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Filibuster Myth-Busters
The Washington Times ^ | April 15, 2005 | Wendy E. Long

Posted on 04/15/2005 7:18:12 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day

Myth No. 1:Filibuster of judges is a sacred tradition.

Fact: The filibuster is nowhere in the Constitution. It is not among the "checks and balances" our Founding Fathers created. It did not even exist until the 1830s, and the "tradition" involves legislation, not judicial appointments. The filibuster was used to defend slavery and oppose the Civil Rights Act — hardly noble purposes. The current obstruction of judges is no "traditional" filibuster: it is the first time in more than 200 years that either party has filibustered to keep judges with majority support off the federal bench.

Myth No. 2: Mr. Bush's nominees are being treated no differently than other presidents' nominees.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: constitutionaloption; filibuster; judges; nuclearoption; senate; ussenate
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To: Choose Ye This Day

bump for later


21 posted on 04/15/2005 7:54:17 AM PDT by RightWingMama
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To: Choose Ye This Day
From the article:

The American people want senators to do the job our tax dollars pay them to do. Senators who fail to do their jobs - either by failing to show up for their committee meetings, by voting against restoring the Senate tradition of up-or-down votes for judges, or by halting the work of the federal government - might find themselves out of work when they really need the consent of the governed: at their next election.

Wouldn't that be nice? Won't happen though. There are way too many RAT-bots who vote straight RAT no matter who is running.

22 posted on 04/15/2005 8:07:56 AM PDT by upchuck ("If our nation be destroyed, it would be from the judiciary." ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

bookmark


23 posted on 04/15/2005 8:16:05 AM PDT by chaosagent (It's all right to be crazy. Just don't let it drive you nuts.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

mega bump; the 200 years thing I wanted to know...


24 posted on 04/15/2005 8:24:46 AM PDT by gobucks
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To: Choose Ye This Day
The American people want senators to do the job our tax dollars pay them to do. Senators who fail to do their jobs — either by failing to show up for their committee meetings, by voting against restoring the Senate tradition of up-or-down votes for judges, or by halting the work of the federal government — might find themselves out of work when they really need the consent of the governed: at their next election.

Might??

Will.


25 posted on 04/15/2005 8:45:48 AM PDT by JesseJane (Senate Republicans = Fainting Goats.... BOO!)
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To: Choose Ye This Day; Mo1; Howlin; Peach; BeforeISleep; kimmie7; 4integrity; BigSkyFreeper; ...

PING!!


26 posted on 04/15/2005 8:47:11 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
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To: Congressman Billybob
I would recommend adding a specific list (list the one above, if not a copy of it) be added to your earlier words.

A question-and-answer format, or a short list that exposes the specific "lies" the liberals are endlessly repeating, adds to the more elaborate, more reasoned justifications and explanations you've got.

Figure the typical "media" person has a 5 sec period they will let a conservative speak without interrupting. Hence, the liberals use focus groups extensively to figure out WHAT their targeted suckers (er, voters) WANT to hear that will reinforce WHAT the targeted suckers already believe.

Then, with their scripts held tightly in their hand, the liberal spin begins flooding the "news media" 20-28 hours AFTER a story breaks with the scripted, highly effective 5 second sound bites and prejudiced labels that the media promotes. (Er, "reports objectively and in an unbiased way".)

Same thing could be applied to print releases: In print, but much less so than in TV or radio, a list is easier to focus somebody's attention on the lies the liberal will say next.

27 posted on 04/15/2005 8:58:42 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but Hillary's ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

Very nice. Saved it.


28 posted on 04/15/2005 9:43:42 AM PDT by Bahbah (Something wicked this way comes)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

WCBS just reported that the filibuster has been used to approve judges for over 200 years! Will they stop at nothing?


29 posted on 04/15/2005 11:05:15 AM PDT by bertmerc1
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To: Choose Ye This Day

BTTT


30 posted on 04/15/2005 11:16:27 AM PDT by hattend (Liberals! Beware the Perfect Rovian Storm [All Hail the Evil War Monkey King, Chimpus Khan!])
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To: bertmerc1

That's why I am leery of calling the Democrats' bluff and saying, "Fine! Go ahead and filibuster!" Their willing accomplices in the MSM will paint them as patriotic Mr. Smiths.


31 posted on 04/15/2005 11:19:34 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Senate switchboard: 202-225-3121. Reach out and complain to someone.)
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To: gobucks

Also good to know--the ONLY things that REQUIRE a Super-Majority:

1. Convicting an Impeachment (2/3 majority in the Senate - Article 1, Section 3)

2. Expulsion of a member of one house of Congress (2/3 vote of the house in question - Article 1, Section 5)

3. Override a Presidential Veto (2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate - Article 1, Section 7)

4. Ratify a treaty (2/3 majority in the Senate - Article 2, Section 2)

5. Passing of a Constitutional Amendment by Congress (2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate - Article 5)

6. Calling for a Constitutional Convention (2/3 of the state legislatures - Article 5)

7. Ratifying a Constitutional Amendment (3/4 of the states - Article 5)

8. Restore the ability of certain rebels to serve in the government (2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate - 14th Amendment)

9. Approval or removal of the President from his position after the Vice President and the Cabinet approve such removal and after the President contests the removal (2/3 majority in both the House and the Senate 25th Amendment)

Confirming Judicial Appointees? Not on the list.


32 posted on 04/15/2005 11:28:53 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Senate switchboard: 202-225-3121. Reach out and complain to someone.)
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To: Choose Ye This Day
"But Mr. Fortas was opposed by a Senate majority (both Republicans and Democrats)"

Technically, he wasn't actually opposed by a majority: he wasn't supported by a majority.

The cloture vote on Abe Fortas's nomination to be Chief Justice on 10/1/68 failed on a vote of 45-43. The 43 votes for the filibuster included 24 Republicans and 19 Democrats.

12 Senators were not present, and neither side had a majority (= 50+).

33 posted on 04/15/2005 1:54:29 PM PDT by mrsmith
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To: AnOldCowhand

Ping for later


34 posted on 04/15/2005 2:34:11 PM PDT by AnOldCowhand (The west is dead. You may lose a sweetheart, but you will never forget her - Charles Russell)
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To: Choose Ye This Day

mark


35 posted on 04/16/2005 6:04:32 AM PDT by bitt ("There are troubling signs Bush doesn't care about winning a third term." (JH2))
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