Democrats May Force All-Night Session

[kpete]

Source: Roll Call


Democrats May Force All-Night Session
By John Stanton
Roll Call Staff
March 2, 2010, 4:40 p.m.


Democrats are hoping to turn the procedural tables on Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and use Senate rules to break his blockade against an extension of unemployment insurance, including possibly forcing a round-the-clock session.

Newly energized Democrats, who believe they have gained the political upper hand thanks to Bunning’s one-man crusade against the short-term benefits extension, rejected outright a Republican proposal to allow three votes on pay-fors for the bill before a vote on final passage. Bunning has demanded the measure, which would run for one month at a cost of $10 billion, be paid for.

“We’re not having four votes,” Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday following a weekly Conference luncheon in which Democrats rejected the GOP offer. Although Reid and his colleagues are willing to allow one vote on a pay-for — the original agreement Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) cut last week — they see no reason to go further in mollifying Bunning.

Although no final decisions have been made, Democrats confirmed it is increasingly likely that Democrats will force Bunning into an actual filibuster of unemployment insurance extension Tuesday night by repeatedly offering up unanimous consent agreements to bring the bill to a vote.

Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/43730-1.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. To the mattresses!

[DeSwiss]

16. K&R

- ?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FD898DC574B4105C106F8BF3F119B957D87029CDDB8F16CEF2F06BF04B24B4128C">We'reMakin'UpTheBedsJustLikeOn"C"Street

[Beetwasher]

2. Sort Of Like The Reverse Of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

I hope Bunning drops dead from exhaustion on the Senate floor. Oops! Did I say that out loud?

[Cirque du So-What]

11. Oh, golly

That would break my fucking heart.

[griloco]

26. Perhaps

What you meant is that you hope God
needs a right-handed starter on his baseball team.

[Beetwasher]

38. God? My How Presumptuous!

N/t

[onenote]

33. unfortunately, bunning doesn't have to do anything but wake up every now and then

to say "I object". He can sleep if he wants and have a staffer nudge him awake whenever a motion is made to proceed via unanimous consent.

Its a reverse filibuster in that those who want the bill passed are the ones that will be doing the talking.

[TrollBuster9090]

41. He'll have to leave the room to take a whiz, eventually. n/t

.

[onenote]

47. assuming he doesn't just pee in a can

i would expect another member of the repub party to stand in for him and, while declaring that they wouldn't do it for themselves, they are doing it for Bunning. I wouldn't have minded forcing them to do that, but frankly, getting people back to work on construction projects and getting their benefits restored is more important than the marginal advantage gained. This is being reported as Bunning having caved. Time to cash out and get on with other things.

[Hippo_Tron]

53. Actually I don't know if that's true

A professor of mine who studies congress told me that if nobody is speaking, the chair can note that nobody wishes to debate the question any further then proceed to a vote.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Ooooh!

[kirby]

4. They should cut $10Billion in funding to Kentucky...

to offset the cost. My guess is that McConnell would not appreciate that either.

[syrius]

18. The opposite...

Dangle a funding package for Kentucky and allow the bastard to vote against it. He's wants cash for his corporate handlers anyways. Good riddance to the old man. May he enjoy yelling at the clouds.

[Renew Deal]

5. You guys are just excited you'll have something to watch tonight.

:silly:

[WhiteTara]

9. well, yeah.

:popcorn:

[BootinUp]

6. may?

sounds like reid. Stop threatening and just do it!!!!

[aquamarina]

8. beat me to my post

The operative word here is "may." Couple that with Reid's wet noodle spine, I'll believe it when I see it.

[Duer 157099]

7. Good. Then wait for him to nod off or to go take a piss

and then whip that thing right by his ugly mug.

[onehandle]

10. Just do it. And turn up the furnace in the building up to 90+ degrees.

Bunning is Hellbound. Give him a taste of what to expect.

[TerribleLarryDingle]

12. I'll believe it when I see it.

They have broken this promise before.

[4lbs]

13. Force the Repukes to do a TRUE filibuster. Seeing as how bad health some of them seem to be,

that "true" filibuster won't last more than 24 hours, before their bladders, colons, hearts, livers, kidneys, and/or everything else gives out.

If they try to obstruct everything, make them miss time with their families and stay there all day and night. They'll back down soon enough.

Time to "go to the mattresses" as the mob would say.

[mbperrin]

36. Yes, make them quit threatening to do it. Make them DO it.

And then we will see why this tactic has been quite rare in the past. Then maybe we can get past the "a threat is as good as an action" phase.

[scottsoperson]

14. it's already over...

mcconnel says repubs will end the filibuster.

[Hawkeye-X]

20. Provide proof.

Thank you.

[scottsoperson]

24. mcconnel says he will work to end filibuster...

March 02, 2010 03:56 PM EST (Updated: March 02, 2010 03:58 PM EST)
views: 122

The leader of the GOP in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, announced on Tuesday that his party plans to work with Democratic leaders in the Senate to pass an unemployment benefit extension bill that has been held up for days by Kentucky Republican Jim Bunning.

[JBoy]

15. LOL! How about a little prophesy from Bunning's baseball career -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Bunning#Major_League_Baseball_career

Bunning is remembered for his role in the pennant race of 1964, in which the Phillies held a commanding lead in the National League for most of the season, eventually losing the title to the St. Louis Cardinals. Manager Gene Mauch used Bunning and fellow hurler Chris Short heavily down the stretch, and the two became visibly fatigued as September wore on. The collapse of the 1964 Phillies remains one of the most infamous in baseball history.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hawkeye-X]

21. Oh, grow up Freddie Stubbs, Jr.

Go away, freeper.

Hawkeye-X

[JBoy]

25. FYI, 219 posts in 2 days is not moderation.

It's desperation.

[Confusious]

27. Moderation in the face of extremism

Is a good way to lose.

You don't stop a bully by being nice, you do it by wiping the shit out of him.

[AlbertCat]

30. not extremism.

Yeah, really! What if, like, some filibustered everything.... no matter what?!

:eyes:

[syrius]

22. how many bean balls did he receive?

This old dude is just crazy.

[onenote]

35. fwiw, he was hit by a pitch exactly once in his career.

not sure where it hit him.

[gimama]

19. bring jammies, pillows, and cheese

to go with all the whiiiiine
from the republickers

waaaah!

[scottsoperson]

23. bill clinton is a moderate

that's why he won two presidential elections and was not convicted by the senate.

[AlbertCat]

31. was not convicted by the senate.

He was not convicted in the Senate because the impeachment was bogus.

[beltanefauve]

37. Are you still around?

I'm surprised.:eyes:

[rgbecker]

28. This is a personal fight between Bunning and McConnell

In an interview on the news hour with a Louisville courier reporter, he indicated McConnell caused Bunning have to pull out of this years senate race. Bunning is mad and letting McConnell know it. It's playing well into the Democrats hands. I personally would love to see this guy shut down in a midnight madness event.

[saberjet22]

29. bunning--a long-time bastard

I've known Jim Bunning was a bastard ever since Father's Day in 1964, when he pitched a perfect game against my favorite NY Mets. Some things you just don't forgive or forget. And he had seven kids, at the time.

[Spirochete]

51. Umpire-turned-author Ron Luciano

described Bunning as the second best personality in baseball. Everyone else was tied for first.

[Botany]

32. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon just confirmed this on Ed Schultz.

I think tonight is the night too.

[njlib]

34. Ed just said "Breaking news...the Senate standoff

with Bunning is over". Kelly O'Donnell's coming on after the break to explain.

[Zambero]

39. I wonder if Bunning did this as an act of revenge?

McConnell recently pressurred him into not seeking re-election, and by all reports Bunning was plenty pissed. At any rate, the former beanball assassin decided to let his ideological extremism run wild, and damn how Draconian it made the Republicans look. We need about one Jim Bunning type incident per week between now and election, with each blowup eventually resolved on the side of reason after some intense media scrutiny.

[njlib]

56. I think it might've started out like that

but I think they were behind him all the way. He's not running for re-election and none of them went to the media to denounce his bullshit. I think this was their way of busting balls without taking the blame for it as a party. They got to hold things up and were able to say "It wasn't me..."

[TrollBuster9090]

40. What? NOW you morons figure this out???

It took you THIS LONG to figure out that the way to break Republican obstructionism is TO ACTUALLY *MAKE* THEM FILIBUSTER? I mean, a REAL filibuster? Standing on your feet for 16 hours reading names out of the phonebook.

I give this dumbass Bunning TWO HOURS on the floor before he gives in because he has to run to the Men's room to take a whiz!


The same principle will go for EVERY OTHER REPUBICAN and BLUE DOG on EVERY ISSUE THEY WANT TO OBSTRUCT. The length of the filibuster will be determined by the capacity of their bladders, which are about as leak proof as their reputations as fiscal conservatives.

MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER!

MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER HEALTHCARE REFORM!
MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER THE PUBLIC OPTION!
MAKE THE FILIBUSTER THE JOBS BILL!
MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER THE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY!
MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER THE VOLKER RULE!
MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER FINANCIAL REFORM!
MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER NEW REGULATIONS FOR WALL STREET!
MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER REPEAL OF DON'T ASK DON'T TELL!
MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER NEW CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES BANNING CORPORATIONS FROM BUYING ELECTIONS!


Propose and table WHATEVER LEGISLATION YOU WANT, and make them filibuster it! Each filibuster will last five days, maximum, due to bladder control issues, and then you'll not only HAVE whatever legislation you want, but the American people will get a chance to see what an obstructionist party the GOP is. It will go from being a Democratic party CLAIM, to a TRUISM. Showing Republicans on TV every night, attempting to BLOCK ANY AND ALL ATTEMPTS by the American government to help the American people will do nothing but help us in November.

[wordpix]

50. hey, when you're being bought you've gotta figure it out, whether repuke or dino

it doesn't matter

[TrollBuster9090]

42. Okay, looks like he caved.

Well that was easy. All Reid had to do was SUGGEST he might keep the Senate going all night, and Bunny folded like a cheap tent.

[Historic NY]

43. They better get him some "depends".

[DL in SoCal]

44. Dems showing balls?

This sounds fishy to me. I suspect someone kidnapped the spineless Democratic caucus and put pods in their place.

[bdamomma]

45. Bunning could have some mental health issues what a sick SOB

Watching Rachel right now

[wordpix]

49. wacko re: his demands that "debate" be without broadcast or audience & then he didn't show up

in person, but did attend the "debate" at RNC headquarters via video feed. No doubt he was using heavy teleprompter to answer the q's. :crazy: :puke:

[SlingBlade]

46. So, Who's hitting their knees on this one ? And WTF is this ....

4:40 p.m. Democrats May Force All-Night Session

2 hours ago Bunning Accepts Deal Allowing Benefits Bill to Advance
Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) (Mr. No Sign The Letter) said he was pleased a deal could be reached.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4290891


1 hour ago Reid's Office: Bunning Holding All Obama Nominees
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4290947

Aren't ya supposed to talk tough BEFORE ya fucking give in.
Whata fuck'in joke these democrats have turned out to be :puke:

[totodeinhere]

48. Hehe. They're singing Bunning's praises over in freeperville.

I wonder what they'll say when he keels over in the middle of the night.

[AllyCat]

52. What is their fear of calling these idiot's bluffs? Force them to DO it

Just frickin' make him stand there all night in front of the American people and filibuster to his heart's content.

[onenote]

54. for the 99th time, all he needed to do is wake up every few minute to say I object

the much better move was to get him to cave in, lose his amendment, and have the bill passed so that benefits etc were restored. Those lacking benefits can't buy bread with theater.

Reid played this perfectly. The repubs obstructionist tactics have gotten more visibility than ever before; heck, it makes it that much easier for the Democrats to point to reconciliation as a reasonable tactic to deal with repub obstructionism, as exemplified by Bunning's blockade of the UI extenders. But in the end, rather than wait another week (the process of going through cloture) or having an all-nighter, it made sense to show up Bunning by making him cave in and accept essentially the same deal he rejected last week before the old law ran out.

[Tx4obama]

55. Glad Bunning caved, but I wanted to see an all night session ;) n/t

[bkozumplik]

57. or, they could go till midnight and quit

so, we were bluffing on the all night threat.... very chessy of us.