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July 23, 2007
Graphic of the Day
Via Matt, McClatchey Newspapers notes the GOP's absurdly frequent filibusters, though my understanding, as a member of the DC media, was that filibusters mounted by the Republican Party aren't actually filibusters at all, but mere exhibitions of Harry Reid's procedural incompetence. In any case, Jeeves! Bring us a graphic!
One dynamic enabling the GOP's continued heroic illumination of the Democratic Party's parliamentary weakness is that Reid rarely actually forces filibusters. He instead looks for a vote on cloture, loses it, and moves on. In this way, he's apparently made a conscious decision not to allow the GOP's obstructionism to actually appear obstructionist -- after all, nothing they do is really halting the Senate's business. Rather, he's apparently bought into the "you need 60 votes to get 51" concept, and is actually running the Senate as if that's true, rather than a procedural trick that has a public downside when exposed.
July 23, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
I'm confused/curious. You don't need 60 votes in the senate? Someone please explain
Posted by: phil | Jul 23, 2007 11:52:10 AM
"he's apparently bought into the "you need 60 votes to get 51" concept,"
I've read elsewhere that Senate Rules currently do not actually give him a ready opening to force an actual filibuster. I've never heard a good explanation, but, maybe, the rules no longer make it as easy as it might seem to make the Republicans talk or vote.
Posted by: Bruce Wilder | Jul 23, 2007 11:59:43 AM
for what its worth I've heard Reid was a master at parlimentary tactics
Posted by: phil | Jul 23, 2007 12:15:39 PM
I've been baffled by this too. If there really is a reason Reid can't force an actual filibuster, he and the other Dems should make it explicit. And boy, do I wish the "Gang of 14" had just let the filibuster die....
Posted by: beckya57 | Jul 23, 2007 12:56:56 PM
Also, the left blogosphere needs to keep giving McClatchy love for acting like an actual news organization, in marked contrast to their MSM peers.
Posted by: beckya57 | Jul 23, 2007 12:58:05 PM
In defense of Reid (reluctantly), the fillibuster is so tilted in favor of the minority that it is understandable why he has chosen not to force them. Painting the R's as obstructionists is not a quick victory like the D base wants, but forcing R's to fillibuster would not only be ineffective, it would probably create major problems among the D senators forced to spend endless nights on the fllor while watching the minority party jump in and out.
Posted by: Alex | Jul 23, 2007 7:46:00 PM
