# McConnell whines about filibuster reform. That he brought about. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 6, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205 "2012-12-06T17:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/1 "2012-12-06T17:42:03Z")
Ried was an idiot to trust Mitch when Mitch claimed the filibuster wouldn’t be abused. But they made a handshake deal. And it lasted about a month. I don’t understand how Mitch can complain here. Hey asshat. You had it coming. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/2 "2012-12-06T17:50:58Z")
Obama had better watch out. Tippy Turtle might start obstructing legislation. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/3 "2012-12-06T18:02:04Z")
Am I the only one who didn’t realize they had gotten rid of “talking” filibusters until Jon Stewart mentioned it? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/4 "2012-12-06T18:21:06Z")
I suppose the biggest abuser is Jim DeMint. Maybe Mitch can claim to Harry that he encouraged him to leave the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/5 "2012-12-06T20:48:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Am I the only one who didn’t realize they had gotten rid of “talking” filibusters until Jon Stewart mentioned it? Even in the 1950s and 1960s, when Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd did their record-breaking filibustering, the talking part was optional. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/6 "2012-12-06T23:36:43Z")
Yeah, but you actually had to _be_ there. In related news, McConnell is currently [filibustering his own bill](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/06/democrats-watch-in-awe-as-mcconnell-filibusters-himself/). ---
**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 7, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/7 "2012-12-07T00:28:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Am I the only one who didn’t realize they had gotten rid of “talking” filibusters until Jon Stewart mentioned it? Maybe. Am I the omly person who doesn’t know what the OP is talking about ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/8 "2012-12-07T00:35:53Z")
McConnell got Reid to agree to retain the existing filibuster rules at the beginning of last session by promising to restrain his caucus. Then he didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/9 "2012-12-07T02:31:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yeah, but you actually had to _be_ there. > > In related news, McConnell is currently [filibustering his own bill](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/06/democrats-watch-in-awe-as-mcconnell-filibusters-himself/). Gawd, what a great headline! > [@](#): > > Democrats watch in awe as McConnell filibusters himself 😃 ---
**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 7, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/10 "2012-12-07T02:38:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > McConnell got Reid to agree to retain the existing filibuster rules at the beginning of last session by promising to restrain his caucus. Then he didn’t. Maybe I’m being too literal, but what “reform” did McConnell “bring about” (per the thread title)? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/11 "2012-12-07T02:42:44Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Maybe I’m being too literal, but what “reform” did McConnell “bring about” (per the thread title)? Reid has said he will do changes to the filibuster at the beginning of the next senate. [http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/filibuster-reform-democrats-talking.php](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/filibuster-reform-democrats-talking.php) Not getting rid of it, but forcing it to have the Jimmy-Stewart Talking part. ---
**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 7, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/12 "2012-12-07T02:46:43Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Reid has said he will do changes to the filibuster at the beginning of the next senate. > > [http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/filibuster-reform-democrats-talking.php](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/filibuster-reform-democrats-talking.php) > > Not getting rid of it, but forcing it to have the Jimmy-Stewart Talking part. Oh, OK. So McConnell “brought about” this change because he went back on his promise to use the filibuster sparingly. I was thinking there was some specific reform that McConnell “brought about” that he now was bitching about. Anyway, Reid is blowing smoke. He’s not going to change anything. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/13 "2012-12-07T02:48:20Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Oh, OK. So McConnell “brought about” this change because he went back on his promise to use the filibuster sparingly. I was thinking there was some specific reform that McConnell “brought about” that he now was bitching about. > > Anyway, Reid is blowing smoke. He’s not going to change anything. Ah. I’ll bet you one shame-token that he will. 😃 Wishful thinking, but Reid has been feisty of late. ---
**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 7, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/14 "2012-12-07T02:50:22Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Ah. I’ll bet you one shame-token that he will. 😃 > > Wishful thinking, but Reid has been feisty of late. One shame token it is! This is all Kabuki at this point, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/15 "2012-12-07T04:03:05Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yeah, but you actually had to _be_ there. > > In related news, McConnell is currently [filibustering his own bill](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/06/democrats-watch-in-awe-as-mcconnell-filibusters-himself/). This is one of the most comical things I have ever seen. McTurtle is becoming more of a buffoon every day. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/16 "2012-12-07T07:46:50Z")
I saw something like this before. It was a Jim Carrey movie. I remember he was punching himself in the face and slamming his head with a toilet seat. Do Republican voters in his state actually approve of turtle boy’s own-face-punching antics? These are the sorts of turds that get stuck in the Congressional colon, and every once in a while you badly need a good dose of fiber. That fiber comes in the form of a vote, and sometimes a guy has been in power so long and the party doesn’t want to lose the seat, the primaries are a mere formality at this point. This guy votes in favor of oil companies 100% of the time. He’s got they money and the connections to stay put. It’s clear who he represents, and it’s not the interests of the United States. He’s badly in need of an oily discharge. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/17 "2012-12-07T08:42:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In related news, McConnell is currently [filibustering his own bill](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/06/democrats-watch-in-awe-as-mcconnell-filibusters-himself/). > [@Askthepizzaguy](#): > > I saw something like this before. It was a Jim Carrey movie. I remember he was punching himself in the face and slamming his head with a toilet seat. > > Do Republican voters in his state actually approve of turtle boy’s own-face-punching antics? At this rate we may end up being rid of the Republicans when they hold a violent uprising in which they beat themselves to death. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/18 "2012-12-07T09:21:33Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In related news, McConnell is currently [filibustering his own bill](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/06/democrats-watch-in-awe-as-mcconnell-filibusters-himself/). Great. So he’s outed himself as a troll. Apparently he called for a vote that would allow the President to raise the debt ceiling, so that we could avoid another Republican induced economic crisis. For some reason he thought the Dems wouldn’t support it. But they did. So he didn’t, _and insisted that no vote take place_ via filibuster. That’s how much he opposed his own proposal. This isn’t entirely unprecedented. In Jan 2011 obstructionist Republicans voted against bills _that they themselves had sponsored_. Only a modern conservative could support this party of clowns. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013101837.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013101837.html) > [@](#): > > Here, for example, is what McConnell had to say last May: > > “We must address the issue of entitlement spending now before it is too late. As I have said many times before, the best way to address the crisis is the Conrad-Gregg proposal, which would provide an expedited pathway for fixing these profound long-term challenges. This plan would force us to get debt and spending under control. It deserves support from both sides of the aisle.” > > As I have said many times before, the best way to address the crisis is the Conrad-Gregg proposal. > > And then, last Tuesday, he voted against it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/19 "2012-12-07T11:49:15Z")
Well, that was before the other guy got re-elected. Otherwise he would have been perfectly happy to hand more power to a Republican president. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcconnell-whines-about-filibuster-reform-that-he-brought-about/643205/20 "2012-12-07T12:18:01Z")
“Hey, Mitch. Go filibuster yourself.” I wish, I _deeply_ wish, that becomes someone’s campaign slogan.