Questions. How can the Dems filibuster if they are all being timed?

[Maraya1969]

I know this may be stupid but I've never seen what a filibuster looks like although I bet it would be a hoot.

But that neon red timer is set for everyone to follow. :shrug: Maybe they can keep calling new witnesses.

[Cocoa]

1. they filibuster on the floor of the Senate

after the hearings are over.

[FogerRox]

2. this is the committee hearing not the Senate vote

Alitos nomination must get out of Committee and be presented to the Full Senate for vote

[trackfan]

3. What you are currently seeing is just the committee hearing

If the nomination should go to the whole Senate for a vote, there is no limit on the debate, unless it is agreed to by the Senate itself. In order to get to a final vote, the Senate would have to agree to cloture, which is to set a fixed limit, and a cut-off for the debate. If 41 senators refuse to allow the debate to end, that is a filibuster.

[LittleClarkie]

4. If Alito gets to the Senate as a whole, they will debate his nomination

then there will be a vote to stop debate, known as a vote for cloture. If it doesn't pass, that's considered "filibustering."

Kind of disappointing really. I'd like to see something alittle more like "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." I wonder when they stopped having that kind of filibuster.

[Maraya1969]

7. I just looked up "Mr Smith" transcript. This line floored me.

Smith: Mr. President, I stand guilty as framed!


:rofl:

[Caoimhe]

5. Isn't it wonderful.. even if cringing while worrying about the result

watching the process is always a great lesson in civics. Of course, I'm a political junkie.

[hootinholler]

6. Not stupid.

That was a great demonstration of logic to arrive at the question, which was answered above-thread.

Remember, Ignorance is correctable, stoopud is for life.

-Hoot

[Maraya1969]

8. Well thank you hoot!

[beaconess]

9. Not stupid at all - it's kind of confusing

As others said, this is the Committee hearing - filibusters happen after the Committee votes on the nomination.

But filibusters like in the movies don't happen anymore - Senators usually don't stand on the floor talking hour after hour. Now, a filibuster occurs more as a formality - it really is just the minority refusing to close off debate and allow a vote to be taken on a measure. In such a case, the filibuster ends if 60 senators vote to cut off debate and vote on the issue. If they don't get 60 yes votes (regardless how many no votes there are), they can't vote on the measure at hand.

Not as dramatic or exciting as it used to be. But more manageable.