Install a filibust-a-meter!

Email Print posted by prezalex 12/21/2007 09:07:13 PM EST

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Why is it that the Democratic Majority is still unable to get a significant amount of progressive legislation through? Why is Iraq still going on and the MSM is so compliant with the Good Ole Procrastinators?

Here's my idea: The Filibust-a-meter!

Count the number of GOP filibusters like points on a scoreboard. Make it a prominent part of the DNC message and use it all the time.
Make ads talking about the Rep Party using the filibuster a record number times and contrast that with GOP statements about the nuclear option in the past. See how those senators who have talked about getting rid of the filibuster have voted on cloture votes now. Make obstructionism an issue, it's easy, fun and the right thing to do.

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Poll

What do you think of a filibust-a-meter?
Hell Yeah! 88%
Probably a nice appeal to flashy graphics and all that... 0%
Maybe...I dunno 0%
I don't think that'll work 11%
No f'n way! 0%
Other/Alternative 0%

Votes: 9
Results | Other Polls
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Install a filibust-a-meter! | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)
trying to educate liberals (none / 0)
The "Gang of Fourteen" and the "Nuclear Option" were agreements and options developed for dealing with filibusters of judicial nominees. It had nothing to do with everyday filibusters.

The "Gang of Fourteen" was a bipartisan group of Senators who had enough sense to recognize that if judicial filibusters became commonplace, there would never be judicial confirmations, because the minority always has 40 Senate votes required to sustain a filibuster.

Prior to 2001, judicial filibusters were unthinkable, because we never had a group of Senators as lame, desperate, and nuts as this group of pathetic Democrats.

Let me know if you have more questions.


by KenTX on 12/22/2007 07:18:45 AM EST

I have a question (none / 0)
How can anyone that still supports bush  have the balls to call anyone lame or pathetic?  Thanks in advance for a quick response.

--- Truth To Power

by Leeberal on 12/22/2007 11:41:05 PM EST

[ Parent ]
You will be waiting a while (none / 0)
Ken has this habit of trying to change the subject or running away from an argument like a little bitch when he is loosing. Personally, if I loose an argument I man up and admit it but that is not Ken's way.

by z1p101 on 12/23/2007 12:05:59 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Smug and misguided - not a great combo (none / 0)

Seemingly even with the (I guess) outrageous number of judicial filibusters the Democratic Party enacted in the past:

1) The Dems worked with the GOP in the end to allow Bush's judges in as you yourself said. By your logic, we should see GOP senators extend an olive branch to Democratic senators to try to end these filibusters, right?

2) Those super-special judicial filibusters and all the other "everyday" filibusters combined could not even come close, within two years mind you, to achieving what the GOP minority has done in one year.

3) Oddly, or possibly purposefully, you have little to say on the actual filibuster record. Are you proud of being associated with the Grand Obstructionist Party? 

Cynicism is poison to reform and pumps life into the status quo.

by prezalex on 12/23/2007 07:00:25 AM EST

[ Parent ]
illogical and uninformed is undesirable (none / 0)
Clever prose is entertaining, but it helps to have command of history and logic if you want to appear educated. Allow me to demonstrate.

“Oddly, or possibly purposefully, you have little to say on the actual filibuster record. Are you proud of being associated with the Grand Obstructionist Party?” 
I support the tacit filibuster, because I firmly believe that all legislation worth advancing is worth the support of 60% of the Senate. We should not be passing laws that have bare, minimal support in Congress.

You might be interested to learn that Senate Democrats created Rule 22, and they were the first to use the filibuster.

“The Dems worked with the GOP in the end to allow Bush's judges in as you yourself said. By your logic, we should see GOP senators extend an olive branch to Democratic senators to try to end these filibusters, right?”
If you are suggesting that America deserves an up or down vote on judicial nominations, then I will heartily agree. Again, you might be interested to learn that Democrats were instrumental in creating the judicial filibuster.

A filibuster-proof Senate is very rare in modern-day politics, because the margins are relatively thin. Neither side is likely to achieve 60 seats. As a result, judicial filibusters allow the out-party minority to veto all nominations of a sitting president.

“Those super-special judicial filibusters and all the other "everyday" filibusters combined could not even come close, within two years mind you, to achieving what the GOP minority has done in one year.”
Filibusters are important to prevent the majority from steamrolling the minority. House Democrats invented the art of steamrolling the minority many years ago.

by KenTX on 12/23/2007 09:23:47 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Try this... THINKING FOR YOURSELF (none / 0)
Democrats invented the art of steam rolling AND invented the filibuster? Dems are aw some!

NO  he /she is suggesting that the Republicans have no interest in working with the Dems to the detriment of the country.  

Thanks for the pseudo history lesson.. no really.

copy and pasting other peoples ideas as a way to avoid answering the actual question is straight out of the Sean Hanity play book.  Guess you dont have as much "command" as you think.

--- Truth To Power

by Leeberal on 12/23/2007 12:36:14 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Really, Ken? (none / 0)
How are we to know that a piece of legislation has only "bare, minimal support" if one party is focused solely on filibustering most any spending bill in front of them?

Your example of Democrats being "instrumental" in the creation of the judicial filibuster seems disingenuous, seeing as how the Republican Party, in your own source, is stated to be the leading faction against Abe Fortas in the filibuster of the Johnson nominee.

We can agree that filibusters are necessary to reign in the majority, but do you really mean to say that:

a) The Democrats are steamrolling the Republicans?

b) That you supported past Democratic filibusters on Republican bills like the PATRIOT Act?

c) That you repudiate the tactics of the GOP house as "steamrolling" the Democratic Party, especially in the House?

Lastly, I wonder how one can believe that filibustering any bill the majority puts forth (unless it is the bill the President says he wants) looks or is anything but pure politics.

How can one think that the tacit filibuster, a nice name for the spineless filibuster, (which both parties have used I know) when used 62 times in one year is going to do anything but fan the partisan flames in Congress?

How is this anything but the tyranny of the minority?

Cynicism is poison to reform and pumps life into the status quo.

by prezalex on 12/26/2007 11:59:53 AM EST

[ Parent ]
really (none / 0)
“[Do you really mean to say that] you supported past Democratic filibusters on Republican bills like the PATRIOT Act?”
Outside of judicial filibusters, I absolutely support Senate Rule 22, and the right of the minority to block progress on any bill before the Senate. I believe the less legislation coming out of Washington, the better.
 
“How is this anything but the tyranny of the minority?”
It is a requirement for bipartisan support of any legislation. Take away Rule 22, and the Senate becomes merely a smaller version of the House, where simple majority rules.

There was a time when the Senate gave reasonable deference to the Executive’s judicial appointments. An up or down vote on judicial nominees has always been the rule, rather than the exception. Sadly, those days are gone.

by KenTX on 12/26/2007 07:31:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Seems like just about a year ago.... (none / 0)

by tiggerporn on 12/22/2007 07:24:10 AM EST

Good idea (none / 0)
I love the idea of the  Filibuster - o - meter.

--- Truth To Power

by Leeberal on 12/22/2007 11:38:46 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Install a filibust-a-meter! | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)
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