WHY are we having all these post about support of a filibuster?

[napi21]

THAT DOESN'T MATTER!

What matters is having enough Dems abstain or vote NO on cloture!

No cloture, No vote!!!!!

Forget the damn filibuster. Who cares? All you're going to be doing is preaching to those who already don't want Alito!

[Pab Sungenis]

1. Same thing.

Voting no on cloture IS a filibuster.

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. Um, supporting the filibuster = voting no on cloture

It's the same thing....

[napi21]

5. No I don't think it is. Any Senator can vote yes or no on cloture.

That does NOT MEAN that they have to subscripe to a filibuster!

I understand in theory you're right, but in reality, any Senator can just vote NO on a cloture vote and have NO opinion on a filibuster at all!

[onenote]

7. no, a vote against cloture is a vote for filibuster

that's how it works. However, you're right that abstention is an option that would allow a Senator not to vote for or against cloture, but the effect of which would be a vote against cloture.

onenote

[napi21]

9. I think abstention is an alternative for Dems running in Red areas.

Make up a story of why you couldn't be there, who cares! Family emergency, State tragedy, car trouble! It doesn't matter, and they can still indicate to THEIR constituents that they're supporting them!

[WildEyedLiberal]

10. No to cloture IS a filibuster

So yes, if you vote no on cloture, you are supporting the filibuster.

[napi21]

15. ///////////////yes, but not in those words!

You have to recognize that most people who are not politically active don't know the difference! Regular voters, who are busy takink kid to xoccer practice, or going to the PTA meetings aren't like us! They hear the occasional XX voted for & against XX.

We need to stop trying to paint the average American to be "like us". They're not! They have a lot of other priorities in their lives. It's OUR job to get the significant info to them so they can make the right decision!

[WildEyedLiberal]

16. This is about what senators are doing...

... they understand what a filibuster is. The point is stopping Alito, which requires a filibuster aka a no vote on cloture. I really don't understand what point you're trying to make. :shrug:

[never_get_over_it]

13. No I'm sorry but you are wrong -

everyone knows what voting no on cloture means especially in this case - this is not what the meaning of is is - voting no on cloture is most certainly supporting a filibuster - especially in a case like this where we are actively trying to stop the vote on Alito which is the purpose of the filibuster.

cloture A parliamentary procedure by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken on the matter under discussion. Also called closure.

[sandnsea]

3. You're right

We should be reminding them that they can just abstain.

[Pirate Smile]

12. Right. Chafee, Snowe - you can just abstain.

Numbers-wise isn't it the same? Those who want cloture have to reach 60. The no cloture votes don't have to reach 40.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

4. Cloture IS the filibuster

Just to clear things up. Garnering 41 "No" votes on cloture is the practical senatorial manifestation of the filibuster.

[napi21]

6. Yes, but it doesn't make a Senator make the statement!

A Senator can still abstain or simply not be present for the damn vote!

It's NOT the same!

[gkhouston]

8. if they aren't present, they have no vote at all

the cloture motion is 3/5 of the members present, which is 60 if everyone is there. It's no good telling Senators to got get a massage instead of showing up for the vote: they must either abstain or vote "no" to be part of the 2/5 of the members plus one vote that would be needed to deny cloture.

[napi21]

11. Sorry, I didn't know that! If true, they need to be there and

abstain!!!!

[gkhouston]

14. they can bring their favorite book or a crossword puzzle

just like any other day in the Senate. ;-)

[onenote]

17. not so. Cloture is 3/5 of all senators, not just those present and voting

You have to get 60 or more affirmative votes or you don't get cloture. Its not measured as a percentage of those present and voting, its a percentage of those sworn as Senators, which currently is 100 (if there was a vacancy, it would be 3/5 of 100 minus the number of vacancies.

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-425.pdf

onenote

[Laelth]

22. napi21

It's our 2 GA senators that we need to get to abstain. :crazy:

Just thought i'd suggest that for a laugh, but I e-mailed them, seriously, and asked them to consider it.

-Laelth

[sandnsea]

18. Getting 60 votes ends debate

If you don't get 60, debate continues. So those who don't vote no, don't necessarily have to contribute to the 60 who will vote yes. Makes sense to me.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

19. Wierdest Thread I've Ever Seen.

Though I have thought myself that some may just opt out altogether, thereby not having to go on record as supporting the fillibuster but making sure it still succeeds, the rest of the tone of this thread is quite strange in the fact that voting no on cloture is how you filibuster. It's the same thing.

Weirdest thread I've ever seen. LOL

[BelgianMadCow]

20. Maybe better to repost the central thought "you can abstain"!

I think I'm following :-)

[LittleClarkie]

21. No longer is this

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. We're not trying to get someone on the Senate floor who won't STFU. They don't do it that way anymore.

We need no votes on cloture, or we need abstaining votes re: cloture. Anything but a yes.

[Laelth]

23. My letter to GA's Senators:

To the Honorable Saxby Chambliss (and Johnny Isakson):

It has come to my attention that you intend to vote to confirm Justice Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. I would urge you to reconsider.

Consider that the individual liberties protected by the Bill of Rights and the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution are the birthright of every American, your children's and mine. Consider that Justice Alito may, if seated on the Court, shift the balance of power within the federal government toward tyrrany. Consider Ancient Rome. Democracy, once lost, can never be restored. Please, for the sake of future generations, put partisan politics aside and consider these things.

At the very least, consider abstaining when the Senate votes on cloture. I sincerely hope you will.

A concerned citizen,

Real Name Used Here
Macon, Georgia


Like it will do any good, but it made me feel better.

-Laelth