Posted on 01/07/2007 9:17:28 AM PST by shrinkermd
This is a long article but the part most interesting to many Freepers is as follows:
The Senate margin is even more tenuous because Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) is sidelined after emergency brain surgery.
Republican leaders decided not to seek special language spelling out the terms of a transition in case of a power shift -- say, if Johnson vacates his post and his state's GOP governor appoints a Republican to replace him. Under that scenario, power would effectively shift to Republicans, because Cheney would provide the tiebreaking 51st vote. But for Republicans to take parliamentary control, the Senate would have to vote for new organizational rules, a move Democrats could filibuster.
A similar scenario unfolded in January 2001, when a 50-50 Senate convened. In 2001, Democrats demanded a "kick-out clause" in organizing negotiations that would automatically scrap agreements on committee ratios and funding levels and force new organizational rules. But Republicans decided this month against a confrontation that would come from demanding a similar clause.
"Nobody over here talked about that at all," said Don Stewart, spokesman for McConnell.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The Democrats would never filibuster a move for realignment should Johnson die, because Republicans would just prevent a quorum. The Senate would be effectively closed for business.
Yes, it seems you are right. This falls under the recent parliamentary "adjustment" whereby, if dims win elections, they are in charge and, when pubs win, the dims are still in charge.
This is more commonly termed the "who's your daddy?" provision offered up by republican "leadership" eager to be popular with the media and avoid having their milk money stolen by the Pelosi gang.
While I understand your point... the Republicans just blinked and showed that they don't have the backbone for a fight in the Senate.
Apparently so. It appears that, if Johnson is unable to fulfill his duties...and the GOP governor of South Dakota appoints a Republican to the seat, creating a 50/50 Senate...the Democrats will filibuster a rules change...and the Republicans are content to remain in the minority for the duration.
Mitch McConnell was evidently unwilling to play Tom Daschle to Harry Reid's Trent Lott.
I've no idea why...but I'll guess: McConnell senses that, if the above scenario came to pass, at least one of the Senate's RINOs would do a Jim Jeffords.
And this would be bad, because,.... uh, why??
"My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them." -- Barry Goldwater
(Only half joking...)
There are other ways to fight, than "in-your-face."
You haven't been watching the GOP long, have you?
McConnell was talking on FOX this morning like some good legislation can come out of having the President GOP and the House and Senate Rats. For some reason Republican leaders seem to enjoy being stepped on.
Good one LOL
Well and truly said.
But going to the mattresses now and again for a good old fashioned political shootout with no quarter asked or given clears the air and gives better political definition, I suggest.
Aaaarrrrgh..... when have they ever shown otherwise?
you can't have a proxy vote if the person can't talk to give permission...
Why is it that "good legislation" is something a GOP House and GOP Senate and GOP President couldn't get done?
The "good legislation" we're likely to get from a divided government -- in the spirit of "bipartisanship", of course -- frankly scares me.
The GOP, now with 23% more of that Frenchiness.
Closing down the Senate means closing down the government.
This means that the "mass man" will see this as closing down God since the government and statism has decreed the government is more important than God. Somehow the MSM would find that the whales, women or senior citizens might suffer and the government would have to be reopened under the old rules.
Never forget that Mussolini is laughing at us someplace. In order to beat the fascist aggressor we psychologically identified with the aggressor; presently, Mussolini's adage "...All for the State; nothing outside the State; nothing against the State"is now the rallying cry for both the "mass man" and his cheer leader, the MSM.
Not kidding. No way will the Senate shut down over a rule advocating Pubbies rights.
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