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Reid moves to limit GOP filibusters
The Washington Times ^ | November 7, 2012 | Stephen Dinan

Posted on 11/07/2012 10:23:04 AM PST by jazusamo

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that he will try to push through a change to Senate rules that would limit the GOP’s ability to filibuster bills.

Speaking in the wake of Tuesday’s election, which boosted Senate Democrats’ numbers slightly, Mr. Reid said he won’t end filibusters altogether but that the rules need to change so that the minority party cannot use the legislative blocking tool as often.

“I think that the rules have been abused and that we’re going to work to change them,” he told reporters. “Were not going to do away with the filibuster but we’re going to make the Senate a more meaningful place.”

Republicans, who have 47 of the chamber’s 100 seats in this current Congress, have repeatedly used that strong minority to block parts of President Obama’s agenda on everything from added stimulus spending to his judicial picks.

A filibuster takes 60 senators to overcome it.

Leaders of both parties have been reluctant to change the rules because they value it as a tool when they are in the minority.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: congress; corruption; dayafter2012election; democrats; dingyharry; endfilibuster; filibuster; filibusters; harryreid; liberalfascism; reid; ussenate
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To: ScottinVA

“He’s going with the “nuclear option.” I guess he figures there won’t be a Republican majority anytime soon. Very likely, he’s right.”

They have an outside shot in 2014. Reid knows this. That’s why they want to go nuclear now. Did you think 2010 would have ever happened the day after Obama was elected?


41 posted on 11/07/2012 11:23:25 AM PST by edh (I need a better tagline)
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To: jazusamo

There is a solution to this threat: NO MORE UNANIMOUS CONSENTS!

Have the senate vote on absolutely everything. Get these people on the record for every single vote they take. No voice votes. Yeas and Nays for everything.

And an extra check is the House. No negotiations with the senate before they pass something. Let them pass a bill, get their members on the record, and then the negotiations with the House begin (as is the proper legislative conference process).

Harry Reid hates to have to take votes. He hates having to put his members on the record. And he hates not knowing what’s going to happen ahead of time. He wants himself, Boehner, and Obama to get together, decide what’s going to happen, then ram it through.

The answer to tyranny is regular legislative order, each House acting on its own issues, holding votes on them, then going to conference, agreeing on one common piece of legislation, passing it and THEN sending it to the president. There should be lots of votes, lots of conference committees and lots of votes. Make the senators work for their pay!


42 posted on 11/07/2012 11:26:48 AM PST by cotton1706
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To: jazusamo; Delhi Rebels
Check it out, Delhi Rebels. Let me know if Reid requires 60 votes for his proposed changes. Let me know if Angus King believes he is bound by prior Senate rules. I will await your wise analysis. I believe Reid will revise the filibuster rule, and I believe it will be done with only a regular majority.

I actually don't mind this. It will lay the groundwork for the death of the filibuster. If the Republicans can't get a majority, they don't deserve to stop legislation, and if they do ever get a majority, I don't want Dems blocking legislation. Delays are fine; they must be limited in duration, though.

43 posted on 11/07/2012 11:31:55 AM PST by Defiant (If there are infinite parallel universes, why Lord, am I living in the one with Obama as President?)
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To: stars & stripes forever
Amen, your conclusions are accurate.

The reality is this: it is not Romney or Ryan's fault that they lost; they are both honest, decent, honorable men who are infinitely better qualified than Obama and Biden to run the country, and they both ran a solid, hard fought campaign.

The fault for failure does not lie with any of these people, the fault for defeat lies with America, and squarely upon the Americans who voted them into power. Nearly every decent, honest and honorable candidate running honorable campaigns based upon traditional Judeo-Christian American values running for election on our side lost to evil, dishonest, dishonorable, godless, Marxist-Socialist opponents who were purposely chosen by the electorate INSTEAD of the decent, honest and honorable candidates running against them.

What happened? = America is under the direct judgment of Almighty God, that's what happened and will continue to happen.

Some are already playing the blame game but the reality is: The problem with the results of this election do not rest with Romney, nor Ryan, Barone or Morris. Romney and Ryan are honorable and good men (as men count goodness)and they ran an admirable, hard-fought campaign.

The problem rests with us, it is one of the heart and soul of America itself. We have forsaken Christ, and forsaken His Word. God did not have mercy and deliver us. I believe we are under the judgment of Almighty God as a direct result of our ongoing lawlessness, ungodliness and sin. He has given America over to our sin and degradation (cf. Romans 1:18-32)and we have reached the tipping point of no return as a nation. I do not want to say these things, it breaks my heart because I, along with millions of other believers love America, but God is not mocked:

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:7-10) As a man sows, so shall he reap and we are reaping now what we have sown. Pray because at this point, the very existence and future of our nation rests in the hands and predetermined will of God. Romney, Ryan, no mere man or party can save America and her people, only the Lord Jesus Christ.

If the outcome of this elections stands (and it appears it has) and Obama gains reelection (and it appears he has), we are about to enter the refining crucible of Almighty God as a result of our sin and God's divine judgment as a nation and as individuals. The key is to know and stay close to/walk with the Lord Jesus in the midst of it all and to stay faithful to Him because things are going to get very bad from here on out. This was prophesied in the Word of God and we are privileged to see these harrowing events come to pass: "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man." (cf. Luke 17:26-33)

Those of us who know the Lord Jesus must follow the injunction to: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

I wept, writing those words. It grieves my heart to say these things and to see what has become of our beloved country and to see God remove His hand of protection and blessing from America. The evil, wicked, dictator God has imposed upon us, and the utter shame and degradation which God has allowed to fester and cover the land from the top down, as a direct result of our rejection of Him and His Christ.

America is "Ichabod", ...the Lord has departed. That said, God is in control; all of this was prophesied and we are seeing it fulfilled before our very eyes.

Take heart, and find your hope and strength in the Lord Jesus Christ because He is coming back sooner than many people are willing to recognize or accept, Maranatha!

Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

44 posted on 11/07/2012 11:33:33 AM PST by Jmouse007 (Lord deliver us from evil, in Jesus name, amen.)
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To: jazusamo

Reid, “I think the rules have been abused...”

Must be checking the mirror for his reflection, again...

I have no faith in the long-term future of this grand experiment. Last night’s results are Tocqueville’s words writ large. The takers who vote now outnumber the producers who vote.
The only answer is for the producers to establish another Constitutional Republic, without the absurdities of the leftists and their incessant demand for their entitlements.


45 posted on 11/07/2012 11:34:00 AM PST by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion. 01-20-2013: Change we can look forward to.)
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To: cotton1706
That sounds like a good course of action to take, hypocritical Reid may reconsider his ways.
46 posted on 11/07/2012 11:37:12 AM PST by jazusamo ("Intellect is not wisdom" -- Thomas Sowell)
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To: Tex-Con-Man; jazusamo; All

“The American people have given President Obama a chance to start over. He can take steps this time to govern responsibly. He can work with, not against, Republicans in Congress and governors around the nation. He can put an end to his reckless disregard for our rule of law and spare our nation another long, painful and expensive four years for American families, taxpayers and employers.

“We must hold his and Congress’ feet to the fire to once and for all cut spending, repeal Obamacare and withdraw federal encroachment into state decision-making and personal liberties. Our nation’s long-term prosperity and security absolutely depends on it.

“Meanwhile, states have the opportunity to pave the way for Washington by promoting common-sense policies of smaller government, lower taxes and restrained spending that create jobs and prosperity for their citizens.

“I commend Mitt Romney and his entire campaign team for a disciplined, focused and hard-fought race. Anita and I wish him, Ann and his team all the best.” - Texas Gov. Rick Perry [Nov 7, 2012]


47 posted on 11/07/2012 11:44:57 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: jazusamo; All

Knowing the spineless GOP Liberal RINOs in the Senate...they probably will let Dingy Harry do this....because it would be “bi-partisanship”

Fortunately, the House is still GOP....and maybe a change of leadership there will strengthen the House GOP


48 posted on 11/07/2012 11:46:22 AM PST by SeminoleCounty (Political maturity is realizing that the "R" next to someone's name does not mean "conservative")
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To: jazusamo

If we had a decent leader in the house nothing would move in the next 4 years, absolutely nothing. Just stonewall everything. Sure O will get some things done by executive order but we should do everything we can to make it as difficult as possible.


49 posted on 11/07/2012 11:51:30 AM PST by TonyM
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To: jazusamo
My political goal from this point forward is to destroy the blood-sucking, socialistic, abortion-enabling, spend-it-all political party that is destroying our country...

and the Democrats too!

50 posted on 11/07/2012 11:56:17 AM PST by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: showme_the_Glory; realcleanguy; DustyMoment; what's up

>> WE call them out.

Be sure to contact your senators and tell them what you think. They need to know we are watching.


51 posted on 11/07/2012 12:10:50 PM PST by Jacquerie (Welcome to arbitrary government.)
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To: Jacquerie

Sure, i have no problem with that. But they need to see me watching them. They work for me, not me working for them.


52 posted on 11/07/2012 12:27:31 PM PST by realcleanguy
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To: DonkeyBonker
Time to take out Harry.

I'll do the driving if it's like "Weekend With Bernie".

FMCDH(BITS)

53 posted on 11/07/2012 12:29:39 PM PST by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
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To: jazusamo
Right between the eyes, HR              +
54 posted on 11/07/2012 1:02:35 PM PST by tomkat (too broke for galt)
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To: mass55th
God has turned his back on this country.

Actually this country has turned their back on God. Big difference.

55 posted on 11/07/2012 1:04:52 PM PST by itsahoot (Any enemy, that is allowed to have a King's X line, is undefeatable. (USS Taluga AO-62))
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To: realcleanguy

Ya know, some years ago, the Supreme Court received what were determined to be terrorist threats. When I heard that I thought, “good, now they can find out how the rest of us live.”

You know what happened? Their security was increased and they about about their merry way. We can’t do that.

So, I don’t think your plan will go anywhere or have any impact. The “protestors” will be viewed by the DBM as just anti-women, Republican nutcases.

So, how will that have any effective impact?


56 posted on 11/07/2012 1:34:12 PM PST by DustyMoment (Congress - another name for white collar criminals!!)
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To: jazusamo

A nightmare that never ends...


57 posted on 11/07/2012 3:56:19 PM PST by johnthebaptistmoore (The world continues to be stuck in a "all leftist, all of the time" funk. BUNK THE FUNK!)
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To: jazusamo
I'm inclined to say we let him end filibusters - here's why:

1) The next four years will be dreadful, and 2016 will be a great opportunity for the GOP to take over control of all three branches of government.

2) While we may get this control in 2016, we will likely not get a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. In order to set our country right, and to demonstrate the value of free markets and liberty to the electorate, a conservative GOP would need to be able to enact it's agenda quickly in 2016.

3) The right of the minority to block legislation in the Senate is not really in the Constitution. It's granted indirectly, because the Constitution provides that each chamber can write its own rules. The intial 60-vote threshold rule, which was orginally meant to be a rule that set limits on debates, has morphed into a threshold required to pass legislation, which was not the intent of those who voted for this rule.

4) For the foreseeable future, I believe the ability to pass legislation by slim majorities in the Senate will be of much more use to Conservates and Republicans than it will Democrats and Liberals. It seems Democrats can often find the 60 votes they need, and the GOP often cannot.

Hence, I don't think Reid has thought this through, and perhaps we should just take advantage of his short-sightedness and go along with this change.
58 posted on 11/08/2012 1:01:53 AM PST by zencycler
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Why not just dissolve the legislature and let Dear Leader rule by fiat? We’re pretty much already there and I tire of these scoundrels and their nonsense.”

Because Zero cannot yet nominate supreme court justices by executive order. Other than that, he will pretty much ignore congress, except when he needs money.


59 posted on 11/08/2012 12:47:13 PM PST by ModelBreaker
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