Does the GOP have the votes to filibuster Reid’s gun-control bill?

Hot Air ^ | April 9, 2013 | Allahpundit

[2ndDivisionVet]

Here’s a better question. Should the GOP filibuster the gun-control bill? Johnny Isakson says no:

“I’ll speak for myself on that question,” Isakson said on CBS’s “This Morning” when asked about the filibuster. “There’s no ambivalence on the gun issue, I think everyone knows what the issues are. We have not seen the final draft of the legislation that was produced, I understand, last night, but I think it deserves a vote up or down.”…

Isakson also said he could support a bill for universal background checks, depending on the language it contains.

McConnell, who does intend to filibuster, needs to hold 41 of the 45 members of his caucus to make it happen. Isakson is out; McCain said Sunday that he doesn’t understand the point of a filibuster here since Reid will allow amendments to the bill, so presumably he’s out too. Watch below and you’ll see that Rob Portman’s undecided. Presumably, since they have cover from senators from redder states to let the bill go forward, Susan Collins and Mark Kirk (and maybe Pat Toomey and Lisa Murkowski?) will also oppose a filibuster. If they do, and if Portman ends up opposing it too, that leaves a maximum of 40 Republican votes — not enough to stop the bill from proceeding to a final vote unless a few panicky Democrats from red states end up joining them. If you thought people like Mark Pryor and Mark Begich couldn’t sweat this issue any harder than they’re doing right now, think again.

But wait. Do we really want to stop this bill before a final vote? Maybe it’s in the GOP’s interest not to filibuster. Tom Maguire makes the case:

I’m with McCain – I don’t understand this Republican plan to filibuster Reid’s gun control bill...

[2ndDivisionVet]

You can always count on the Republicans .... to cave to the Democrats.

[MEGoody]

I’m not sure why we’d want to fillibuster. Why not just let it go to a vote? I don’t think Reid has the votes to pass it, but maybe my information is old.

[wolfman23601]

Who cares? It will never get through the house. Waste of mental gymnastics.

[what's up]

I don't understand it either.

Seems like it would be better to get Dems on record with anti-gun votes, especially in red leaning states.

[cotton1706]

Bills like this used to be debated for weeks. Not anymore. Harry Reid got into the practice of filing for cloture at the same time he files the bill. That means 30 hours of debate for a motion to proceed and 30 hours for the bill. In reality, that’s two days, since all the overnight time counts. They want to rush this through with little debate or amendment. The only way for any actual debate to happen is with a filibuster.

[Puppage]

They’d filibuster to continue/have a debate. Otherwise, the rats will bring it right to the floor.

[MrEdd]

Actually, it is not a waste.
I halts the senate from spending time on other parts of the left’s agenda.
At the same time it focuses the pubic scrutiny an a part of that agenda that is unpopular.

[Perdogg]

The dems want the bill to killed. AWR Hawkins reported last week that Sen Blumenthal is going to offer an amendments to ban ‘high capacity’ magazines ensuring its defeat.

[cotton1706]

The House cannot be counted on. They’re already putting pressure on republican senators. Once it gets through the senate, the pressure will be on Boehner, who will fold quickly. And it’ll be passed with democrats and moderate republicans. Boehner or Cantor can refuse to bring it to the floor but they’ll either cave or Pelosi will get 218 signatures (with republican help) on a discharge petition to force it to the floor.

The fight is in the senate. And republcans are already caving, because they’re weak. Ayotte, Isakson, Heller, Flake, McCain and Graham have already thrown in their lot with the democrats. Chambliss and Johnanns are leaving so they won’t care and will too. Portman will be next, then the rest of the weak links.

[BarnacleCenturion]

“It will never get through the house.”

The house is full of Rinos:

Boehner: Will consider gun-control legislation

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Thursday refused to rule out a vote on gun-control legislation in the next Congress.

The highest-ranking elected Republican lawmaker said that he would take the recommendations of a commission led by Vice President Joe Biden on gun control “under advisement.”

“When the vice president’s recommendations come forward, we’ll certainly take them into consideration,” Boehner told reporters gathered at a press conference in the Capitol.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/274035-boehner-will-consider-gun-control-legislation#ixzz2Pzi2aFLI

[Pollster1]

“There’s no ambivalence on the gun issue, I think everyone knows what the issues are. We have not seen the final draft of the legislation that was produced, I understand, last night, but I think it deserves a vote up or down.”…

No. My freedom does not "deserve" an up or down vote. Freedom is an absolute, and 51% of the people cannot vote to deprive me of a God-given constitutional right. The bill and all gun bills should be killed by any means necessary. If passed, they should be systematically ignored (as the mildest acceptable response). In the event of a trial, jury nullification is a moral obligation.

[Yosemitest]

"You can always count on the Republicans .... to cave to the Democrats."

Especially with these back-stabbers.
In short, the GOP is full of VILE members who'll sell us out in a heartbeat!

Here are the ones that I know about.
What do we do when our side is full of TRAITORS?
I submit the following for proof.

"The Republican leadership did not allow the amendment to be considered. "
Here's the Republicans Leadership Internet Page.

Republican Leadership


John Boehner
Speaker of the House





Eric Cantor
Majority Leader





Kevin McCarthy
Majority Whip





Cathy McMorris Rodgers
House Republican Conference Chair





Greg Walden
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman





Lynn Jenkins
House Republican Conference Vice Chair





Virginia Foxx
House Republican Conference Secretary





James Lankford
Republican Policy Committee Chairman




Click on the links to tell them what you think!

Check out this link, "Senate Republicans Willfully and Knowingly Lie to Their Constituents (vote to fund Obamacare)".

The following Senators voted to pass the continuing resolution even though it still funds Obamacare.
• Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
  
  
• Sen. JohnBarrasso (R-WY)
  
  
• Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
  
  
• Sen. John N. Boozman (R-AR)
  
  
• Sen. Clarence Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
  
  
• Sen. Daniel R. Coats (R-IN)
  
  
• Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
  
  
• Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
  
  
• Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN)
  
  
• Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
  
  
• Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
  
  
• Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND)
  
  
• Sen. John “Johnny” Isakson (R-GA)
  
  
• Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE)
  
  
• Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
  
  
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
  
  
• Sen. Jefferson “Jeff” Sessions (R-AL)
  
  
• Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)
  
  
• Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
  
  
• Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)
  
  
If any one of those senators tells you they did not vote to fund Obamacare or, in fact, voted against funding Obamacare,
they are being mendacious.
They may have voted for Ted Cruz’s amendment,
but after it failed,
they still knowingly and willingly voted to fund Obamacare.
And now they are lying to their constituents who call them out on it.

Many of these same Senators are also supporting separate legislation to foist a massive tax increase on the American people.

And let's not forget Sen. John McCain, one of Conservatives worst enemies, saying 'I don't understand' GOP filibuster on guns.

Sen. John McCain

[DouglasKC]

I’m not sure why we’d want to fillibuster. Why not just let it go to a vote? I don’t think Reid has the votes to pass it, but maybe my information is old.

1. No matter what they're going to demonize conservatives on this issue. Its' a given.

2. With a fillibuster the Republican talking point is easy: We are defending the constitution and law abiding citizens from the gun grabbers in the democrat party.

3. If it comes to a vote then there will be bribery, pork barrel promises, glad handing and corruption on both sides of the aisle in order to get it passed. With a fillibuster this is less likely to happen.

[cripplecreek]

At the same time it focuses the pubic scrutiny an a part of that agenda that is unpopular.

I think that's the best part. In fact as Ted Cruz pointed out last time, its the only time he's been allowed to speak on the floor.

Also, they can cover many subjects like Cruz speaking on federal government interference in state matters.

[GilesB]

That’s right. They don’t need 40 votes to filibuster. Technically, all they need is 1 person with a HUGE bladder.

With 14, it should be a piece of cake - speak for 2 hours out of 28, that’s something a senator should be able to do without even thinking about it.

The only way it could be broken is if one of the 14 betrays the others, and turns the floor over to Reid, who calls for a cloture vote - THAT’S when the 40 votes are important.

I sense there is one who could potentially pull the rug out from under the others...

[Robert357]

Personally, if there would be an honest debate without party line votes, I would expect that the various pieces of gun control legislation would not pass the Senate.

However, I think the voting will be on a party line basis no matter how flawed the legislation is or how little it will do to reduce gun violence.

I have written to my two Senators, and to six other Senators that may help oppose the universal background check legislation, which is not common sense, but nonsense.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Hey Isakson, we are going to primary your puking RINO azz in 2016 so enjoy the perks while they last you loser.

[AirForce-TechSgt]

This is my thought on gun control. Let them vote on it. If it passes and is signed into law have all those that voted for it arressted for treason. Any gun controll is in violation of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

[MEGoody]

Good points all. I did hear Mark Levin talking about the issue of the constitution yesterday, i.e. why would we allow Congress to vote on a change to a constitutional right. Very convincing arguments. Convincing enough that I am now compelled to support a filibuster.

[mrsmith]

I think this calls more attention to the vote- red state Dems have to vote 3 times for the bill: cloture on the motion to proceed, cloture to end debate, and on the bill itself.

Plus it gets more media coverage.