Senator Dick Durbin: Make the Republicans filibuster on the Senate floor!

[Better Believe It]

Dick Durbin: Let GOP filibuster
By MANU RAJU
March 4, 2010

Senate Democrats may be ready to actually make Republicans carry out filibusters.

Basking in their political victory over Sen. Jim Bunning’s (R-Ky.) blockade of an extension of unemployment insurance, Democrats say that they may force Republicans to talk endlessly on the floor in the months leading up to November’s elections.

For months, House Democrats — and liberal activists — have implored Senate Democrats to let filibusters unfold over hours on the Senate floor, rather than try disposing of Senate business with cloture votes and unanimous consent requests.

Asked Thursday why Senate Democrats don’t force Republicans to carry out filibusters, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said, “We may.”

“When we think the Republicans are being unreasonable — we’re going to consider our options under the rules of the Senate, I think there is a feeling after what we went through with Sen. Bunning’s blockage and unemployment benefits that we need to stand up more and make it clear what this obstruction costs,” Durbin said.

In the past, Democrats have hesitated to employ the tactic, fearing that it would serve only to bottle up the agenda further and create even worse perceptions of the Democratic-led Congress. Instead, when Republicans have threatened to filibuster, Democrats pull the legislation from the floor if they lack the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

Read the full article at:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33920.html

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Democrats May Force Senator Bunning To Engage In An Actual Senate Floor Filibuster

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7828909

[Mass]

1. "We may?" - When are you going to start? Durbin is the n 2 in the Senate. " We may" is hardly enough

[Better Believe It]

2. Forget about the questionable and difficult reconciliation. Just bring a fresh bill with all

the "fixes" liberals/progressives want to the Senate floor for an up and down vote.

If the Republicans threaten a filibuster don't withdraw the bill, make them filibuster.

No more bull shit fake Republican "procedural filibusters" will be tolerated.

[liberal N proud]

3. YES - Make their Just say NO campaign public

Televise the damn thing.

[Better Believe It]

4. Exactly. Just make the Republicans put up or shut up on every appointment and bill.