For once, please actually MAKE THEM filibuster!

[Truth2Tell]

Please Democratic leadership, please.. for once in your miserable sniveling cowardly careers, make the republicans ACTUALLY filibuster the health care reform bill. If Joe Scumberman and Repiglicans are going to muck up the works by threatening not to vote for cloture... then MAKE THEM DO IT! It's time for push to come to shove. Let's see what these guys are really made of. The time for cozy "gentleman's club" BS is long past. Make them put up or shut up finally. Let's do it.

[Barack_America]

1. Yep. While they're reading names from a phone book, Dems can be outside reading names of the dead.

All the GOP does is obstruct. Let's make them display that clearly.

[DontTreadOnMe]

2. YES, make them filibuster!

I want to see it live on every news channel. Let them show their true colors.

[polichick]

3. No kidding - they actually let them phone in their intent to filibuster. k&r

[DrToast]

4. A filibuster isn't what you think it is

It's not like the movies anymore.

[Romulox]

6. The fillibuster is whatever a majority of Senators say it is; Senate rules are changed on a majority

vote.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. Excellent point. n/t

[AlinPA]

5. The way I understand it is that this is not "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington";

the actual "filibuster" is manifested by the outcome of the cloture vote. Yes, and the bill moves forward, no it is stopped.

[drm604]

14. It can be. The OP is suggesting that they make them ACTUALLY filibuster,

just like in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Apparently the majority party can force them to do that.

[AlinPA]

15. That would never happen with the wimp Reid. It may anger some of his "friends".

[Better Believe It]

18. President Obama and Rahm "sharp elbows" Emanuel could make it happen

They just need to lean on Senator Reid like LBJ would have in his day.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. Filibusting for total privatization of health

filibusting for gettng rid of Medicare, Medicaid and lining their pockets

[onenote]

8. and how do you think that will play out in the media

Repubs standing up and making long repetitive speeches attacking the Democrats for everything under the sun, making all sorts of claims about the impact of this than and the other thing on the average American. And either they are given free rein to make these speeches or the Democrats respond, prolonging the debate. But will anyone pay that much attention? Will the public suddenly become fixated and decide that the Democrats arguments with them enough to pressure senators who oppose the bill to change their minds and support it as is? Or will it all come down to then a new compromise, a new bill, and a new debate?

How do you see a real filibuster playing out in the real world, not the Jimmy Stewart world? Which supporters of the filibuster will turn around and change their tune?

[Truth2Tell]

16. I think we win that one hands down.

Of course we would have to actually TRY to win the battle for public perception. But I don't think it would take much of a real effort to paint the Repigs as obstructionists. Most Americans favor reform.

[Better Believe It]

19. It would play out great which has been explained many time on DU

Or we could follow you strategy and surrender to Republicans until they regain control of Congress!

[Birthmark]

10. Make them talk!

For once, we really have a way of making them talk.

[myrna minx]

12. How about making them actually *work* for a day

instead of reaping windfall campaign dollars, cushy mortgages and golf trips. Put those lazy entitled bums to work. We'll see how *dedicated* they are if they have to hang out in the chamber indefinitely.

[Honeycombe8]

11. Won't that kill the bill? I mean, it SOUNDS good, but if it kills the only chance of

getting good reform, then I'm not so sure.

Also...filibustering might just rejuvenate the conservatives and get 'em all excited. They love showdowns and are better at it than Dems.

[Better Believe It]

20. No it won't. You keep it on the floor of the Senate until 60 votes are obtained to end debate.

We can't say the Republicans are better at showdowns than Democrats unless and until the Democrats actually engage in one!

Waving the white flag of surrender even before a battle has started is getting old.

[andym]

13. It's good theater, but will it have the desired effect?

It will make two groups of people happy. Politically conscious liberals and conservatives.
But what will the practical effect be?

[Truth2Tell]

17. I think it plays into our hands and we

win with it. Let's play chicken.