Gibbs Offers Procedural Criticism Of Don't Ask Don't Tell Vote: '60 Is The New 50'

[laughingliberal]

The Obama administration offered somewhat measured disapproval on Tuesday with the filibustering of a measure to repeal the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and with the Senate's inability to pass funds for the Department of Defense and U.S. troops.

Speaking at roughly the same time that a Republican-led faction killed consideration of the DADT amendment -- which would have overturned the prohibition of gay members from serving openly in the military -- White House spokesman Robert Gibbs focused largely on the procedural implications of the vote.

"Sixty is the new 50 and I don't mean age," he said. "To do anything in this town now you have to get 60 votes. And it is certainly not the way that many of the people who work in the Senate, including senators, thought that this is the way it ought to work."

The condemnation of the compulsive use of the filibuster by the Senate minority was a bit harder than what the White House has offered in the past. But the tone still struck some Democrats as noticeably subdued. Not only had DADT repeal been shelved. So too had the DREAM Act, which would have provided more paths to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. Topping off matters, Republicans had successfully held hostage operating funding for U.S. troops over these two measures, arguing that they were non-germane to defense.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/21/gibbs-offers-procedural-c_n_733806.html

Seems a good time for the WH to support some of the ideas out there for reforming the filibuster, hmmm?

[vaberella]

1. You really think that reforming a filibuster is goin to pass with this Congress?!

I mean seriously.

[laughingliberal]

2. They have the opportunity to change their rules at the beginning of each new Congress.

I think if we retain the majority, it's high time to do it. If the Republicans get the majority, I'm sure they will change it to prevent the Democrats from doing what they've done for 2 years.

[vaberella]

4. That's going to be filibustered. n/t

[laughingliberal]

5. I believe they can vote to change the rules at the start of each Congress without it being subject..

to filibuster.

[vaberella]

7. I believe that's what was thought about the defense bill.

I don't think that's the case, but we'll see.

[laughingliberal]

8. THE CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION TO CHANGE SENATE RULES AND PROCEDURES:

THE CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION TO CHANGE
SENATE RULES AND PROCEDURES:
A MAJORITARIAN MEANS TO OVER
COME THE FILIBUSTER*


http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Gold_Gupta_JLPP_article.pdf

[Occulus]

3. "The Obama administration offered somewhat measured disapproval"

:banghead:

[vaberella]

6. This is huffpost. You read the quote, that's not measured. That's disapproval.

Huffpost and most pundits do anything in their power to minimize the feelings of the WH in order to make it seem as thought hey are not with us. It's only until Obama says something do they change their tune. Keep in mind that HP is part of the MSM.