It's Time to Change the Filibuster Rules

[CanonRay]

After watching the Big 3 Auto Bailout Circus for the last couple of months, I’ve decided that Harry Reid is really Charley Brown, and the Republicans are Lucy, forever pulling the football away, just as Charley is about to kick it.

The scam works like this: The Democrats know what they want and what the country needs, and cut whatever it is in half to appease the blue dogs in the party, who totally lack party discipline (why shouldn’t they, after Lieberman?) Then, in negotiations with the Decider, they cut whatever is left in half again, and now we supposedly have a “deal” and are ready to vote. Except that then some of the Republican “moderates” jump up and say it is too much, they will filibuster. At this point, good ole’ Harry cuts it in half again, and after a time, announces that now we really, truly, have a deal, and gets ready to really, truly vote. Except that at this point, the real right wing nutbags and true controllers of the GOP stand up and voice their newfound opposition, announcing THEY will filibuster, at which point Harry throws in the towel without ever making anyone vote. And once again, nothing gets done, and “Congress”, now a Democratic Congress, gets labeled as do-nothing. Which it is.

What should have happened is that Harry should have made the Rethugs really filibuster, al la Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Stand there on the floor of the Senate and oppose American jobs on Christmas Day, and New Years, and every day in between, as the auto companies and 3 million jobs go down the tubes. Think these cowards have the balls for that? Not likely.

What you are going to see is this pattern repeated again and again for every single one of Obama’s initiatives over the next two years. Until he’s labeled a do-nothing President. You really think Harry can get national health care through the Senate? Or billions for wind and solar investment? Right.

It’s time for the nuclear option: change the filibuster rules to the way the worked for the last two hundred years…the current system is ungovernable. And Harry Reid is an idiot for continually playing the same game over and over.

[LynneSin]

1. Oh Please, 6 years ago the republicans wanted to do the same thing

The vote sucks but I don't want to give up our right filibuster because one day we might be in the minority again and the power to filibuster has been our friend.

[Deep13]

3. Yes, but while I was horrified by what the Rs were trying to do...

...I had to agree in principal that 41 Senators should not be able to derail the business of the country.

[meegbear]

7. Like when Kerry started a filibuster against Alito ...

and the pussy Dems didn't support him?

As least the skank repugs vote together.

[annabanana]

8. We're not asking anyone to give up the "right to filibuster". .

We just want to make them ACTUALLY FILIBUSTER!!

Think what GREAT TV that would make!. . Just THINK of all the airtime the bobbleheads would have to fill
EXPLAINING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE JUST EXACTLY WHO is doing WHAT to WHOM

and exactly WHO is really on the side of the American People. .

[malaise]

2. Harry Reid is part of the problem

Democrats do not need a leader who is compromised.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8KMJ8I00&show_article=1

<snip>
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid collected a $1.1 million windfall on a Las Vegas land sale even though he hadn't personally owned the property for three years, property deeds show.

In the process, Reid did not disclose to Congress an earlier sale in which he transferred his land to a company created by a friend and took a financial stake in that company, according to records and interviews.

The Nevada Democrat's deal was engineered by Jay Brown, a longtime friend and former casino lawyer whose name surfaced in a major political bribery trial this summer and in other prior organized crime investigations. He's never been charged with wrongdoing—except for a 1981 federal securities complaint that was settled out of court.

Land deeds obtained by The Associated Press during a review of Reid's business dealings show:

_The deal began in 1998 when Reid bought undeveloped residential property on Las Vegas' booming outskirts for about $400,000. Reid bought one lot outright, and a second parcel jointly with Brown. One of the sellers was a developer who was benefiting from a government land swap that Reid supported. The seller never talked to Reid.

_In 2001, Reid sold the land for the same price to a limited liability corporation created by Brown. The senator didn't disclose the sale on his annual public ethics report or tell Congress he had any stake in Brown's company. He continued to report to Congress that he personally owned the land.

_After getting local officials to rezone the property for a shopping center, Brown's company sold the land in 2004 to other developers and Reid took $1.1 million of the proceeds, nearly tripling the senator's investment. Reid reported it to Congress as a personal land sale.

[KharmaTrain]

4. The Game Changes January 6th...

First...we will have at least 58 Democrats compared to 49...and maybe (hopefully 59)...a controlling majority and with it comes some very nice perks in the next Congress. First, the new organizational rules can be structured to reduce the 60 vote threshold on many bills back to majority, where they had been. The GOOP can threaten to throw tantrums with their 41, but all they need to lose is one or two and the fillibuster collapses...let's see how much real resolve they have.

I say call their bluff...if these shitstains threaten to fillibuster, I say send them phone books and let's see how long they keep it up with pressure building on them...and there will be. When Gingrinch shut down the House and government in '95, he all but gave the '96 election to Clinton. Let them keep overplaying.

Fillibuster rules have been a part of Senate life for generations...it's not the rule, but how its used that's the issue...and you never know, it may come in handy for our side some day.

[tritsofme]

5. It takes 67 votes to change the rules.

So good luck there.

[CanonRay]

6. You don't give up the right.

You just really have to filibuster. Stand there on the Senate floor and talk, and don't give up the floor. Not just "say" you're going to filibuster. That lets everyone in the country know who's REALLY in opposition. Let the blame fall where it should. Those filibuster rules were in place for our entire history except for the last few years.

[annabanana]

9. I am SO with you CanonRay .

I have been saying this forEVER

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2418025&mesg_id=2418025

[TexasObserver]

10. A rule change won't fix that big yellow streak down Harry Reid's back.

We need leadership that knows how to lead in the Senate.

The rule change might be needed, but it's the lack of leadership in the senate that is most disasterous. Reid is simply wretched.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Not change. Enforce.

I'd love to see Smellby speak for 2 days as the world markets crash.