LIVE THREAD: Estrada Filibuster

http://freerepublic.com ^ | March 3, 2003

[Howlin]

Live stream from C-SPAN

Comments and discussion of the live coverage of the continuing Estrada filibuster.

[justshe]

Hatch said earlier that not ONE Senator submitted additional questions or availed themselves of the authorities offered.

[Howlin]

Hatch did. No questions were forthcoming from the Democrats. Are you surprised?

[justshe]

The questions were to be submitted by last Friday night.

[RobFromGa]

Feinstein:

At least one member of minority in Judiciary Committee must agree to send someone out of Juduciary Committee. The majority cannot just vote them out. Not only do we need to be in the Majority, we need one of them to agree with the majority?

[PhiKapMom]

I have been sitting here laughing about her bringing up Senate Rules like they mean anything to the Anti-Constitutionlist, Anti-Hispanic DemocRATs.

Hypocricy of the RATs never ceases to amaze me! Finally decided it was better to laugh instead of get mad!

[Sacajaweau]

I keep holding that thought in the back of my head but can't think of how it could happen. However, I do perceive the possibility of the leak of a memo or something could constitute a breach of ethics and no one wants that on their record "AT THIS TIME".

[deport]

Isn't there one other step or session that Frist can take the Senate into which limits times a senator can speak on an item in a legislative day? Twice I think, but then I think other motions are available during that session which then has their limits also. I'm not referring to the Cloture session if it's approved at some point.

[mabelkitty]

She's stupid.

Doesn't her husband's Chinese factories use child labor?

She should talk on that.

[Cate]

define logical..hahaha. In all fairness, I will say he tries hard to do things that help our state. I just sent him a reply and asked him to please be strong in requesting a vote for Mr. Estrada. We'll see what type of response I get back.

[Sacajaweau]

I believe those are the EXACT WORDS of Hillary Clinton when she lectured her esteemed "experienced" Senators on the Constitution.

[Howlin]

Ah, then how did they vote Estrada down in the first place? Is she saying that they can vote them DOWN on straight party line, but not up?

[Dolphy]

LOL, not surprised, but it was a great move by the Republicans. Can't you hear them, "the Senators had many opportunities to ask questions of Estrada and even those he worked for and nobody did."

[justshe]

In my case, PKM, it is not humor, though, when I laugh. I think it is approaching hysterics.

[TLBSHOW]

they should not have to answer anything more from the democrats

[Howlin]

I thank God every night that my mother raised me a Republican!

[PhiKapMom]

From the Senate Judiciary Website. BTW, there are 10 Republican members of the Judiciary Committee:

Rules of Procedure
UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

I. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

1. Meetings may be called by the Chairman as he may deem necessary on three days notice or in the alternative with the consent of the Ranking Minority Member or pursuant to the provision of the Standing Rules of the Senate, as amended.

2. Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or any Subcommittee shall file with the Committee, at least 48 urs in advance of the hearing, a written statement of his testimony in as many copies as the Chairman of the Committee or Subcommittee prescribes.

3. On the request of any Member, a nomination or bill on the agenda of the Committee will be held over until the next meeting of the Committee or for one week, whichever occurs later.

II. QUORUMS

1. Ten Members shall constitute a quorum of the Committee when reporting a bill or nomination; provided that proxies shall not be counted in making a quorum.

2. For the purpose of taking sworn testimony, a quorum of the Committee and each Subcommittee thereof, now or hereafter appointed, shall consist of one Senator.

III. PROXIES

When a record vote is taken in the Committee on any bill, resolution, amendment, or any other question, a quorum being present, a Member who is unable to attend the meeting may submit his vote by proxy, in writing or by telephone, or through personal instructions. A proxy must be specific with respect to the matters it addresses.

IV. BRINGING A MATTER TO A VOTE

The Chairman shall entertain a non-debatable motion to bring a matter before the Committee to a vote. If there is objection to bring the matter to a vote without further debate, a rollcall vote of the Committee shall be taken, and debate shall be terminated if the motion to bring the matter to a vote without further debate passes with ten votes in the affirmative, one of which must be cast by the minority.

V. SUBCOMMITTEES

1. Any Member of the Committee may sit with any Subcommittee during its hearings or any other meeting, but shall not have the authority to vote on any matter before the Subcommittee unless he is a Member of such Subcommittee.

2. Subcommittees shall be considered de novo whenever there is a change in the Subcommittee chairmanship and seniority on the particular Subcommittee shall not necessarily apply.

3. Except for matters retained at the full Committee, matters shall be referred to the appropriate Subcommittee or Subcommittees by the chairman, except as agreed by a majority vote of the Committee or by the agreement of the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member.

VI. ATTENDANCE RULES

1. Official attendance at all Committee markups and executive sessions of the Committee shall be kept by the Committee Clerk. Official attendance at all Subcommittee markups and executive sessions shall be kept by the Subcommittee Clerk.

2. Official attendance at all hearings shall be kept, provided that Senators are notified by the Committee Chairman and ranking Member, in the case of Committee hearings, and by the Subcommittee Chairman and ranking Member, in the case of Subcommittee hearings, 48 hours in advance of the hearing that attendance will be taken; otherwise, no attendance will be taken. Attendance at all hearings is encouraged.

[justshe]

This issue brought up by Feinstein is going to send Hatch thru the roof. He is going to be livid. She is essentially saying that the actions by the judiciary committee last Thursday in voting OUT 3 noninees, was illegal and cannot stand. She read directly from the rule book.

[PhiKapMom]

I think there is too -- I will see if I can find it! I just debunked Feinstein's Rules for the Committee too.

Seems last year after Jeffords jumped ship, the rules for Committees were changed. It took one RAT voting with Republicans to get the nominations out of committee and Feingold was the one who usually did it. Committee membership last year after the traitor was split 50/50.

This new session of the Senate has the same Rules in place that used to exist in Judicary -- 10 Republicans; 9 RATs.

[RobFromGa]

But you are forgetting about the "Secret Rules".

[mabelkitty]

You are lucky. Our family was liberal Democrat forever. Since Clinton took office, my sister and I defected. I've also brought with me an Ohio State Dem strategist's son to the "other side". Believe me, she is ticked off!