GOP's Filibuster Strategy Could Backfire (Tom Raum)

AP ^ | 4/16/05 | Tom Raum

[Che Chihuahua]

There can only be one mission for the Republican Party, and that is the complete and utter destruction of the democrat party. This destruction should be accomplished by any means necessary.

[Sender]

I don't understand how a simple majority vote "would be a serious blow to minority rights in the Senate." It seems as if the minority has ultimate veto power over anything the majority does...and how does that reward the majority?

[jamaksin]

To follow your lead ... just how many United States Supreme Court justices will pass in the next several years ...? Remember Dubya has less than four years left ... and very little got done on this situation during his first four years!

This is not about some ten or so Appeal seats ... this is for all of the marbles for at lesat the next two or three generations ...

This is pray in schools, this is United States law and not that of Scotland or the world's, ...

If the GOP cannot get it done NOW ... then they never will. No vote ... no RNC contributions ... zero, zip, zilch, ... ever again!!!

Send in the doilies ...

[Archon of the East]

All we ask for is an up or down vote, all we ask for is an up or down vote, all we ask for is an up or down vote.

Repeat it until the cows come home. Then make them actually filibuster if they do not allow it!

[Txsleuth]

When I heard ole Chucky Schumer on Fox Sunday last week, I about spit out my tea when he asked Chris Wallace if it is fair that the MAJORITY always gets its way---

Well, duh, that is what being the majority IS, the winner---

I suppose he would get really upset if the New York Yankees won 162 games and didn't LET any other team win....I mean we have to be fair....wa, wa, wa...

[swampfox98]

For heaven's sake, when are the Republicans going to learn they are being had. They are in power now because we voted for them to act responsibly. Why are they so afraid of these henny penny news writers?

Get those judges in, I don't care what you guys have to do. Show some backbone once in your life, and tell the Dems to stuff it.

[stylin19a]

The Senate is "not always going to be Republican," former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, the 1996 GOP presidential candidate, is reminding fellow Republicans. "Think down the road," he advises.

Hello...Bob - it IS down the road. The stakes are really the SCOTUS.

[Archon of the East]

It seems as if the minority has ultimate veto power over anything the majority does...and how does that reward the majority?

The entire body of our Constitution is based on Majority rule while never subverting the "Constitutional" rights of the minority. The majority was given so much emphasis by our founders for the very reason that minority rule is well, TYRANNY! Majority rule through representation IS undeniably what our Constitution is based on. It is recognized through this same Constitution that by giving due respect to the minority, that they can become the majority peacefully through elections. To deny the majority it's representation is IMHO unconstitutional

[Sender]

I would never want to deny the minority its representation, even the loudest, leftest, most truth-deprived ones. They have a right to be heard, to give long-winded speeches, to run billions of dollars in ads, to do everything in their power to convince the majority that they are right.

But when it comes down to an up-or-down vote, the majority wins. Anything else is, as you said, tyranny.

[Archon of the East]

But when it comes down to an up-or-down vote, the majority wins.

Absolutely, couldn't agree more! That is why the many(the Majority) voted GOP. To be perfectly honest I do believe the Senate could , if they wanted to, just ignore the filibuster and not be in violation of any Constitutional article. That being said there are too many RINOS that wouldn't go along for fear of losing their cushy "careers". Wait a minute didn't our founders want politics to be a service to our country not a career. Oh how far down the crapper we have fallen.

[Sender]

From what I've heard, the original idea for doing a stint as a Congressman was more akin to elected jury duty than a cushy career. After awhile they were supposed to go back home to their jobs.

[Vince Ferrer]

The Senate is "not always going to be Republican," former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole,

Then get some work done NOW.

[Liberator]

Oh, Tom Raum??

In that case: (yawn)

[Liberator]

Dole is one of several former Senate majority leaders who have counseled a go-slow approach on the brink of a parliamentary war over Democratic filibusters...

Yeah, BIG surprise.

Another ball-less RINO cowering in fear of the RATS.

[leprechaun9]

Another blooming idiot who believes that the Democraps are ethical, honest pimps of the election industry. I believe they would do anything to regain power, and when they do, the minority will have even less say than they did when they were in the minority the last time!

Remember the 1993 budget debate (the last time the Democraps had control of the Senate) when VP Al Bore cast the deciding vote because at that point it was a 50-50 tie? Why weren't 60 votes required then to cut off debate? KKK Byrd, as the Senate Constitutional Expert said that since the Budget is only a game plan, that only a majority is needed to cut off debate because the budget never becomes law (only the appropriations bills become law). He stated that the 60 vote requirement only applies to legislation! When did "Advise and Consent" become legislation?

[PhiKapMom]

I think it should be unfair and unbalanced for Raum. :)

Today I heard Senators Allen, Inhofe, and Coburn speak at our OK State GOP Convention about the Constitutional Option and how what they are doing is upholding their oaths and the Constitution.

They all three said this Constitutional Option will happen.

[SuziQ]

Personally, I don't understand how filibusters are OK for Senate business, but not for judicial nominations.

Because the Constitution doesn't allow for filibusters for Judicial nominations. The Constitution provides for the Senate to ADVISE the President, then CONSENT to the President's nominee, after a vote of a simple majority of the full Senate. It does not require a super-majority.

The Republicans should just ignore the Dems, vote the nominee out of the Committee on a simple majority vote, then put the nominee's name up for a full vote. If the nominee gets 51 votes, he or she is confirmed. Forget 'cloture' just DO an up or down vote. The Dems may howl, and the NY Times and the WashPost may spew and fume, but the Republicans should just ignore them.

Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Old Dole, always the embarrassment to the GOP, he absolutely should go back to proving he is a man with some helpful drugs,on TV no less.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Why can't they wait until a couple of sick Democrats can't show up for the vote. Call a quick vote, and get on with life.

[Archon of the East]

Why can't they wait until a couple of sick Democrats can't show up for the vote.

As I see it they don't really even need to wait, as long as they have the 51 votes necessary. All that would stand between nomination and confirmation would be some long winded socialist progressive to take to the floor and not shut up, but that isn't going to happen because all you have to do now is just declare that is what you intend to do then everyone says oh well it's over and I don't want miss my cocktail party anyway. MAKE THEM ACTUALLY FILIBUSTER! This IMO would make the the filibuster unreasonable for all nominations and become to tiresome to continue. If tiring dosen't happen I suspect the public will wear thin of the tactics, and opinion will sway heavily towards a vote (it already does if you just ask people whether judges deserve an up or down vote)