Collins Tries to Stop Bunning Filibuster

[kpete]

Source: Roll Call


Collins Tries to Stop Bunning Filibuster
By Emily Pierce

Senate Republicans sought Tuesday to insulate themselves from the damage caused by Sen. Jim Bunning’s (R-Ky.) filibuster of a bill that would extend unemployment and health benefits and highway programs.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) took to the floor Tuesday morning to ask that the Senate vote within hours on the bill so that thousands of furloughed federal highway workers could go back to work and the unemployed could see a resumption of their jobless benefits. Bunning’s filibuster, which he kicked off Thursday, caused those provisions to expire Sunday night. The retiring Kentucky Republican wants the measure paid for.

Bunning objected to Collins’ request, as he has to nearly a dozen requests from Democrats for similar rapid resolutions to the standoff.

Collins said she was proffering the request on behalf of herself and “numerous” other GOP Senators with whom she had spoken.

Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/43712-1.html?referrer=bk

[high density]

1. So she's still totally worthless

Got it.

[valerief]

43. Ha!

[crim son]

48. More fake bipartisanship.

Somebody told her she had to do it.

[sam sarrha]

55. doing what she's paid to do... false theatrics. Faux concern to offset backlash in the next election

[MaineDem]

62. She absolutely is

No argument from me.

[Botany]

2. Bunning is nuttier than a squirrel turd and doesn't give a damn about Collins

n/t

[Captain Hilts]

4. Or anyone else. nt

[AlbertCat]

40. Bunning is nuttier than a squirrel turd

No he isn't. Don't fall for that meme. He's right in the thick of Repug thinking. His only fault is he's too open and honest about what the GOP wants and feels. Kyl proves it.

[DL in SoCal]

51. The informal polls say it all

For years he's been named either 'the meanest' or 'the dumbest' US Senator in various ad hoc polls of staffers.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. yadda yadda yadda.

NOW she cares? Too damn bad.

[formercia]

5. Good Cop, Bad Cop.

Feh!

[Mopar151]

31. All part of the polarizing nature of Republican politics n/t

[onenote]

6. actually it makes sense for the repubs to want to get bunning to stand down

Otherwise, instead of a temporary extension they are likely to face, in the next few days, a bill with a longer term extension that also includes other jobs-related measures that they don't particularly like and they'll be hard pressed to oppose or delay that bigger bill if it means further delay in the resumption of UI benefits. If they can get the short term extension out of the way, the repubs can go back to playing stall ball on the other jobs bill.

[hootinholler]

7. So why hasnt' there been a motion for cloture on this?

:shrug:

I thought that's how a filibuster is ended.

-Hoot

[Cirque du So-What]

8. Perhaps the Democrats see value in the filibuster as Kabuki theater

In the subtlety of this dance, there is still much indignation to be milked prior to the denouement.

[jtrockville]

10. ... at the expense of the neediest among us.

[high density]

12. It certainly is interesting timing

But maybe exposing this crap now will be better in the long run for everybody.

[MUAD_DIB]

57. It won't help with a missed car, home or credit card payment.

[high density]

63. No but it will help if we can complete healthcare reform because now the

ridiculousness of the GOP has finally been exposed clear as day.

[valerief]

44. Everything they do is at the expense of the neediest. nt

[sam sarrha]

59. GOP's a Cargo Cult of OCD Wealth Hoarders, they believe wealth's the Measure of gODs favor of a man

therefore it is a sin to tax a Rich Man/Corporation. the poor are being punished by gOD, therefore it is a sin to help them in any way. it is also a virtue to also heap harm upon them for gOD.

we need to spread this message and reveal the truth to the people they've conned into supporting this insanity. they think anything they do to horde more wealth is ordained by gOD, anyone they hurt deserves it..

http://doggo.tripod.com/doggchrisdomin.html

[Jester Messiah]

11. That would be fine, except that you don't play kabuki while the unemployed starve.

Surely somebody in Washington realizes that real people are in serious trouble here? Anybody? Bueller?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

38. Still not enough Dems. Aren't Byrd and Lautenberg out ill?

If so, that cuts down the number of Dems to 57. We need 3 Republicans to invoke cloture.

[Nordmadr]

15. Yeah, take it to cloture, and get your 60 votes if so worried.

Or are you telling me they can't even pass something with bipartisan support now either? :sarcasm:

Otherwise, everyone is playing games here.

[Igel]

19. Cloture isn't just about partisanship.

It's about stopping filibusters. It's not so hard to imagine a left dem and a right repub agreeing that something that is too centrist for either needs to be stopped--at least in less polarized times.

In this case, cloture would pass by a very, very wide margin. Possibly 99-1. What's bad is when the chair gives an individual power over the other 99 by opting for approval by unanimous consent. It's either an incompetent chair or a chair who's playing parliamentary games. I disapprove of both. (Having chaired a stu-gov legislative board for a couple of years and a non-profit board for a while, I've angered both those I agree with and those I disagree with: If a body wanted to do something I thought utterly insane, so be it. I was chair, not God, even though as chair I could have played parliamentary games. When I wasn't chair, I played them a-plenty, but as chair my responsibility wasn't to me, or even to my "party," but to the organization and therefore to the committee I was chairing.)

[No Elephants]

20. Exactly. If Collins is really speaking for a lot of other Pubs, the cloture vote would be there.

Assuming, of course, the 59 Senate Democrats and Collins really want Bunning to sit down and shut up.

Who can tell any more?

[sam sarrha]

58. if a Rethuglican's lips are move'n they'r lieing.. or blow'n a CEO for a Bribe..

[kirby]

37. Because Reid cares about politics more than people...

The Dems are gleeful that Bunning is illustrating how obstructionist the Repukes are. But they are willing to let this ride out and let people suffer to achieve that.

[Beaverhausen]

9. OK, Senator Collins- lets see those numerous other GOP senators get on the floor and do what you did

not likely to happen, of course.

[chelsea0011]

13. Leadership is cheering him on, meanwhile Collins maintains her fake, moderate look

[No Elephants]

21. No. Let's see everyone vote on cloture, both the Democrats who really favor it and the Republicans

who really favor it.

Let's see who votes yes and who votes no on cloture.

[greiner3]

14. republicans are using bunning;

Just like the power structure used Howard Beale (Peter Finch) for their end. Both protagonists went bonkers and both systems are/used them. In the case of bunning, he has always been a nasty human being and it would be interesting to be able to glimpse his thoughts, but not for too long. I have a good stomach but I'm fairly certain that the experience would cause me to lose at least one meal.

[alfredo]

25. He's retiring so he can be the fall guy. The Reps get their

shut down of government, and the blame is put on a retiring Senator.


BTW, the Two Republican Senate Candidates for his seat support his actions. If his actions cause real pain for the over 100,000 Kentuckians on unemployment, then there might be a chance for the Dems to take his seat. What better way to get support of your party faithful than to throw tens of thousands of Kentucky families into the streets. The Republicans are so selfish, they are willing to see their fellow citizens starve.

Bunning is getting revenge for having to miss a UK basketball game.

Two Dems vying for bunning's senate race:

Jack Conway our current AG
http://jackconway.org/

Dr Dan. Our Lt Governor. This guy ran against bunning in 2004. Bunning started a whisper campaign that Dr Dan was gay. He also tried to make people think Dr Dan was a terrorist. Dr Dan is fairly conservative for my tastes, but he's better than anything the Reps have to offer. Rand Paul? Give me a fuckin break.

http://www.drdan2010.com/splash

[tsuki]

33. When Newt shut down the government, it backfired on him. nt

[alfredo]

60. That's probably why the Reps are not very vocal in

support of bunning's temper tantrum.


bunning has also put a hold on all of Obama's appointees.

[tsuki]

65. Up and Down vote. Up and Down vote. nt

[alfredo]

66. He backed off.

[tsuki]

68. Too busy supporting Blanche Lincoln in the primary? nt

[alfredo]

69. That will only be useful until her concession speech.

[tsuki]

70. From your lips to whomever. nt

[alfredo]

71. It's her fault for listening to her corporate contributors, and

not to those who are suffering under the industry's thumb.

[E_Pluribus_Unitarian]

16. Whatever happened to the "growing economy helps balance the budget"?

Remember, many years ago, when the Republicans were equating a growing economy with the opportunity to better absorb spending deficits? Seems to me that the importance of unemployment benefits and creation of jobs should be a central part of that "growing economy" premise...of the plan to bring the budget into eventual balance. Why are no politicians or pundits pointing to that Republican mantra any more? We're not hearing it from the Republicans any more, and we're sure not hearing it from the White House.

[Alcibiades]

41. The budget is balanced

the business cycle is broken, and there is no recession. I know this because these are the things that the Bush tax cuts were supposed to accomplish, and I haven't seen anyone in the media suggesting that they didn't work.

[SoapBox]

17. CONTACT info for Bunning...Let's make his life MORE miserable

I posted this yesterday...but I'm going to email/call again today.

Email,
http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Phones,
http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.OfficeLocations

[barbtries]

61. my letter to bunning

Senator Bunning,
Where were you when the republic president bush and his administration were turning a surplus into a massive deficit, making wars in foreign countries against peoples who have not threatened this country? why is it only now that a democrat is president of the United States of America, that you have decided that the government should be allowed to grind to a halt, that the unemployed should lose their ability to meet the most basic expenses of life during this time of high unemployment and economic uncertainty? When it was a matter of the USA sending our young across the world to kill and be killed, deficit spending was totally hunky dory. But now that the issue is the economic well being of the American people, you decide it has to be paid for now. it is abundantly obvious that since you have your needs well taken care of, you could not care less that kids will go hungry and more people will lose their homes and their investments in those homes due to circumstances entirely out of their control. I am just outraged at your cavalier and heartless actions and words.
I read your biography; apparently you attend a catholic church. Now I am not a religious person but I think I remember something about Jesus Christ and a camel through the eye of a needle - something about the least among us. Any of that ring a bell?
Does your conscience ever bother you? Do you ever, ever, ever take off the partisan republic persona and consider the welfare of all of the citizens of this country instead of politics!?
Your actions, and those of your fellow republic senators, have been infantile and destructive since President Obama took office over one year ago. You pretend that the democrats aren't working with you but when they bend over backward to do just that, you cower and continue to refuse to do the business of governing. Now you have coldly made the decision to hold up the business of the senate with regard to actions that NEED to be taken to avoid truly dire circumstances for a substantial number of people.
If most of the Republic senators in congress today were working in the private sector they would be terminated. This Democrat hopes your constituents see the truth about the Republics before the next election.
I am constantly astonished at how low, how mean, and how senseless you and too many of your Republic colleagues have behaved since the Democrat moved into the WH.
Get over yourself - you are a servant of the people of the USA. Start doing your job.
Sincerely
Barbara Bales

[classysassy]

18. Heartless and Chinless

the two clown from kentucky are just following orders from their masters.

[Guilded Lilly]

22. what goes around, comes around

Republicans have been playing the NO game for over a year now. Republicans have been using every crappy political scheme on the books (and there are plenty, apparently, it's a true wonder anything gets accomplished, EVER) to halt any kind of progress that could be attached to Democratic/Obama and American citizen's success.
Now, one of their own is showing them just how wretched that Republican practice can be.

It's your own damned Karma biting your own damn butt.

[True_Blue]

28. The GOP will do anything to make the Dems look bad

They would rather see you starving and homeless or dead than have the Dems look good for turning the economy around.

[No Elephants]

23. Deleted. Dupe.

[No Elephants]

24. So, we have 59 Democrats and Collins. 3/5 suffices to force cloture. Where's the vote?

People need food.



Where's the vote?

Where's the vote?

Where's the vote?

Where's the vote, Senator san?

[karynnj]

26. It has to be scheduled in advance

I don't know if Reid has done that yet - then after the cloture vote, there is 30 hours of debate unless unanimously waived.

[groundloop]

27. I believe in the Senate a trip to the bathroom needs to be scheduled in advance

What a totally messed up part of our government. No wonder our country is falling behind in so many ways, not the least of which is health care.

[mzteris]

29. put some sominex in his coffee. n/t

[caseymoz]

30. Bunning sinks Republicans chances in November.

Which would all be funny except for all the pain his snit is causing so many people.

He might even cause the Senate to finally get rid of the filibuster.

At least get to see some real Republican policies of small government in action.

[twiceshy]

32. It's not a Fillibuster.

They need 100% approval of the Senate to pass it without discussion - as I understand from another article.

[AlbertCat]

45. It's not a Fillibuster.

Shhhhhhh!

You'll ruin the "Dems are starving people for political gain, not Repugs!" meme going on here!

[penndragon69]

34. Sen. Susan Collins

Just smells her own ( and fellow refugniCONS ) blood in the water
if bunning is allowed to proceed.

She is doing nothing but posturing for the mid-term election cycle
so that she and other refugniCONS can say they were opposed to bunnings actions and tried to stop him.

Just tap dancing on the middle class's graves!

[graywarrior]

35. Ha ha, Bunning reflects on ALL of them.

They're worthless pieces of crap and I hope this is a nail in the Republican coffin for November. Meanwhile, they have their homes, their cars, their health coverage, a paycheck that keeps coming in for the shitty fucking job they do while millions of Americans are freaking out over how to pay their debts. What slime these people are. What colossal pieces of worthless shit.

[backscatter712]

36. Can we cloture Bunning's ass yet?

With Collins and possibly other Republicans joining our side, I think we've got 60 votes.

[AlbertCat]

39. on behalf of herself and “numerous” other GOP Senators

who are secretly saying to themselves "Not NOW Bunning! You're gonna ruin everything. You're giving us away!".

Kyl has proven Bunning is not going rogue. They cannot distance themselves by nervously saying, "Oh he's just crazy. We ain't at all like him."

They are.

[SlingBlade]

42. If Collins doesn't like Re-Puke Tactics, Then she should stop

being a Re-Puke.
Anything less than that is cowardice, So to hell with her and the rest of her shit kick'in
brain dead hillbilly party, And that goes for Rahm, Lieberman and that spit dripping ilk as well.

[valerief]

46. I think Bunning needs some enhanced interrogation. nt

[humbled_opinion]

47. Why do we allow a single Senator

the power to withold the much needed resources from the neediest among us? Something is seriously broken in DC>

[4lbs]

52. Bunning's an idiot.

He doesn't care about re-election so he's doing whatever he wants, Senate rules be damned.

[Ruby the Liberal]

49. He is really playing with fire here.

Did no one pay attention to the nut in Austin who flew his plane into the IRS building?

So what happens now that hungry and desperate people find themselves cut off from their last means of support?

It is frightening to even think of what kind of backlash may be brewing out there.

[DL in SoCal]

50. Does anyone in charge of Dem media know how to play offense???

Helloooo DNC and DSCC. This is an extraordinary opportunity to out the GOP for what it truly is. Why aren't I seeing media buys shining light on Bunning's cruel obstructionism? Or is our strategy to depend on Jon Stewart?

We should be making every GOP officeholder and candidate squirm. The DNC, the DSCC and the DCCC have the $$ in their warchests. Spend it for chrissakes!!

If ever there was a time to hoist the GOP on its soulless and compassionless petard this is it. Why are we so afraid of going for the jugular when it's appropriate to do so?

[scottsoperson]

53. mcconnel says they will stop the filibuster

no problemo

[TrollBuster9090]

54. Collins is such an idiot...

Maine is a FANTASTIC state, but honestly....Collins? ...Snowe? What were you guys THINKING?

(Scratch that. I know what you were thinking. You're optimists, so you were thinking that there IS such a thing as a moderate Republican.)

[scottsoperson]

56. radicals tend to not think there are any true moderates

;-)

[warm regards]

64. Uhg...Couldn't they have picked a better speaker?

[TomCADem]

67. What? Susan-The-GOP-Traitor Collins? After Kyl's Defense?

We are supposed to believe that Collins speaks for the Republican party now?