The rule used to silence Elizabeth Warren was born out of a Senate fistfight

[DURHAM D]

http://theweek.com/speedreads/678821/rule-used-silence-elizabeth-warren-born-senate-fistfight

As it turns out, Rule 19 dates back to a different — and perhaps more violent — time in the Senate, The Washington Post reports. In 1902, a fistfight erupted between South Carolina's two Democratic senators after the senior senator, Benjamin Tillman, accused his protégé, John McLaurin, of working with Republicans on some issues. McLaurin had fallen victim to "improper influences," Tillman alleged, prompting McLaurin to storm into the chamber and accuse Tillman of a "willful, malicious, and deliberate lie."

Naturally, the pair started throwing punches. "Efforts to separate the two combatants resulted in misdirected punches landing on other members," Senate historians recalled. Rule 19 was adopted shortly afterward, apparently to keep senators in line (or at least more docile) during floor debates.

"In the time since, the rule has rarely come up," The Washington Post adds. "One instance flagged by Bloomberg's Greg Giroux occurred in 1979, when Sen. Lowell Weicker (R-Conn.) called Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.) 'an idiot' and 'devious' in a debate on the Senate floor. Heinz reportedly stormed to the front of the room with a rule book and showed him Rule 19. Majority Leader Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) defused the situation and asked them to shake hands. Other examples are hard to come by."

The rule was designed to stop senators from being nasty to each other during a floor debate. Given that this was a debate about confirming Sessions and not a debate between Senators it does not seem to apply. Thanks Mitch.

[unblock]

1. they only care about obstructing a potential democratic presidential candidate.

and they'll use every trick in the book.

[underpants]

2. I think Elizabeth could take Mitch in a fisfight

Not that we want it to come down to that.

Actually I think they should have turned the rule right around in Mitch. Also someone should have just stood up and finished reading the letter. Make them Rule XIX everyone.

[Guilded Lilly]

3. Thank you for in information! As we all know, mcconnell

doesn't give a shit about anything or anyone beyond his own little mottled tortoise shell.

While I hope I am still alive to watch his eventual takedown, I will be daily emailing my Republican Senator, Portman as well as ryan and mcconnell (lower case intentional).

What goes around comes around, you insufferable b*st*rds