Cornyn promises filibuster on Franken seating

[JudyInTheHeartland]

Source: The Hill

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) threatened Friday to filibuster any attempt to seat Democratic Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken next week.

The newly minted National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chairman said he had not whipped votes in the GOP caucus, but added that he could not imagine any members defecting and seating Franken without a certificate of election.

Franken will not have that certificate as long as the election is challenged in the courts — a likely scenario, with Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R-Minn.) legal team already attacking the credibility of the recount process.

“This is a very, very serious matter,” Cornyn said. “I can assure you that there will be no way that people on our side of the aisle will agree to seat any senator without a valid certificate.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/cornyn-promises-filibuster-on-franken-seating-2009-01-02.html

[Metta]

1. Happy karma, John.

you slug.

[Gman]

2. The first obstruction for the new Congress

led by probably one of the biggest and stupidest Senators ever to stroll the halls of Congress. I hate to use the word, but there is no other way to say it. Cornyn is stupid.

[SharonAnn]

70. Yes, a total waste of skin.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Stick a cornyncob up your butt, you moran.

Things aren't going your way, John? Gee, that's tough.

[gravity]

4. Bring it on

Let the GOP be the party of obstruction.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Fuck you, Cornhole.

Resign your seat, and tell Goodhair to appoint a Democrat in your place.

[Liberal Veteran]

6. Okay, can we just agree to not seat ANY of their senators at all?

Since it appears to be an optional thing now?

[Ian David]

19. Oooh. n/t

[robinlynne]

47. works for me. They dont' even wait for the votes to be counted for their own Senators.

They just stick them in and say they won.....

[JCMach1]

56. Seeems perfect to me... put Franken first on the agenda and everything else would be held up....

bring it on punk

[davefromqueens]

7. If Cornyn wants war, give it to him

NOt a penny gets spent on any project in his state other than necessities. Completely freeze him out.

[Warpy]

8. Every stupid filibuster will bring them closer

to changing the rules on cloture.

The election was a close one but it was finally decided.

Cornyn's just a bully boy who doesn't know when to quit. However, his antics will bring the Senate closer to doing what it probably should have done during the last two record breaking years of filibusters: change the rules until the Republicans manage to grow the fuck up.

[Vincardog]

13. How about making them actually filibuster? Stand up and read the phone book don't just say it

[robinlynne]

48. exactly. go for it.

[louis-t]

24. Filibusters that RARELY make any MSM

My repug relatives were totally unaware of the 94 filibusters in the last Congress, while blaming Dems for current economic crisis.

[edbermac]

9. We're gonna filibuster your ass for the next 4 years, Johnnie.

:hurts:

[santamargarita]

10. Nothing but noise from another Right-Wing, Texas, Sonuvabitch!

I like to see Democratic Senators turn the lights off and beat the shit of these obstructionist assholes!

[liberal1973]

25. I agree, and I like that idea.

[rhett o rick]

31. I am in. nm

[Jane Austin]

11. Okay. Now let's have a look at those precincts that had the exact

same number of votes (881?) for Cornyn in his defeat of Ron Kirk in 2002.

Sure that just happens. Sure it does. Yeah.

:sarcasm:

Everybody was so busy being shocked at the unlikely defeats of Max Cleland and Roy Barnes in Georgia, nobody thought to look at Texas.

People think of Texas as red, red, red, but it was only 15 or so years ago that all the statewide offices in Texas were held by Democrats.

That all changed when Karl Rove showed up with one G.W. Bush in 1994.

How (not) surprising that Dems haven't won statewide since.

Everybody thinks Texas voters changed. I think it's possible that the way Texas votes were counted changed when Karl Rove showed up with G.W. Bush.

[Vincardog]

14. Bingo

[frylock]

22. 18181

[Jane Austin]

33. Was that the number?

Doesn't stink much, does it?

[Pastiche423]

54. 18181 was the total votes for each of three texan repubics

3 different repubics in three different counties each won w/18181 votes in 2002.

You have to ask a math wizz what "18181" means.

[Occulus]

59. Assign the numbers to letters

and you get "AHAHA".

Across three different races. It's important to note, that number- 18181- was, IIRC, the difference between the winner and the loser.

Nope. No conspiracy. That's just a coincidence.

Right.

[Alexander]

66. I've read five races in other sources...

But yes, the "AHAHA" thing is just too blatant not to be fraud.

[Pastiche423]

67. Nope, it was not the diifference

In November, 2002, county judge Danny Scheel, state Senator Jeff Wentworth and state representative Carter Casteel - all Republicans - got exactly 18,181 votes each.

[Baby Snooks]

28. The Democrats in Texas voted for John Cornyn...

John Cornyn retained his seat because the Texas Democratic Party didn't believe it needed to do anything to get Hispanics to the polls to vote for Rick Noriega and the chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party, after Rick Noriega lost to John Cornyn, admitted as much to the Houston Chronicle. Reality is the boys in the backroom liked Cornyn better.

There are lots of reasons given by the Texas Democratic Party but apart from the racism the reality is Texas is red because some of the blue boys in the backroom like red.

There are Democrats who voted for John Cornyn. There are Democrats who voted for Kay Bailey Hutchison. Blue dogs. Everyone in their place. They like African-Americans because they know their place. And make the deals and play the game. Time for people to understand the real problem in Texas is the Democratic Party.

[Jane Austin]

34. The Democratic Party has a lot to answer for in Texas, but

the people of Texas didn't change - en masse and forever - overnight in 1994.

I don't trust anything this Republican-controlled state announces officially.

[Baby Snooks]

44. Reagan Democrats...

And they include Rick Perry and Carol Whats-Her-Name and quite a few others who actually switched parties. Blue dogs. Reagan Democrats. They are still racist and conservative. And on the subject of racism, there are some questions about the African-American voters and whether some of them voted for John Cornyn instead of Rick Noriega. The demographics of votes is hard to determine. Despite generalities. Texas is a mess.

[Alexander]

64. The number you're thinking of is 18,181. It happened in 5 different counties.

And yes, vote tampering has been going on in Texas since the days of "Landslide" Lyndon Johnson, so this doesn't surprise me at all.

[truebrit71]

12. Attn: Harry Reid....Make this mothereffer ACTUALLY do it...instead of rolling over...

...like you usually do...


Make those fuckers ACTUALLY filibuster so that everyone can see their obstructionist asses in action...

[Ian David]

18. I had the same thought. I'm calling Senator Dickless right now. n/t

[Ian David]

20. Senator Dickless' voicemailbox is full. n/t

[jberryhill]

41. He's too busy keeping out the lawfully appointed Senator from Illinois

[Odin2005]

15. This Minnesotan thinks Cornyn needs a swift kick in the ass.

:grr:

[CBHagman]

16. Filibuster THIS.

:grr:

[Ian David]

17. If Al Franken had listened to Randi Rhodes, this wouldn't be an issue.

I'm just sayin'

[Joey Liberal]

36. I miss Randi! nt

[bobbolink]

42. YEs, it came back around to bite him.

Yet, where is his apology???????????????

[nickgutierrez]

61. What is the story with those two?

I've heard her make a couple of vague references to Franken not being the nicest guy around - but not until after election day - but I never quite understood what the dispute was.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Stevepol]

23. You really have to admire the Repugs: they stick up for their own.

Even when they don't have any reason to do so.

The Dems have had a dozen elections in the last few years when they had a lot more reason to filibuster in support of a Dem candidate and didn't. Take the FL election with the undervotes. An obvious injustice and nothing was done. What about Clint Curtis's election in FL? The committee with oversight CHAIRED BY A DEM, wdn't even listen to the case. That's just FL. That's just one election cycle.

The Dems could learn a great lesson.

But of course they won't.

[sofa king]

26. Because Cornyn is one of like six Senate GOPers not worried about his job.

The rest of them, though, are gonna have to think about it when a cloture vote is called.

[calimary]

27. What was it all his cronies were saying to us about eight years ago? Sore Loserman?

Well, back atcha, john. With love 'n' kisses!

[rhett o rick]

29. I truly wish gutless Harry would call his bluff and let him filibuster or end the filibuster rule.

No filibusters during war time.

[judesedit]

30. Does Johnny mean like the "recount"( NOT) that handed Bush the presidency in 2000?

Don't make me laugh. It is hard to believe they are adults in the republican party sometimes. They are one-sided, hypocritical, and immature to boot. They didn't mind the election being handed to Bush in 2000, without counting ALL of the votes in FL. They didn't mind Blackwell's electronic voting machines being rigged in '04, flip-flopping Kerry's votes to Bush in OH. All of a sudden they are redeemed. Too funny. Thank God these crooks are falling by the wayside. The truth will set us free! Go Al!

[FreakinDJ]

32. Ain't Hypocracy Grand

Fucking Cry-Baby RATpublicans

[Joey Liberal]

35. Cornyn is a fool - Texas deserves him nt

[Baby Snooks]

46. Thank you!

And who can we wish on you?

[Joey Liberal]

58. LOL! I've got Sen. Inhofe

Who is even worse tht Cornyn:)............

[Still Sensible]

37. Another faux outrage from an Asshat?

He shouldn't be seated without a certificate of election. Who is claiming they are going to seat Franken before the election board certifies his election? Sounds to me like another GOP asshat creating a faux issue so they can be outraged.

[progressoid]

38. Yeah, good luck with that Johnny.

[droidamus2]

39. How about

How about every time the losers ur.. I mean Republican's threaten to filibuster the Democrat's call their bluff and make them keep up the filibuster for a minimum of let's say 2 weeks. That's 2 weeks of constant talking. Yes it may slow things down at first but I would bet the rank and file of the GOP senate delegation would get damned tired of having the Democrat's point out how they are obstructing constructive progress in the senate and I am also sure they would just get tired of talking.

[Warren Stupidity]

40. Time for a rule change.

The minority party ought to be informed of a potential nukular option.

[Joanne98]

43. The nuclear option anyone?

[dflprincess]

71. Sooner or later Reid will have to use it

I think, beginning with their rejection of the auto bailout (yes, I know that was the "old" Congress) and now the reaction to Franken makes it pretty clear that the election didn't teach the Republicans anything and they haven't decided that they may have to cooperate on.

The question is, will Harry have the spine to use it? I sometimes think that continuing to allow the minority to block majority votes is just the way Democrats do the bidding of theirr Corporate masters.

[robinlynne]

45. but but San Diego.....

[unblock]

49. the session hasn't even started and the party of "bipartisanship" is aiding the terrorists.

why do they hate america?

[Initech]

50. Hey Cornyn, go have sex with a box turtle.

[Baby Snooks]

51. The lapdogs...

He and Hutchison have been loyal lapdogs. And probably will continue to be. Quite a few Republicans really don't like them. And would vote for a Democrat. If you could run a Democratic version of their "image" as the proverbial WASP which is what really is what kept the Republicans voting for their challengers in 2006 and 2008. She was challenged by a Jew. He was challenged by a Hispanic. There were probably Republicans in Dallas and Houston who still voted for the challenger. But outside of the two metroplexes forget anyone who is not a WASP or as in Bush's case a "bubba" who they think is one of them which of course appeals to the blue dog Democrats as well. Texas, again, is a mess.

But you have sufficient minority voters, mainly the African-American voters in the two metroplexes and the Hispanic voters in South Texas, that can counter that vote if they are motivated to turn out at the polls. Had they done so in 2006 and 2008 the lapdogs would have been tossed out and "retired" with their master.

She is considering running for governor in 2010 as she was considering in 2006. It will be interesting to see if she starts barking on the floor of the Senate along with Cornyn in order to possible garner the support she didn't have in 2006. Of course that will cost her with the Democrats she may need to win. She may not have the advantage of Rick Perry in 2006 and only need the 39% he won with. If she runs. Most expect she cannot pull support from that 39% and without that she cannot win. She might not even be able to win a primary.

The Republicans in Texas have their problems as well.

[libodem]

52. Who is this 'Cornhole'

doofus. Hey, Cornwipe, F/U. Effing stoopid-ass.

[Doctor_J]

53. Well, that'll be enough to have Harry scurrying for cover

Cornyn's basically told Palenty that if he can refuse to certify the election, MN will have one senator next term instead of two.

[kevsand]

55. Maybe they should swear in Burris.

Looks like they'll need every vote they can get to break the filibuster... ;-)

[JNelson6563]

57. Another shit flinging monkey

[Thor_MN]

60. Time to let Cornhole know that any attempt to block MN seating its elected Senator

will result in blocking Texas from seating its next senator.

[bvar22]

62. But...but....but....

....This is the era of "Post-Partisanship". Our president elect has been "reaching out" to Republicans, and appointed a conservative Free Trade/more WAR cabinet and everything.

And NOW the Republicans are going to return the favor like THIS!!!


Who coulda foreseen that the Republican wouldn't play nice? :shrug:

[TankLV]

63. Yeah - I could've foretold as much...

but this is aparently a "great" policy...

"it's only ONE speaker - it's ONLY the invocation - it's...

we shall see, we shall see...

[roamer65]

65. We have 58 or so seats...Time for the "nuclear option" that Frist championed.

No more filibuster, Cornhole.

[jmowreader]

68. Okay fine John...

Isn't there a broom closet in the basement we could move Cornyn's office into? More importantly, aren't there a few military bases in Texas we could add to the BRAC list...like...oh, I don't know, Fort Hood's kind of a cesspool.

[Thor_MN]

69. Hey Cornhole, Franken won by 225 votes, get over it and mind your own business.

Minnesota Nice wins over Texas Rude. Coleman lost, you worry about your own state's elections.

[Abq_Sarah]

72. Franken will be seated

And Cornyn is going to just have to get the hell over it.