No, the problem is the “virtual” filibuster. If the minority party had to actually filibuster every time they threatened to, they would be far less likely to threaten them and more likely to work things out.
What do you mean “virtual”? Seemed pretty meat-space, real life from here. Is he playing World of Statecraft Online?
That’s kind of short-sighted. It’s the caving in to the threat of a filibuster that is the problem. If a Senator has the determination and energy to yammer on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on until either the opposition gives up or his own party agrees to shut him up, that’s fair Senate procedure as enshrined for centuries. But giving in to the threat of a filibuster is cowardice; make 'em do it.
And not only did he actually do the talking, he talked about his reasons for opposing the bill. Which is the very essence of the filibuster’s purpose.
One good thing about this shit sand which. For some time now, the meme of the Republicans serving the rich has gotten threadbare, its joined a pantheon of clichéd symbolism, the kind of thing some talking heads feel at ease with dismissing, like its just a disturbin’ legend.
But its not, and never was, it is one of those rare clichés that earn their status on merit. And this makes that all the much clearer. No, we aren’t kidding, they really do suck Satan’s scaly dick.
What I want to see happen is for them to made to publicly defend it, talk out loud about it, try and give us a rationale for the stupid. Or see Michelle Bachmann weep in sympathy with the poor uptrodden rich folks. A clod with a silver whining. So to speak.
Procedural filibusters allow you to point a finger and say I filibuster. When the Repubs say they want to filibuster the tax bill in favor of the rich, they should put their face up in front of the people and let everyone know who they are. That is the way it should be. Bernie is doing the right thing.
I nominate Bernie Sanders for the Jimmy Stewart award for best dramatic use of the Senate floor. It doesn’t change the fact that no Democrat or Republican has the guts to stand up and defend the principles they claim they have. Bravo Bernie!
I love Bernie. He has cracked me up for years. He was cool when I met him too.
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.
I’m 100% on your side of this debate, so hate to quibble, but “centuries” implies at least 200 years. According to Wikipedia:
1 mile and 1 inch can be called ‘miles’. Anything over 100 years can be called ‘centuries’. This is according to an eminent judge in the film ‘Used Cars’. Your quibble is denied.
Where the hell are the TeaPartisans in all of this, anyway? How come I don’t see any talking heads intoning serious reports about the Tea Party’s fervent and determined position on this? For months, they couldn’t keep their mouths shut, now all of a sudden they don’t give a shit?
Dude, they were just Republicans.
And Racer-X is really Speed’s brother.
They often mention that TEA is an acronym for Taxed Enough Already; so long as (a) the proposed compromise doesn’t raise their taxes in this transaction, and (b) the Republicans are talking up their enthusiastic willingness to stop everything else until that compromise is passed by the lame-duck legislature, before the '10 winners take office – er, what more do you expect them to say?
It’s like you’re reading a murder mystery and wondering why the detective stopped talking upon revealing the killer’s identity to the brawny men from Scotland Yard.
Awesome. I look forward to listening to this (in pieces) over the next few days.
Just another reason why Bernie gets my vote.
Of course this is a rhetorical question. The Tea Partiers were playing a game with the voters, and they won. I expect 95% of them to do nothing but vote in lock-step with the Republican caucus, while throwing out enraged sound bites to the masses.
But, maybe one or two of them will be like Bernie.
If he really said that, then he’s a liar. I take back my “kudos”.
Well, I expect them to stand up and chastize the Republicans for telling us all that they “heard the American people” and then adding $900b to the deficit. By the way they really only heard about 30% of the American people. Have any of you listented to what Sanders is saying? Suggest you do so. While he’s a little too far to the left for me, he’s highlighting a lot of points that we should consider carefully. One in particular that struck home with me were his stats on the outsourcing of jobs (which according to Sanders is the philosophy of American business, especial the Chamer of Commerce. Yet when they’re in trouble they turn to the US taxpayer to bail them out and then use the money to send our jobs overseas. So here the Republicans are, giving them a continuing break so they can continue doing it to us forever, while they tell us the tax break for the rich is necessary so they can create jobs. Yep, Chinese jobs!
I’ll be checking to see if his staff posts supporting documentation on his web site. He had staffers feeding him a constant stream of books, reports and stand-up posters. I’d like to find out when CSpan2 plans to start airing a repeat so I can record it.
I’ve seen the same thing several places, here’s the first hit from google. I guess you can quibble that he should’ve said “net job growth” (assuming he didn’t) though I think thats implied.
Urgh…Bachmann weeping, evokes Tammy Faye. I recoil in horror. shudder
At any rate, you are aware of how she actually handled this, right?
Teh stoopid, it burns.