What happened to the Senate's "60-vote requirement"?

voodoo · 11-09-2007, 12:59 PM

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwa...ter/index.html

If you've been wondering if the Democrats in congress are serving as opposition to the unhinged administration wonder no more!

Quote:

The so-called "60-vote requirement" applies only when it is time to do something to limit the Bush administration. It is merely the excuse Senate Democrats use to explain away their chronic failure/unwillingness to limit the President, and it is what the media uses to depict the GOP filibuster as something normal and benign. There obviously is no "60-vote requirement" when it comes to having the Senate comply with the President's demands, as the 53-vote confirmation of Michael Mukasey amply demonstrates. But as Mukasey is sworn in as the highest law enforcement officer in America, the Democrats want you to know that they most certainly did stand firm and "registered their displeasure."

Is this how it works? Has it always been that way Jdanton? Why are informed citizens not up in arms?

Purge the whole lot of them. This is a serious usurpation of the constitution.

kblair7 · 11-09-2007, 01:19 PM

If you want to know about the senate procedures you can go to the constitution for the most basic information, however this site explains:

http://www.senate.gov/reference/refe...cedure_vrd.htm
This is a link to senate procedure

here is a link to the constitution online, its all here:
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

TrueBlueAmerican · 11-09-2007, 02:20 PM

If we had a multi party system, there would have already been at least one party that would pop up to the left of the democratic party to take a stand against torture.. These fucking democrats are never going to do anything until you threaten their votes. If you are against torture, and the democratic party does not stand up to torture, where the fuck else are you going to go? In an MP system you go to the anti-torture party! Suck away the votes of the main party and force them to make concessions or lose the next election. Form enough coalitions of issue parties and make the main party completely irrelevant.

jdanton · 11-09-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwa...ter/index.html

If you've been wondering if the Democrats in congress are serving as opposition to the unhinged administration wonder no more!

Is this how it works? Has it always been that way Jdanton? Why are informed citizens not up in arms?

Purge the whole lot of them. This is a serious usurpation of the constitution.

When you're right, you're right.

They could have prevented this from coming to a vote, and they should have.

Whatever this man does as AG in now the dem's responsibility. They confirmed him.

Had he not been confirmed and a Bush temporary appointment held the office for the next year, no matter what he did, he was Bush's responsibility.

This bothers me more than confirming Condi did.

CosmicRocker · 11-09-2007, 03:57 PM

I think it'd thr fact that 60 votes are reqired to invoke Cloture - shutting off debate, and calling for an eventual vote.

If you don't get the 60, then a filibuster is possible..

And it's different from the House, because the Senators are supposed to be collegial, so some of this stuff seems weird, so not all Parlimentary proccedures are always invoked.

CosmicRocker · 11-09-2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdanton

When you're right, you're right.

They could have prevented this from coming to a vote, and they should have.

Whatever this man does as AG in now the dem's responsibility. They confirmed him.

Had he not been confirmed and a Bush temporary appointment held the office for the next year, no matter what he did, he was Bush's responsibility.

This bothers me more than confirming Condi did.

Ya. But Justice is a mess, lots of vacancies, and they really needed an AG to stabilze the place..

He's just a figurehead, and noting would different in terms of policies, whether he was confirmed or not.

voodoo · 11-09-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicRocker

I think it'd thr fact that 60 votes are reqired to invoke Cloture - shutting off debate, and calling for an eventual vote.

If you don't get the 60, then a filibuster is possible..

And it's different from the House, because the Senators are supposed to be collegial, so some of this stuff seems weird, so not all Parlimentary proccedures are always invoked.

Make sure you read the article ... did you see the part where this rule is excercised only when it benefits the WH?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicRocker

Ya. But Justice is a mess, lots of vacancies, and they really needed an AG to stabilze the place..

He's just a figurehead, and noting would different in terms of policies, whether he was confirmed or not.

To me you miss an important point. The prez has committed torture. Our brand new AG won't hold the prez accountable to the law.

That was a given. What was not is the Dems aquiesence. So we have no accountability as usual and our congress tacitly condones torture.

Dianekkdi · 11-09-2007, 07:25 PM

I am so very reassured in the expressions of 'displeasure.'

Woohoo.

Just think...maybe tomorrow we'll get an 'apology' for their error in judgement.

So much to look forward to.

jdanton · 11-09-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo

Make sure you read the article ... did you see the part where this rule is excercised only when it benefits the WH?

To me you miss an important point. The prez has committed torture. Our brand new AG won't hold the prez accountable to the law.

That was a given. What was not is the Dems aquiesence. So we have no accountability as usual and our congress tacitly condones torture.

I agree to a point. Had this nominee not passed, it is extremely unlikely Bush would put up another. He'd just make a recess appointment, who would also not hold Bush accountable.

The dems, I think, would have been on higher ground by not confirming.

I suppose, down the road, the AG can be held accountable. Probably won't be, but I can hope.

11-09-2007, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
kblair7 Totally Conscienceless Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 639 My Mood: Thanks: 20 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If you want to know about the senate procedures you can go to the constitution for the most basic information, however this site explains: http://www.senate.gov/reference/refe...cedure_vrd.htm This is a link to senate procedure here is a link to the constitution online, its all here: http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html Last edited by kblair7; 11-09-2007 at 01:21 PM.
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11-09-2007, 02:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
TrueBlueAmerican Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,145 Thanks: 27 Thanked 30 Times in 21 Posts	If we had a multi party system, there would have already been at least one party that would pop up to the left of the democratic party to take a stand against torture.. These fucking democrats are never going to do anything until you threaten their votes. If you are against torture, and the democratic party does not stand up to torture, where the fuck else are you going to go? In an MP system you go to the anti-torture party! Suck away the votes of the main party and force them to make concessions or lose the next election. Form enough coalitions of issue parties and make the main party completely irrelevant. Last edited by TrueBlueAmerican; 11-09-2007 at 02:24 PM.
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11-09-2007, 03:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
CosmicRocker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: lost in a lost world Posts: 7,660 My Mood: Thanks: 126 Thanked 96 Times in 76 Posts	I think it'd thr fact that 60 votes are reqired to invoke Cloture - shutting off debate, and calling for an eventual vote. If you don't get the 60, then a filibuster is possible.. And it's different from the House, because the Senators are supposed to be collegial, so some of this stuff seems weird, so not all Parlimentary proccedures are always invoked. __________________ Try a little love. and it cant go wrong Get on the right thing My little love, you cant go wrong Get on the right thing .
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11-09-2007, 07:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dianekkdi Truth, Justice & ... Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: A place between yesterday and tomorrow Posts: 645 Blog Entries: 6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts	I am so very reassured in the expressions of 'displeasure.' Woohoo. Just think...maybe tomorrow we'll get an 'apology' for their error in judgement. So much to look forward to. __________________ ---------------------- Reinvestigate 9/11 Impeach......Prosecute......Imprison "...The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed...." --Thomas Jefferson
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