“This is a perversion of the filibuster and a perversion of the role of the Senate,” “It used to be that the filibuster was reserved for matters of great principle. Today it has become a way to play out the clock.” - Sen. Al Franken.
“…the filibuster should be there, just as the Founders intended.”
Eric Erickson managing editor of RedState.com, the largest online community of conservative activists.
James Carville responded: Uuuuh, I don’t think the Founders had anything to say about the filibuster. I am not a constitutional scholar but I don’t think it’s in the constitution. I think it’s a Senate rule.
via CNN
“Any Republican who wants to filibuster now should be required to stand up and read aloud from Twilight.”
Sen. Gregg (R-NH) attacks Dems for Obstruction: 2006
Yesterday, the Huffington Post obtained a copy of a memo authored by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) outlining exactly how Senate Republicans can kill health reform using various parliamentary tactics… continue reading… think progress
New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg today circulated to his Republican colleagues a detailed guide to parliamentary procedures aimed at delaying the passage of health care legislation.
….They include such procedural rights as demanding a new legislative day and “hard” quorum calls: “If a quorum is not present, the only motions the leadership may make are to adjourn, to recess under a previous order, or time-consuming motions to establish a quorum that include requesting, requiring, and then arresting Senators to compel their presence in the Senate chamber,” says the document from Gregg, considered a leading GOP parliamentary strategist.
The document also suggests tactics such as forcing the reading of legislation in its entirety, and reminds senators of the right to offer “unlimited number of amendments — germane or non-germane — on any subject.” - politico
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“I think that [Lieberman] is a very complicated guy,” said Dean. “He does [confuse me] because he says he’s a principled guy but there’s nothing principled about holding up a bill… If he was a principled guy he’d resign his chairmanship.”
“If you are with a caucus you don’t owe the leader any vote on any substance,” Dean added. “I have no problem with him voting against the public option… You owe it to Harry Reid to allow him to run the Senate. And if you’re not willing to do that the proper thing to do is to step aside.”
