Super Minority? Statistical History of the Filibuster

[aggiesal]

I took these numbers from the Senate website, and
charted them on a spreadsheet.
Since the Filibuster is not mandated by the constitution,
and is only a senate rule, it is time that the Filibuster
be changed or removed all together.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. tfh

:tinfoilhat:

[aggiesal]

2. Forgive my ignorance, but ...

what does tfh mean?

[FarLeftFist]

3. Tin foil hat?

[aggiesal]

7. I'm offended, ...

No TFH here.
All I did was list the motions filed.
They it's increasingly abused, the minority will now have
control of any agenda sent to the Senate.

This is not how our founding fathers wanted to see the Senate run.

Time to either get rid of it all together or change the rules so
the majority can govern.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. Don't be...

[Firebrand Gary]

4. Can you extrapolate the data to break it down by party?

[aggiesal]

5. Quick and dirty ...

Go to this link http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/cloture_motions/clotureCounts.htm
and select the congressional number, and it will list each motion, who requested the motion,
and whether it passed of failed.

[aggiesal]

10. Some further explanation ...

The Senate site lists the cloture motion filed.
It does not say who filibustered the bill.
So it may list Harry Reid as bringing the Cloture Motion to the floor,
If it didn't get the required 60 votes for cloture, then the bill is pretty much dead.
You'll have to select the link that lists the vote count, to see who voted
yea for cloture, or nay for to keep it from proceeding to a formal up/down vote.

[Recovered Repug]

6. At the beginning of the year an attempt was made to reform

the filibuster. It failed. The dirty secret is: Blaming filibusters for inaction is popular. Reforming filibusters is not so popular.

[TeamsterDem]

8. I agree but if we'd force them to actually filibuster they'd likely cut back on it

Now it's the mere threat of a filibuster which we're treating as an actual filibuster. The analogy of what we're doing is about like this: We're an NFL offense. We come out in a run formation, see a defensive package designed to stop the run, and instead of calling an audible or depending on good blocking, we just concede the down. Run the damn ball. Make them stop you.

[Romulox]

19. It didn't "fail". Harry Reid did not support it. Fillibuster = too good of an excuse to give up.

[elocs]

9. My guess is when Dems lose the Senate next year we will be happy for the filibuster.

Let's also hope that Obama is our president to veto what will come from the Republican controlled congress.

[0rganism]

11. think senate majority repubs will keep the filibuster?

I'd put even money they take it out of the rules at the beginning of the session.

[aggiesal]

12. Very logical, but ...

There are some Dems. that will vote for cloture with
the Reps. and the 60 votes will be reached.

What we really need are more REAL Dems.

[elocs]

13. That's what primaries are for.

The problem is that the Democratic Party has conservative, moderate, and liberal members. The Republican party is solidly conservative.

The problem though with getting "real" Dems is that they likely could never be elected in their districts or states if they did not take conservative stances. Even the DINOs count toward giving Democrats a majority in either house and that is worth something.

[aggiesal]

15. Yup, they get to head the committees, ...

and get to set the floor agenda.

But when their votes are really needed, they vote conservative.

We need more liberal politicians in DC.

[elocs]

17. The trouble with getting more liberal politicians is that they need to get elected first.

Always a fly in the ointment, isn't there?

[librechik]

16. yeah, at least it will be there for the Dems to use--except they hardly ever do.

They're the good guys who get kicked in the teeth by the bullies who abuse the fillibuster.

[Romulox]

20. Logic problem: the fillibuster leads to paralysis such that the Senate is ineffectual, unpopular,

and in danger of costing several Senators their jobs.

[jwirr]

14. Most of those years the Senate did not need 60 votes to shut it down.

I think this was one of the ghb changes. And it is for the worse.