Democrats learn to love the filibuster

[ElNono]

Senate Democrats are falling back in love with the filibuster.

After eight years of complaining about obstructionism, the Senate’s new Democratic minority is embracing some of the same tools Republicans had wielded so skillfully to jam the legislative machinery. On Tuesday, Democrats used the filibuster to stop a bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security — and roll back President Barack Obama’s immigration policies — dead in its tracks.

Democrats’ relationship with the filibuster had been on the rocks when they ran the Senate, a time when the GOP regularly used the procedural weapon to disrupt the majority’s agenda. Democrats responded by gutting the filibuster on nominations, making “Republican obstruction” a go-to explanation for the Senate’s gridlock and complaining bitterly when the GOP minority blocked debate from even opening on bills.

Then came Tuesday’s 51-48 vote blocking the DHS bill. This was the first time a Democratic minority had blocked a bill from coming to the floor for debate since Aug. 3, 2006, when Democrats stifled legislation that would have raised the minimum wage and decreased the estate tax.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/senate-democrats-filibuster-114888.html?hp=t2_r

:lol the new party of No
:lol boutons

[spurraider21]

[incoherent banter] REPUGS [more incoherent banter] LIES [incoherent banter]

[boutons_deux]

false equivalence, as usual

Repugs block EVERYTHING the Dems propose, because they see anything, anybody non-Repug as illegitimate.

Dems block (most of) Repug craziness because it's crazy (eg, MORE cutting of estate taxes? which the Repugs already cut 10 years ago,losing over $1T in tax revenue. Repeal ACA? privatize SS?)

[spurraider21]

Social security is broken

[boutons_deux]

Social security is broken

You Lie, because you believe the SS-privatizers' lies. SS is trashed as pretext to send SS funds to Wall st crooks.

[spurraider21]

Never said anything about privatizing it. It's just fucked up right now

[boutons_deux]

Never said anything about privatizing it. It's just fucked up right now

you didn't, but the Pete Petersons who trash SS as fucked up REALLY want to privatize it. Part of the VRWC strategy that govt is all bad, all wrong to help the 99%, but wonderful when it enriches the 1% (like allowing SS to be privatized)

[Wild Cobra]

Senate Democrats are falling back in love with the filibuster.

After eight years of complaining about obstructionism, the Senate’s new Democratic minority is embracing some of the same tools Republicans had wielded so skillfully to jam the legislative machinery. On Tuesday, Democrats used the filibuster to stop a bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security — and roll back President Barack Obama’s immigration policies — dead in its tracks.

Democrats’ relationship with the filibuster had been on the rocks when they ran the Senate, a time when the GOP regularly used the procedural weapon to disrupt the majority’s agenda. Democrats responded by gutting the filibuster on nominations, making “Republican obstruction” a go-to explanation for the Senate’s gridlock and complaining bitterly when the GOP minority blocked debate from even opening on bills.

Then came Tuesday’s 51-48 vote blocking the DHS bill. This was the first time a Democratic minority had blocked a bill from coming to the floor for debate since Aug. 3, 2006, when Democrats stifled legislation that would have raised the minimum wage and decreased the estate tax.

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/senate-democrats-filibuster-114888.html?hp=t2_r

:lol the new party of No
:lol boutons
Is it any surprise?

Both parties pull the same shit.

Remember...

We vote for what we perceive as the lesser of two evils. When is the last time you actually voted for someone, rather than voting against the other guy?

[boutons_deux]

"Both parties pull the same shit."

no, they don't. Look at the history of the number of filibusters per session, esp those sessions since Jan 2009 vs everything before.

[ElNono]

We vote for what we perceive as the lesser of two evils.

speak for yourself.

[boutons_deux]

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Blogs/2013/brookings%20now/senate_cloture_votes_chart.jpg

[Winehole23]

the Dems pioneered it in the 80s and 90s. After the '06 midterms, the GOP took it to the next level.

[Wild Cobra]

speak for yourself.

You mean there is someone you actually voted for?

[ElNono]

You mean there is someone you actually voted for?

You said:


We vote for what we perceive as the lesser of two evils.

Some of us don't hold our noses and vote for "the lesser of two evils". I rather not vote.

[boutons_deux]

"I rather not vote."

is a vote for the Repugs

[Blizzardwizard]

Both parties definitely pull similar shit, so this isn't exactly surprising.

[Wild Cobra]

the Dems pioneered it in the 80s and 90s. After the '06 midterms, the GOP took it to the next level.
The frequency of a filibuster also changes with the rules applied for a filibuster.

I wish they would return to the old methods.

[Wild Cobra]

You Lie, because you believe the SS-privatizers lies. SS is trashed as pretext to send SS funds to Wall st crooks.

???

Elaborate please.

[Wild Cobra]

"I rather not vote."

is a vote for the Repugs

It's a vote for what ever corrupt election volunteer decides to make it. Could be either part, or even third party if someone is corrupting the process.

[boutons_deux]

???

Elaborate please.

You believe the SS-privatizers' LIES, so you certainly won't believe any of my elaboration of why the entire financial sector wants ALL SS sent into the greedy, wealth-sucking, secret-fee-charging, fraudulent hands.

[Wild Cobra]

You believe the SS-privatizers' LIES, so you certainly won't believe any of my elaboration of why the entire financial sector wants ALL SS sent into the greedy, wealth-sucking, secret-fee-charging, fraudulent hands.
I have never seen such arguments made that way.

I wish I could opt out of SS and invest that 6.2% I contribute in my own retirement program, instead. Why do you want to deny me that?

[boutons_deux]

I have never seen such arguments made that way.

Check any VRWC/BigFinance, eg Pete Petersen, source, or Congressional commission that wants to kill or deeply modify SS, then look at what their fixes are. They all want SS funds to be sent to Wall St, where Wall St can suck $100Bs per year out in (often hidden, unknowable) fees. They don't GAFF about SS, they only want those $Ts in BigFinance's hands.

[Wild Cobra]

Check any VRWC/BigFinance, eg Pete Petersen, source, or Congressional commission that wants to kill or deeply modify SS, then look at what their fixes are. They all want SS funds to be sent to Wall St, where Wall St can suck $100Bs per year out in (often hidden, unknowable) fees. They don't GAFF about SS, they only want those $Ts in BigFinance's hands.
You sure have a narrow minded perception.

I want them to make profit for making me money!

[boutons_deux]

You sure have a narrow minded perception.

I want them to make profit for making me money!

and you have no problem when taxpayers have to bail out BigFinance gambles with pensions and depoists and loses, the old private gain, public risk scam.

[Wild Cobra]

and you have no problem when taxpayers have to bail out BigFinance gambles with pensions and depoists and loses, the old private gain, public risk scam.

I accept the risk. I know some of my investments may be lost. That's why a person diversifies.

[ElNono]

"I rather not vote."

is a vote for the Repugs

I don't care what it works out to. It's simply much more principled than bitching about how the system is rigged and shit, then holding your nose and being part of it anyways.

[Aztecfan03]

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Blogs/2013/brookings%20now/senate_cloture_votes_chart.jpg

ANd those numbers have increased each time the congress has changed control. Rebublicans just so happened to be the latest minority.

[boutons_deux]

ANd those numbers have increased each time the congress has changed control. Rebublicans just so happened to be the latest minority.

brilliant! :lol

and wrong! :lol

57% vs. 42%

[boutons_deux]

After Six Years Of Filibustering Obama, Republicans Now Want To Outlaw Senate Filibusters


A growing number of House GOP conservatives are pressuring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday to invoke the “nuclear option” and change the chamber’s rules to pass a bill defunding President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

Reps. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) and Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) said McConnell should change Senate rules, so the House-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, which includes language to revoke Obama’s immigration-related actions, can bypass a Democratic filibuster in the upper chamber.

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) also endorsed the idea at a Thursday news conference. He said there’s a “way to change the rules to allow us to move forward” and “take away the ability to filibuster.”


For six years (http://swampland.time.com/2012/08/23/the-party-of-no-new-details-on-the-gop-plot-to-obstruct-obama/), Republicans touted the virtues of the filibuster.

They were outraged when then-Majority Leader Harry Reid modified the filibuster rules so that more of the president’s nominees could be confirmed, but that all changed now that the shoe is on the other foot.

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/12/years-obstructing-obama-republicans-outlaw-senate-filibusters.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politi cus+USA+%29

[101A]

I have never seen such arguments made that way.

I wish I could opt out of SS and invest that 6.2% I contribute in my own retirement program, instead. Why do you want to deny me that?

Not to pick nits, but in such a perfect scenario, you would also get your employer's cut - making that 12.4%

Let me do that, I'll give 3/4 to the govt. when I retire, and STILL come out WAY ahead.

[Wild Cobra]

After Six Years Of Filibustering Obama, Republicans Now Want To Outlaw Senate Filibusters


A growing number of House GOP conservatives are pressuring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday to invoke the “nuclear option” and change the chamber’s rules to pass a bill defunding President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

Reps. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) and Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) said McConnell should change Senate rules, so the House-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, which includes language to revoke Obama’s immigration-related actions, can bypass a Democratic filibuster in the upper chamber.

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) also endorsed the idea at a Thursday news conference. He said there’s a “way to change the rules to allow us to move forward” and “take away the ability to filibuster.”


For six years (http://swampland.time.com/2012/08/23/the-party-of-no-new-details-on-the-gop-plot-to-obstruct-obama/), Republicans touted the virtues of the filibuster.

They were outraged when then-Majority Leader Harry Reid modified the filibuster rules so that more of the president’s nominees could be confirmed, but that all changed now that the shoe is on the other foot.

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/12/years-obstructing-obama-republicans-outlaw-senate-filibusters.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politi cus+USA+%29



They tried years ago to get rid of it, but democrats wouldn't comply.

[Wild Cobra]

Not to pick nits, but in such a perfect scenario, you would also get your employer's cut - making that 12.4%

Let me do that, I'll give 3/4 to the govt. when I retire, and STILL come out WAY ahead.
My understanding of attempts tried, had all or a portion of the personal 6.2% available for a personal account. All of the employer share still went to the government.