Filibuster reform headed for Senate floor; measure faces uphill battle

the hill ^ | 1-22-10 | J. Taylor Rushing

[WOBBLY BOB]

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) soon intends to introduce legislation that would take away the minority’s power to filibuster legislation.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) in the next few weeks intends to introduce legislation that would take away the minority’s power to filibuster legislation.

[WOBBLY BOB]

star idiot of the Wellstone funeral debacle wants another debacle...

[saganite]

Does the remedy have to be legislative? IIRC the filibuster is just a Senate rule.

[Impy]

They’ll call anything reform.

[Libloather]

Can the filibuster filibuster be filibustered?

[American Constitutionalist]

" Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) soon intends to introduce legislation that would take away the minority’s power to filibuster legislation. "

Translation :

We didn't get our way so now we have to change the rules while the football is still in the air.

[La Lydia]

They ought to pause and remember how well changing the rules in Massachusetts worked out for them. Circumstances are fluid, especially in politics. The Dems could be in the minority very soon, and might want to take advantage of the filibuster themselves. Although, I have to say, it would be funny if they changed the rules and then found themselves ham-strung by their new, self-imposed limits.

[scooby321]

Its over Tom

[Natural Law]

In 1974 in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal when the Dems had 61 votes in the senate they revised the cloture rule to require 61 votes instead of the 2/3 that had been historically required. Now they are trying to drive it down to a simple majority. If they succeed I can't wait to hear them squeal when the GOP regains control of the senate.

[American Constitutionalist]

America is watching Congress now, and those liberals/democrats are setting themselves up for a big defeat in November.

[sickoflibs]

Not likely to go anyplace. Talk radio conservatives called for republicans to do the same for judge confirmations ~ 2006 just before the end, Thank goodness the gang of 14 blocked that like they will block this. Liberals are using very similar arguments.

liberals know it’s over in November and so this is their last chance.

[Reagan69]

Wouldn’t this be RICH when the Republicans get control of the Senate in 2010!!

BLOODBATH 2010

[bestintxas]

Message to Dems: Be careful what you wish for.

[Non-Sequitur]

At least make it so that a filibuster is a filibuster and not just an expression. It used to be that in order to filibuster you had to hold the senate floor to keep from voting. Now all they have to say is “I filibuster” then go home and go to bed.

[hot4plasma]

“The Dems could be in the minority very soon, and might want to take advantage of the filibuster themselves.”

Nope.. they will change the rules back, and the POS republicans will roll over and let them. Mark my words.

[giotto]

Having the Democrats in control is like a never-ending game of Calvin ball.

[Common Sense 101]

Given the current political environment, this is yet another brilliant tactic by the libtards in the Senate. I guess the Iowa scumbag is of the opinion that their little gaggle of Marxists can just reverse the change once they are in the minority, as they always do... change the rules in the middle of the game.

[Reagan69]

So how did “changing the rules for YOUR political agenda” in Massachusetts work out for you ?

They are so, so, so, so completely clueless.

[Cboldt]

IIRC, Harkin also proposed a rule change along these lines sometime back in 1980’s or 1990’s. Then he reversed position in the context of DEM obstruction of GOP-nominated judges; and now he’s reversing again.

[Tribune7]

This can’t be playing well in Iowa.

[La Lydia]

If they are no longer in the majority, they cannot “change the rules back” (sic). They will be stuck with what they have wrought. This is really a mute point, because it is unlikely-to-high-unlikely that the Senate rules will be changed.