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Harry Reid: Filibuster Changes Will Take Place In January
Hannity.com ^ | 12/4/12 | Hannity

Posted on 12/05/2012 10:37:25 AM PST by pabianice

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To: Hot Tabasco

I still believe the filibuster should not apply to judicial nominees.

And the only reason I support, and in fact the only reason that there ARE republican judicial filibusters right now, is because they are fighting back on seats that should have been filled by Bush, but were blocked by filibuster.

This isn’t about judges. This is about legislation. Reid has made it impossible for the minority to file amendments to legislation, so his caucus never has to take a bad vote, or worse, actually give the republicans something because democrats would vote FOR it.

Because he has “filled the amendment tree”, the republicans have filibustered everything in sight. Normally, the filibuster was used for stopping extraordinary things. The democrats started using it as a rule for every bill, and now republicans are returning the favor.

If you look back in time, you’ll find that LOTS of things used to pass the senate with less than 60 votes, because a lot of people who opposed something didn’t feel it rose to the level of filibustering.

The Senate rules weren’t meant to require 60 votes to pass a bill. They were meant for reasonable men to decide that something needed a lot more discussion and consideration, in certain circumstances.

Frankly, the senate could, if they wanted, get rid of the filibuster. They have changed the rule before, and could change it again; the issue is whether the rule itself applies to the vote changing the rule.

And that in the end is a political question. The House clearly disbands every 2 years, and a new House takes its place. And nobody would argue that the new House is bound by the rules set up by the disbanded House.

But the Senate never “disbands” — the whole point of the Senate is that it serves continually, replacing only 1/3 of it’s members every 2 years. So the argument is that the rules exist in perpetuity.

That is what Reid is trying to change. And if he was pushing just to get rid of the filibuster for judicial nominations, I get he’d get a few republican votes.

They clearly believe that, if they can pass legislation in the Senate, that can use that legislation, with help from the media, to attack the house, win it back in 2014, and then be free to do whatever they want.


61 posted on 12/05/2012 1:16:47 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Sherman Logan; pabianice; All

double question. 1. would this prevent the old school style of filibuster where they actually stand and talk? 2. Would we be against a filibuster change where you would actually be forced to filibuster?


62 posted on 12/05/2012 1:20:01 PM PST by HenryArmitage (it was not meant that we should voyage far.)
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To: Logical me

Us. It would require great sacrifice. All conservatives should go on a work strike even if it means losing our jobs. Short of taking up arms I can’t think of another way of meaningful protest.


63 posted on 12/05/2012 1:37:49 PM PST by snippy_about_it
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To: HenryArmitage

The filibuster is not part of the Constitution. It is entirely up to each Senate to establish its own rules for that session. Within of course the bounds set by the Constitution.

I have no problem with a limitation on the filibuster, either the old or the new version.

Its primary effect in recent years seems to have been to allow the majority to dodge responsibility, claiming its all the fault of that obstructive minority.

But it is egregious for Democrats who proclaimed the sanctity of the institution just a few years ago to now say it should be discarded.


64 posted on 12/05/2012 1:45:50 PM PST by Sherman Logan
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To: RitchieAprile

We either have a war of resistance to tyranny, or we all walk ourselves willingly to death camps.

The longer it waits, the bigger the genocide it will be.

And mark my words.... it’s coming.


65 posted on 12/05/2012 1:48:18 PM PST by INVAR ("Fart for liberty, fart for freedom and fart proudly!" - Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Zuben Elgenubi

“They still need 67 votes to change the fillibuster rules, right?”

No. It can be done with 51 votes, through a “parliamentary maneuver” when the Senate is “in session”.

Each incoming Senate can set its own rules. I believe that normally, the incoming Senate just “extends” the rules of the last one. But... Reid may be able to change this rule in January, again through only a 51-vote majority.


66 posted on 12/05/2012 2:02:38 PM PST by Road Glide
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To: pabianice
To be fair, do we conservatives deserve to win anything?

Conservatives do but the GOP damned sure doesn't. The party is exactly like coddling, weak-kneed parents appeasing spoiled, whiny, bratty-assed children at every turn. I am sick of the GOP. They are DEAD to me!

67 posted on 12/05/2012 2:09:05 PM PST by houeto (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Perdogg

Bonehead has the final say in that. With dirty Harry and Zero in his office his pants will it the floor faster than Monica could get under the desk.


68 posted on 12/05/2012 3:45:55 PM PST by cableguymn (The founding fathers would be shooting by now..)
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To: The Cajun

No. I think they will be DOA on arrival. Given how bonehead works he’ll come out and say “It’s DOA!” then Reid/Obama will come out against him and he’ll start to buckle..

Then, he’ll look at the bill and cry a bit.

Then he’ll give the bill mouth to mouth and put it up for a vote where he and others in the GOPe will happily vote for it with the democrats.


69 posted on 12/05/2012 3:53:29 PM PST by cableguymn (The founding fathers would be shooting by now..)
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To: AtlasStalled

What is sad is the people of Egypt know what they are seeing is bad and are protesting in mass.

We on the other hand... not so much.


70 posted on 12/05/2012 3:55:02 PM PST by cableguymn (The founding fathers would be shooting by now..)
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To: Resettozero

no doubt the military could be a problem in CW2. However, many of them will likely chose a side and turn on their government.

They are after all citizens too.


71 posted on 12/05/2012 4:05:51 PM PST by cableguymn (The founding fathers would be shooting by now..)
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To: Resettozero

Oh, please.


72 posted on 12/05/2012 5:41:03 PM PST by Psycho_Bunny (Thought Puzzle: Describe Islam without using the phrase "mental disorder" more than four times.)
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To: Psycho_Bunny
Oh, please.

Looks like I didn't get through to ya. But did you need to look down your nose when you looked up to respond? Hope you are in thick with your neighbors.
73 posted on 12/05/2012 6:02:46 PM PST by Resettozero
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To: Resettozero
But waiting for another election may not work as well now as in the past. It appears some on FR may be confusing passivity for patience. Reid is sure doing it TO us while some FReepers hope he may do something inadvertently FOR us.

I'm not advocating passivity, just pointing out that Republicans need this rule change, if they ever want to get substantive changes made in DC.

In the meantime, we tried McConnell and Boehner's He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day approach in 2011, when we gave BO everything he wanted before the 2012 election, and the "fiscal cliff" which he wants to go over, immediately after it. How did that work out?

We lost the Presidency, two Senate seats, and about half of our House majority. McConnell and Boehner need to show that their approach isn't really He who fights and runs away lives to run away another day. It is bad to have a confrontation and pay a political price. It is far worse to capitulate and still pay a political price, which is what happened last time.

74 posted on 12/06/2012 5:47:40 AM PST by Pilsner
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To: Pilsner
I'm not advocating passivity,...

My post to you did sound like an accusation of yours ("some FReepers") passivity in such matters as this. I did not intend to point to you. I want you to tell you that I meant to respond in appreciation of your post, as an interested conversationalist, but not to argue against you.

Your message about how conservative Republicans need this rules change has been noted and will be kept in mind. I'm still considering it.
75 posted on 12/06/2012 6:11:06 AM PST by Resettozero
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To: Pilsner
Take 2:

I'm not advocating passivity,...

My post to you did sound like an accusation of your ("some FReepers") passivity in such matters as this. I did not intend to point to you. I want to tell you that I meant to respond in appreciation of your post, as an interested conversationalist, but not to argue against you.

Your message about how conservative Republicans need this rules change has been noted and will be kept in mind. I'm still considering it.
76 posted on 12/06/2012 6:13:51 AM PST by Resettozero
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