Have the Republicans fillibustered yet? I keep hearing a lot of hoopla about fillibusters - even comments from Obama - but I haven't heard of them actually doing it yet. Maybe I don't watch the news enough.........

No they haven't. They're threatening to filibuster.

So the Democrats are threatening to bypass them with "reconciliation" because the Republicans are threatening to filibuster.

Of course, with all of the sound and fury, there are some essential facts that are not being reported:

1) If all of the Democrats were on board with health care "reform," reconciliation would have already happened.

2) Democrats are always able to peel-off one liberal self-lothing Republicans (Olympia Snowe comes to mind) to vote to screw over his or her countrymen.

3) The rule of law has never stopped Democrats in the past from doing whatever they want.

This is all a smokescreen to try and blame Republicans for holding up health care "reform," and it is backfiring badly. Seeing what's been passed already, a majority of the population doesn't want it, and the Democrats know this. All of this posturing is to cover-up the fact that it is a large number of Democrats who see all of this reform as toxic to their re-election chances.

Thanks Potts - just checking. I listened to NPR this morning on the way to work and they talked like the Republicans were holding up everything with a fillibuster. Yet, it's the first I had heard of it.

Just wanted to make sure I hadn't fallen asleep and missed "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" ..........

How long has it been since there has been an actual filibuster? I think now there is some sort of mechanism where they just threaten a filbuster but don't actually have to stand there talking for hours on end, though I'm not totally sure.

3. Author: chiefburg Date: 02/22/2010 11:02 AM Reply

Thanks Potts - just checking. I listened to NPR this morning on the way to work and they talked like the Republicans were holding up everything with a fillibuster. Yet, it’s the first I had heard of it.

Just wanted to make sure I hadn’t fallen asleep and missed "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" ..........

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Up until Scott Brown was elected, Democrats could have passed a law that legislated that the sky needed to be pink, and it would have passed both houses and been signed into law, without fear of Republican "obstructionism." They have that much control of Congress.

But it is much easier to blame people who literally have no say or control over legislation being discussed than it is to admit that members of your own party are not in lock-step with their Fascist party leaders.

As far as Democrats peeling off a liberal Republican to get their agenda passed, this happened with Snowe not too long ago: she was the lone Republican that voted to move the health care "reform" bill out of committee. And, lest we forget the "maverick" John McCain, who made f**king his own party almost ritualistic.

Democrats own this entire debachle. All of the Republican "obstruction" talk is generated spin by the Democrat diehards to keep the kook-liberal base from voting for the Green Party in the next election cycle.

No different than when the Repubbies were in power - threat of a fillibuster brings things to a halt. It w/b good to see them actually have to do a real one!

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1967034,00.html?xid=newsletter-daily 

c3s

^ I agree. Why don't we just see if they will fillibuster rather than use it as an excuse. Then we can clearly point the finger. In the interim, it's purely speculation.....

6. Author: Cereal City Cigar Smoker Date: 02/22/2010 12:12 PM Reply

No different than when the Repubbies were in power - threat of a fillibuster brings things to a halt. It w/b good to see them actually have to do a real one!

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No politician these days is going to *do* a filibuster. It requires several people of a specific party to have a backbone, and actually be dedicated to a specific cause.

Ergo, the constant threats.

#4 I think now all they have to is use the word and it goes into effect. I think they should have to stand and talk as in old days for a filibuster.