Biden goes after Bunning; VP 'disappointed' by filibuster

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Politico

Vice President Biden on Friday expressed his regret with Sen. Jim Bunning for filibustering a move to extend federal unemployment benefits.

Bunning held the Senate hostage until midnight on Thursday. At a meeting of the Middle Class Task Force the next morning, Biden said he was “disappointed.”

“Right now, a single Republican senator is standing up in a chamber I’ve worked in a long time, and he’s filibustering,” he said.

The vice president said that when those benefits expire on Sunday, 1 million people will be thrown off unemployment and lose their health insurance next month.

He added, “I wish that senator would think about how that man or woman would explain to their kids how they’re going to get by.”


Read more: http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0210/biden_goes_after_bunning_4dcb3072-9390-4422-98a0-cf7b8fb91a3e.html

[Chipper Chat]

1. It's a GOP fastball (pun intended)

Drown unemployment benefits in a Kentucky bathtub.

[Tansy_Gold]

11. More like a split finger sinker n/t

[Chipper Chat]

27. Or split-finger stinker.

Sidebar: I used to live 15 miles from Bunning's hometown. Always looked up to him back in the 50s.

[gateley]

2. I wonder if this Senator's supporters realize what he's doing. And if they're

for it because it saves them money (in their minds) or if they're as disgusted as Biden and the rest of us.

[booksenkatz]

12. There are those who

see this sort of thing as standin' tuff against that dam soshalist stuff! They interpret this as Bunning saying "tough shit!" to nasty ole Big Gubmint. Yes, even if it means that they themselves will lose their benefits, even if it means that their own children starve -- it's far more important for them to see a Repub stand tuff in the way of soshalist Muslin-lovin' Dems who are trying to help people's lives.

There are those.

[kenfrequed]

3. for the billionth time

Democrats HAVE to force the fillibuster back to its traditional position of clutching the podium and speaking.

[Lasher]

5. I agree and this was a perfect opportunity to start doing that.

But Senate Democrats gave up before midnight.

[onenote]

31. no it wasn't

this was not a filibuster (even though biden and others have described it as such). The extenders bill was brought up for immediate consideration under a special fastrack procedure (called hotline) that requires unanimous consent. Bunning went rogue and blocked it by objecting. There would be no problem getting cloture on the bill, but that procedure has rules under which the bill can't be considered until next week.

[Lasher]

32. Then what was it that Senate Democrats were trying to do when they rallied to oppose Bunning?

They gave up just before midnight. What was it they were trying to do if the bill could not be considered until the following week after Bunning objected? And why did Bunning have to stay there after he had lodged his objection?

[onenote]

33. they were trying to get him to change his mind

The Democrats repeatedly requested that the bill be brought up and Bunning repeatedly objected. Democrats offered to vote on Bunning's amendment (which would cut $12 billion in unobligated stimulus funding to offset the cost of the bill) but Bunning, knowing that his amendment would lose has rejected to that approach and is demanding that the bill with his amendment included be considered using the unanimous consent procedure (which isn't going to happen). Ordinarily, when these impasses come about on a "must pass" bill, the objecting Senator, having made his/her point, stands down on Friday afternoon. But Bunning's attitude is "tough shit"

[Lasher]

35. OK so Bunning had to stay there to continue to object.

And Democrats held the Senate open until almost midnight, trying to convince him to drop his objection. If Bunning had gone home the voice vote would have occurred without having him there to continue his obstruction. But he didn't go home. He stayed there, whining about how mean Democrats were to have made him miss a basketball game he wanted to watch.

Democrats should have kept the session open for as long as it took for Bunning to fall asleep or whatever. But in failing to do so they missed a perfect opportunity to start forcing the filibuster back to its traditional position of clutching the podium and speaking.

fil·i·bus·ter the use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislative assembly to prevent the adoption of a measure generally favored or to force a decision against the will of the majority.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/filibuster

[onenote]

36. Bunning didn't have to say anything other than "I object"

The Democrats held the floor for several hours and repeatedly made unanimous consent motions and he repeatedly objected. The expectation was that, as is traditionally the case, he'd finally withdraw his objection. Its unlikely that the Democrats could have mustered the votes necessary for quorum had they tried to stay in session past midnight.

[gateley]

14. I know Biden is in favor of that -- but it's not his call, unfortunately. nt

[Jennicut]

24. Nope. He is not the majority leader and has said the filibuster needs to be reformed.

Or, we could just make them filibuster for real but that is not his call.

[yurbud]

4. k & r

[denverbill]

6. Make the dipshit actually filibuster then. He won't stay awake past 7PM. n/t

[WCGreen]

25. I understand he is the beginning stages of dementia...

The Dem's should have forced this hateful old coot to stand there for hours...

No fucking balls at all...

[abq e streeter]

7. "Disappointed"....that'll show 'em

Sorry to be Mr. negative here again. But it's symbolic of our milquetoast actions and language that continue to sabotage our party. This despicable display of inhuman callousness by a US senator, and the response is that it's "disappointing"? ( and yes I know V.P. Biden has spoken forcefully many times in his career, and that the rest of his statement was not bad, but I stand behind my basic point).

[Iowa]

17. You beat me to it...

Language really does matter, and most Democratic politicians are completely ineffective in their use of language. The problem is, these guys simply have no passion for the things that are important to us. The words they choose are mechanical and robotic because they simply do not care enough about these issues to be genuinely pissed, and to fight as if their lives depended on it. So we hear neutral weasel-words like "disappointed" because that's all the passion these turds are able to muster in their failing attempt to prop up the notion that the Democratic party is the party of working people.

This is why Obama stood out... he was able to fake it much better than the others, as we now know.

[abq e streeter]

19. Why are you so SHRILL and ANGRY??? I'm disappointed in you ( see sarcasm emoticon below, BTW)

:sarcasm:

[Zenlitened]

21. Agreed, sadly.

...it's symbolic of our milquetoast actions and language that continue to sabotage our party.

:(

[Wardoc]

34. Maybe they'll follow it up with a "sternly worded letter" too! Fuck Obama and Congress for this..

...total weakness. And then these bastards will have the nerve to ask for our votes, work and money later. Can't speak for others, but they can pound sand in November. No votes or money from me in 2010, and unless it DRASTICALLY improves none in 2012 either.

[CrispyQ]

8. Well we can't have the government creating hobos after all!

:eyes:, :sarcasm: & :puke:

[billymayshere]

9. Obstructionists!

Call them what they are, I don't want to hear how you are disappointed. It is time to marginalize the economic royalists. This is who they are, they've never been interested in bi-partisanship, there is no interest in any democratic ideas.

[Kall]

10. Thanks for coming out, Democrats.

Yeah, tell 'em you're disappointed. That'll show 'em, and fix the problem.

[Plucketeer]

13. Holey Sham-oley

Could we get Grayson to give Biden a transfusion??? :banghead:

[gateley]

15. Biden has spoken on this previously, in stronger terms. He is definitely for

the change. It's not his call, and don't forget, when he DOES come out and say something more strongly, people are all over him for his "gaffe".

[abq e streeter]

18. I agree about his having spoken forcefully on this and other issues

but our party's leaders need to stop worrying about the MSM/repubs calling out "gaffes" ( although he certainly has had a few WTF moments in his career). The repubs and their MSM echo chamber call anything that threatens their cozy little world a "gaffe" , so any level of living in fear of having what you say spun and twisted beyond recognition by these tools is just further capitulation to them. IMO, anyway... Just a friendly and respectful ( and only partial) disagreement, gately; I've read many of your posts and find them to be always informed and intelligent.

[gateley]

22. I don't think Biden is worried about the MSM because it sure hasn't stopped

him all these years. :7, but rather that he may be getting "guidance" from the WH. Unlike when he was his own boss and speaking only for himself, he's now considered as a voice FOR the WH, so I think that has tempered his natural instinct to answer and speak no-holds-barred. In fact in a recent interview, you could see him pause and the wheels turning before responding - something we never saw before he was VP!

And I always enjoy your posts, too, abq e streeter! And you can feel free to disagree with me any time, friendly or frenzied! :hi:

[abq e streeter]

23. Okey dokey--I'll try to work up a frenzy..nope, nothing; think I'll take a nap instead

and back atcha::hi:

[thelordofhell]

16. Biden is "disappointed" with the GOP

I'm sure they will never do anything like that again, now that the VP is "disappointed".

:sarcasm:

[abq e streeter]

20. I suggest a strongly worded letter ( with the following day's apology for that letter ready to go)

[AngryAmish]

26. It is about time we made them filibuster

[Uben]

28. 2.1 million will lose benefits

That's 2.1 million votes against the republicans! Another ignorant fucking republican fuck up. They deserve to be the minority forever.

[DisgustedInMN]

38. Sorry to disappoint you...

... but what Republicans deserve and what's far more likely to happen, are two VERY different animals. Dems had it all already and failed to do a gawddamn thing with it. They WILL pay a heavy price for it. Those of us with our eyes open, know that the Coke/Pepsi battle is nothing more than a show to distract the masses while they pick our pockets.

[coffeenap]

29. Except they aren't even there!

“Right now, a single Republican senator is standing up in a chamber I’ve worked in a long time, and he’s filibustering,” he said.

No, they went home. Why did they adjourn? They should have been forced to stay through the weekend into the week to protect the citizens of our country!

[Juche]

30. Break out the sternly worded letters

How anyone who works for a living can vote for these people is beyond me.

[DisgustedInMN]

37. Oh MY!

Biden gave him a stern talking to! Holy sheep shit, I'll bet he's just fucking quaking in his boots.

This gawddamn administration and the asshole Dems in the Senate get lamer by the day. If the heartless, blabbering, bloviating asshat wants to "filibuster" then FUCKING MAKE HIM DO IT. He leaves the podium, it's over.

No fucking spine, no fucking power.