Senate Republicans Warn They Will Shut Down The Senate

[Locutus]

If Harry Reid Goes Through With Unprecedented Plan To Change Filibuster Rules…


From Zip:


They better.

Via Politico:

A partisan war is brewing that could bring the government to a screeching halt as early as January — and no, it’s not over the fiscal cliff.

It’s all about the filibuster.

Democrats are threatening to change filibuster rules, in what will surely prompt a furious GOP revolt that could make those rare moments of bipartisan consensus even harder to come by during the next Congress.

Here’s what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering: banning filibusters used to prevent debate from even starting and House-Senate conference committees from ever meeting. He also may make filibusters become actual filibusters — to force senators to carry out the nonstop, talkathon sessions.

Republicans are threatening even greater retaliation if Reid uses a move rarely used by Senate majorities: changing the chamber’s precedent by 51 votes, rather than the usual 67 votes it takes to overhaul the rules.

“I think the backlash will be severe,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the conservative firebrand, said sternly. “If you take away minority rights, which is what you’re doing because you’re an ineffective leader, you’ll destroy the place. And if you destroy the place, we’ll do what we have to do to fight back.”

“It will shut down the Senate,” the incoming Senate GOP whip, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, told POLITICO. “It’s such an abuse of power.”


Keep reading…




http://weaselzippers.us/2012/11/25/senate-republicans-warn-they-will-shut-down-the-senate-if-harry-reid-goes-through-with-unprecedented-plan-to-change-filibuster-rules/

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[Tonington]

The rule does need reform...the GOP is just unhappy that it's happening while they are the minority party. If you think of it another way, they only need to win a few Senatorial elections to end Obamacare.

As detailed in a new report by the Brennan Center, which studies American law and justice,the filibuster has contributed to an astonishingly unproductive Senate. The current 112th U.S. Congress has enacted just 196 public laws, the lowest number of any Congress since World War II and lower than during previous periods of divided party control. In the Senate, just 2.8% of bills introduced have been passed, another record low in modern times. The number of cloture motions — to proceed to a vote and end a filibuster — has similarly skyrocketed. More such motions have been made in the last six years than in the 70 years prior.

Today's filibusters bear little resemblance to those of the past. Where once filibustering senators were required to remain at the podium, speaking continuously — Sen. Strom Thurmond famously stood for more than 24 hours in his futile attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957 — now they invoke it on a so-called motion to proceed. The result is that legislation is derailed without even the effort, or theater, that accompanied a lone senator's passionate objection to a bill. And the Senate, which once halted all other business until a filibuster was resolved, now merely moves to the next matter. The modern filibuster has gone from being extraordinary — think of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" — to routine. And the predictable consequence is that very, very little gets done.
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Senate filibuster in need of reform - latimes.com

 

[EagleSmack]

Yes the filibuster needs to be reformed... especially since the Dems are in charge. When the aren't in charge using the filibuster is brave. Hypocrites.

 

[DaSleeper]

Why the filibuster is OK for Democrats but not for Republicans. - Slate Magazine

 

[WLDB]

Yes the filibuster needs to be reformed... especially since the Dems are in charge. When the aren't in charge using the filibuster is brave. Hypocrites.

I'd say both parties are hypocrites on this issue. The Republicans would be pretty mad if the situation was reversed.

 

[The Old Medic]

The Democrats had best be careful what they do. Anything that they do now, the Republican will go one better when they take charge again at some point in the future.

And do NOT think for a minute that the Republicans won't get control again at some point.

 

[tay]

Senate Rs mad that Senate Ds might pass filibuster reform they agree with



Well, what else is new, right? Not only is partisan disagreement over, well, just about anything now a matter of course, but it can hardly be said that a Senate shutdown constitutes any departure from the norm.

But if you read this story backwards, you'll get to the bottom of the headline much faster.

Here's a digest of what you'd see, reading the story the traditional way. That is, from the beginning:


Here’s what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering: banning filibusters used to prevent debate from even starting and House-Senate conference committees from ever meeting. He also may make filibusters become actual filibusters — to force senators to carry out the nonstop, talkathon sessions.



Still, isn't it a genuine loss for Republican senators not to be able to block bills and nominations simply by waving a hand at them? Wouldn't it be wildly unpopular with them to force them to actually take the floor and talk about what they're doing?

Well, here's where reading backwards comes in. Here are the two final paragraphs in the story:




But Democrats don’t think the changes will prevent the minority from exerting its rights. And if Democrats push through their “talking filibuster” plan, both Barrasso and Coburn say they’d be willing to go to the floor and make their objections heard.

“I’ll filibuster any way I can,” Coburn said. “If you want to filibuster, you ought to be willing to get out and earn it. I don’t have any problems with that.”


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/26/1164809/-Senate-Rs-mad-that-Senate-Ds-might-pass-filibuster-reform-they-agree-with

 

[EagleSmack]

I'd say both parties are hypocrites on this issue. The Republicans would be pretty mad if the situation was reversed.

You mean Democrats would be mad if the situation was reversed.

 

[Cliffy]

You mean Democrats would be mad if the situation was reversed.

The Republicans are just plain ol' mad, as in hatters (with tea bags hanging from them...). They would rather destroy their country than help rebuild it. If they had a clue, they would be dangerous.

 

[EagleSmack]

Good post Cliffy... stupid as ever it seems.

 

[lone wolf]

The Democrats had best be careful what they do. Anything that they do now, the Republican will go one better when they take charge again at some point in the future.

And do NOT think for a minute that the Republicans won't get control again at some point.

...and that's the whole problem with party politics and gang warfare....

You mean Democrats would be mad if the situation was reversed.

Yup.... Just as mad as the Reps are now

 

[Cliffy]

...and that's the whole problem with party politics and gang warfare....


Yup.... Just as mad as the Reps are now

The Reps don't get their way and all they can do is throw mud. If they were interested in helping to rebuild their country they would learn to cooperate and compromise. Instead they act like little kids in a sandbox and call their opponents names. Smack is your typical Rep.

 

[damngrumpy]

The filibuster is a useful tool in a democracy when it is used for a useful purpose.
The problem is the Republicans have blown their credibility and a filibuster by
them now will be seen as something other than part of the democratic process.
The Republicans must now show their true leadership role if they want respect.
The election is over and its time to make some compromises to ensure the good
name of America is not dragged through the mud on the international stage.
The people decided some things in the last election and if they do not do the
peoples business the way the people want it done they will lose the next election too.
If they go over the cliff, and there is adverse harm done like a great recession,
the Republican Party will not see the inside of the White House for at least a generation.
The Democrats are waiting for the Republicans to step into the trap of their own making.

 

[EagleSmack]

The Democrats control the White House and the Senate, in other words a majority of the governing body... yet it will be the GOPs fault if the majority Democrats can't get it done?

Typical.

 

[DaSleeper]

How to talk like a Liberal Democrat - YouTube

 

[damngrumpy]

That is because the GOP controls the Congress and they are made up people who want to
compromise and the others who are hiding in Republican sheep's clothing and they are little
more than wolves of the Tea Party and the Evangelical Right that want to slink back to a
simpler time and of course do way with social programs like medicare.
They are fighting on issues that have been decided. They want medicare and social security
you change those you don't win simple as that.
The old bastion of free enterprise thing is slowly dying into history less and less people are
listening to that. Socialism is going to take over that too is nonsense and most are starting to
see it. Yes there is going to be a mixture of free enterprise and socialism that is a fact in most
of the industrialized world. Canada has done very well by it and America after four years of
having Medicare improvements will be determined to not only keep them people will want the
programs to go further.
Yes if the Republicans don't make a deal they will get the blame it is that simple and the machine
of politics mixed with media will drive that message home before this game is done.
The Republicans have to back away from some of their fundamental conservatism or they will be
the big losers in American politics. The right swept to power a generation ago on the idea of the
old conservative principles, that hold is broken people and a new generation are slowly going back
to the center left and that is a problem for the current far right conservative movement.

 

[Locutus]

Flashback: Harry Reid Says Changing Filibuster Rules Is “About The Arrogance Of Power”…



Yeah, but that was before he had Obama’s far-left policies to push.

(CNSNews.com)– Harry Reid (D-Nev.), as Senate Minority Leader in 2005, said that Republican attempts at that time to change the Senate rules on filibuster were “about the arrogance of power,” and not about then-President George W. Bush’s judicial nominees.


“Rather than changing the Senate rules, shouldn’t we be concerned about the largest deficits in the history of the world?” Reid asked,while speaking at a March 15, 2005 event entitled “Rally to Save the Courts.” “Rather than changing the Senate rules, shouldn’t we be concerned about the energy policy of this country? Yes.”


“This is not about judges, it’s about the arrogance of power,” he said.


Keep reading…




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[damngrumpy]

Did you say Obama's far left Policies? Obama is a mere left wing conservative he is not
really left at all. Things like Medicare and other social programs are much more advanced
in the rest of the first world. Gay rights, Medicare and tax redistribution have been going on
in many very conservative countries like Germany for decades. It is time America caught
up with the world. If Obama was in Canadian politic he would be a left wing Tory or a right
wing Liberal. America would go over the deep end if they elected a party like the NDP and
even they are not really left anymore in fact they are more centrist than some Liberals.
Obama is on the right track, and the American people said so when they elected him for a
second term in office. If the Republicans go against the wishes of the American people they
will pay a heavy price. The will lose the media perception battle and they will take the blame.
I agree don't end filibuster use it to demonize the opposition to your program. Remember
the Republicans lost the majority won and the Republicans are using the system undemocratically.

that is how you set a scene in the end a compromise has to be worked out or the Republicans
get blamed for a recession or depression and they are done then because every social program
known to man will be enacted to save the people. This could be like the Depression deal done
in Canada when the Liberals came in blaming the conservatives and it was 1958 before the Tories
saw power again in this country. Republicans are playing a dangerous game in which they will
fight the Democrats and the media as they are pounded in the world of public opinion.
Republicans = Obstructionists that will be the equation. Being right or wrong has nothing to do with
the game winning does. When I worked political campaigns my quiet message in the war room was
To win Make the Public Hate them more than they Hate you if you do that you win.

 

[Locutus]

Video: Harry Reid Calls Harry Reid “Un-American” For Trying To Change Filibuster Rules…



Reid vs. Reid - YouTube