Force them to stand and filibuster.
Last week on the Young Turks, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) said a Republican colleague of his told him that a strategy has been adopted by the minority to “prevent any accomplishment” by the new Congress:
I think that we could do a better job making our points, and one part of that is to let the American people see just how obstructionist this Republican minority is being. The leader has had to file cloture now over 40 times already this year. And cloture, as you know, is a special procedure to stop debate, to stop filibusters, in order to reach conclusion on legislation. I had a Republican colleague tell me it is the Republican strategy to try to prevent any accomplishment of the Democratic Congress. That is set in their caucus openly and directly that they don’t intend to allow Democrats to have any legislative successes, and they intend to do it by repeated filibuster.
OpenLeft and Firedoglake call for Congress to call the conservatives’ bluff and force them to filibuster the Levin-Reed Iraq redeployment bill.
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Sorry for being a bit slow here, but are you suggesting the GOP would not want a simple up/down vote? This is all they talked about for the last six years.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:01 amLOL the GOP throwing a tantrum because they no longer have the power or the votes. too funny.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:02 amOnly a short time ago the republicans wanted to do away with fillibusters. Hollow flip flopping enablers of a corrupt administration.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:03 amHow about the infamous ‘Nuclear option’ they’ve threatened to use?
I say let ‘em filibuster. We should also be calling for up & down votes.
We should also keep sending bills Bush vetoes back to him as many times as it takes to publicize this ‘do nothing’ administration.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:04 amIt says a lot that a Republican would confirm to a Democrat that the partisan gridlock the public hates so much is openly supported within the GOP leadership in Congress. Perhaps some Republicans are finally recognizing this is no longer a partisan issue, but that their own party is damaging the entire country to serve the maniacal neocons in 43’s administration.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:04 amThe Dems need to force their Republicans hand every time the Repugs threaten to filibuster. Get on the networks and detail what legislature the Republicans are blocking and reiterate AT EVERY OPPURTUNITY how the Repugs continue to put party before country.
Their constituents need to know that their elected officials stand in the way of Democracy by bogging down the legislature with their fillibustering tactic.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:07 amSend back the vetoed bill until he signs it or runs the defense department into the ground.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:07 amThat’s why Republicans call Dem’s “obstructionists”, because that is exactly what they are. It’s Rove strategy- take the term that describes yourself, and apply it to the opposition, repeatedly. Until all the simple minded, Rush listening, morons believe it.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:13 amI’ve written emails encouraging them to let the Republicans filibuster. That’s the only thing that will get their obstructionism on the front pages. I was sorely disappointed that Reid called for cloture on the Webb amendment that would have simply let troops rest between deployments. Had he allowed the filibuster to go forward, it would have been all over the front pages, and Americans would have seen Republicans blocking a piece of legislation that most Americans wanted. As it is now, no one is even going to remember what the Webb amendment was all about, let alone everything else they’ve been obstructing.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:14 amcandyce, how is that Reid’s fault? Please clarify. What I read suggests it was 100% the GOP’s doing:
After much partisan wrangling, Senate Republicans today succeeded in shelving an amendment to the FY08 defense authorization bill that would have mandated down time for active-duty troops and reservists. As they have done throughout the year on other legislation, Republicans pushed the amendment to a cloture vote, which failed 56-4.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:18 amYes! The new Democratic strategy should be to continue the debate, hold 12 hour sessions into the wee hours of the night, keep it in the headlines, and generally focus everyone’s attention (especially the MSM) on the fact that the GOP minority refuses to let a vote happen. The public needs to be reminded that the GOP is the reason we can’t bring the troops home. Make the GOP talk about Iraq. Make them talk about it every day and every hour. Make them stand with Bush and Cheney. Make them defend this horrible war and don’t let them talk about anything else until they wilt under the pressure of public opinion, upcoming elections, and a failed war.
I don’t understand why Democrats seem to accept the filibuster. It seems like they move on to the next agenda item, hoping to come to a compromise behind the scenes or with a water-downed new version of the bill. The filibuster “works” by refusing to let a vote occur - but the Senate must then either continue the debate or take up new legislation. It appears to me that the Senate almost always accepts the filibuster and then stops the floor debate altogether. GOP wants to talk about anything BUT Iraq. Especially those running for reelection next year.
This could even be a grassroots campaign - people across the county calling their Senators, Harry Reid, Presidential candidates, etc. and demanding something like “Filibuster? Bring it on!”
According to wikipedia (although not sourced), is this statement about filibusters:
Strom Thurmond’s attempt to filibuster the Civil Rights Act was defeated when Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson refused to refer any further business to the Senate, which required the filibuster to be kept up indefinitely. Instead, the opponents were all given a chance to speak and the matter eventually was forced to a vote.
Senate Dems need to take the challenge and put the spotlight back on the GOP’s support for this horrible failure. (the war and the president).
July 16th, 2007 at 11:18 amYup, Candyce.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:19 amThe repuke’s obstruction needs to be front and center, front page, lead story, headline news. Every day. All day. Without the obligatory Anna Nicole Smith is still dead story or Paris is still out of jail story competing for space.
If that is the strategy, then bring it on. It doomed Gingrich. Perhaps history will repeat and some of the more offensive congressmen and women will be sent home. But, if you’re going to do it, then please play the PR game properly. Don’t allow the GOP to frame the issue.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:21 amComment by urbinato (#11)
excellent post!! That should be required reading for all Democrats in COngress immeadiately.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:21 amLet’s face it, you can’t offer a bone to a rabid dog. In the same vein, you can’t expect a crypto-fascist beast to appreciate the subtleties of gentlemanly conduct.
So…no more cloture votes. No. More. Cloture. Votes!
Let’s force these diseased monkeys to read from the phone books and fill their diapers while everybody else gets to go home. It won’t take long for everybody to see what is really going on.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:26 amcall the dems!
CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD
8 0 0 . 8 2 8 . 0 4 9 8
8 0 0 . 4 5 9 . 1 8 8 7
8 0 0 . 6 1 4 . 2 8 0 3
8 6 6 . 3 4 0 . 2 9 8 1
8 6 6 . 2 2 0 . 0 0 4 4
8 6 6 . 3 3 8 . 1 0 1 5
8 7 7 . 8 5 1 . 6 4 3 7
July 16th, 2007 at 11:26 am.
well, you read it, folks… obstructionist Republicants in action… remember this at the polls in ‘08…
their plan is clearly to stymie progress and then say that the Democratic-led Congress got nothing done (hence, vote for us in ‘08)
they will not get away with this…
July 16th, 2007 at 11:27 amSo? It only makes sense. Imaging how effective you could have been as a minority party if you’d taken the same, aggressive approach.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:28 amcandyce, how is that Reid’s fault?
Arthur Cravan
Republicans can’t call for cloture. Reid does. By calling for cloture, he effectively ended the filibuster threat. It takes 60 votes to defeat cloture, which would have allowed for a vote on the amendment. A defeated cloture effectively kills a bill or amendment. A vote would require only the simple majority for passage. If I’m wrong in my understanding of the process here, someone please correct me.
I’m not assigning blame - my quarrel is with Reid backing down from the threat to filibuster.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:29 amThey are still trying to play by the old rules, while Congressional Republicans are playing by new ones. And unfortunately, as TalkingPointsMemo.com has documented, the news media is playing along with the Republicans by refusing to point out that what they are doing is, in fact, filibustering. If only to change that media mindset, I completely agree that Reid needs to stop playing these games and force them to actually filibuster on some of these bills.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:33 amFunny how I can always count on the bloggers and readers to come out the information long before the media (sometimes 1 week - if at all). This took seconds and I have more informations from the reader’s comments tan I’ll get from any other outlet. Thank you all!
July 16th, 2007 at 11:37 amLet them filibuster. For real. Not this parliamentary jacking off that has been called a filibuster by the dolt Reid. Can’t you just see Lieberman (I-I) at the podium, reading the phone book, ankles swelling, lips cracking, croaking out “we..have…the…insurgents…on…the…run…”
More thoughts on this can be found here.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:38 amOh my GOD, the republicans are acting like like like politicians? Using the lawful and prescribed tools since the founding of our nation to do this? Whoa, I mean the dems never did anything like this, no sir, they are the party of eminent compromise.
This is politics, get used to it or start crying and go home.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:43 amNow is an ideal time to let the repugs have their way and for the Dems to win as well–a win/win situation.
The house is considering the Fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization Bill. The Repugs are threatening to stall an amendment that would bring our troops home. Should the repugs oppose the amendment the Dems should simply remove the Bill from consideration. Without the bill the funding for the military will end on the end of the fiscal year (September or October). It will be the repugs doing and the Dems can lay the blame and/or get their version of the bill passed.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:48 amOh my GOD, the republicans are acting like like like politicians? Using the lawful and prescribed tools since the founding of our nation to do this? Whoa, I mean the dems never did anything like this, no sir, they are the party of eminent compromise.
This is politics, get used to it or start crying and go home.
Comment by Blackwater
Funny how the Repubs got less done when they CONTROLLED both Houses, and still whined endlessly about up and down votes and obstructionist Dems.
While you’re at it, what was so fitting and proper about blocking an amendment that would have taken better care of Amreican soldiers?
Can yu answer THAT one question? I promise I’ll try and keep a straight face… no, really, I will… promise.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:51 amYesterday John Gilpins suggested that the Dems start calling their bills things like “Support the Troops Bill”. I thought it desreved to be repeated, because it’s a brilliant idea becauyse can you imagine how it would look to vote against the “Save the Children” bill or the “Pro-American Finance” bill?
July 16th, 2007 at 11:56 amWithout the obligatory Anna Nicole Smith is still dead story or Paris is still out of jail story competing for space.
Comment by RUCerious — July 16, 2007 @ 11:19 am
I wrote CNN yesterday and slammed them for this very thing. I also told them that I would stop watching anything on CNN until Sanja Gupta apologized to Michael Moore for saying that Moore ‘fudged’ the facts when he didn’t.
The main way to influence the media is to turn them off when they ignore the real news… Because as Blitzer told Moore, they are a business… And ratings are their lifeblood.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:59 amWhat’s this about Phil O’Buster? Why are we picking on him? Don’t you people have any shame? Isn’t it time we stopped picking on the Irish?
What?
Oh.
Never mind.
–Emily Litella
July 16th, 2007 at 12:02 pmThis took seconds and I have more informations from the reader’s comments tan I’ll get from any other outlet. Thank you all!
Comment by dharma — July 16, 2007 @ 11:37 am
Sad isn’t it?
But I guess when the media plays to a 7th grade level and people on blogs play to a college-graduate level, there’s a vast difference in the level of content.
If you treat people like children, they will act like it. If you expect them to be responsible adults who contribute to the discussion, they generally do… Why blogs have become so popular. :D
July 16th, 2007 at 12:05 pmDefinitely should let them filibuster. Let them go on record with their “Debate” so that the American Public can see what they really stand for.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:10 pmBlackwater = DSM IV Axis II.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:18 pmBefore the Republicans were the minority a common excuse for them not doing anything was “The Republicans control it all, they can’t do anything”
Now that they are the minority the excuse is “But they are debating too much, we would make them vote but it’s just too hard”
When the Republicans controlled the house and senate the Democrats fought hard and with determination on issues (Fillibusters, late night votes etc) Now that they have the power they seem to have lost that drive. Perhaps it was all smoke and mirrors to get votes?
July 16th, 2007 at 12:19 pmThis is politics, get used to it or start crying and go home.
Comment by Blackwater
Cloture on motions to proceed has been invoked 13 times in the 6 months since Democrats took majority in the Senate in January.
Cloture on motions to proceed was invoked 4 times combined during the first sessions of the 108th and 109th Congresses.
Certainly the minority has the right to block legislation. We hope it would be because they think it’s the right thing to do for the country. But, I think Lott has made it abundantly clear that the motive is partisan politics, not in the interest of the country. How else can anyone explain blocking the Webb amendment, for example? And if you think it’s just politics as usual, I’ll remind you of this little gem from Lott:
“The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail…and so far it’s working for us.†- Republican Whip Senator Trent Lott, 4/18/07)
July 16th, 2007 at 12:21 pmHeh. Blackwater, the eminent hypocrite.
Just in case you forgot, you sanctimonious jerk, your party screamed up and down about democrats filibustering their appointees, and screamed about the nuclear option and about ‘obstructionist dems’. I wouldn’t be surprised to see your sanctimonious nose up in the air back in the days of the Democrats minority huffing about how it’s unfair that the will of the majority is blocked by the minority. I’d love to see how aghast you’d be if Reid grew a pair and quietly smiled and dug up Frist’s old Nuclear Option and set it on the table. Funny how your party is the one who is proceding all the way to interrupting routine senate business. At least when the Democrats threatened to do it, it was because of that nuclear option. Whatcha gonna do if that goes through? All it takes is a simple majority vote….
Fortunately for you, though Reid may bluff with it, he’s not going to actually put it through — unlike you, they know that their time in the sun is fleeting at best. How’s that 100 year long Republican majority coming along, anyway, Blackwater?
(Funny he names himself after a merc outfit, isn’t it? I wonder who is paying his bills? :) )
July 16th, 2007 at 12:30 pmAs made obvious by the choice of handle.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:32 pmComment by Tundra — July 16, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Tundra,
I can remember that not that long ago, the republicans were so frustrated with the dem’s fillibustering. Now they are the ones doing it….so the question is why.
A. Are they giving the Dem’s a taste of their own medicine?
July 16th, 2007 at 12:32 pmB. Are they only against it when it’s being used against them?
C. Have they finally come to a fundamental understanding of American politics and the reason and use of the fillibuster?
I think it would be ‘just desserts’ for the dems to allow the rethugs to filibuster till the cows come home so the american public can see just how obstructionist these criminals who represent them truly are. It’s pretty telling that there were only 4 cloture votes in the entire 108th and 109th Congress - it tells the people that the true “obstructionists” to doing the work of the people are certainly the Republicans and not the Democrats.
It’s time to hang these immature buffoons out to dry and let them talk themselves blue in the face - all the while the public will be mocking them and laughing their butts off at their expense.
It’s time to show this Republican party for the total sham that it’s become.
Let these thugs put on their best “dog and pony show” for the people…..I’ll pop the popcorn even.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:33 pmI don’t think it’s a case of “payback time”, Sgt. Higgins although that may be part of the toxic mix which is motivating this new Congress. Certainly, the retribution idea may be part of it all but it’s becoming quite clear that the Republicans open strategy is to squash any progress from the Dems as well as to even close down discussion of it - other than their individual sound bites which, of course, provide the appearance that they care about the issues….Big Talk, that’s all it is. They send out their “barkers” like Specter and Graham to hit the talk show circuit on the weekend to provide the smoke & mirrors “appearance” that the Republicans care to do something about the obvious corruption within. It’s all part of a very sick joke on the people of this country.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:37 pmBlackwater disappeared once you called him on the carpet. There’s no justification and Reid should have let it go to filabuster. I called him that day to voice my discontent. If the GOP wants to obstruct, let it ring from the highest towers. Let them justify why they don’t support the troops and get on record doing so.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:37 pmClearly, the concept of “up and down votes” which the Repubs whined about is “passe” now that they no longer have the ball. Isn’t it amazing what whores they make of their souls when they no longer have the ball in their court? Utterly astonishing!
July 16th, 2007 at 12:38 pmActually - the condition has a name. It is called SCAMD. Socially Conservative Authoritarian Mental Disorder.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:39 pmMsJ (MsJoanne I assume (hope!)….yes, everyone needs to needle Harry Reid. My jury’s still out on whether that guy has any spine at all; however, he sometimes talks a good game (albeit in his weakling style) but then knuckles under withe the first sign of pressure. Frankly, he needs to be sidelined by the Dems and a much stronger individual put in his place. He just doesn’t have the commanding presence and now we see how easily he folds which is probably why the Dems numbers are tanking….that and Miz Pelosi’s lack of morals in not bringing impeachment to the table. What’s up with that? Cindy Sheehan’s clock is ticking and will be running Nancy in circles soon…
July 16th, 2007 at 12:41 pmWhatever happened to the head of the DNC (Howard Dean)? He should be “screaming” right now and has gone mute on all of us.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:42 pmComment by SGT Higgins — July 16, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
I was heavily against it when the Democrats did it and I am equally against the Republicans doing it. I think it’s a sham whoever does it. It’s an example of “I’ll take my ball and go home because I have no idea how to compromise”
I remember when the Democrats were doing it this very board had things like “Way to go”, “Don’t let them boss you around”, “That’s the way to do it, stand up for your issues”. Now I suppose everything deserves an up or down vote.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:46 pmActually, Tundra, everything doesn’t. I can understand a Republican filibuster of a bill that removes our troops from Iraq…not agree with it, but at least understand it. I can understand a filibuster of something so inherently repugnant that the Republican Senators couldn’t go back home and look their constituents in the eyes if they didn’t put their foot down and say no. I hope it has the same level of insistance with the Republican base as the far-right judges and justices had with the Democrat’s base, but I don’t pretend to understand the far right anymore than I try to understand the far left. However, every single thing this Senate has tried to do? The Republicans gloating that they’re stopping all senate work? Frankly, the only time the Democrats did that, Tundra, was when the Republicans threatened the Nuclear Option. If you consider that reasonable, then you’re not being very reasonable at all…
July 16th, 2007 at 12:52 pmNow I suppose everything deserves an up or down vote.
Comment by Tundra — July 16, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
I think it’s much more about hypocrisy, as usual, than the act.
See how, regardless of the issue, the problem is always that the Republicans never do what they demand others do?
I happen to agree the Filibusters should be used sparingly, when an issue is something grave, and thatthe rule of thumb should be compromise. Unfortunately we live in such a polarized time that if it isn’t white, it is automatically assumed to be black. We need to get over that and get back to the debate in which the solution is a reasonal and non-partisan response to the problem.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:52 pm“That’s the way to do it, stand up for your issuesâ€. Now I suppose everything deserves an up or down vote.
Comment by Tundra
I think some of the frustration has to do w/ the strictly partisan nature of this, Tundra. For crying out loud, the Repubs bottled up legislation that would have taken better care of the troops they tossed into that meatgrinder over there, whilst they go home on recess.
You can have a difference of opinion over busing or budgets, but to sh*t on your own soldiers? Sorry, but that’s Ugly w/ a capital U.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:57 pmPaulB: “the news media is playing along with the Republicans by refusing to point out that what they are doing is, in fact, filibustering.”
Exactly! This is a big part of the problem, people. We have a mainstream media which shows deference to conservatives and looks for any opportunity to paint liberals and democrats as creeps. I have seen no mention on television of the fact that Bush will veto a bill providing children with healthcare rather than allow cigarettes to become more expensive. I have seen no discussion of John Edwards’ healthcare plan on television, but numerous stories about his extremely troubling haircut. Until we force the media to report the news in a balanced fashion with emails, boycots, letters, etc., they will continue to play us for fools. At this point, the only possibility is to somehow convince the parent corporations running the media that their game will ultimately be bad for their profits.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:57 pmYou can have a difference of opinion over busing or budgets, but to sh*t on your own soldiers? Sorry, but that’s Ugly w/ a capital U.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 16, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
True. It’s not like it’s selective reasoning with these guys. It’s about being poor losers, at other people’s expense.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:01 pmOn the three major broadcast networks, there was a grand total of less than 10 reports on Bush’s commutation of Libby’s sentence. By contrast, there were over 80 televised reports on Clinton’s pardon of Mark Rich. I saw no reports on television of the Repubs obstruction of Webb and Hagle’s legislation even though the point was to provide troops with rest between combat duty. I agree with the sentiment of this thread - Dems should force Repubs to continue with filibusters until the mainstream media is embarassed into reporting on it.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:12 pmYes, but what about Iran? The Deathocrats are saying nothing but war, war, war. Forcing filibusters is just bullshit, all this strategizing will mean nothing.
And what’s for dinner tonight on the Titanic???
July 16th, 2007 at 1:21 pmI think it’s a sham whoever does it. — It’s not a sham, it’s right there in the open.
It’s an example of “I’ll take my ball and go home because I have no idea how to compromise†— that it does appear to be, it’s immaturity….but then again, that’s the way the world views us. We are one of the youngest nations, Europe sees us as England’s bratty spoiled child, and the way we behave in the international ring makes it hard to argue with on many occasions.
I remember when the Democrats were doing it this very board had things like “Way to goâ€, —- I wasn’t here then, so I won’t comment on this.
Comment by Tundra — July 16, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
I can understand a Republican filibuster of a bill that removes our troops from Iraq…—– It wasn’t a filibuster of a bill to remove troops, it was to grant troops proper rest periods between rotations….do you GET that? they aren’t even called deployments anymore…they’re ROTATIONS. If the gist escapes you, you’re hopeless.
Comment by Jeremy
July 16th, 2007 at 1:22 pmThere is also the troublesome little fact that Dems who wanted to filibuster Bush’s Supreme court nominees have turned out to be correct with their concerns. After promising that respect for precedent was important to them, both Judges have made it painfully clear that they lied to get the job.
What is the repub excuse for blocking legislation which supports the troops? Purely political and without any shred of human decency or conscience.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:28 pm“Deathocrats” !!!???
Do me a favor, John from Taos, and f*ck off!
July 16th, 2007 at 1:30 pmThey need to put this into limelight and show the country who specifically aren’t letting America progress. If there’s people in congress who aren’t going to work in a bipartisan way the people need to know and the people will stop voting for them. It’s just rude, never once did the democrats go “Oh ya, that damn GoP let’s do anything we can to make sure they do nothing”. Now, this might have been cause they never showed up for work but the fact remains that there’s only one party willing to work with the other side.
This will be the beginning of the end of the GoP, more and more people are getting the message that this party as a whole is going downhill and I think unless the GoP can make a strong case that they’re willing to actually do something in the future this upcoming election is going to be a landslide. If all they’re going to do is turn down important ideas (such as, let’s not overwork our solders) and the reason we find out is because they’re blocking anything the democrats do just cause it’s not going to look good on them. Remember, the approval rating for the congress isn’t just for one side or the other, it’s a bipartisan effort and we’re unhappy with both side.
P.S. I wish this government would do something that didn’t involve killing, it seems that’s all this congress has accomplished…funding the troops again with another blank check to the white house.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:32 pmI skimmed through this quickly and think I saw a comment above that the Dems need to force the Repubs to filibuster and make it as public as possible. I agree. Repeat and repeat and repeat, loudly, forcefully, that the republican senators and representatives are obstructing the business of government. I will call today.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:33 pmThis is good, it gives me new faith in the Republican party. It’s wonderful to see this type of commitment from politicians!
July 16th, 2007 at 1:39 pmJeremy: “It wasn’t a filibuster of a bill to remove troops, it was to grant troops proper rest periods between rotations….do you GET that? they aren’t even called deployments anymore…they’re ROTATIONS. If the gist escapes you, you’re hopeless.”
For the members of this cult of death, the point is not to “get” anything. The point is to protect their cult leader.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:01 pm54. Hi, Col. Ripper! Good to see you here!
July 16th, 2007 at 2:13 pmFilibustering is all they can do because even the MSM will bring that to the public’s attention. Only we the committed will know if Bush vetos just what he has done and continues to do. The MSM will soon give up noticing vetos.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:15 pmAwww, you poor baby Conrad! Give up or down votes to the 9 judicial nominees filibustered, then we’ll talk.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:25 pmmaungq: “Filibustering is all they can do because even the MSM will bring that to the public’s attention.”
I haven’t seen one report on any of the major networks regarding this filibuster. Have you? Wolf Blitzer mentioned it briefly on his “Situation Room” program and then quickly moved on.
Thank you bogtrotters! Glad to be anywhere.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:28 pmHowever, every single thing this Senate has tried to do? The Republicans gloating that they’re stopping all senate work? Frankly, the only time the Democrats did that, Tundra, was when the Republicans threatened the Nuclear Option. If you consider that reasonable, then you’re not being very reasonable at all…
The Democrats have not kept up their promise about confirming Bush’s executive and judicial nominees! Tell them to get a move on it.
http://thehill.com/ leading-the-news/ specter-says-dems-broke-their-promise-2007-07-12.html
July 16th, 2007 at 2:29 pm*sigh*
“Nuclear option” anyone?
The Democratic leadership in both houses needs to stand up and let the GOP know that we’re not standing for their shenanigans and that they can whine all they want but we won’t allow them to hold Congress hostage and prevent it from acting in the interests of our country.
The issues are too important, and lives are too precious to put up with the childish tactics of the Republicans. Either they can participate or they can be sidelined, period.
It isn’t about what’s good for the party. It’s about what’s good for the nation. Don’t EVER forget that.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:30 pmAt least when the Democrats threatened to do it, it was because of that nuclear option. Whatcha gonna do if that goes through? All it takes is a simple majority vote….
Actually, it probably takes a ruling from the Vice President as well, according to several news reports. Good luck talking to Cheney!
July 16th, 2007 at 2:31 pmOnly a logic-challenged member of the Bush cult-of-death like M12 could find the filibustering of a measure giving combat troops proper rest equivalent to filibustering right-wing ideologues for a life-long position on the Supreme court.
You never fail, M12. Your lack of critical thinking skills is astounding.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:31 pmOnly a logic-challenged member of the Bush cult-of-death like M12 could find the filibustering of a measure giving combat troops proper rest equivalent to filibustering right-wing ideologues for a life-long position on the Supreme court.
What is a ‘right-wing ideologue’? Also, please define a ‘left-wing ideologue’.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:33 pmM12: “The Democrats have not kept up their promise about confirming Bush’s executive and judicial nominees! Tell them to get a move on it.”
Bush hasn’t kept his promise to live up to the terms of the war resolution. Maybe everything Bush wants should be thrown on a bonfire until he lives up to the terms of that resolution. Soldiers dying for a political blunder is just a little more important than executive and judicial nominees.
Oh, that’s right. Critical thinking is not your strong point. Why should anyone even try to reason with you?
July 16th, 2007 at 2:37 pmBush hasn’t kept his promise to live up to the terms of the war resolution. Maybe everything Bush wants should be thrown on a bonfire until he lives up to the terms of that resolution. Soldiers dying for a political blunder is just a little more important than executive and judicial nominees.
The idiotcrats are already doing that by cutting and running, putting our troops in an even worse position when Hillary sends 200k back in 2009.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:38 pmm12, if you don’t know what a right or left-wing ideologue is, ask your mother or whoever is homeschooling you. As a 14-year old, you should know this by now and I’m not going to do any favors for a little dick like you.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:39 pmm12: “The idiotcrats are already doing that by cutting and running, putting our troops in an even worse position when Hillary sends 200k back in 2009.”
Again, you display your lack of critical thinking capability. If you really believe Hillary would send 200K troops to Iraq rather than the 160K which are still there, and you support strong military action, why aren’t you supporting Hillary for President, dumbass?
July 16th, 2007 at 2:41 pmm12, if you don’t know what a right or left-wing ideologue is, ask your mother or whoever is homeschooling you. As a 14-year old, you should know this by now and I’m not going to do any favors for a little dick like you.
Hahahaha! Dodge, dodge, dodge!
BTW, you do realize that Judge Southwick is an Iraq War veteran? So much for supporting the troops!
July 16th, 2007 at 2:43 pmComment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — July 16, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
Romney will do the same without sending our country into socialism. I’ll take that instead.
July 16th, 2007 at 2:45 pmm12, is there any legitimate reason for you to be here? You’ve already admitted that you’re a 14-year old kid and your posts consistently show that you’ve got your head firmly shoved up your ass and don’t know what you’re talking about. You even make demands. You demand that people tell you things like a spoiled little brat. You desperately shriek for attention among people who hold you in the lowest possible regard. This would be a much better site without you. Does that make you feel good? If so, you’re just a sick little a-hole. Congradulations!
July 16th, 2007 at 2:51 pmComment by m12 — July 16, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
July 16th, 2007 at 2:51 pm* * *
Must be lunchtime. The trolls have sent in the third string.
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — July 16, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Someone forgot to eat their wheaties this morning? Your limited brainpower seems to be faltering….
July 16th, 2007 at 2:53 pmNone of you lefty cowards wanted an up or down vote during the Supreme Court Justice nominations. None of you! Rules are rules. You play your handbook whatever side your on. Thats why you can’t trust EITHER side to do whats RIGHT for this country! “You did it too, so now i’m doing it back!!”. I wish they would all take their f*ucking ball and go home. They pitt us against each like animals and then never do the right thing, laughing all the way. Both sides!! When are we ever going to elect a leader we can ALL trust?
July 16th, 2007 at 5:22 pmSwank, that was a big, steaming pile of bullcrap. This is about soldiers dying and soldiers getting time off between combat duty. The Dems attempted filibusters were about judicial nominees who, by the way, showed after they got their positions that they were lying to congress when they said they respected judicial precedent.
If you can’t see the difference, you need to see a shrink.
July 16th, 2007 at 5:54 pmI recall reading that neo-con guru Grover Norquist had issued a fatwa after the 2006 election calling for all Republicans to “just say no” in both houses. In other words, block everything, do not cooperate on anything, no bi-partisanship, etc etc. This is current Republican policy, and if nothing else they sure are good at party discipline. Dems need to expose the game at every opportunity. Love that Harry Reid.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:02 pmI agree
August 8th, 2007 at 3:52 pm