If there is a filibuster, what happens then?

[kentuck]

Do the Repubs use the "nuclear option" which they are now calling the "constitutional option"? Or do the Democrats begin a filibuster but they don't say they are filibustering? Do they just keep talking and talking until they see where everyone stands? Are all the Repubs going to vote for a nuclear option? Are all the Repubs going to vote against the filibuster? What's next?

[mom cat]

1. Contact all Repubs to block the nuke.

[acmejack]

2. The dems would start fillibustering

the repubs would move for cloture, which would require the super majority. This is where they would need to exercise the what ever you wish to call it option and change it to a simple majority and invoke cloture option.

edit to spell correct

[kentuck]

3. Then why filibuster ??

Would either Party pay a political price for either maneuver?

[unblock]

5. the banana republicans would pay a price for destroying the filibuster

democrats could ("will" is another story...) make major hay of the fact that the banana republicans have to LIE ON THE SENATE FLOOR in order to make their completely fabricated misinterpretation of the rules be a simple majority vote instead of a 60% vote.

not only that, they're destroying two centuries of senate tradition, thumbing their noses at all democrats, riding roughshod over objections about alito, etc.

if played properly, it would go a LONG way in an election year toward bringing out the democratic vote, particularly for capturing the senate.

[CottonBear]

4. But, if they change the rules, aren't they supposed to have to wait

until the next congress convenes in order to use the new rules? Or do they just make things up as they go along now?

[unblock]

6. in short, yes. they make things up as they go along

the "nuclear option" involves a senator making the completely fabricated claim that filibusters don't exist, or don't exist for judicial confirmations, whatever. cheney upholds the misinterpretation, a democrat disputes it. RULES disputes are resolved by a 50% simple majority vote, rather than a 60% cloture vote.

this is a transparently fraudulent mechanism that essentially says that ANY RULE can be overridden by a simple majority, via the simple act of lying and upholding that lie, and voting on the lie rather than the rules.

there's really no recourse, because the house and senate basically set their own rules and i seriously doubt the supreme court would ever mess with the internal workings of either chamber like that.

[CottonBear]

7. The thought of the nuclear option makes CottonBear cry.

:cry: :scared: :cry: :scared: :cry: :scared: :cry: :scared: :cry: :scared:

[TayTay]

10. We already sort of have it now.

It is in effect now, just not officially and without the extreme drama of watching it happen on C-Span. The Dems can't block any judicial nominees now, that is the nuclear option.

[unblock]

17. that's just in committe. they can still filibuster the final confirmation

unless and until the banana republicans 'go nuclear'

[AbbyR]

18. Isn't it a won't block rather than can't? (nft)

[Max Cherry]

8. I've got freeper friends that are hoping a filibuster happens.....

They feel it's a win-win situation for them. The Repuks will go alone with the nuclear option and get their Alito in. Then, in the mean time the national conversation is taken off the war and all the problems in DC and put on the filibuster. They also say the American public will blame us if we shut down the congress! GOD I HATE THOSE PIGS!!!

[kentuck]

9. I don't think there is any plan to shut down the Congress...

However, I think they are thinking of making the Repubs go the nuclear option, just to show how radical they are and to what extreme they will change precedence...

[Max Cherry]

12. and if they do ............

We'll shut the damn place down..... we've already said we would.

[kentuck]

13. We did ??

I hadn't heard that? When was that?

[Max Cherry]

14. HR has said that........

if the nuclear options is taken that the climate in the Senate would make it almost impossible for any future business to get done. Other Democrat Senators have said the same thing.

[kentuck]

15. You mean stop legislation like "Medicare Reform"

and other great Republican legislation?? That might be a good idea? Hmmm-mmm..

[Max Cherry]

16. Noooow you got it........... ;-)

[Carni]

11. Oh geez

Yeah, I'll just bet they do --

You might want to let *your friends* know that Congress is not esp popular at the moment, so quite frankly I think the public would welcome shutting it down.