« New Anti-War Ad Highlights Boehner's "Small Price" Remark | Home | Hunter, Thompson To Headline Iowa GOP Dinner »
Quote Of The Day II
"That 60-vote barrier is the gate around the President’s desk."
-- Nancy Pelosi, in a rare foray into criticism of Senate rules, arguing that the primary function of the GOP filibusters is to protect the President from having to veto Iraq withdrawal measures that are popular with the public. It certainly is working out that way, isn't it.
Advertisement
When the thugs ruled the Senate they threatened to eliminate that rule if they had to to stop the Dems. How 'bout it Harry and Nancy. Let's play hardball. Or are you both going to remain supine while making your oh so genteel remarks while the street thugs remain in charge?
September 20, 2007 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
o.k Nancy, you are Speaker of the House, and you can control what legislation comes to the floor and what doesn't. So here is your chance to shine.
Frankly, you are in over your head. You do not belong in the Speaker's position. Step aside and put someone in who has the political courage to lead. You are doing the country, and the Democrats, a big disservice.
September 20, 2007 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm rusty on my rules of the senate. but is there something stopping reid and posse from eliminating the filibuster?
how is that when the dems were in the minority that they weren't ever able to invoke the filibuster when it mattered most (rightwing judicial nominees)? but now in leadership, they're hobbled by the GOP's constant use of this procedural device?
seems like the filibuster is no asset to the party; merely a liability.
why keep it?
September 20, 2007 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
The filibuster is an asset to whichever party happens to be in the minority at the time and has the intestinal fortitude to actually use it. Intestinal fortitude seems to be in short supply among Senate Dems who on the other hand appear to have an endless supply of rhetoric about how they are going to deal with Bush and Iraq and of whining excuses when push comes to shove about how the majority party is nevertheless powerless to do so.
September 20, 2007 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Both parties are in need of an enema.
September 21, 2007 12:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
We, the public, are being misled - again - by the Senate leadership. The Republicans are not filibustering, they are merely threatening to do so. What that means is that it takes 60 votes to close off debate and bring a bill to a vote. The Dems are not able to get that 60 votes. But they also aren't requiring that the Repos actually continue debate (talking) which is what is required for a filibuster to actually take place. Some Republican would have to stand there and hold forth and the Democrats won't even make them do that. It is all a game. It is almost like someone has something on Harry or some other key Dem and is blackmailing them. I mean really, why wouldn't you at least say, "OK, you want to continue debating this issue, let's hear what you have to say."
September 21, 2007 1:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
"how is that when the dems were in the minority that they weren't ever able to invoke the filibuster when it mattered most (rightwing judicial nominees)? but now in leadership, they're hobbled by the GOP's constant use of this procedural device?"
The answer is because the Democrats are wimps who VOLUNTARILY didn't use the filibuster out of cowardice and knowing they are yellow, the Republicans now only threaten to use it and the chickenshits are cowed. Pathetic!
September 21, 2007 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink