Robert Byrd: Make Them Filibuster

[babylonsister]

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/03/02/robert-byrd-make-them-filibuster/

Robert Byrd: Make Them Filibuster

Posted by Karen Tumulty Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 6:40 pm


How could I have missed this? The ultimate master of Senate procedure is now arguing the case:

"Senators are obliged to exercise their best judgment when invoking their right to extended debate," Byrd said. " They should also be obliged to actually filibuster — that is, go to the floor and talk, instead of finding less strenuous ways to accomplish the same end."

Byrd could even give them some pointers on how to do it:

It has been more than two decades since the last time we saw the majority actually make the minority put up or shut up on a filibuster. In 1988, while attempting to shut down a Republican filibuster of campaign finance reform legislation, then majority leader Robert Byrd even went so far as to invoke a power that hadn't been used since 1942: he dispatched the Senate sergeant-at-arms to arrest missing Senators and escort them to the floor. Oregon's Bob Packwood was carried onto the floor at 1:19 a.m., after a scuffle in which he attempted to jam his office door and ended up reinjuring a broken finger. Byrd didn't give up until a record-setting eighth cloture vote failed to end the debate.

[JCMach1]

1. rec

[Hannah Bell]

2. kick

[VMI Dem]

3. Unrec.

[spanone]

10. recommended

[still_one]

4. Many Democrats in Congress have demonstrated time and time again how gutless they are

In should be no surprise that the republicans are the one's that control the talking points, because the Democrats don't find it convenient to have real confrontation

[babylonsister]

5. I thought this demonstrated Byrd, in his day, was the opposite of

gutless. I wish we had more like him now.

[still_one]

6. You are right, but its the leadership that need to do this also /nt

[quaker bill]

7. We should pick the right issue

and then make them do it. However, they will simply fold like a house of cards. The republicans will only truly do extended debate on something they feel is a political winner. This is the actual reason it will not happen. If we pick the issue, republicans will fold, if they pick the issue, we will not want to allow them the facetime and free media.

[gkhouston]

8. Jobs. A huge, meaningful jobs bill. Swing for the fences. n/t

[madokie]

9. Damn I remember that like it was only yesterday

I like the old man, warts and all. I feel a sense of kindred to him because of his love for this country

[bananas]

11. k&r nt

[kentuck]

12. Democrats do not seem to have the stomach for extended debate...

They don't want to be there and the Repubs know it. They have more "important" places to be. About two straight weeks of debate would weaken the Republican resolve, in my opinion.