The Filibuster
[Guest post by DRJ]
Recent reports suggest the Democrats are considering a series of Congressional votes to pass health care legislation. Wednesday on Hardball with Chris Matthews, Matthews asked a Democratic strategist whether the Democrats really want to open the door to a Republican filibuster:
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MATTHEWS: “A filibuster is when Senators go out and they used to just read the Bible or the telephone book. These guys and women would be able to go on the floor every night and read particular provisions of the Democratic health bill that were a problem for the voters. Would that be smart to let them do that?”
I don’t know if it would be smart but it would be informative and transparent.
— DRJ
Chrissy Matthews axed that question? Are you serious? That’s almost a journalisty question.
John Hitchcock (e56f5d) — 2/12/2010 @ 10:46 pmaliens have finally taken over his day to day control….
Rove, you magnificent bastard!
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 2/12/2010 @ 11:24 pmI think they should pass this sucker with whatever cheap parliamentary maneuvers Harry and Nancy can dream up. Then they can beat their chests and crow about their finally harpooning the Great White Whale they’ve been chasing since the Sixties.
Then they can all drop dead, because the last any of them will heard from after November is when their obituary appears in the New York Slimes.
Fresh Air (cae38a) — 2/12/2010 @ 11:42 pmIs it technically a filibuster when all they are doing is reading some 2K pages of the very bill the ding dongs are voting on?
political agnostic (cd318f) — 2/13/2010 @ 12:12 amFortunately, in a filibuster, we’d have the Healthcare bill to read and comment upon. There would be no need to resort to reading phonebooks, or coming up with time-killing excuses; there’s no shortage of substance to expose and object to in detail from the House-passed bill, the Senate-passed bill, or anything else the Dems are likely to try to cram down the throats of the American public.
So yeah: Bring it.
Beldar (14ebb7) — 2/13/2010 @ 1:10 amas usual, Beldar is right: once you get done actually reading the entire convoluted bill, you can then start discussing it, and proposing changes, etc…..
the entire scenario lends, nay, screams for a filibuster.
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 2/13/2010 @ 1:32 amWell, my read is bring pressure on your Demoncrap Congressmen and Senators to respect protocol and not use the nuclear option to pass it — because once passed it is a nightmare to undo even if they all get voted outed
As some have mentioned ad nauseum, it is important to express oneself in violent, absolute, angry terms so that Libtards and their Hacks realise their are consequences. Otherwise they go on ignoring one much like they ignore the McCain’s, Snowe’s etc,,,
Country Club Republicans (with their very polite ways of dissent) have done very little to put breaks on this. It is rabid frothing “non-intellectuals” who helped put this thing in deep freeze by intimidating the Leftists.
Much like the Leftists did to Conservatives with Bush in office.
HeavenSent (30a64e) — 2/13/2010 @ 4:31 amAnd when their 30 hours are up the bill gets an up or down vote. I think that would be very smart.
imdw (f7b257) — 2/13/2010 @ 6:16 amBut, will Landrieu have her phone system on, or off, for constituents comments during the filabuster? Inquiring minds want to know.
elissa (c7cd60) — 2/13/2010 @ 6:29 amALl the Republicans really need to do is run a few ads about the bill.
1) Talk about how FSAs get cut in half and don’t cover OTC medical supplies.
2) Talk about how catastrophic-care policies are outlawed.
3) Talk about how policies MUST cover numerous items that many people would rather not cover, and what this will cost.
4) Mention the added taxes that start long before the “benefits” do.
No need to filibuster to “make the news” (as if it would). Just run the ads like last time.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 2/13/2010 @ 11:14 amBy the way, what makes anyone think this junk would even get a majority vote even without a filibuster? Or even pass the House again? The Dem rank and file may be stupid, but they aren’t crazy.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 2/13/2010 @ 11:17 amA modern filibuster involves the threat of talking all night by a tag team of about 40 Senators. The lone guy can still talk all he can talk, but in the end there’s a vote on cloture and 60 votes means the next guy can’t speak.
Given the threat, the Senate drops the bill and goes on to other business, with the understanding that next time it comes up the opposition remains willing to jabber all night. Since there aren’t stupid people, they just take the cloture vote and move on to other business if it fails.
Repeat as needed.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 2/13/2010 @ 11:21 amummm “..they aren’t..”
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 2/13/2010 @ 11:22 am“By the way, what makes anyone think this junk would even get a majority vote even without a filibuster?”
You mean besides the fact that it already has ?
imdw (017d51) — 2/13/2010 @ 11:36 am“… read particular provisions of the Democratic health bill that were a problem for the voters. Would that be smart to let them do that?”
So, he acknowledges that there are some very troubling aspects to this bill, that if the public knew about them, would cause a general uproar. Yet, he is a pusher, supporter, salesman for the bill.
Scary and sad.
JB2 (98cc83) — 2/13/2010 @ 12:44 pmimdw–
The original version, rejected by the Senate, got past the House by 2 whole votes. Since that time the poll numbers for this poor joke of “reform” have cratered. What would you bet they get a majority next time?
The Senate has one more Republican, from a blue state, and this too will influence members. Nelson won’t vote for it. Several other senators facing re-eelction have seen their poll numbers crop as well. Two months ago the thinking was that the Republicans might win 2-3 Senate seats this year. Now, it’s looking like SEVEN and in a blowout it could be as many as 12.
Yeah, I really DO doubt that they’ll get it through even as a majority vote.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 2/13/2010 @ 3:39 pmand, imdw, sorry I said you weren’t crazy.
Kevin Murphy (3c3db0) — 2/13/2010 @ 3:41 pmHey i’d like to see an up and down vote as much as the next guy. You’re so convinced it will fail? Ok. Let’s see it.
imdw (c5488f) — 2/13/2010 @ 3:44 pmSlightly tangential: I just recently had an interesting thought. Remember back in the 90s when Republicans swept into Congress? Remember several Congressional Democrats switched party at that time? How many of those D-turned-R are still in office and now fighting against the current Democrat Representatives and Senators?
John Hitchcock (fe6383) — 2/13/2010 @ 5:39 pm