If the vote is moved up, and the nuclear option is used, there will be

[smartvoter]

unquestionable justification for Will Pitt's walkout idea. Not to get into debates about whether or not it's justified now -- there are valid arguments on both sides -- but if they totally shut the minority party off with the nuclear option, it would make one hell of a statement if they walked out.

edit: typo

[Vincardog]

1. Right K & R

[Burried News]

2. As they say - events can have a life of their own - the Tea in the Harbor?

[Marleyb]

10. could this be related?

Bush Administration Seeks to Squelch State of the Union Protest at Capitol
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x219508

[Burried News]

16. They constantly work to frustrate opposition so it can be difficult to

tell if a specific series of events has been target by them, but my read is that they have been on a higher alert status ever since the last antiwar march in Washington. The turnout then was exceptional and I think they know that a few more events like that and the GOP patrons will find new surrogates.

[nickinSTL]

3. I agree...

they need to filibuster, and walk out if the Repubs try the "nuclear option".

Enough.

[smartvoter]

4. What a difference a few months can make.

If the Republicans go nuclear now, it will only reinforce public recognition of abuse of power and corruption.

[EVDebs]

5. Please remind Dems next time a war authorization comes along...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2388890&mesg_id=2388992

[ClayZ]

6. K & R

:kick:


NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency
may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do
this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor
protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President.

[AuntiBush]

12. Luv...

the tag line. Mind if I borrow it?

[ClayZ]

13. It was given away freely right here on DU!

Copy-right now!

[AuntiBush]

26. Thanks for FYK, ClayZ

Good for DU!

[longship]

7. There are other options, too.

If the Repugs go nuclear, the Dems have promised that they will eliminate voting by unanimous consent. This will bring things to an absolute crawl in the Senate. There will have to be roll calls for everything.

A walk-out would be a great way to punctuate such a move, though.

[cascadiance]

8. And one of them leave a note behind signed by all of them...

That ALL Senate business is about to be shut down. This would in effect be challenging them to go nuclear on all Senate business and perhaps allowing a Democratic Majority to "rule" in the Senate in 2006 without having to change Senate rules with a simple majority... That will definitely send a message!

[AZBlue]

9. Agreed. And it would be even more effective than during SOTU imo.

[liberalla]

24. "...even more effective than during SOTU"

Yeah - I agree with that, too.

[mirandapriestly]

11. Stephanie Miller talked about it on her show this morning.

She mentioned Will Pitt and described the plan, I thought that was really good of her. She and her crew liked the idea!

[Wordie]

14. Could Frist really muster the votes for the nuclear option. That's what I

really want to know.

Recommended.

[smartvoter]

15. It would be disastrous for them to do it at this stage.

It would have been bad for them at any time, but right now they're poster children for power trips and corruption.

[Wordie]

17. Yup. And think of the partisan hay that could be made of it. The

filibuster has been around since the early 1800s. It is a way to ensure that any nominee or proposal has broad support. Here's some of what wiki says:

Supporters of the right to filibuster argue that the Senate has a long tradition of requiring broad support to do business, due in part to the threat of the filibuster, and that this protects the minority.

And...
The legality of the nuclear option has been challenged. The Senate parliamentarian, Alan Frumin, was appointed by Senator Lott. Furmin is an ostensibly neutral staff member and appointed keeper of the Senate's rules, and is opposed to the nuclear option.<2> It's been reported that a Congressional Research Service report "leaves little doubt" that the nuclear option would not be based on previous precedents of the Senate.<3>

The wiki article about the nuclear option is quite detailed, and worth a read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Option

btw, you can find a pdf of that Congressional Research Service report to download by searching through Google on "CRS nuclear option."

[smartvoter]

18. Yes, and from a simple perspective,

if you are afraid of using it for fear of losing it, you've already lost it. So you might as well stick the suppressor label on its rightful owner.

[Wordie]

22. Exactly. Which is more important, the filibuster, or the Constitution? nt

[bunkerbuster1]

21. Dunno. With the media leading their charge and screaming UP OR DOWN...

The Reeps can count on the media getting their backs, and this fight would be no different. There are a lot of gullible voters out there who buy into the idea that appointees "deserve an up or down vote."

Not that we shouldn't filibuster--oh HELL yeah!--but let's not imagine that it's going to get great popular support. It'll have to be the first in a series of battles where the Dems show some guts.

Keep it up, and people will follow the real leaders, the ones with the courage of their convictions.

[Wordie]

28. We have that *first* already...they did it with the Patriot Act! eom

[Burried News]

19. Even if he wins he loses - if the GOP loses any significant number of

seats in 2006; he will have taken a weapon from them.

Frist you have to be the world's worst Chess Player and you sure as hell stink at poker. The only game you might be good at is Eight Ball given the years of Pocket Pool experience at Princeton.

[smartvoter]

20. LOL!!!! Everyone needs to read your post! nt

[Wordie]

23. Yeah, a lot of Republicans aren't gonna want to lose the filibuster.nt

[samhsarah]

25. Shut the MOFO down, Walk out,

The revolution begins!!!! (peacefully and legally, of course)

[smartvoter]

27. Amen!!! nt

[mb7588a]

29. the concurrent resolution to even have a SOTU

would possibly not pass in that case, unless it already has been.