# Bernie Sanders is staging a filibuster **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 10, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693 "2010-12-10T20:07:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/1 "2010-12-10T20:07:10Z")
Bernie Sanders has been holding a filibuster since 10:30. He is fighting the tax bill Obama wants. He is doing it on CSPAN right now. That is what should be required for a filibuster. Stand up and show your face when you cut off debate or fight a bill. Let the people see the face of the politician fighting for his position. Lets go back and dump the procedural filibuster. It is too important a tool to be used so casually. That ,I am sure is part of the reason Sanders is doing it. If you believe a bill should require 60 votes, tell me why that is not antithetical to democracy, the majority rules system we profess. Way to go Bernie. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/2 "2010-12-10T20:18:15Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Bernie Sanders has been holding a filibuster since 10:30. He is fighting the tax bill Obama wants. He is doing it on CSPAN right now. That is what should be required for a filibuster. Stand up and show your face when you cut off debate or fight a bill. Let the people see the face of the politician fighting for his position. > Lets go back and dump the procedural filibuster. It is too important a tool to be used so casually. That ,I am sure is part of the reason Sanders is doing it. If you believe a bill should require 60 votes, tell me why that is not antithetical to democracy, the majority rules system we profess. Way to go Bernie. As crazy a the Filibuster is - at least in my mind - I totally agree that the mere threat of one should not be enough. Go ahead and read the phone book or the US Code or maybe restate your position 1000 times, bur go sweat it. Go for it Bernie! I’ve got no freaking clue who you are or what you stand for but kudos for sticking to your guns! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/3 "2010-12-10T20:25:01Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Go for it Bernie! I’ve got no freaking clue who you are or what you stand for but kudos for sticking to your guns! He’s the Independent Senator from VT with the New York accent. Arguably the most left leaning member of the Senate. Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats. He’s too old to keep up the filibuster. I grant him kudos, too, but he’s not going to be successful. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/4 "2010-12-10T20:32:02Z")
ETA: It’s not a filibuster, btw. It’s more like he’s celebrating Festivus, and is now doing the “Airing of the Grievances”. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/5 "2010-12-10T20:48:39Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > [He’s] now doing the “Airing of the Grievances”. How is that going to be distinguishable from a filibuster? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/6 "2010-12-10T20:53:18Z")
How long would he have to go to prevent a vote? Until the Senate recesses, right? Reid is saying they will vote on Monday. But good for him. Reminds me of that _West Wing_ episode. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/7 "2010-12-10T21:07:27Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > How is that going to be distinguishable from a filibuster? > > 😃 When he challenges McConnell to the Feats of Strength. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/8 "2010-12-10T21:15:15Z")
**I got a lot of problems with you people!!** ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/9 "2010-12-10T21:17:45Z")
We’re here for you, **John**. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/10 "2010-12-10T21:20:51Z")
Just to watch and laugh, maybe, but we’re here. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/11 "2010-12-10T21:28:51Z")
I’m so in his corner! Go Bernie!!! ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/12 "2010-12-10T21:52:08Z")
Hey, the more time our token US Senate Socialist takes, the better at this point. ---
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/13 "2010-12-10T22:15:55Z")
There’s more truth in one minute of Bernie’s speech than in all the hours of bloviating from Republicans and corporate Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/14 "2010-12-10T22:21:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > …He’s too old to keep up the filibuster. I grant him kudos, too, but he’s not going to be successful. Out of curiosity, how would “success” be defined? He is in his 6th hour of this at this point and has gotten a lot of attention. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/15 "2010-12-10T22:35:02Z")
Wouldn’t success be defined as stopping the vote? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/16 "2010-12-10T22:36:05Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > Out of curiosity, how would “success” be defined? He is in his 6th hour of this at this point and has gotten a lot of attention. When I posted that, I didn’t realize that he what he was doing was not a filibuster. At any rate, it makes for good fodder for the cable news shows, but the stunt will be yesterday’s news tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/17 "2010-12-10T22:46:44Z")
Well, the Republicans could always try distracting him with tinsel. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/18 "2010-12-10T23:36:03Z")
What is that lapping noise? It sounds like a bunch of cats drinking the cream… -XT ---
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/19 "2010-12-11T00:03:33Z")
It’s over. He just did 8.5 hours. Pretty impressive time for a guy his age, and, more to the point, an impressive speech overall. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@The\_Amazing\_Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Amazing_Hanna)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/20 "2010-12-11T01:16:24Z")
Very amusing, but filibusters are the reason for Americas problems, and not the solution. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693.md?page=2)