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Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed May 18, 2005 at 08:33:35 AM EST
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The Senate hearings are live now on C-Span2. Sen. Patrick Leahy is speaking right now. You can watch on the Internet here. Feel free to use the comments to live-blog the action along with your comments.

Sen. Russ Feingold made this statement on the Senate Floor yesterday. Sen. Harry Reid's speech is reproduced here.

Think Progress reports that Republican Senator Bill Frist imploded on the Senate Floor today when Sen. Schumer asked him a simple question about a filibuster he participated in five years ago. TP says Frist's tortured response undermines his entire argument for the nuclear option.

I'll be participating in a small conference call with Sen. Chuck Schumer at 12:10 ET. If you have any suggestions for questions to ask him, you can leave them in the comments.

< Sen. Harry Reid's Filibuster Floor Speech | Conference Call With Sen. Schumer >

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    Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster | 15 comments (15 topical)
    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#1)
    by TChris on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    I love Russ Feingold's statement. It would be great to see the mainstream media print it in full, as it exposes so many Republican lies about the filibuster. Unfortunately, that won't happen as long as a cowed media takes the position that reporting a lie uncritically constitutes objective journalism.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    I can't wait to hear Byrd, the Dean of the Senate, wax poetic about his past filibusters.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    Yep, it ought to be almost as amusing as watching Frist stammer and stutter when confronted with his own past uses.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    While I agree we need help stopping this, Shumer is the kind of pol dems need like a hole in the head. He's part of the larger problem we face. Also, Ed, at least Byrd is man enough to admit he was wrong in the past about social, race, etc., matters. We are a nation run by suits and sycophants, scarcely representing the supposed freedom we live in.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    Thank goodness that most people on this site are familiar with Senate rules. When Think Progress claimed the Chuck Schumer ask Bill Frist a question on the floor of the Senate, that struck me as wrong. We all know that Senators address their comments to the President of the Senate, not other members. And we all know that a vote against closure is not necessarily a vote for a filibuster. It can simply be a vote to extend debate. From the limited information I have so far been able to find, it sounds like Frist held the floor and Schumer interrupted him. I would love to see video! If anyone knows where a video of this confrontation is found, please post a link. In any case, there certainly wasn’t a filibuster of Judge Paez that day, the vote for closure was 85 to 14, with McCain not voting. It sounds like Chuck Schumer is getting desperate.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#6)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    Yeah, look at all that media coverage. It's just like Reagan's funeral.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    We are currently posting videos from today's action on the Senate floor here.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    It was a vote to postpone the vote on Paez - that's a vote for a filibuster. I just heard Schumer say so on a conference call. The point is it undercuts Frist's argument that judicial filibusters are unconstitutional. It shows they are okay when Republicans think they are necessary. [edited for clarity]

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    Please ask Senator Schumer if Senator Frist said this in response to his question. A friend of mine listened to the tape and said he did not hear it. Did the Frist quote happen at another time?

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    TL, with all due respect, the cloture vote is the only March 8, 2000 vote on Judge Paez. On March 9, there are two votes, one to postpone and one to confirm, and Judge Paez was confirmed. Perhaps Schumer or Think Progress has the date wrong.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    Brian, Thanks for the link. I didn't see the Schumer/Frist video. I hope you get it up soon.

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:11 PM EST
    Exactly, Soldier. Your link shows what Sen. Schumer said. Sen. Frist voted to indefinitely postpone a vote on Judge Paez. Frist lost. The Judge was confirmed. What is Schumer missing?
    Question: On the Motion to Postpone (To indefinitely postpone the nomination of Richard A. Paez ) Vote Number: 39 Vote Date: March 9, 2000, 02:48 PM Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Motion to Postpone Rejected
    cloture:
    The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:12 PM EST
    Talkleft, To pass, a vote to postpone would require a majority of the voting Senators to vote for it. How can Senator Schumer concider that a vote to filibuster?

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:12 PM EST
    Soldier, I think that the vote you linked to is a vote to postpone the vote on a Democratic judge and keep debating so the Judge doesn't get voted on and confirmed. I think that's the same as a filibuster. The motion, which Frist voted for, didn't carry and the judge was confirmed. I read it pretty fast, but that's my sense. How is it wrong?

    Re: Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:12 PM EST
    How is it wrong? Doesn't fit with Soldier's world view.

    Democratic Senators Speak to the Filibuster | 15 comments (15 topical)