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Stand Up and Shut Down the GOP Obstruction Machine by Demanding Filibuster Reform
Old Mitch McConnell had a plan in his failed attempt to make Barack Obama a one-term president. Here a filibuster, there a filibuster, everywhere a filibuster in the name of obstructing the Senate’s business to make Obama a one-term president.
Filibuster usage used to mean that those seeking to filibuster actually had to be in the legislative body, speaking endlessly in the name of preventing a vote, seeking to add amendments to a proposed legislation or simply extending debate. Under the current rules, one can call it in without any personal inconveniences, such as having to be in the Senate, or talking non-stop, a la Jimmy Stewart in “Mr. Smith goes to Washington.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with support from President Obama wants the filibuster to return to the days of Mr. Smith. According to Huffington Post/YouGov poll, the people are all for filibuster reform.
THE HUFFPOST/YOUGOV POLL
Should senators who filibuster a bill need to participate in debate for the entire filibuster, or should they be able to filibuster a bill without being physically present?
Naturally, Mitch McConnell opposes the rule changes because, “The American people sent us here to be their voice. They understand that those voices can at times become loud and argumentative, but they also hope we can disagree without being disagreeable.”
McConnell continued,
What they do not expect is for one party, be it Republican or Democrat, to change the rules in the middle of the game so they can make all the decisions while the other party is told to sit down and keep quiet. The American people want less partisanship in this town, but everyone in this chamber knows that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster, if they choose to change the rules and put an end to democratic debate, then the fighting, the bitterness and the gridlock will only get worse.
Mr. McConnell, 65 percent of Americans believe senators should “participate in debate for the entire filibuster,” so you can rest assured that filibuster reform is not about suppressing your voice or those of the people you purport to represent. We want you to speak all the way through the filibuster. Speak all you want, whether it’s the phone book, the bible, or Grover Norquist’s pledge. The point is if you want a filibuster you must speak, which is the polar opposite of being told to sit down and keep quiet.
If you are going to stop the nation’s business, you better have a reason beyond partisan gamesmanship and you better be prepared to participate in the filibuster that you wanted.
Seventy-nine per cent of American voters want those who call for filibuster to be present and participate in the filibuster debate, vs. calling a stop to the nation’s business on everything from important legislation like the Dream Act, to routine of the Senate’s business. since some of those voters voted for Republican senators, there is room to suggest that perhaps they feel it is more an affront to them to stall the nation’s business for partisan reasons.
In a desperate attempt to oppose the rule change, McConnell actually tried to argue that a rule requiring participation in a filibuster debate is about silencing voices, notwithstanding the fact that his abuse of the filibuster had that very effect.
Let’s be clear: The rules change that’s being proposed is not an affront to me or to the Republican Party. It’s an affront to the American people,” McConnell said. “It’s an affront to the people who sent me and the other 46 Republicans here to represent them in the Senate, but whose voices would be shut out if the majority leader and this cohort of short-sighted Senate sophomores have their way and permanently change this body.
Seriously? How does requiring those who want a filibuster to speak silence them? More to the point, with 79% of voters favoring reform, people who voted for McConnell and the other 46 Republicans want them to put their mouth where their filibuster is. If anything is an affront to the people, it the Republican desire to bring the nation’s business to a screeching halt without putting any effort in to defend or justify their actions.
It’s worth noting that voting Americans support continued use of the filibuster, but not the abuse we have witness for years. These rule changes have everything to do with a reasonable expectation that if you are going to call for a filibuster, then perhaps you should be present and participating during the debate.
You can sign the petition to support filibuster reform here.
Image from The New Mexico Independent
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13 Responses to Stand Up and Shut Down the GOP Obstruction Machine by Demanding Filibuster Reform
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Jeff
Nov. 30th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the GOP push through the changes in the filibuster? They must think we’re stoopid not to remember these things. Or maybe they just hope we weren’t watching.
Reynardine
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 7:21 am
When they were in the majority, they threatened to abolish it. Their principles are very simple: only they get to have their way.
C.
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 12:59 am
Okay, I think I hate the republican party now more than I ever have. They are SAD and disgusting. And I used to be one!
Reynardine
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 7:19 am
Signed. Sign.
alice
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 7:49 am
throw all gop out of office speaker of the house mitch mcconell insane mccain really suck mitch got throw out the army for grab some officer penis
Anne
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 8:42 am
The only groups of people I have hated even more deeply than I have come to despise the Republican party are the KKK and the Nazis, along with the fake Christians who aid and abet the GOP in its destructive endeavors. Their notion of “compromise” is having the Democrats capitulate to them with no give on their part. Even though they suffered humiliating defeats, they are so stuck on stupid that they simply cannot get out of their own way. Unfortunately, they are in a position to negatively impact the lives of millions of Americans. By the time 2014 rolls around, they will have done even more damage than the significant amount they have already done. So, they need their feet to be held to the fire with no compromise.
Alex
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 11:16 am
We the People must bombard the GOP with emails, letters, and phone calls. Perhaps marching on Washington and chanting all of you ‘Obstructionists’ are fired is long over due.
Robert Chapman
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Many thanks to Adalia Woodbury for this fine article.
Ms. Woodbury has produced an excellent piece that provides exactly the right remedy for the abuse of the filibuster privilege US Senate rules afford its members.
They (Senators) should participate in debate for the entire filibuster
They (Senators) should be able to filibuster without being physically present
In addition to adding a cost in terms of time and physical presence to the invocation of a filibuster, Ms. Woodbury’s reforms add the concept of ACCOUNTABILITY to the rule.
If a learned Senator wants to block a vote under the current rule, a mere threat of filibuster in camera is sufficient.
Under this reform, the Senator would have to rise before the entire Senate, maintain the floor and physically stop the important business of the Senate from proceeding.
Unquestionably, there are recalcitrant extremists among the Senators who would stop the business of the Senate as a gesture of defiance to this rule change.
But the instant reactions of abhorrance to this behavior and long-lasting obloquy which would then adhere to the Senator’s reputation would mean that such demonstrations would be very few.
Without such a reform action the Senate’s reputation will suffer a sharp decline as the hollowness of its deliberatory procedures becomes ever more risible.
The US Senate can only enhance its reputation as the world’s greatest deliberative body by passing this filibuster rule reform and permitting deliberations to actually occur on the vital issues which come before it for consideration.
Alan
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 1:14 pm
The other thing that needs to happen is reforming or eliminating the “hold” rule, where a single Senator can indefinitely block action on a bill or nomination without even showing his face publicly. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma is particularly notorious for this.
Either eliminate the rule altogether, or limit the length of a hold and require the holding Senator to publicly state his reasons for the hold.
Reynardine
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Indeed, that is an excellent idea.
Elizabeth
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 7:06 pm
AMEN!!! The idea that one Senator can secretly hold up the entire Congress is totally undemocratic.
carver
Dec. 1st, 2012 at 5:37 pm
The Senate, by its very constitution, is the least democratic body of the entire government – principally the unequal representation of Senators. The 2 Senators from Wyoming represent around 250,000 each while the 2 Senators from New York or California represent millions. This is only amplified by the insane Senate rules that allow a small group or a single individual to prevent any legislation from ever getting a vote – EVEN when the majority approves the legislation. That’s not a system that promotes the public interest – it’s, at best, bad Kabuki theater.
ibwilliamsi
Dec. 2nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
How can filibuster reform be silencing their voices if they’re not required to speak during a filibuster?