Filibuster by all means, but not without the votes!

[kynn]

As much as I want to see the Alito nomination to get filibustered, I fervently hope the Democrats don't do it without having the votes for it. It would only make their reputation as the Keystone Kops of Kongress all the more unshakeable.

[jsamuel]

1. too late for that, Kerry said he will attempt it

[seabeyond]

2. how in hte hell can you filibuster without votes. what are you talking

about

[Burried News]

3. The Tea is where it belongs - in the Harbor.

[chapel hill dem]

4. Tin foil hat time: Kerry's Dem Pres opponents are setting him up n/t

[mikelewis]

18. Setting him up how? By making him a hero to the Wacko left?

If he fails, it will be because they caved. How would that hurt Kerry especially when the overwhelming majority of the Democratic Caucus supports the filibuster? The Democratic Senator who votes against us is committing political suicide not Senator Kerry.

[chapel hill dem]

34. Just an observation, but I think that the 2008 nomination contest will

focus on who can bring the Democrats together and lead the Party as well as the Nation. Those Democrat Presidential hopefuls may point to this and say that Kerry could not rally his fellow Democratic Senators to reject cloture.

I may be paranoid, but I see a lot of agendas playing out within our Party on this one.

[BigBearJohn]

41. Sometimes doing what's right has to transcend politics

as one poster here wrote

[democracyindanger]

5. Interesting that you would use a 'KKK' acronym to describe Democrats.

[kynn]

6. purely koincidental... n/t

[seabeyond]

10. you cant have a filibuster without the votes. tell me what you

mean when you say, filibuster, but not without votes. what are you talking about

[Mass]

11. Calling to vote against cloture, that is what the OP means.

And I am happy they did it, with or without the votes.

[seabeyond]

15. i see. ty. a vote against cloture is a wussy afraid vote for filibuster

i will take it. how about you mass

[seabeyond]

16. i wont demean the vote against cloture so. nah it isnt a chicken vote

for filibuster. for repugs to vote against cloture would be mighty bave of them. i would totally respect it

[Mass]

17. Voting against cloture is what you need to do to have a filibuster

You need 41 people either abstaining or voting against cloture, so by all means, we need this cloture vote to happen or there is 0 chances to have a filibuster.

[seabeyond]

20. 41 for filibuster, looks we dont have, yet.... 60 for yes vote on

cloture. were we are asking they not get, 60 cloture to shut it down. they are seperate of each other in a way. can have 59 for cloture, and only 39 for filibuster, and you still get filibuster, right?

[Mass]

21. Exactly - They need 60 votes for cloture.

[pinto]

33. Cloture ends debate/discussion. It takes 60 yea votes to end debate

(yea on cloture) or 41 nay votes to keep the debate open on the floor (nay on cloture). Leaving the debate open means a final vote on the nomination can't be held. Debate has to be closed to allow the nomination vote to the floor.

As was mentioned, old-style filibustering - the endless speeches - was a way to block a cloture vote from ever being presented - debate not only remained open, but cloture was not presented for a vote. The Senate dropped the practice and relies on cloture, with a 60/41 benchmark, to handle the battle about a final vote on a nomination.

Hope that makes sense. That's my understanding of the process. It's going to be an interesting day.

[mikelewis]

31. The filibuster is already happening...

A filibuster is a plan to hold debate open indefinitely, it's already in place. What we are doing now is trying to convince and inspire 41 Senators to support the filibuster. A cloture vote is a vote to cut off debate on an issue. The Republicans need to have 60 votes to end debate. If 41 of our Senators vote no or abstain from voting, the debate continues indefinitely; effectively killing the issue. If this happens, the Republican majority plans to change the 60 vote rule to a simple majority vote. That's the Nuclear Option.

My guess is that Sen. Kerry already had the votes before he announced and this may be the Senators simply riling up support by feigning indecision. They need to be standing in front of millions of pissed off Americans before they face the Nuclear Option. I think the Republicans are getting the idea that maybe a Nuclear war in the Senate might not be such a popular idea. I think we are going to block Alito's nomination.

And this also might help a few of our Democratic Senators win over quite a few Conservative voters. What Conservative would vote against Robert Byrd now? He lives in a Conservative State and his opposition to the filibuster just won him another term. If the filibuster holds like I think it will, we don't need to send a dime to Sen. Byrds reelection campaign. He's locked. Mary Landrieu just lost New Orleans in Katrina which was a Democrat stronghold. She has to win over conservative voters to stay alive. We don't need her vote so hopefully this will earn her enough to survive in November. I think Ben Nelson falls into this catagory too but I'm not sure.

[Mass]

32. I dont know if I am as optimistic as you are concerning the votes

but anyway, it was the right thing to do if only on principle.

[mikelewis]

35. Politicians don't live on principles, they live on votes...

They are not going to throw away their base right before an election. Sen. Kerry stood up because the Leadership allowed him too. Both Hilary and Kennedy wholeheartedly endorse the filibuster and they sent Kerry because of his name recognition in the last election. He did get more votes than George Bush after all. This is Kerry's grand FUCK YOU to George Bush. Just sit back and enjoy it. But call too.

[seabeyond]

37. you are an optimist mike

i have really been enjoying listening to you the last week. thanks. have had turks on for two days now.

[Mass]

12. koincidental?

Sorry, but this reminds me of my dear governor a little too much.

[jsamuel]

29. funny how that was your last post here...

[BuyingThyme]

30. It was a parting shot. (The K in coincidental.)

Most of us apparently didn't understand that.

:hi:

[kynn]

39. huh? n/t

[doublethink]

42. huh? ....... Duh!!!!!

:rofl: are you really that mentally challenged, don't get what you said or just Mis-informed? Or a 'Valley Girl'? Which is it? :shrug: Nothing Personal mind you, just having some fun, while your here. Peace, hope you can deal with the truth some day ...... and not the spin. Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Are you Christian? Just curious? What did the Bible say about the truth? "Through Deceit They Refuse To Know Me" ..... If your not Christian I apologize ..... Agnostic that's okay too, big tent here. It no matter! You started this thread at 3:14 pm, and your only other post here is 5 hours later. Deep too ..... huh? :rofl: See ya! But peace, always, peace. :)

Note: nice try at the kick when you got home but your gonna have to try harder with this crowd. :rofl:

[nemo137]

43. klever ...n/t

[mom cat]

19. Thanks...

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fedupinBushcountry]

7. Pessimism

will get you no where.

NO SURRENDER !!!

[savemefromdumbya]

8. actually no, that's the way the GOP want you to see it

[Mass]

9. Nope, we have to stand for what we believe.

All the GOP hopes is that we continue to be wishy-washy.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. Why don't you check the archives before you post.

You're three days behind the times.

[BuyingThyme]

14. How 'bout you figure out what a filibuster is before posting about it.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mass]

24. Two flamebait threads in 3 minutes - I think you may be right.

[Botany]

26. Might be ....

.... :rofl: as if anyone of us "nutballs" would change what we do, think,
or say because of one posting on DU. Teaching a worm to throw a
fastball would be easier.

BTW is flame bait 1 or 2 words?

[BuyingThyme]

25. It makes one wonder what Pukes think the word FILIBUSTER means.

Maybe they think it's like shenanigans on South Park, and they don't want anybody to get smacked with brooms?

[aquart]

27. Have we been infiltrated?

So many posts saying we should give up and give in. Gosharooney, let's all lay down so the Republicans can walk on us. Wouldn't want their dainty feet to touch the ground.

[jsamuel]

28. I posted a thread last night about that and it got locked...

this one is still open though...

wake up!

[jarnocan]

36. Saying that can kill it

Don't take a chance because... there are some who maybe wavering in their resolve- either way- there will be some powerful discussions and ongoing activism. We should not just give up on our rights and democracy because it might not work.

[WinkyDink]

38. Don't worry about it.

We'll be fine. Better Keystone Kops than Republican Goose-steppers.

[doublethink]

40. FILIBUSTER FOR THE TRUTH !!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe this way it will make the American public wake up to the FACT that 'not all is well in D.C.' or with our Country! Dammit enough SPIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Peace. :)