Posted on 09/25/2013 1:16:54 PM PDT by Tenacious 1
Here is a (hopefully) simple explanation of what happened today and what can be expected.
The "filibuster" was Cruze's only chance to make a statement. The vote today was to start debate on the House CR bill. It passed (as was expected). In the next step of the process, Harry Reid will introduce an amendment that strips out the language de-funding Obamacare. This will happen during debate this week.
There will be another vote on Friday or Saturday to accept the "Senate Version" of the CR (Continuing Resolution Budget Bill). We will have to filibuster that (a real filibuster) to NOT END debate. Once they vote for Cloture on Friday/Saturday (Voting to end debate on the new version), requiring 60 votes essentially, then they will immediately (likely Saturday) have a vote to pass the new version and send it back to the House. They will only need 51 votes on the final version. It will go down party lines and pass.
Once it goes back to the House, the House will have to vote to either reject it or accept it. Voting no on the Senate Version "shuts down the government". The House will fold at that point. This is why we have to call Senators. We need to filibuster the cloture vote after Reid introduces his amendment that WILL include funding of Obamacare.
That is the urgency in simple terms.
Call all the Senators you can. The republican switchboards are jammed. But the Dems seem to be open and answering calls. Call Republicans first starting with your own (if you have any).
Copy and paste this as you see fit. Spread the word. Spam your friends (if you have any left) :o)
John Boozman is not my senator, but I just called to tell his staff he’s a POS.
If you spell his name correctly, there’s a better chance of being taken seriously.
Good Point. I'm an idiot and we must be a shallow bunch if we aren't taking this seriously.
Thank you, for a very simple summary. It helps a great deal!
What are the prospects on the cloture vote? Assuming all the Dems hold firm, they need to pick up only a handful of Republicans who, however much they dislike Obamacare, dislike the prospect of a shutdown even more.
Senate Republicans will face the choice between getting flak for risking a shutdown, or getting flak for allowing Obamacare to roll on. I’m guessing they’ll be divided.
Don’t just call your senator, also call your congress critter.
They need to know that symbolic votes are growing tiresome and frankly there’s just no excuse to fund a law that is tantamount to national suicide.
What’s the purpose of holding the power of the purse if it won’t be exercised? And why worry about damage to the party of the party isn’t worth a damn to begin with? All rhetorical question of course.
I called Cruz’s office yesterday to thank him, and I called Cornyn’s to tell him I was disgusted and ashamed.
Tomorrow I’ll call Thornberry’s office. He’s about as exciting as watching grass grow, but he occasionally does the right thing.
If my business sells big in the coming year I may consider challenging him in the primary in 2016 if he doesn’t retire by then.
But I really am not sure I want the job or want to risk having my head placed on the guillotine when the people finally get fed up.
How willing people will be to spare the few good ones will remain to be seen.
We shall see.
Woah, good luck in that primary should you enter it. Make sure to update us here.
Oh I would be keeping FR up to speed should I run for Congress.
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