filibusters

So I know the filibuster and super-majority control of the Senate is of course NOT in the Constitution. But clearly the filibuster and the 60-vote rule for cloture has become a very useful tool. The Dems have used it to stop some very irresponsible and dangerous laws, like Concealed-Carry...

There's LOTS of continuous talk online and elsewhere about the US Senate filibuster and how current desired legislation is being snagged on it by Mitch and rogue Dems, etc. I know what the filibuster is, but it does seem that, as a Senate rule, it is more a convention than a law. I understand...

It's live-streaming on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2Q8Hr0O20LY. A heroic woman. ETA: Senator Davis can't sit down. She can't eat. She can't drink. She can't go to the bathroom. She can't even lean on her desk. She has to talk until midnight, with the few...

Normally I see the use of the fillibuster - or, rather, the use of the threat of a fillbuster - as some kind of political gamesmanship where the Rules Of Order are used to subvert the Will Of The People. But y'know what? I really do get jazzed at democracy in action, probably because it is so...

Over two and a half hours ago, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul began a filibuster in the Senate in opposition to the nomination of John Brennan as CIA Director and to unlawful drone strikes on American soil. He's still talking. FILIBUSTER! ETA: You can watch this live on C-SPAN 2.

Democrats watch in awe as McConnell filibusters himself :confused: [/LEFT]

When will the Senate filibuster rule end? This is being used, and abused, more and more. It was never even intended to be a rule. It now essentially requires a 60% vote instead of a 50% vote to pass a bill. Everybody complains that Congress isn’t doing enough. With the filibuster, months of...

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/27/senate-bans-secret-holds-makes-other-rule-changes/?hpt=Sbin The vote was 92-4 to make a few rule changes. Now, if the senator's name would be published in the Congressional Record two days after placing a hold. They also passed a rule against...

Link It's gotten so bad that a conservative Bush nominee has to ask the senate to stop the madness.

On one side of the debate, we have President Obama, who wants to do away with the filibuster. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/28/914338/-President-Obama-endorses-filibuster-reform On the other side of the debate, we have, um, Senator Obama...

That is to say, the REPEAL of it was voted down. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-september-22-2010/are-we-run-by-a--holes-

The arguing about procedures related to the health care bill got me thinking about House and Senate "rules". Do these things have the force of law? I got to wondering whether laws were overturned if they were passed in violation of the rules as they existed at the time in the House or Senate...

Filibusters are used by the minority in the Senate to keep a simple majority from passing laws. I do not believe such a procedure was created to allow for constant and repetitive use, due to pure political wrangling and dissagrement. Additionally, Reconciliatiion is used by the majority to...

My father suggests that we pass a new rule, that a filibuster cannot take place until there has been a week of breathing room and time out. And then, if they still wanna filibuster, it can be broken by 55 Senators..and not 60. This way, the Senate cannot be held hostage by 41 Senators, which...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry has urged his Democratic colleagues to unite and filibuster Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court, but senators from both sides of the aisle said Friday that isn't going to happen. What does Kerry think he will accomplish with...

Senators Avert Showdown Over Filibusters