CIVIL RIGHTS BILL!!!

[gridlock]

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

Republican positions are moderate positions. It is the Democrats who want to nationalize healthcare, embrace defeat, let judges run the country and raise taxes through the roof. Cooperating the Democrats when they are jumping off the deep end does not make one a Moderate.

[ExpatGator]

“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.”

Note to Claire: Yes that is the way it is supposed to work. Gridlock is good.

I swear I did not vote for this retard.

[Sooth2222]

"By sinking a cloture vote this week, Republicans successfully blocked a Democratic bid to withdraw combat troops from Iraq by April, even though a 52-49 Senate majority voted to end debate."

52+49=101, plus 1 -Tim Johnson (D, SD) not voting-...

Hmmmmmm. When did DC get statehood???

[cinives]

Yep. Just wait until the Fairness Doctrine gets debated - the lefties will pull out the same argument as this, that all Republicans are extremists and Dems are only moderates doing their best for the country.

Makes me want to puke.

[tobyhill]

The Rats and MSM used lying and cheating tactics that had nothing to do with issues to get elected in the majority so the Republicans owe the new majority nothing. The culture of corruption was the slogan the Rats and MSM ran on and they used Foley (I’m still glad he’s gone) to sicken American into thinking it was the straw that broke the camels back even though there has been no indictments to this day and probably no actual crime. They also used Delay who had already stepped down and has yet to go to court on the made-up alleged crimes. The GOP has been absent when coming to their own defense and that’s something they will need to correct and quickly. While public figures can’t really sue the media for libel or slander the GOP as a business certainly could.

[StormEye]

The overall tone of the article: Filibusters by Democrats are good and righteous. Filibusters by Republicans are obstructing
necessary legislation and progress and they are blocking the government business.

[denydenydeny]

Of course, when the Senate was run by Republicans, we saw none of these headlines in reaction to Democratic filibusters. The “tied in knots” and “delaying tactics” rhetoric was nowhere to be found.

[Eagle of Liberty]

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.

That is what pissed me off the most about Lieberman's decision to caucus with the Dems. He got bashed by the Democrat Party, he had to go Independent to keep his seat and then he decides to caucus with them. Why do I's get to choose who to caucus with anyway? They are I's. I mean, they can vote with the D's as much as they want, but the party with the majority of members should BE the majority. In this case of 49-49-2, the Republicans should have retained control. This caucusing should not determine majority and minority leaders.

[Logical me]

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

Yup, and this brings us back to the Lieberman issue. He is a stone nut and a liberal completely.

[tobyhill]

Exactly, the Independents are a third party and should caucus as such.

[tobyhill]

Bernie Sanders is also an Independent.

[goldstategop]

The Democrats are hypocrites. They wouldn't allow up and down votes on judges when they were in the minority. We're simply returning the courtesy extended to us when we where in the majority in kind. Dingy Harry can go pound sand.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[BulletBobCo]

So how long before the Dems use the nuclear option?

[gridlock]

Note to Claire: Yes that is the way it is supposed to work. Gridlock is good.

Stop, STOP! You're embarrassing me!

[Lancey Howard]

Excellent comments.

[daviscupper]

Actually, there are 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and two independents. (Sanders and Lieberman are independents and caucus with Democrats) But currently, Johnson from South Dakota is severely ill and incapable of performing his senatorial duties. So it really is the case where there is a questionable majority of Democrats in the Senate.

Democrats should be more conciliatory if they want something passed. If they continue to cater to their base with ultra-leftist proposals then they will get nothing passed. Not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion.

[Steamburg]

I wonder if anyone really looked at the quality or intent of the proposed legislation being offered? Could the competence of the Democrats offering the legislation be a factor?