[deport]

Instead of holding the Democrats' feet to the fire to force them to keep talking,

---

Oh gifted one..... just how do you force someone to keep talking? Please explain that procedure to the forum. What if they don't want the floor and don't want to talk. How do you make them? What if they don't seek recognition? The senate just sits idle awaiting someone to seek recognition...

[TLBSHOW]

Instead of holding the Democrats' feet to the fire to force them to keep talking, the GOP leadership allowed senators to go home for the Presidents' Day recess without voting on Estrada. Now, Republicans are letting the Democrats drag out the debate day after day, without forcing obstinate senators to stay on the floor round the clock and on weekends.

...
I like this girl! feet to the fire

[El Gato]

Oh gifted one..... just how do you force someone to keep talking?

What he meant was "force them to keep talking or have the vote. Under the rules as understood up until now, they have to keep talking, or at least "holding the floor" or the filibuster is over and the question can be called. Didn't you ever watch "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" with Jimmy Stewart? There have been some really funny incidents during filibusters. Such as putting screen up so the member can relieve himself (or herself in at least one State Legislature). But important point is that the filibustering Senator must keep talking to hold the floor, he must already have that recognition, else a vote on issue in question can take place. He must also stay on the floor of the Senate. Time outs for a 3 day weekend are normally not allowed.

If you want to end a filibuster, you must get a supermajority of votes to do it. The Republicans don't have the necessary 60 (IIRC) votes, so the filibuster continues. If the shoe were on the other foot, the lamestream media would be whinning about shutting Congress down, not doing the important work of government, etc, etc.