Senate Republicans May Filibuster Obama Stimulus Package
By Jon Perr Saturday Jan 31, 2009 11:00am
Last year, the Roadblock Republicans of the 110th Congress set the all-time filibuster record. Forcing 104 cloture votes by October 2008, the Senate's GOP minority easily eclipsed the old mark of 61 filibusters. And now, fresh on the heels of "elated" and "celebrating" House Republicans' refusal to provide a single vote in support of President Obama's $825 economic recovery package, Senate Republicans are now suggesting they will filibuster the stimulus bill.
That's the word from ThinkProgress, which Friday afternoon offered a round up of the latest in Republican obstructionism. While Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions offered a none-too-thinly veiled threat of a GOP filibuster ("I think its going to take 60 votes to pass the bill"), Arizona's John Kyl said he would explore "whatever parliamentary possibilities are in front of us." Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) promised to join the effort, announcing, "I would be a part of it." And on Thursday, Chuck Grassley (R-IA) told Robert Siegel on NPR that a filibuster of the Obama package passed by the House could be in the cards:
SIEGEL: By the way, Senator, we always just assume that anything in the Senate requires 60 votes because there will be a filibuster threat. Is that right? Does this bill need 60 votes to pass?
GRASSLEY: Yes.
SIEGAL: It does?
GRASSLEY: Yes.
The revelations are just the latest signs that Senate Republicans will violate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's pledge three weeks ago "I don't think this measure's going to have any problem getting over 60 votes." Referring to almost $300 billion in tax cuts already incorporated by the Obama administration, McConnell said:
"It could well have broad Republican appeal and make it much more likely that the measure passes with broad bipartisan support, which is what the new president would like and what we would like."
As it turns out, not so much. Getting in line with their obstructionist House brethren, Senate Republicans are apparently once again preparing to return the filibuster. That would be the same Senators who until their crushing defeat in the November 2006 mid-terms routinely demanded their judicial nominees get an "up or down vote."
(This piece is crossposted at Perrspectives.)
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surprise time for the (R) to put on the fiscal responsibility hat. that hat was in the closet for the last 8yrs. this weekend the (D) and (R) will scratch some of the programs getting negative media ie. smoking cessation program/HIV/ birth control. it will pass this is postering to be expected. the (R) are creating there reason for existence.
The Dems had a very long time (during the primaries) to make it crystal clear to the american voters that without a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate nothing would get done. They failed to make that case. The issue came up rarely, if at all. It should have come up every day. Now we will suffer the consequences.
The only hope at this point (other than the unlikely scenario that some Republicans cross the to aisle to vote) is that Gregg accepts Obama's appointment and his seat is filled with a Dem and Franken wins the Contest.
at least on TARP if not the Stimulus.
What is in any of the bailout legislation to prevent this?
(VIA Rawstory, GM spending 1 Bil of its money in Brazil not US)
It will get passed and the Republican party will pay dearly for their ineffective ideology. Something has to be done. The country is floundering. We've had two cases of murder suicide by men would saw no future and no home for the children they brought into the world. There are many people in this country who are losing HOPE. And the Republicans filibuster. Dumb asses.
I agree but hopefully without a single Republican insert of any kind.
If they threaten to filibuster, let them.
Normally the Dems cave in and the Repubs know that . . . this time keep them wondering and make them work for what they want.
Your right. I sent an e-mail to Sen Corker asking him was he taking his marching orders from Limbaugh. I told him he should support this bill. If everyone e-mail your senator let them know you are watching and you want them to cooperate it might get them off the piss pot and vote yes.
"McConnell: Voters 'Seem To Have Stopped Paying Attention' to GOP"
...and this is WHY.
A big reason they may have "Stopped Paying Attention to GOP" is because of Ron Paul? Then again, he is "GOP", go figure?
Some of His ideas, I believe hold merit. Though many of his supporters are too churchy for me, only boasted by his endorsement of 3rd party candidate, Pastor Chuck Baldwin. There are not many people in government with his voting record as it relates to the constitution.
Why he believes what he believes, I can only assume. I just think the earth is a little older then the bible, that's all. There is a little right and wrong in all us. [General Comment]
"Are right and wrong convertible terms, dependant upon popular opinion?"
[William Lloyd Garrison]
You listen to him and its like: sensible, yeah, ok, wow briliant insight!, hmmm that one was iffy, then
WHOA NELLY! get back on the farm!
after a while of running about completely amok, he comes back ...and starts saying things that make sense again.
He's genuine, but like like my cat .. no clue when his logic will have a catfit and run about madly for no obvious reason, but other than that he's great. Anyone else have a cat like Ron Paul?
It's way past time for a prime time address from Obama to the American people reminding them which party has held the White House for 20 out of the last 28 years, and also held recent majorities in both houses of Congress.
Why not show the American people the Republicans have neither credibility nor solutions when it comes to the economy?
Up or down votes
Isn't that how they vote for Miss. America?
I would love to watch the Republicans try this strategy because I want their party gone forever. It's a sick cruel and ineffective party that has all but destroyed our economy and the world with its backward thinking. Who the hell doesn't believe in green house gasses? I hope one of those Republicans has the balls to get up and chant "Let them eat cake."
In this instance, they should filabuster the measure.
Spending almost a trillion in money we don't have, and may not have in the future, is not a remedy for the declining economy.
This measure is just another boondoggle.
you may be correct what is the remedy?
Encourage people to grow their own food.
Foster a sense of independence in people rather than the notion that government can fix what it breaks, and can solve the problems it creates for its citizens.
The alternative is to "provide the credit that the American consumer needs to finance their day to day living expenses"
To me that sounds like a lousy plan. Any kind of debt.
What about those of us who live in condos and apartments, collectivist farming?
Yes can be done. It is being done where I live. Several community gardens have sprouted up and a very modest farm with livestock popped up across the street. I know it isn't practical for everyone. But if just a few of us got out of the food distribution system, we would not be exposed to the perils that come with dependence on mega farms and companies (ie peanut butter!)
I must need a nap; I thought you said exposed to the penis that come...
How could you look at my comments and see something dirty?
"we would not be exposed to the perils (penis) that come with dependence on mega farms and companies..."
"curtilingus"?
I'm sure you were inspired by the Irish airline.
Air Lingus?
I'm sure he's a cunning linguist though.
I misread comments all the time. Could be my age. I assure you it's a source of great humor around here.
Where all Miss Emily Letilla's here.
God I miss Roseann Rosannadanna.
is 4 blocks down hill from I5 and two blocks down hill from a major arterial. I would never eat food grown in this neighbourhood...
I live in Henderson, NV. The land below us was an old quarry, god only knows what kind of crap was dumped on that land before they packed a bizillion condos onto it. Plus, this soil, is just weird, hence the problems when it rains or snows, the water just sits on top of it and then trickles away.
Unless I grew something in containers with sterilized and imported soil, I don't think I would touch it.
just off Windmill & the 215.
:)
MK, you can always come up to Tulalip Bay and help my wife with out garden, we'll share. And I agree, I'd rather not eat anything grown outside on Cap hill.
Yes I live in the country. The first year I was here my mother-in-law show me how to grow veggies, potatoes, corn, and beans. We had a lot of everything. We had so much we couldn't even give it away. Its been 15 yrs ago. Last year I grew some tomotoes in 2 large steel barrels. While I got some tomatoes. It didn't do to well. My health and my husband health is not that great. Last year I asked a neigbor who had a tracker if he could plow a small area for us so I could plant again. He said yes but never showed up until it was to late. I will ask again probably in the next 2 weeks. Than I will go buy a small tiller. That really will help in growing your own food. Some neigbors last year gave me some potatoes, and tomatoes. I really appreciate. It is alot of fun and the kids really get into it. You can put a pot on your balcony and grow tomatoes. Try it you will be pleased.
And your solution is?
who sees something wrong with a situation and says something to come up with a solution? Are we not allowed to express dismay at a situation unless we have a solution for it?
I hate the warring. My solution, be diplomatic instead. Do you think that people would find that acceptable as a solution?
Let me come up with a solution, I believe I can derive from TruthB's post.
"Spend less money"
never said anything 'wrong' curious about what think the solution is/are. less spending that's out their. what is less spending where do you do it?
More and more on this site when someone says "I don't like 'X'" they tend to get pummeled with a "you solve it" comments after.
I don't like a lot of things for which I have no solution. Or for which I have solutions that make so much sense, no one with power would ever consider them... :-)
It's sorta like arguing on the HMS Titanic about what course correction one should take before hitting the iceburg...
Steer left.... no, I don't like that route...
Steer right.... no, that route wastes too much fuel...
Stop.... what, and miss our dock schedule?
wow 'pummeled'. geez....i guess we're getting some pummeling for asking some possible solutions. man.........
Über ultra sensitive. My bad. If I'd known -- nah, I'd have still brought it up. Only in a much more offensive, accusatory manner.
When you talk nasty.:)
i hope it feels good.
thinks so...
:P
My name up on top.
I'm so proud, I'm speechless.
;)
I'm hearing you karl.
Solutions or ideas are hard to come by. Much easier to just ..............well,..........you know.
I think that would be simular to what Hoover did.
For one thing, my solutions would not be politically acceptable to the elites and the powers that be.
they built this system, and convinced the masses that it is a "free-market." They rigged it to benefit them - NOT YOU, and certainly not the 3rd world nations we exploit (a poltically acceptable term for rape/financially enslave.)
Any measure they try to pass will be just a continuance of the shell game of responsibility.
In a Ponzi scheme, which this all is, the solution is to get out of the scheme before it collapses. Not to throw more money at a ever-widening black hole and HOPE that the market changes direction.
Why should it? You keep throwing money at it.
politically, that is.
Short of a complete worldwide economic crash and an ensuing population-decimating paroxysm of violence.
We have pretty much all the ingredients in place that preceded World War II, except a maniac to spark it.
at a rate of about 125%, a figure expected to be up to ~200% by 2050 or so. This cannot continue. The U.S. accounts for ~5% of world population and 25% of resource consumption. This cannot continue.
Only a radical socioeconomic reorientation can turn this tragic tide. I don't see any political appetite for it, just more rearranging of deck chairs and kicking the can down the road.
More likely, a series of natural disasters coupled with worldwide epidemics will do the trick.
...is already being applied. The politicians are arranging it so they and their buds can suck all the wealth
out of our country, causing chaos and whatever ensues from that, whilst they watch from their deck chairs on humongous yachts, or in Dubai, Paraguay, or in Davos, say.
Then whoever's left standing here can figure out a way to start it up all over again. It's just a cycle - we just happen to be involved in the end of this one.
I present one, and 10,000 more.
...his name was George Bush.
How about Kim Jung Il or Amadenajead they may serve as maniacs. Even Hugo Chavez if he needs a fix.
I like the way you think Bobby.
Ooh ooo! Can I be the maniac ys?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cE1fzfOogo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5tQt0IWwcE&fe...
Thanks ys. the first one satisfied my brief megalomaniacal craving. The second one confused me so I just took a bong hit and listened.
That sounds like a good idea.
Now, if I can only find it.
hmmmmm? where did I put that stuff?
That was just a reference to my fading attention span, and the acknowledgement that my first link might be apropos of nothing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYj1nkwMp4k&fe...
Bush was spending money we don't have long before Obama took the throne. That is all we have to spend, is money we don't have. The Federal Reserve has been creating 'money' out of thin air for decades, you just don't change something like that over night or in a few years.
Man, I wouldn't want the nasty seconds of taking the throne right after boosh.
Ok what is your suggestion. Have you submitted to President Obama? He is doing his best at least give him a damn chance.
...when the light will go on for the GOP. They are bitching, moaning and complaining that they have become persona non grata, the red headed step child, political poison, yet they continue this 'us against them attitude'. They go from being rubber-stampers to obstructionist, then wonder why no one trusts them any longer.
they're so concerned about their identity. to admit to bush's failure(s) is difficult. questioning the self -deception is painful. the brain washing, that (D)'s love taxation and socialism runs deep in certain (R) demographics. for some much of this is still culture something that should have nothing to do(or very little) with governance/politics.
As soon as wimpy Democrat's force Republican's to actually stand on the floor and talk for days on end, then I'll believe they're filibustering. The mere threat of a filibuster seems to drive Democrat's to bend over like a bunch of whores, taking it every which way. Force these Cons to actually make asses out of themselves - it would at least make for some newsworthy tape...
"Republican's stall economic recovery, send unemployment to 25%... film at 11"
I should point out that the new bailout proposals have strings, so CEO's can't give themselves multi-million dollar bonuses.
I thought the last one was necessary to free up funds for lending, and I should hope the government would investigate those who lost the money, or used it to buy weaker banks instead of loaning the money. We need that to make buying homes and cars even possible.
The new package is needed to prop up a sick economy. "Why pay the doctor's bills to save grandpa when he's old anyway?" One dollar more for OUR economy is one dollar less for war. Additionally, since a lot of it is for infrastructure, education and the rest one could see that as an investment in the future, and failure to do so would look like class warfare: the bankers get theirs, but Joe Six-pack can go to hell.
and we wouldn't want it to "look like" class warfare, would we?
I say call their bluff. Have them be responsible for stopping the work of the Senate. See how long they can take that kind of heat.
Amen . . . The Democrats cannot keep appeasing this bunch. They have already proven they have no intention to work together . . . i.e. The big brag on 100 percent NO VOTE in the House. They've shown their colors brasenly . . . so drive on without them!
opportunity to put another nail in the GOP coffin. If this bill passes, it will be with massive tax cuts that ~40 republican senators voted no. If it doesn't pass, it will be because of Republican filibustering. Lose-lose for their party. It appears though, that Obama might not be as savvy as I first thought. I hope I'm wrong.
have a solution?
They went to war with Iraq to fight Bin Laden... (wrong target.)
They cut taxes for the wealthy... (money didn't trickle-down to ME.)
They tortured EVERY "terrist" at GITMO... (now they can't convict ANYBODY.)
The bailout package might not be perfect... but what's better... spending a billion borrowed dollars a week in Iraq...
or spending it in the good old USA?
would that it were true! but obamas going to leave enough troops to keep the iraqy under our thumbs for yrs to come, that aint going to save a dime! not while were paying them to not kill so many of us! combined with the obama surge in afganistan we will probably see an increase in spending instead of a saveings!
I agree with everything you just said...only
one problem...the politicians & corporations
outsourced everything. Even alot of the $87
billion for medicaid is going overseas because
patient information is processed overseas
according to Firedoglake article. So yeah it
would be great to keep money at home in the good
old USA but, about the only thing we have left for jobs are football, baseball, booze and gambling.
Bring ALL of the troops home.
Cut the 'Defense Budget' in half.
Reverse the 'bailouts', let the banks go bankrupt, then nationalize them,
Only pass stimulus provisions that improve productivity, ie education and mass transit.
Prohibit any entity which receives public money from lobbying congress.
End the war on drugs.
Repeal Taft Hartley
End the rights of Corporations as persons.
Renegotiate NAFTA and WTO "as if human beings matter"
The rest I'm not versed well enough in to comment on.
But I'll try to learn more about it.
In particular, Taft / Hartely. I'm not familiar with that one yet.
WTO. I'm not sure of that.
But I would like to add this to the conversation.
Taft/Hartley restricted the Wagner(sp?)Act.
I always want to write Waggoner Act, becuase George Waggoner directed the Wolf Man with Lon Chaney Jr. (Creighton Chaney), now being remade with Benicio del Toro in the lead role.
I've been asleep.
...the only problem is, it ain't gonna' happen! The people with the money and power - the corporations and the congress - are the ones who are benefiting most from the current state of affairs. They will not
"vote" themselves into the poor house or out of power. Good ideas, though; save them for after the revolution.
It is time to cut out corporations. The problem is
our politicians rely on them to get re-elected. At
this very moment politicians are lining up donors for their next campaign. Who are the donors- corporations.
So they come home & stroke us, get re-elected and start the cycle all over. Don't kid yourself for one moment their is so much payback in the economic recovery bill, it is ridiculous.
come on...enough of these omnibus bills, where reps and senators can hide pet projects that do nothing but give their buddies handouts
the repugs are all crooks...but why hand them a talking point?
it is time to let certain items stand or fall on their own merits
this should be a jobs bill
calling it a jobs bill doesnt make it one...
if dems wont be honest with the american people, they will lose power come 2010
strip the bill of the bs
then, create bills dealing with the other issues, such as family planning, education and health care
show the american people that you do really care
This is a good point.
Just fine! The Republicans are buiding a history making it evident they have absolutely no intention to help the working class. When they get done, thinking they are showing they still have power, they will have set themselves up for the Democratic Party to stay in power forever.
Go to it you dumb f----s.
Just watched a CNN news clip wherein Rudy The Bootie Bandit Ghouliani said that restricting Wall St. bonuses will hurt the economy, 'cause financial execs won't eat out as much in restaurants or spend on luxury goods etc, and Us Little Peeps will suffer.
Mayor Bloomberg announced severe budget cuts yesterday, including police & firemen. While those Wall Street fatcats continue to wine and dine, the rest of the city will be suffering.
A day or two ago, some poster whose id I don't currently recall, posted an interesting link mentioning Bloomberg and his alleged relationship to our current fiasco.
It's a read, I would just like too pass it along if ya get some time. Said something about Bloomberg creating some sorta software and or program that had an alleged proprietary type advantage to the money game? As well as Bloomberg being a private company under the radar?
What Cooked the World's Economy?
It wasn't your overdue mortgage.
By James Lieber
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 at 2:46pm
http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-28/news/w...
Guiliani does not have one clue...after all it is wall street that was his beat and i'm sure he has been bought and paid for by them over and over. Time to
outsource his butt.
Hey Jeff,
Here's the new version of up or down for you Republicans: Up yours as your pigsty of a party goes down.
Keep going Jeff. Pretty soon the voters will kick you and your asshole colleagues off the island.
So now we have a "stalemate" government? The 2 party system has failed. Time to start over.
On how much damage they are willing to accept responsibility for.
Other then that they should be shut out of any important decisions.
I think they have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are not capable of making decisions of importance to America?
Hell the can't even make good decisions about their own lives how can you expect them to make good decisions about the thing that effect your life?
Whenever you hear a republican telling someone what he would do, you should tell him to just STFU if I want to hear some stupid bullshit I will ask you!
Ah, I remember the ol' 'up or down vote'. The cry of so many Republicans when they were in the majority?
'Just let this bill or nominee stand on its' own merit and give it an up or down vote'. Bill Frist and GW said it many times.
But of course, up or down votes only apply when Republicans are assured of the outcome. Otherwise, not so much.........we just can't take a chance that Obama or the Democrats might be successful!
The more I hear about the stimulus bill, the more I am
kind of hoping the Senate does something to take out some of the pork. For example 33 domestic medicare contractors use offshore outsourcing to process patient
information. 2 FFS contractors, and 1 medicaid direct.
With $87billion slated to go to medicare, shouldn't
those jobs be kept here in America. If the Senate does
not act to stop provisions like this, billions of dollars will be going overseas to pay workers in other countries. Personally, I think it is outrageous and maybe it would be a good thing if the republicans filibustered the bill. The democratic leadership in
Congress don't have the guts to stand up to corporate lobbyists and special interests who have bought and paid for our government.
The story out now is that many GOP Governors want the stimulus package to pass. They are facing huge short falls on everything and many GOP Governors are calling GOP Senators to ask how they can get the bill to pass.
If the GOP filibusters, they have to go home to the constituents.
Good luck with that.
It is time for the republicans to be Americans first or
get lost. The democrats need to make sure they do not
make the same mistakes the republicans made when they
were in control of the House and Senate under Bush. They
were totally fiscally irresponsible. The house bill is
about half fiscally irresponsible. The democrats need to
take a hard look at making sure this bill is money going
to be spent here, fast, and fixing our economy. Right now there is a lot of pork that the Senate needs to trim and retarget the funds. They need to get it done and get it to President Obama to sign asap. If the
republicans filibuster, it will make for good tv, then the American people will go to Washington, tar and feather them and ride them out of town on a rail...just like the good old days. Wouldn't ya just love it!
Does anyone ever examine the reason Republicans are able to pull off 104 filibusters?
Anyone?
Because Great Leader Reid only requires them to state their intent to filibuster in order to filibuster. Nobody has to do the actual "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" work of filibustering, no long speechifying for hours on their feet.
Why would Harry do this? Why does he enable this obstructionism? If they had to really filibuster, we would stop this stupid talk about needing 60 votes to get anything done. Reid is the worst, and bad for the party and Obama.
Anyone??
The way I understand it, the republicans offer Reid a little crumb, then Reid puffs himself up with pride as he delivers this crumb to the American people. If he stands up to republicans, he might lose his crumb (never mind that the republicans since 2006 have been too weak to really deny any crumbs). So Reid's bold, pragmatic leadership successfully allows crumbs to escape the Senate.
Reid is incompetent and that is being kind. Please explain to me how he got the position in the first place and how he manages to hold on to it.
This government is broken because of republicans! This is their failed ideology. Let them own it! They are truely morons.
They destroyed our government because that is exactly what they wanted to do - and they succeeded. Don't blame anyone else.
As an old geezer, I have seen lots of R's and D's come and go. It wasn't until this current crop of corporate fascist goons took over, that things got this bad!
Do you think our country is in this pitiful state because thye were governing in our best interest over the last eight years?
rep gingrey knows what kind of pressure limbaugh can put on. i think that chickenshit limbaugh dem nelson from nebraska might join them - he sounded like it.
...to the blue dogs. They'll probably vote with the Reptilicans.
I hate Obama and what he and his socialist cronies are trying to do, but time is long gone for the Republicans to take the proper action.
If I remember correctly, and I do, it was the entire congress with the exception of a handful who voted for the bailout and a continuation of corrupt politics.
The only option left the American people is to abolish this present so-called Government and start over again with the Constitution being the rule book..............like is was meant to be!
All these politicians with the exception of a veeeery few are corrupt bastards who need to be hung by their heels for no less then a week prior to being tarred and feathered and chased out of this Constitutional Republic.
Let the GOP filibuster the jobs/stimulus bill. I have a strange feeling it is going to somehow not appeal to very many of our fellow citizens at the moment. Except for the nutcase right.
Wants all americans unemplyed to pull yourself up by your own bootstarps even if you can't afford to buy a pair.
Shameful disgraceful pigs
Slum dogs
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