Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:02 PM

Filibuster Reform? NOT Happening.

Last edited Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:05 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

I watched the press conference where McCain and Levin announced their bipartisan proposal to reform the filibuster. Senate rules are pretty complicated so I didn't understand a lot of it, but the other parts of the presser told me all I needed to know.

First off, Levin repeatedly said that Democrats amending the rules without Republican support would be a catastrophe.

During the Q&A, most answers about how their proposal would actually make things better included one of the following:

- "it just means that we have to enforce the rules we already have"
- "once both leaders agree that..."

It's a bad joke.

And given the choice between voting for a do-nothing rule that pretends to be reform, and actual reform... You can make up your own mind on where most Dem Senators will fall."

Unbelievable. But predictable.

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8 replies	Author	Time	Post
Filibuster Reform? NOT Happening. (Original post)	MannyGoldstein	Dec 2012	OP
As far as I know, Levin has never supported filibuster reform.	Kaleva	Dec 2012	#1
end the filibuster	putitinD	Dec 2012	#2
What would be a catastrophe is not reforming the filibuster	jinx1	Dec 2012	#3
I think we, the people, need to offer a proposal....	Sekhmets Daughter	Dec 2012	#4
Again The Dems Will Snatch Defeat From The Jaws Of Their Nov Victory....	global1	Dec 2012	#5
Too chickenshit. No one is surprised.	TwilightGardener	Dec 2012	#6
Quite a day, eh?	Fumesucker	Dec 2012	#7
Levin's is not the only proposal to change the filibuster	1-Old-Man	Dec 2012	#8

Response to MannyGoldstein (Original post)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:05 PM

Kaleva (11,406 posts)

1. As far as I know, Levin has never supported filibuster reform.

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Response to MannyGoldstein (Original post)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:09 PM

putitinD (291 posts)

2. end the filibuster

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Response to MannyGoldstein (Original post)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:09 PM

jinx1 (45 posts)

3. What would be a catastrophe is not reforming the filibuster

What are the Republicans going to do that they have not already done. I say go for it and then something can get done in the Senate and then all eyes will be on the House for the next 2 years and the public will see Boehner and his ilk for who they are.

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Response to MannyGoldstein (Original post)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:13 PM

Sekhmets Daughter (7,114 posts)

4. I think we, the people, need to offer a proposal....

Every senator from the party who filibusters a bill must return 5% of his annual salary to the Treasury...for each bill filibustered. The same for any "anonymous' hold..., I believe the party is known for those. I bet that would cut down on this nonsense.

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Response to MannyGoldstein (Original post)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:31 PM

global1 (10,590 posts)

5. Again The Dems Will Snatch Defeat From The Jaws Of Their Nov Victory....

It looks like they will back down on real and effective filibuster reform. It looks like they will give in on the $250,000 threshold and include some sort of entitlement reform to please the Repugs. I just don't understand why they never capitalize on their successes.

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Response to MannyGoldstein (Original post)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 02:36 PM

TwilightGardener (39,682 posts)