May 16, 2005
Support the Democratic FilibusterThe systematic filibuster of judicial nominees is unprecedented. Nevetheless, changing Senate rules to cut off debate with 51 votes would be a serious step. There is a simple solution that we have written about before: make the Democrats actually mount a filibuster.
Democrats whine about freedom of speech, the right to debate, checks and balances, yada, yada, yada. Fine. Let them talk. Let them talk as long as they want. Make them talk 24 hours a day until they have nothing else to say. When Ku Klux Klansman Robert Byrd is wasting the Senate's time by reading a phone book Americans will know that this is not about substance or principles but about partisanship and obstruction, pure and simple.
This is the best solution for Republicans. Call Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office (202-224-3344) and urge him to force the Democrats to really filibuster and make them choose between voting or embarassing themselves with a good old fashioned filibuster.
Posted by Jonathan R. on May 16, 2005 01:07 PM
Comments
If the GOP does this and fails, I can live with that.
What I can't live with is ham-handed, mealy mouthed "procedural" maneuvers that concede the high ground to the ideologically bankrupt Democrats without a fight.
I believe if the GOP gord "nuclear" without a REAL filibuster, they will have ceded the high ground in an almost French-like retreat.
Posted by: Kevin Patrick at May 16, 2005 02:55 PM
Naah. Frist tried that last summer. Didn't work.
If he attempted a sequel, do you doubt for a single moment that the Democrats wouldn't oblige him? There's so much hot, fetid air on that side of the aisle they could and would easily outlast our poor, hapless, sad sack majority.
Enough with the gimmickry. Enough with the "too clever by half"-edness. Enough with stunts designed to embarrass people that have proven themselves utterly beyond shame.
The one and only thing the Democrats fear is the Byrd Option. It's the one and only thing that will bring the confirmation filibusters to an end. It's the button that should be pushed.
Now.
Posted by: Hard Starboard at May 16, 2005 04:15 PM
Yes, I would have liked to seen real filibusters put back in rather than (what I will coin) "The Lazy Option" which is in force now. However, its too late for that now. To do so would lengthen this proceedure, make us look like chickens with their heads cut off.
I would suggest that the get rid of the Lazy Option in the future. Especially since everyone is so concerned with the long standing historical blah blah blah they've been wringing their hands over.
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at May 16, 2005 07:40 PM
