Cenk: One of the areas that’s now being brought up a lot, because of the Republican’s actions, is the filibuster. The Republicans seem to, at this point, to filibuster every single bill that comes across their desk. Yet it’s not painted that way. I know that in the past when you guys were in the minority, that they called a filibuster an extreme move. And in fact I know that you did not vote with the filibuster of Sam Alito. And part of that I imagine, and you’re on the line here so you can tell us, was that they painted it effectively as such an extreme and drastic move. Why do you think the Democrats have not been able to paint the Republicans filibuster as an equally extreme and drastic move?
Senator Kent Conrad: Because we don’t control the White House. You know the reality is the bully pulpit is in the White House, and President’s got the big megaphone. Congress simply does not.
Cenk: Okay, let me ask you real quick about the Sam Alito thing, and then I want to get back to what they’re doing with the filibuster today. Now having seen Sam Alito’s decisions so far in the circuit, do you, in this term I should say, do you regret not joining the filibuster of Sam Alito at all?
Senator Kent Conrad: Well, I regret voting for his confirmation. Sam Alito came to my office, promised me he was not an ideologue, promised me that he’d be in the broad mainstream of judicial thought, and is not proving to be the case. So, in a sense, shame on Sam Alito for not telling the truth about where he stood. But, you know, I think I can also be fairly criticized for believing what he told me, and I regret that.
Cenk: So lets come back what the Republicans are doing today. I know you guys don’t have the White House, but you have a bully pulpit of your own being in charge of the Senate, and the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid etcetera…the press listens to what he says. Is it possible that you guys can get together and say “hey you know what, if you’re going to filibuster and incredibly popular bill, whether it’s stem cell, minimum wage, or perhaps something having to do with the Iraq war.
Ben: Or giving enough rest to the soldiers coming back from Iraq.
Cenk: Exactly, that’s a perfect situation. We’re actually going to make you physically filibuster it. Go ahead and give speeches for 24 hours a day. We’re removing the rule that out of politeness and courtesy that we don’t make you do that anymore. We’re going to have you go and read the phone book, and tell us how much you’re against stem cells or the minimum wage, or for rest for the troops.
Senator Kent Conrad: Yeah, I think there’s a growing consensus that we ought to do that. And let me be clear, I’m not saying we don’t have an ability to speak out. Clearly we do. We have a narrow but clear majority in the United States Senate. We have a narrow but clear majority in the House of Representatives. And so we do have more of an ability to have our points of view heard than we did when we were in the minority, but it’s also the reality. The President has the biggest megaphone, and, you know, until Democrats have the White House, they’re always going to be at a disadvantage in terms of getting a message out. With that said, with that said, 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.
Ben: Well that’s very clear that’s their strategy. I’m glad someone has told you and made it clear, although it seems quite obvious that that’s the case. Senator, we have less than a minute here, but you talk about that slim majority. As honest as you’re comfortable being, how frustrated are you with the damage that Joe Lieberman does to the Democratic Caucus on a daily basis?
Senator Kent Conrad: Well, you know, we’ve got a lot of different views in the Democratic Party. Joe, in most issues, is solidly with us. We’ve agreed to disagree on Iraq. Joe has a very different view than most of us. As you know, I was one of the 23 who voted against going to Iraq in the first place. I thought it would be a profound mistake, and it’s proved to be. I don’t know if anything could be more clear. Here we are.
Ben: Right, but how does Joe, I mean we only have ten second left for you on this answer, but now four and half years later, how can Joe Lieberman possibly think this? Why can’t anybody get through to him? I know it’s not a ten second answer but do your best.
Senator Kent Conrad: Well, you know, it’s not just Senator Lieberman. There are many others who have this view. Look, I don’t know what could be more clear than going to Iraq and failing to hold to account Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda will prove to be one of the great, historical mistakes.
Ben: Senator Conrad, thank you for taking the time to talk to us. We really appreciate it.
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