McClatchy: Senate Republicans On Track For Record Setting Obstruction
By Logan Murphy Friday Jul 20, 2007 3:32pmVia McClatchy Washington Bureau:
This year Senate Republicans are threatening filibusters to block more legislation than ever before, a pattern that's rooted in — and could increase — the pettiness and dysfunction in Congress.
Seven months into the current two-year term, the Senate has held 42 "cloture" votes aimed at shutting off extended debate — filibusters, or sometimes only the threat of one — and moving to up-or-down votes on contested legislation. Under Senate rules that protect a minority's right to debate, these votes require a 60-vote supermajority in the 100-member Senate.
Nearly 1 in 6 roll-call votes in the Senate this year have been cloture votes. If this pace of blocking legislation continues, this 110th Congress will be on track to roughly triple the previous record number of cloture votes — 58 each in the two Congresses from 1999-2002, according to the Senate Historical Office. Read more...
Remember the Nuclear Option? Here's Bill Frist from November, 2004 regarding the Democrats and Bush's judicial nominees:
Republicans say that Democrats have abused the filibuster by blocking 10 of the president's 229 judicial nominees in his first term -- although confirmation of Bush nominees exceeds in most cases the first-term experience of presidents dating to Ronald Reagan. Describing the filibusters as intolerable, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has hinted he may resort to an unusual parliamentary maneuver, dubbed the "nuclear option," to thwart such filibusters.
"One way or another, the filibuster of judicial nominees must end," he said in a speech to the Federalist Society last month, labeling the use of filibusters against judicial nominees a "formula for tyranny by the minority."
The Republicans clamored for an up or down vote on these judges and the Democrats caved. Why won't Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put the nuclear option on the table to stop the Republicans from thwarting the will of the American people and end our occupation of Iraq? If a handful of judges are worth invoking it, then the lives of our soldiers and the security of our country damn well should be...
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Watch how quickly republicans will flip flop when it's their filibuster being threatened. They are the essence of vile hypocrisy and any outrage from them is always a sham... they only care when their interests are at stake, integrity be damned.
I do feel that, now, both parties are bringing down this nation.
The republicans have supported an out-of-control regime that is destroying our way of life, not to mention the siphoning of our wealth to their corporate cronies.
The democrats are being pussies about everything. I'm sorely disappointed with Conyers and with the whole "these matters take time" mentality.
No, they don't take time. They take courage, and the new congress, both parties, lack courage.
I'm beginning to believe that it would be better for our country to vote out all incumbents in 2008.
It's times like these that a DC Madam can be really comforting.
Well said. Why not write him and remind him of that fact.
Vitter is basically toast so in one or two more election cycles with the Thuglicans twarting the will of the people a nuclear option may not be needed as we will have a fillibuster proof majority.
All the dems have to do is not allow them to table the bill. Force them to talk, forever. Most of the repugs couldn't talk for 30 minutes let alone 30 days. It's not like the dems have anything to propose, like IMPEACHMENT.
Still, it would be worth bring back the nuclear option if for no other reason to expose the hypocrisy of the Thuglicans by getting them on record as now opposing it.
By all means, let's highlight this. Point out that the Republicans are on pace to shatter the record for filibusters.
But do not put the nuclear option back on the table. As much as I hate the overuse of the filibuster, removing it would be far, far worse.
Ruthless People @ 7:
But that would also expose the hypocrisy of the Democrats.
Keep hammering them in the court of public opinion. Not even Fox News can help them win there right now.
This is easy to answer. The Dem's, in the main stream, are suckups to Corporate Facists Supporters just like the Repugniscums. There's not a goddamned dimes thin difference between the 2 useless parties in power!!!
BOTH PARTIES ARE CORPORATE SUCKUPS!!! One difference between the 2 suckup parties is that the Repugniscums [deleted - way over the top] You cannot find truth or tolerance in the Repugniscum Party!!!
The problem with the Democratic Party is that they too suck at the teet of Corporate Facist Supporters and try to cover their a$$es by claiming that they are "engaging" others for change.
BULLSHIT!!
The American People want and demand something better from both useless parties!!!
"Why won’t Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put the nuclear option on the table?"
I agree that he (and numerous other democrats) should talk up this point. It is so obvious that in times past the press would have jumped all over this. I really don't think some people in the american heartland understand that two years ago the republicans were actually trying to do away with the filibuster..and, yea, i know it's sad that they don't.
I remember ol' Harry shut down the Senate over something odious last year. Now is the time, people, quick DO YOUR JOB and reverse course -- Jefferson is spinning in his grave!
Harry Reid best use every means at his disposal to stop this Republican Administration and these all Republican Senators who would continue to promote this painful vainful war. No voter is going to forget that this war was started by Republicans and is being endlessly continued by REPUBLICANS. Republicans are doing this with the complete disregard and disrespect to the will and wishes of the American people. The American voter will not forget!
"Why won’t Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put the nuclear option on the table to stop the Republicans from thwarting the will of the American people and end our occupation of Iraq?"
This is what I've been asking myself. Also where's all the bleating about the Pubs being obstructionists like they did the Dems the last five years? The Dems need to shout this out. Of course, if they do, it probably won't get on MSM like they did with Terry Shaivo. What a travesty!
Dems also need to point to the Senators that blocked the bringing our troops home and say every soldier that dies from this day on is on your hands!
The dems are tied down like Gulliver. They can't do anything under these conditions, that's all there is to it. The system doesn't work anymore, can't work under this endless
sabotaging by the right. It just gets worse. May be time to accept and find a way to zero it out, recalibrate altogether. We've seen enough since '94.
In the short term, maybe Larry Flynt can work a little magic for us. But long term we're definitely screwed and so are the dems.
Until the media with it's Republican bias and complicity can be broken one way or another little if anything will change in America unless of course there is an actual revolution.
People could accuse the Dems of hypocrisy if they put the Nuclear Option on the table.
Just because the Republicans did it doesn't mean the Dems should too, now that the shoe is on the other foot. Shouldn't the Dems hold themselves to a higher standard than "Hey, they did it too"-- a well-worn Republican excuse/argument.
To those that say "the American voter will not forget" forgets that the American voter (those that even bother to show up at the polls) not only has a short memory but is completely at the mercy of a corrupted, compliant and complicit media. Besides that America has proven itself a nation of tough talking sheep.
I spotlighted this post to the WaPo editorial people - included my own remarks about how this is what they should be reporting instead of writing editorials about Harry Ried's failure to pass an Iraq bill in the senate.
I beg this would be true...
Not if they focus on regaining their voice in the MSM first and foremost. Then, and only then, can they begin to restore reasoned intelligence and rational calm to our public discourse.
Otherwise, they will be forever out shouted and shot down and despised and weakened by their moronic and loud enemy. The Repugnisums and their suckups!!
Interpreter of Maladies @ 17:
I completely disagree. It's the "higher standard" you refer to that's gotten us where we are today. Let them cry hypocrisy, the Democrats have the majority of America on their side. Do you not think the lives of those troops are worth it? I sure as hell do.
I forgooooooot about the nuclear option. Well there you go Harry. If that quack Frist can do it where is your balls, Harry.?
Why won’t Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put the nuclear option on the table to stop the Republicans from thwarting the will of the American people and end our occupation of Iraq?
Because the "nuclear option" requires the President (or president pro tempore) of the Senate to agree to a point of order:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_option_%28filibuster%29
Cheney is the President of the Senate and I don't think he would approve.
Peter @ 22:
WHATEVER. Make him deny it. Every day. Why not? That's what I want to know -- why not?
Low approval ratings for Congress I wonder why These assclown news pundits keep talking about low approval ratings for this democratic Congress Get rid of all these repugnants and see how quick the polls change cause some fur would fly
I think something is being missed here. Reid and the Democrats are always victim to whatever the Republicans do....time for not only a different mindset, but a return to the old ways. Much discussion has suggested doing Contempt of Congress the old way...Inherent Contempt. Do it now, not later....now, and no August vacation! And since the Republicans want to filibuster,...fine...make them do it the old way...continuously, 24/7,without respite..."Mr. Smith Goes To Washington". No one night slumber party...the original way...make them hold the floor. Call their f**king bluff or make them put on a national spectacle of intransigence. They're all hat and no cattle. The modern means of filibuster is tailormade for the girly-men of the right-wing. Time to return to the filibuster of a former time. Each and every time they invoke a filibuster, make them do it the hard way.
And no August vacation! Our troops get no August vacation in the 130 degree heat of Iraq...and there is justifiable outrage that the faux Iraq Parliament is off for the month. If Reid and the other congressional Democrats are serious about the Constitutional and war crisises that threaten our Republic, there is no time for such trivialities. America is in jeopardy....act like it...defend it...ruthlessly.
Besides, how many recess appointments will Cheney/Bush make during August? The polite, collegiality of the past...is PAST. Only the Democrats are playing nice. And that too must end. NOW.
I've just filled out some forms for organ donation. In the event I pass away sudddeny, I'm leaving my spine & testicles to the Democratic Party.
So much for the GOP's one-time favorite sound bite, "Up or Down Vote."
Mitch Mcchinless loves being the "human rain delay" like when Mike Hargrove played baseball
Da Spyda @ 27:
Thank you!
They can use more than you can supply. It's sad....
Why isn't this splashed all across the media? When ever the Democratic Minority farted in the general direction of the Thug Majority, pre 2006, the :roll: 'liberal' :roll: MSM was all over them for obstructing.
Sheesh :roll:
dixie blood @ 20:
I'd give anything to see more real human beings on the MSM, and of late the MSM is becoming much more outspoken and honest perhaps because the outlandish sick behavior of the WH is freaking people out enough.
There's a movement to push MSNBC to sell at a public auction and we know who they wish to silence (keith olbermann). Repugs wish to systematically silence voices and will
sell sell sell everybody's soul to be snarfed up by whatever mudpacked swine (so long as he's on their soul-killing team). Our blogging is also under great threat. These things are dying by degrees.
Even in the last few weeks, it's been more clear to me how inoperable our gov't really is.
Instead educate ourselves on how it's supposed to function (because this is a time like no other to do that), organize, revolt, zero it out and start over.
why wont he put the nuclear option on the table? because then he and the democrats would be the shining example of hypocrisy.. after having made such a good point about how ground breaking and out of bounds it would have been when the republicans talked about it, to use such an option would confirm the democratic side of the senate as being one and the same with the republicans.
calling them out on this is another story though. I don't think it has been put out forcefully enough that the republicans are stalling everything that moves. if the democrats resort to doing the exact things the republicans did, we'd be no better, only fighting for different causes with the same underhanded, unconstitutional rules.
The nuclear option is a bad idea and would set a terrible precedent, no matter which side uses it. Democrats shouldn't try to rewrite the rules to force Republicans to vote, they should instead show exactly how much Republicans are stopping work from being done, and take that to the people to have the Repubs voted out. If Democrats go for the nuclear option, then lose control of the Senate, the Republicans will quickly take advantage of it to stifle Democrats.
The filibuster exists for a reason, and if the Republicans are going to abuse it, then the Democrats should take it to them every single time. But not the nuclear option - we have too many bad precedents being set already.
And...
WHY...OH WHY...OH WHY won't someone in the media, besides bloggers call them on this B.S.?
Jason B @ 34:
Wow, this is so important that they stay with the rules and protocol, absolutely. Even though the atmosphere is akin to teachers in an 8th grade cafeteria during a food fight getting dinged with full soda cans and frisbeed hard with plastic trays.
How incredibly frustrating it must be to deal with these vicious so-called "fellow statesmen/women" who are making a mockery of their time and focus.
Can you imagine what it must be like to keep going on a job when every standard and expression of integrity is trashed and smeared EVERY TIME?
Breakdown time. Blithering weeping deep depression time.
Now it seems we're singing (demanding) to the wrong choir. We should be after the repugs and the quasi dems.
I don't think Democrats need to put the "nuclear option" on the table. They are not doing it because ultimately it goes against their own beliefs on ethical governance. At least that is what i hope.
What i think they need to do it release some videotapes of Republicans responding to Democratic filibusters of judicial nominees. Then they need to anounce to Americans how they respect govenment and the protection of minority rights while Republicans are hypocrites doing whatever is most expedient. In other words, they are a principled party as opposed to one that is manipulative and corrupt to the core.
The only thing that should be fillibusterable is judicial appointments and that power should not be able to be 'nuked' through any rules change by any future Senate.
This is what I see: the Democrats do not want an up or down vote. There really is no difference between the two parties. All republics are tools of the corporations and most Democrats. There are enough republic-Democrats to neutralize the progressives. It's all over without either a viable third party, parliamentary type reforms, or revolution. A coup is not a viable option as it would undoubtedly lead to a junta. We're fucked unless we're rescued by either a superhero or Popeye.
This article is exactly right. Reid continues to make symbolic gestures like the night spent filibustering--something that was basically worthless in terms of accomplishing anything, while overlooking the real hard assed choices such as the nuclear option. The repugs had no such qualms, and their "tough guy" stance played pretty well with much of the public. The House likewise has some real choices to fight the obstructionist behavior of the administration by jailing Harriet Meiers and a few other toadies from the White House. Why don't they play rough? The other side always has.
AbbeyHoffmansGhost @ 39:
It's sad, but, true...The demo-rats are sellouts just like the Repugniscums!! I've had it with both parties!!! Phuck all of them!!!
In my simple-minded understanding of the rules of procedure, there is nothing the chair can do to prevent hearing a point of order. It takes precedence over all other motions and is not debatable.
One word answer: Lieberman. Holy Joe supports the filibuster (when done be Republicans). In order to secure his voting for Democratic leadership of the senate, he must have been granted some extraordinary privilege that is still secret.
The democrats should never have caved on the egregious Supreme Court judicial appointments and dared the GOP to eliminate the filibuster when they were in power. It was clear at the time that the democrats would likely control the senate no later than the 2008 presidential election. Either the GOP would have been forced to back down or else the filibuster would be off the table now.
Yes, Joe Lieberman is the key to keeping Dingy Harry Reid from totally foolish overreach, though this over-the-hill fast-fading nobody keeps overplaying a very weak hand. Newt Gingrich did the same thing in '96 & it drove Billy Jeff to some under-the-desk R&R just to keep the pressure from building up. In the end Newt [and Billy Jeff] both blew it, so to speak, although Newt was active & BJ passive in this respect.
Though no one suspects Harry of anything except blundering incompetence, he may still turn himself into a one-term Majority Leader if he keeps the clownish balancing-act going for too long.
Every republican needs to be voted out pronto.
Well, I'm glad our librul media is pointing out the hypocrisy of the Repugs, and throwing the "up or down vote" and "nuclear option" words back in their faces...
oh, wait, they're not..nevermind.
What I think is funny is how republicans always quote statistics about how unpopular the "democratic controlled congress" is to Americans. They always fail to say its the obstructionist republicans in congress that everyone is mad at.
When ones only concern is re election and the taking of BOTYH house and the Presidency one shoukd know that NOTHING else matters. As having been proven with the FAILURE to IMPEACH DUH! its ' off the table oh! commintment that requires a NON BINDING COMMITMENT oh there are so many other things that youwho supported us just don't know, I mean do you realizr what we can PERSONALY gani from this the Corporate contacts the re electio worries of the past are just that in the past so you sniveling Americans keep supporting us on our lip sewrvice and WE WILL keep doing what is necessary to get re elected, that way we ONLY OWE OUR LOALTY to CORPORATE AMERICA. Now is that hard to understand.sheeesh!
Fucking hypocrites.
"Why won’t Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put the nuclear option on the table...?"
I know we're all frustrated and angry with the bitter partisanship of our repug legislators. But let's not fall prey to the temptation of 'they did it first...!' thinking. I'm not a big Harry Reid fan, but I don't want him to talk nuclear option because we're better than that. We don't have to go to that dark place where the right dwells. We're not cheaters, crooks or liars.
Although there have been times (most definitely times like these) during which our system of government has performed with less than desired results, the 'nuclear option' takes apart an important part of that system - a system that has served us well over the past 220+ years.
It is our leadership that is letting us down, not the American system of government. It is our willingness to engage in the debate in a context framed by our opponents that is hindering our success on this issue.
I consider myself a progressive and I believe in my heart that we are correct about our desire to end this war now. However, it is important to me that we maintain our ideals, because that what defines us as progressives. We have better ideas and our vision is based on sound moral standards.
People want this war to end now. Let's help our friends and neighbors see that it can end without disaster. I would guess that many people just don't think it can be done.
The right does not believe that the American system is a good one. (Remember, 'it would be easier if this was a dictatorship...as long as I was the dictator...'? paraphrased.) They would like to further take apart our system with stunts like the 'nuclear option' to the end of achieving their goal of the unitary executive. Let's not do their work for them.
If the US had a multi-party system, discontinued the Electoral College and outlawed any form of lobbying we MIGHT be able to pull ourselves out of this tailspin. We need several viable parties to aid in checks and balances. As it stands now, clever unscrupulous people have found ways to circumnavigate the checks and balances put into place by some very wise men. The elections are rigged, the Congress is a sham and the Department of Justice is more like Russia's KGB than what we all grew up with here in the US. We must FIGHT to clean house, and I'd start by firing every incumbent in 2008. Also, seperation of church and state is a concept that was founded because the US founders knew that the power that comes with politics is inherently incompatible with true religious growth, and vice versa. NO MORE CHURCH IN OUR GOVERNMENT! Religious leaders should know their rightful place in our society.
I don't know why everyone is talking about the "nuclear option". The Senate doesn't have access to nuclear weapons anymore, they took them away when Darth cheney became president pro temp. Besides, a nuclear weapon has a blast radius much greater than the distance to the WH. So unless they have become suicidal islamofacists, they couldn't use them if they had them; but we can dream.
On the table on the table on the table on the table on the table...
Today, Pelosi put a knit toiletpaper cozy on the table
I think that even though the war is unpopular, the Republicans might still have a defensible position in saying that they are waiting for Petraeus' September report on the surge. I think that the Republicans will argue for a troop reduction, but one that is not as rapid as many Democrats want.
roger
Yes
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