Posted on 01/05/2011 7:58:40 AM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON —A radio reporter in the classic movie 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington' dramatically tells his listeners that filibuster action in the U.S. Senate is 'democracy's finest show.'
That might have been true in director Frank Capra's world. But in today's ultra-partisan Washington, the show is in danger of being canceled, or at least cut short.
A group of Senate Democrats frustrated by Republicans' success in using the filibuster to thwart President Barack Obama's agenda is pushing for new rules to limit the parliamentary tool, which enables a single senator to hold up a piece of legislation by talking on and on and on.
The push to curtail the filibuster's use has touched off yet another partisan skirmish, with Republicans accusing Democrats of 'a power grab' and warning that limiting the filibuster would rob the minority party of its voice in the legislative process.
'The reform the Senate needs is a change in its behavior, not in its rules,' said U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., one of the filibuster's defenders.
A showdown could come as early as today, when the new Congress gets down to work.
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
This is all about the Supreme Court. Darth Vader Ginsberg turns 77 this year and has been in poor health. This is the last gasp effort by the extreme left to leave their mark on America. They know the jig is up for another 30 years, so they are giving it everything they have.
Why do the voters of Tennessee keep putting this RINO back in office?
That thought should cool their jets.
“Why do the voters of Tennessee keep putting this RINO back in office?”
There hasn’t been a solid challenger....and he will be gone in 2014. Tennesseans need to begin NOW to find a solid conservative to take his place.
In the meantime...we will continue to make our views known to him....regularly.
Why do you support the democrats actions to limit use of the filibuster?
Rino?
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/lamar_alexander.htm
Did I miss a filibuster or two?
Apparently, yes.
‘Those who want to create a freight train running through the Senate today … might think about whether they will want that freight train in two years if it is the Tea Party Express,’ he said.
That thought should cool their jets.
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If the D’s ‘ram this through’, you can bet there will be some kind of bailout policy, deeply written into it, that will make it possible to allow the D’s to rescind it when it is imminent they are about to lose power.
The overused term Rino is not really applicable to Lamar. He and Bob Corker and the new governor are the faces of the Republican party. They are the definition of Republican.
Having said that, from the staunchly conservative district in North East Tennessee, I watched as a strong conservative was elected to congress in a 5 way race.The next election, the more moderate candidate roundly defeated the strong conservative. In the Senate, a good conservative and a bad conservative hack split the vote and Corker was nominated and then elected. Corker is a solid Republican. He is not conservative in the FReeper radical definition but he is extremely far from the liberal he is made out to be. He is favored and supported by the major Tennessee business interests.
All this boils down to the fact that the voters of Tennessee find the far right Republicans unacceptable for office.
Do you remember why they didn't?
Thin McCain and Graham, wh came up with the Gang of 14, so far we have heard nothing from that group.
Do you remember why they didn't?
Think McCain and Graham, wh came up with the Gang of 14, so far we have heard nothing from that group.
You are putting words on my screen. I was commenting on Lamar (RINO) Alexander.
wonder where Mary Landrieu and the other Democrat members of McCain’s Gang of 14 are going to come down on this?
If they have 2 years to do their mischief, there might not be an election in 2012.
He’s trying to convince us he’s a true conservative...you may fool me once but not a second time..RINO and needs removing in 14.
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