Flip-Flopping on the filibuster.

[Dinner]

I've always thought that the filibuster was indeed a legitamite use of minority rights but that said this week has seen an extraordinary amount of flip flopping. Just a year ago Republicans were claiming it was anti-democratic and even immoral that the Democrats using the filibuster to block extremist measures by fundimentalist Republicans. Those Republicans couldn't condemn the use of the filibuster enough.

My, my, how things change in a year. Just this week Republicans in the senate used the filibuster to prevent there even being a debate about what course of action we should take in Iraq. The very same people who earlier claimed filibusters were anti-democratic, even unconstitutional, and pushed for "the nuclear option" which would have removed the minorities ability to filibuster extremist proposals; now suddenly Republicans are claiming the filibuster is as American as apple pie.

I hate these self serving bastards; they're just such hypocrits. At least agree that the filibuster is legitamite when you're in the majority before using it when you are in the minority.

[DinoDoc]

IIRC, the Republicans haven't fillibustered any of Bush's judicial nominees so I don't see the contradiction.

[Patroklos]

I hate these self serving bastards; they're just such hypocrits. At least agree that the filibuster is legitamite when you're in the majority before using it when you are in the minority.

Before you get all high and mighty, what is the majority saying about it right now?

[Dinner]

A filibuster is a filibuster. The Republicans filibustered the senate debate on Iraq thus blocking all debate from officially occuring.

Many of the people who voted to filibuster that motion are the very same people who claimed filibusters where anti-Democratic and immoral.

[DinoDoc]

In reference to Democrats blocking nominations. I don't think they complained about its use elsewhere. However, is it really the Republicans fault if the Dems are as chicken as Republicans when it comes to dealing with fillibusters? If the Dems really wanted to have a vote on the resolution, I didn't see any move to break out the cots and force the Republicans to hold the floor indefinately.

[Dinner]

I imagine neither party really wants to change the rules since eventually they'll find themselves in the minority.

[DinoDoc]

That doesn't require a change in rules, Oerdin. Just action from the Majority Leader in the Senate.

[Zoid]

WTF is a filibuster?

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's this guy named Phil, who.... busts.

Ok, I got nothing.

More seriously:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
I didn't see any move to break out the cots and force the Republicans to hold the floor indefinately.

What does "breaking the cots" mean?

Is it about breaking the chairs so that the speaker has to stand during his entire speech?

[KrazyHorse]

"breaking out" means to take out and set up

Cots are portable beds.

Real filibusters can go on for days, and representatives can't leave the chamber when they're taking place, so they would have to sleep on cots in the chamber.

In order to do so they would first have to break them out.

[Kuciwalker]

"break out the cots" that is, to bring them out.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/break+out

[Spiffor]

Thanks for the explanation

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Real filibusters can go on for days, and representatives can't leave the chamber when they're taking place, so they would have to sleep on cots in the chamber.

Sucks if you have to pee

[Dinner]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
That doesn't require a change in rules, Oerdin. Just action from the Majority Leader in the Senate.

In terms of the current filibuster the Republicans in the Senate used to prevent debates on Iraq policy it would require a rule change. The talking the motion to death and using the filibuster to block a closture vote can't be bipassed without using the Republicans' own "nuclear option".