Breaking: Senate Democrats Gather In The Rules Committee To Eliminate The Filibuster

Gateway Pundit ^ | 04/22/10 | Jim Hoft

[American Dream 246]

The radicals in Washington are giving the Marxists in Venezuela a run for their money.

Senate Democrats have gathered in the Rules Committee to eliminate the filibuster.

Republican.Senate.Gov reported:

THEN-SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): “What [The American People] Do Not Expect Is For One Party, Be It Republican Or Democrat, To Change The Rules In The Middle Of The Game So They Can Make All The Decisions While The Other Party Is Told To Sit Down And Keep Quiet.” “What they do not expect is for one party, be it Republican or Democrat, to change the rules in the middle of the game so they can make all the decisions while the other party is told to sit down and keep quiet. The American people want less partisanship in this town, but everyone in this Chamber knows that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster, if they choose to change the rules and put an end to democratic debate, then the fighting, the bitterness, and the gridlock will only get worse.” (Sen. Obama, Congressional Record, S.3512, 4/13/05)

THEN-SEN. JOE BIDEN (D-DE): “I Pray God When The Democrats Take Back Control, We Don’t Make The Kind Of Naked Power Grab You Are Doing.” (Sen. Biden, Congressional Record, S.5737, 5/23/05)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “The Need To Muster 60 Votes In On Executive Power And Part Of Every Senator’s Right To Free Speech In The United States Senate.” (Sen. Harry Reid, “Reid Floor Statement On Nuclear Option,” Press Release, 5/17/05)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY) On Any Threat To The Filibuster: “The Basic Makeup Of Our Senate Is At Stake. The Checks And Balances That Americans Prize Are At Stake. The Idea Of Bipartisanship, Where You Have To Come Together And Can’t Just Ram Everything Through Because You Have A Narrow Majority, Is At Stake. The Very Things We Treasure And Love About This Grand Republic Are At Stake.” (Sen. Schumer, Congressional Record, S.4801, 5/10/05)

• SCHUMER: “We Are On The Precipice Of A Crisis, A Constitutional Crisis. The Checks And Balances Which Have Been At The Core Of This Republic Are About To Be Evaporated By The Nuclear Option. The checks and balances which say that if you get 51% of the vote you don’t get your way 100% of the time. It is amazing it’s almost a temper tantrum by those on the hard right. They want their way every single time, and they will change the rules, break the rules, misread the Constitution so they will get their way.” (Sen. Schumer, Congressional Record, S.5208, 5/16/05)

SEN. ROBERT BYRD (D-WV): “I Believe That Efforts To Change Or Reinterpret The Rules In Order To Facilitate Expeditious Action By A Simple Majority, While Popular, Are Grossly Misguided.” (“Sen. Byrd Calls Proposed Democratic Changes To Filibuster Rules ‘Misguided,’” The Hill, 2/24/10)

SEN. CHRIS DODD (D-CT): “‘I Totally Oppose The Idea Of Changing Filibuster Rules,’ Dodd Said During An Appearance On MSNBC. ‘That’s Foolish, In My View.’” (“Dodd: Changing Filibuster Rules Would Be ‘Foolish,’” The Hill, 2/17/10)

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): “Blinded By Political Passion, Some Are Willing To Unravel Our Government’s Fundamental Principle Of Checks And Balances To Break The Rules And Discard Senate Precedent. The nuclear option, if successful, will turn the Senate into a body that could have its rules broken at any time by a majority of Senators unhappy with any position taken by the minority. It begins with judicial nominations. Next will be executive appointments, and then legislation.” (Sen. Feinstein, Congressional Record, S.5398, 5/18/05)

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D-IL): “Those Who Would Attack And Destroy The Institution Of The Filibuster Are Attacking The Very Force Within The Senate That Creates Compromise And Bipartisanship.” (Sen. Richard Durbin, Congressional Record, 4/15/05, p.S3763)

• DURBIN: The Filibuster Is “[One] Of The Most Treasured And Cherished Traditions Of The United States Senate.” “Many of us in the Senate feel that this agreement tonight means that some of the most treasured and cherished traditions of the United States Senate will be preserved, will not be attacked and will not be destroyed.” (Sen. Durbin, “Statement of Sen. Dick Durbin Regarding the Agreement on Judicial Nominations in the Senate,” Press Release, 5/23/05)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “Filibusters … Give Small States Such As Nebraska An Important Tool To Protect Itself From The Will Of The Larger States.” “Filibusters also give small States such as Nebraska an important tool to protect itself from the will of the larger States.” (Sen. Nelson, Congressional Record, S.5917, 5/25/05)

SEN. MARK PRYOR (D-AR): “I Was Very Concerned That When You Looked At The Nuclear Option, If That Trigger Was Pulled, You Had A Nuclear Winter That Would Follow.” “But in a broader sense, I did this agreement for them because I was very concerned that when you looked at the nuclear option, if that trigger was pulled, you had a nuclear winter that would follow.” (Sen. Pryor, Congressional Record, S.6000, 5/26/05)

[mojitojoe]

The coup is much more complete than you realize.

[rfp1234]

None of this makes sense. To change the rules of the Senate it takes 67 votes. Not going to happen.

It might take less than 67. When Bill Frist was considering the "nuclear option" to end Reid's judicial obstruction, the GOP had nowhere near 67 Senators.

[bmwcyle]

We might have to reinstate the rules ourselves soon.

[xzins]

I’ve long wanted to get rid of the filibuster. If this is what it takes to accomplish that, then so be it.

I was opposed to the filibuster when Bush’s judges were being stalled, and it would be hypocritical to be opposed to it now.

So, say goodbye filibuster.

BUT...BUT....BUT

Also, say HELLO to “far easier to CHANGE past, defective legislation.”

IOW, say goodbye Obamacare as soon as conservatives have the presidency and a simple majority.

[coaltrain]

“Nope FReeper friend, simple majority vote for a Senate rule change. “

That is only true at the start of a senate session. They need 67 votes during the senate session.

However, some say it is possible if the President of the Senate declares a rule unconstitutional. At that point Biden would only need a majority to agree.

[Rational Thought]

After the Government take over of health care, none of this should come as a surprise.

[EGPWS]

After the Government take over of health care, none of this should come as a surprise.

Surprise is out the window any more when it comes to this administration.

The only surprise is the lack of repulsion from the public for the administrations agenda.

[Nuc1]

Thanks for the correction. I was in error. However, when have rules ever stopped the Dims? If they think they need something they steam roller it through. At least as I see it.

[upchuck]

Would a move like this be enough for Lindsey Graham to stop prancing around with John Kerry on Cap’n Trade and Amnesty?

He might drop skerry. But no way is he gonna quit prancing. That's part of his life blood.

[JohnQ1]

I think not. They need two-thirds (normally 67) to convict in an impeachment, or to ratify a treaty, three-fifths (60) to end a filibuster, but a rules change can apparently be done with “half plus one” (51) if the proponents are willing to live with the resulting internecine (i.e. very bloody) warfare. Since many RATs know they’re about to “die” anyway, they’re willing.

[longtermmemmory]

you can’t unscramble eggs.

they will eliminate the filibuster and then cram through dream act amnesty, pure amnesty, disarmarment, election reform, racist quotas,

AND

THE NATIONAL SALES TAX.

REMEMBER THE SPECIAL OBAMA SOCIALIST COMMISSION FOR ECCONOMIC REFORM IS COMMING. THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO WRITE THE LAW PELOSI AND REID FORCE ON THE USA.

[sport]

Well, that and this is what the people who elected them voted for.

And those who stayed home or voted third party to teach the Republicans a lesson really made their point, didn’t they?

[longtermmemmory]

NATIONAL SALES TAX

[longtermmemmory]

I wonder if we can convince the deomcrats to have a no confidence vote on reid and pelosi respectivly and then have a leadership fight.

[Marty62]

Are you just figuring that out...they are evil incarnate.

[lodi90]

This “reform” is the best cover the dims have to get the nuclear option operational. They really want and need it for amnesty and cap and tax.

[SeattleBruce]

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they write this new rule, so that it expires at the end of this Congress.”

They really do believe that they should be able to operate under a different set of rules. That they’re better, more moral, have more goodness - than all the rest of us common folk do.

Just sick and pathetic.

11/2010
11/2012

[huldah1776]

Could they repeal all the socialist laws established since Roosevelt????

[Deo volente]

Wow, that’s not Photoshopped, is it?

I hadn’t seen that picture. A twisted and malevolent look to the face, especially the eyes.

[lodi90]

“Is there any comity in the Senate today on the Democrat side?”

Last night they all had a few good laughs at the annual Press Club dinner even while the dims are daily kicking the Republicans. Republicans need to say no business as usual and shut down the Senate.