Why Are Senate Dems Afraid of a Real Filibuster But Not Afraid to Condemn Move-On

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2007/sep/20/why_are_senate_dems_afraid_of_a_real_filibuster

Why Are Senate Dems Afraid of a Real Filibuster But Not Afraid to Condemn Move-On
By M.J. Rosenberg | bio

Over at TPM HQ, readers have taken issue with David Kurtz's argument that forcing Republicans to actually filibuster legislation would be a pointless exercise.

I agree with reader JE who wrote: "the Democrats should make them filibuster, and use the term "filibuster" whenever they describe what the Republicans have done, not idiotic characterizations like "we don't have the votes." The only way to counteract Republican falsely blaming the Democrats for being "do-nothing" is to make it abundantly clear that Republicans are being obstructionist. *Make* them filibuster. Make it a true filibuster, which stops all other business until a cloture vote occurs. If anyone complains, or if anyone in the media doesn't get it, tell them that all you want is an up-or-down vote, but a minority of Republicans is preventing the business of the country from getting done, not to keep the bill from passing, but just so their president doesn't have to *bother* to veto it.

Does anybody have any idea by our fearless Dems let the GOP off the hook by going immediately to a cloture vote, losing, and then going on to other business.

Why not force the GOP to stay up all night reading the Bible and The Collected Works of Ann Coulter. (Babsis: torture! :rofl: ) Let the electorate see them blocking the will off the people. Why would Dems be afraid of that?

Could it be the same reasoning that led 23 of them to vote today for a resolution condemning Moveon.org which the same number that voted for the original Levin amendment to oppose authorization of the Iraq war in 2002?

[Pawel K]

1. I am puzzled by all of this, I simply can not comprehend why the dems are doing this

this is nothing more than shooting yourself in the foot, it almost seems they want to be the republican party.

[BrklynLib at work]

3. They enjoy low approval ratings? They did not understand exactly why they were elected?

The possibilites are endless, and none of them make any sense at all.

[Horse with no Name]

12. Not only that

But exactly WHO helped to elect them.

[NoodleBoy]

2. because they hate america, liberalism, and they're actually republicans. duh.

[BridgeTheGap]

4. 25 Dems did vote against this

The ones who did will have to account for themselves.

[cali]

6. Nah, I'm giving my

Senator a "get out of the shithouse free" card.

[xchrom]

5. don't get it myself.

there can't be a total lack of understanding what it is to play hardball -- that's inconceivable to me -- but maybe that's it.

tactical numskulls.

who knows?

[AuntPatsy]

7. Wondering, have any of those that voted explained why?

[dipsydoodle]

8. I guess it's time to make St Jude

our patron Saint - for those of us who truly dispair.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. K&R!

[robinlynne]

10. exactly.

[porphyrian]

11. Ask this question: Who stands to profit from their actions? - n/t