# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**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 11, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/41 "2010-12-11T18:01:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If he really said that, then he’s a liar. I take back my “kudos”. Even if he were a liar (rather than misinformed or saying a nice-sounding phrase), he’s a liar not afraid to stand up a tell lies in public. I may be 100% against the guy, but flibuster or not, he went for it. Again, I don’t care for the filibuster (even if this is not technically one) but, go and grandstand dude! ---
**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 11, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/42 "2010-12-11T18:12:23Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Even if he were a liar (rather than misinformed or saying a nice-sounding phrase), he’s a liar not afraid to stand up a tell lies in public. We have politicians that don’t do that??? > [@](#): > > I may be 100% against the guy, but flibuster or not, he went for it. > Again, I don’t care for the filibuster (even if this is not technically one) but, go and grandstand dude! It pisses me off to still see it being reported as a filibuster in the press today. It was not an attempt to block any legislation. It was just some cranky old dude who didn’t want to shut up. I can’t see where that’s any great thing. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/43 "2010-12-11T18:22:02Z")
He put his face in front of a policy decision. The procedural filibuster allows a person to follow a bad piece of policy and keep his face hidden. I want to see a Repub stand up and say he believes billionaires should get tax cuts while the unemployed should be cut adrift. If he believes it, he should stand up and say it. He should take the time to explain thoroughly why he backs such a policy. Sanders showed guts. That is sadly lacking in politics . ---
**Author:** ![poet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@poet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poet)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/44 "2010-12-11T18:22:32Z")
> [@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. Kudos for the cojones. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/45 "2010-12-11T18:51:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > …It pisses me off to still see it being reported as a filibuster in the press today. It was not an attempt to block any legislation. It was just some cranky old dude who didn’t want to shut up. I can’t see where that’s any great thing. He has the burden of actually believing something, **John** , and trying to do something about it. Pity him, as you pity the rest of us who are similarly afflicted. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/46 "2010-12-11T19:45:59Z")
Actually it is an attempt to block legislation. He is hoping that he can make people think about what is happening. Then maybe they will write or call the president, their senators and congressmen. He is trying to call attention to the problems and is being successful at that. ---
**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 11, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/47 "2010-12-11T21:10:24Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > We have politicians that don’t do that??? > It pisses me off to still see it being reported as a filibuster in the press today. It was not an attempt to block any legislation. It was just some cranky old dude who didn’t want to shut up. I can’t see where that’s any great thing. Like Barry’s doin’? Most don’t. Most tell one-line lies a shut up. He exagerates his data bur keeps on going. Filibuster shmilibuster. He’s at least not shutting up and that’s more of a real filibuster than what you gringos normally call one. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/48 "2010-12-11T22:09:32Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I want to see a Repub stand up and say he believes billionaires should get tax cuts while the unemployed should be cut adrift. That was something that both Sherrod Brown and Mary Landrieu hit on more than once during their colloquies with Sanders yesterday. They want the person or persons who went into the meeting with Obama and said “millionaires must retain their tax cuts” to name themselves, to have the courage of their convictions to stand up and say “it was me.” I hope they’re not holding their breath. What’s important to note is that this “compromise” deal that Obama worked out is not going to work out to a lower tax rate for everyone. The tax cut from last year, part of the stimulus, was inexplicably not renewed in this deal. That means individuals making less than $20,000 and families making less than $40,000 are going to pay about $400/$800 more in taxes, because the ongoing Bush cut isn’t sufficient to offset the loss of the Obama cut. So here’s what we’ve got: tax cuts for the richest Americans, estate tax cuts for the 6,400 richest of the rich. A “payroll tax holiday” that will do harm to Social Security, which is already under attack from the right again (check Peter Orszag’s latest recommendation, to undercut SS Disability, because those good for nothing cripples don’t need money) and the _lowest income earners will actually pay more_. \*\* Tax breaks for the richest of the rich, tax increases for the lowest bracket.\*\* There were only two things wrong with Bernie’s speech. The first is that it didn’t actually hold up an actual vote on this bullshit compromise, and the second is that only two people joined in. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/49 "2010-12-12T15:21:03Z")
I was glad to see Sanders speaking against the bill, whether he is filibustering or not. As an opponent of the filibuster the only reason I would favor requiring Senators to actually keep talking to oppose cloture is my belief that this would lead to the end of the practice. The Senate doesn’t hold actual filibusters for good reason: when they are going on nothing else can get done. So if they couldn’t get around this the filibuster would be unsustainable. The "nuclear option"would seem less and less extreme. > [@gaffa](#): > > I’m watching the repeat on C-SPAN2. He’s on a tear at the moment about how there has been zero job growth since 1999. ## Not sure if it’s this is the same but when I was watching yesterday he made the claim that there had been no private sector growth since Bush the Younger took office. There are more jobs only because more people are on government payrolls. ---
**Author:** ![notsoheavyd3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85e7bf/32.png) [@notsoheavyd3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notsoheavyd3)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/50 "2010-12-12T16:41:09Z")
I just wonder how he can go that long without a bathroom break. So is it “legal” to use a catheter while doing it? (Of course then you know the guy is serious:) ) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/51 "2010-12-12T16:49:31Z")
Well, I guess that depends… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/52 "2010-12-12T17:01:17Z")
Psycho stalker astronaut diapers! Now that the shuttle program is ending, NASA must have a leftover stock. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693/53 "2010-12-12T21:48:15Z")
Quoth **John Mace** : > [@](#): > > Arguably the most left leaning member of the Senate. Don’t be ridiculous, he’s not running for President. Everyone knows that the most liberal member of the Senate is whoever happens to be the current Democratic candidate for President. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-is-staging-a-filibuster/563693.md?page=2)