No Filibuster on torture? There are other options!

[BelgianMadCow]

A filibuster is a stalling tactic that delays the inevitable. In a democratic system, when a majority of representatives support something, it is bound to pass.

I understand there can be reasons for filibustering, but in itself I find it a dubious practice and essentially lame. If you oppose something, win the debate on merits.

I have to agree that the Torture Bill is something special though. It is the turning point towards a totalitarian state.
So as much as I would like for this bill to get shot down somehow, maybe there are other options.
With this rubberstamp congress, a lot of vile stuff has passed already. This is the last abomination in a long line. That is just the political reality.
Making a stand through filibustering is (generally speaking) not the best idea imho..
It has been done before, quickly the filibuster is the subject and not the issue at hand, and it can be painted as sour loser behaviour easily.
When you are a member of the opposition party an in an election season, you have to look at the political reality. You do NOT have the votes to block this. So you are left to make a stand. And you can do this knowing that the public disapproves of your opponent's job to a very large degree.

So what if the Dems walked out of the session, after one concise statement by Reid for example. All walk out at once. In silence. Dignified. Looking repubs square in the eye. Reid having said : we will not stand by while our constitution is destroyed. We will have NO part in this whatsoever.

Much harder to spin. Stronger signal. I know 'm dreaming.


Edit : inspired by this thread on the likelihood of a filibuster http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2236628&mesg_id=2236628

[rubberducky]

1. Walking out

Now, that would be a classy reply!

[Skidmore]

2. You are dreaming. They would have to VOTE AGAINST this for

a protest like this to be meaningful. Even if they don't have the numbers to vote it down, at least vote AGAINST it.

[BelgianMadCow]

4. MMM I considered that - but then you'd have to sit there for the duration

but of course a party line NO is implied. Only find the right moment to walk out.

[w4rma]

3. Sorry. The filibuster is the only option available in this situation. (nt)

[emanymton]

5. Filibuster. It Stops The Madness. Then Impeach!

[leveymg]

6. Filibuster is a device that forces consensus - a 40% minority can block

any Bill in the Senate. A Filibuster stops all other bills from being introduced or debated, so it effectively shuts down the Senate. It doesn't just stall the inevitable, it forces the majority to tone down truly obnoxious legislation the minority can't accept.

[Disturbed]

7. If all of the Dems Senators had the courage to

Filibuster then vote no then walk out the people of America would have respect for them, at last. Yeah, that won't happen because most of them are cowards and do not serve the people but their Corp. sponsors.

[midnight]

8. Remeber what your teachers,and hopefully parents told you

when you were growing up-there is safety in numbers.

[leveymg]

9. The end of the session is so close that an F would be only symbolic and

not actually force the Repugs to give anything up. That's a guess. Anyone heard anything about that?

[bullimiami]

10. how is walking out any less a stalling tactic than the fillibuster?

i think its even weaker. with a fillibuster they know they need 60 votes to pass it. that draws a line.

what are they going to do? walk out and stay out until congress recesses?

[jimshoes]

11. Once upon a time

before our country was a country, a very brave man said "Give me liberty or give me death", how many senators would be willing to utter those words today? That man was Patrick Henry by the way. You can read the whole speech here. They were rebelling against another George at the time.
http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/henry-liberty.html

[mmonk]

12. Bwahaha!

:rofl:

Republicans in this congress debate?

[INdemo]

13. We of course know the obvious

Lets assume that Democrats had the majority in the Senate and a bill was up before the Senate and the Rpukes disagreed but knew they could not defeat it.One could lay odds they would use some sort of political strategy to delay the vote.(other than a filibuster and there are other tactics) So why aren't the Democrats using a delay tactic..This just doesn't make sense.

[paparush]

14. Other options - Lying in the street on Pennsylvania Avenue. Chaining

ourselves to the White House gates. C'mon people now.. a little Civil Disobedience!