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The filibuster shuffle
Waterbury Republican-American ^ | January 18, 2007 | Editorial

Posted on 01/18/2007 9:18:13 AM PST by Graybeard58

The New York Times last week declared itself against the filibuster, a procedure by which the minority party in the U.S. Senate may block the tyranny of the majority. Last week, the Times called filibuster an "arcane rule" after Republicans threatened to use it to thwart the new Democratic majority, which the Times enthusiastically supports.

That's odd. A year ago when Republicans were running the Senate, the Times called out the Democrats for not using the filibuster to block Samuel Alito Jr.'s Supreme Court nomination. In March 2005, in objecting to another batch of GOP judicial nominees, the Times called the filibuster "a time-honored Senate procedure that prevents a bare majority of senators from running roughshod." Five months earlier, it said the filibuster is "one of the best-known checks and balances in government."

When Bill Clinton was in the White House and the Democrats controlled Congress, however, the Times complained about the "endless string of filibusters to frustrate the will of the majority" on judicial appointments. The filibuster, it declared, "has become the tool of the sore loser." Yet in 1987 and 1991, the Times said the Democrats would be winners if they filibustered the Supreme Court nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas, respectively.

But in 1968, it opposed the filibuster by Republicans and "Dixiecrats" against reliably liberal Justice Abe Fortas' nomination to be chief justice, believing the rule was being wielded by "Southern bigots." (He later resigned rather than face impeachment over financial improprieties.)

After flipping and flopping for 40 years, the Times is against the filibuster again because it might obstruct its far-left-wing agenda. Not to worry: One day, the Republicans will reclaim the Senate, and the Gray Lady once again will look favorably upon the filibuster.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: dnctalkingpoints; filibuster; mediabias; nytimesbias

1 posted on 01/18/2007 9:18:14 AM PST by Graybeard58
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To: redpoll; Diana in Wisconsin; mosquewatch.com; litehaus; gogogodzilla; A Balrog of Morgoth; ...

Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.

If you want on or off this ping list, let me know.


2 posted on 01/18/2007 9:18:58 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: nmh; elkfersupper; DCPatriot; traviskicks; Gene Eric; Captain Marvell; ChessExpert; ...

Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.

If you want on or off this ping list, let me know.


3 posted on 01/18/2007 9:19:36 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: Graybeard58

As soon as Reid is sure he can get 51 votes to do so, he will change that 60-vote rule back to the old simple majority rule.

Who was it that negotiated that 60-vote rule anyway? Oh yeh, Tom Daschle and Trent Lott.


4 posted on 01/18/2007 9:21:10 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: Graybeard58

It is genetic. Liberals are always for something before they are against it.


5 posted on 01/18/2007 9:21:25 AM PST by Enterprise (Drop pork bombs on the Islamofascist wankers. Praise the Lord and pass the hammunition.)
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To: TomGuy

Gasp! You think Reid will adopt the "nuclear option?" Oh my, to think that anyone would actually do something like that! (Smirk)


6 posted on 01/18/2007 9:22:42 AM PST by Enterprise (Drop pork bombs on the Islamofascist wankers. Praise the Lord and pass the hammunition.)
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To: TomGuy

I say can the filibuster rule. Let us take our meds for 2 years. Make the Filibuster issue a 60 minimum to revamp and then work hard to retake both houses and the presidency in 08.


7 posted on 01/18/2007 9:24:03 AM PST by ping jockey (We have sissy's for leaders and WE will pay the highest cost.)
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To: Graybeard58

Gail Collins was the editor in charge of this page last year. She was replaced on January 1 with a new guy.


8 posted on 01/18/2007 9:24:42 AM PST by HostileTerritory
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To: Enterprise

I think the nuclear option only works if the President of the Senate (Dick Cheney) is on board.


9 posted on 01/18/2007 9:25:14 AM PST by HostileTerritory
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To: Graybeard58

ahhhhhhhh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

these Demoslobs will get rid of filibuster, just like the rePubes should have gotten rid of it and the Prez would have gotten his Justices etc.

The rePubes in Congress were (and probably still are) despicable.

the 109th Congress....their motto???? "No Scrote, None Of The Time"


10 posted on 01/18/2007 9:26:08 AM PST by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Graybeard58

I don't know how the Times reporters can look themselves in the mirror. No principles whatsoever. Their changing positions on filibusters can be described in no other manner than childish.


11 posted on 01/18/2007 9:29:32 AM PST by IamConservative (Any man who agrees with you on everything, will lie to anyone.)
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To: Graybeard58

Sometimes these leftist pukes are so funny, it kills me.


12 posted on 01/18/2007 9:33:48 AM PST by vpintheak (Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked)
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To: Timesink; martin_fierro; reformed_democrat; Loyalist; =Intervention=; PianoMan; GOPJ; ...

Media Schadenfreude and Media Shenanigans PING

The New York Times last week declared itself against the filibuster, a procedure by which the minority party in the U.S. Senate may block the tyranny of the majority. Last week, the Times called filibuster an "arcane rule" after Republicans threatened to use it to thwart the new Democratic majority, which the Times enthusiastically supports.

That's odd. A year ago when Republicans were running the Senate, the Times called out the Democrats for not using the filibuster to block Samuel Alito Jr.'s Supreme Court nomination. In March 2005, in objecting to another batch of GOP judicial nominees, the Times called the filibuster "a time-honored Senate procedure that prevents a bare majority of senators from running roughshod." Five months earlier, it said the filibuster is "one of the best-known checks and balances in government."


13 posted on 01/18/2007 9:34:20 AM PST by weegee (The Left is worried that '24' will have the same effect as LBJ's 'Daisy' mushroom ad.)
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To: Vaquero
........the 109th Congress....their motto???? "No Scrote, None Of The Time"

Scrote when they cash their checks and have facetime on the networks.

14 posted on 01/18/2007 9:34:48 AM PST by afnamvet (It is what it is.)
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To: Enterprise

Socialists are for power. By any means necessary. Tie one hand behind your back at your own peril.


15 posted on 01/18/2007 9:36:15 AM PST by weegee (The Left is worried that '24' will have the same effect as LBJ's 'Daisy' mushroom ad.)
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To: vpintheak

the times and jahn carry, birds of a feather


16 posted on 01/18/2007 9:36:35 AM PST by italianquaker (Democrats its time to fish or cut bait, no more blaming Prez Bush.)
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To: HostileTerritory

The editorials have been consistentaly conservative for the years that I have been reading and posting them.


17 posted on 01/18/2007 9:36:54 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: weegee

Geez...I'm glad I'm sitting down for this one. The NY Times appears to be partisan. Who knew?? /sarcasm


18 posted on 01/18/2007 9:43:18 AM PST by Pharmboy ([She turned me into a] Newt! in '08)
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To: Graybeard58

The problem is that the only people who will hear or believe this already know the NYT is heavily biased.


19 posted on 01/18/2007 9:53:41 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: Graybeard58

I'm sorry for the confusion, I meant that the two NYT editorials were written by two different editors.


20 posted on 01/18/2007 10:14:32 AM PST by HostileTerritory
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To: Vaquero
"No Scrote, None Of The Time"

But they just loved Bill Clinton. Harumph!

21 posted on 01/18/2007 11:18:57 AM PST by Enterprise (Drop pork bombs on the Islamofascist wankers. Praise the Lord and pass the hammunition.)
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To: HostileTerritory
I'm sorry for the confusion, I meant that the two NYT editorials were written by two different editors.

After I replied, I realized that's probably what you meant.

22 posted on 01/18/2007 11:43:35 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: weegee

Do you have a problem taking me off your ping list?


23 posted on 01/18/2007 1:56:45 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth ("I'll build the g--d---- fence if they want it." -- John McCain, A Modern Profile In Courage)
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To: WorkingClassFilth; weegee
The Media Shenanigans and Media Schadenfreude ping list actually resides on MY home page, so if you asked the ever-vigilant weegee to take you off the list, he might have a small problem doing that.

Do you wish to be taken off the list?

24 posted on 01/18/2007 6:25:07 PM PST by an amused spectator (The 1st Minnesota Regt died fighting a culture which embraced slavery. Think about it, Ellison.)
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To: weegee

Great post, BTW - I love twisting the tail of the Times. :-)


25 posted on 01/18/2007 6:26:21 PM PST by an amused spectator (The 1st Minnesota Regt died fighting a culture which embraced slavery. Think about it, Ellison.)
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To: an amused spectator

Yes.


26 posted on 01/18/2007 6:52:18 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth ("I'll build the g--d---- fence if they want it." -- John McCain, A Modern Profile In Courage)
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To: WorkingClassFilth; weegee

Done.


27 posted on 01/18/2007 8:26:11 PM PST by an amused spectator (The 1st Minnesota Regt died fighting a culture which embraced slavery. Think about it, Ellison.)
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