GOP to shut down the Senate? Perfect time to abolish the filibuster.

[denem]

Like tomorrow?

Can be done with a simple vote? Yes?

[Beetwasher]

1. *Sigh*, No, Cannot Be Done Tomorrow, Only At The Beginning Of A NEW Session

Next year with the new Senate, yes. Tomorrow, no.

[denem]

2. Kay.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Fuck the rules - the GOP doesn't even follow the rules

Let's turn it AGAINST them.

Why are they SO afraid of invoking the nuclear option. They CAN set it to expire on Jan 1st 2011.

Hawkeye-X

[Beetwasher]

6. Yes, Fuck The Rules, Let's Behave Like Republicans!

You don't want a Democracy, you want a dictatorship.

[Hawkeye-X]

13. And how is it any different when neither the D's or the R's aren't helping the middle/lower class?

and the RICH has already emphasized that they DO NOT WANT any more tax cuts. They want to pay their fair share. But there's always greedy assholes who wants more - and for what?

[Beetwasher]

17. You Want A Dictator, As Long As He's Dictating What YOU Want

Yes, fuck the rules. Just like Bush. Just like Republicans. It's what you want. Just own it and stop pretending otherwise.

[Hawkeye-X]

8. Actually you can - it's called the nuclear option

Reid needed to invoke it two years ago when it was clear that the GOP wasn't cooperating.

We could have maintained the Senate level and even the House if the NO was invoked in 2008.

Hawkeye-X

[Beetwasher]

10. Wrong, You Can't Until The New Session.

[Hawkeye-X]

14. To abolish the filibuster, there are two options

One is to establish the new rules before the next Congressional session as you mentioned.

However, in a dire emergency where filibusters has done nothing but obstruct necessary laws or nominations, then the filibuster rule can be removed by the nuclear option.

[Beetwasher]

15. So You Want Them To Be Like Republicans?

I assume you supported their threat of using the Nuclear Option?

[Democrats_win]

3. Let's hope they refuse their paychecks AND medical benefits.

It's the right thing to do: no work, no pay.

[dana_b]

4. aren't there still more Dems in the Senate?

can't they fight it?

[SlimJimmy]

9. We need 60 to stop the filibuster, and we don't have the votes. (nt)

[brooklynite]

12. The only potential process is the "Nuclear Option"...

...proposed by the Republicans back in 2005. It requires the acquiescence of the Senate Parliamentarian and the Vice President on a point of order about changing Senate Rules, and requires a Majority of Democrats to give up the Filibuster pretty much forever (including the inevitable future when the Republicans are in charge.

[Hawkeye-X]

16. The best way to use the filibuster is force them to USE it

Jeff Merkey has the right idea. Just the mention of "filibuster" is not enough - they have to do the actual filibuster until they give up (and hopefully die of heart attacks doing so)

[dana_b]

18. that's exactly what I meant

make them stand there for hours and hours - talking to an empty room, if need be. The Dems should fight them on this.

[patrice]

7. We're the minority; we NEED the filibuster. What SHOULD happen is that they should actually

DEBATE!!!

24/7 - rather than just say "filibuster" without actually filibustering and all business is shut down until they break the filibuster.

[Johonny]

11. this isn't news they have shut down the senate for last 2 years

yet the media treats this like a new idea Republicans just had. L O L.