Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

GOP Traffic-Jam Ploy Is Snarling Senate

Stalling tactics are making Democrats turn on each other

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 19, 2009 9:43 AM CST

(Newser) – Senate Democrats are starting to turn on each other like angry drivers stuck in rush-hour traffic thanks to Republican obstructionism, writes EJ Dionne. Republican senators are eating every word they once said against filibusterism and are stalling even legislation that they support in a Machiavellian effort to keep the Democrats from reaching the off-ramp, Dionne writes in the Washington Post.

"The extra-constitutional filibuster is being used by the minority, with extraordinary success, to make the majority look foolish, ineffectual, and incompetent," Dionne writes. Moderate Democrats trying to push through their own agendas on the back of Republican stalling tactics on health care and other issues should realize they are making themselves "complicit in this humiliation," Dionne concludes.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (2)]

Republicans "have hit upon what might be called the Beltway-at-Rush-Hour Strategy," writes E.J. Dionne (Shutter Stock)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Practically nobody is noticing their delay-to-kill strategy. Who wants to discuss legislative procedure when there's so much fun and profit in psychoanalyzing Sarah Palin? - E.J. Dionne

Democrats in the Senate—the House is not the problem—need to have a long chat with themselves and decide whether they want to engage in an act of collective suicide. - E.J. Dionne

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

White Grandfather Cuffed for Walking With Black Granddaughter (NewsOne)

Man in Mugshot Explains Why He Has Half a Head (HuffPost)

These Exes Were Spotted Making Out … and That's a Bad Thing (Bleacher Report)

Help! I'm Having an Incestuous Relationship With My Twin (Slate)

Proof that Twitter Users are Sexier Than Facebook Users? (GeekSugar)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 21 comments

speakerfixer

Dec 16, 2009 7:40 AM CST

How about a Supreme Court ruling from 1892... given that the SCOTUS is the official arbiter of the Constitution: " The constitution empowers each house to determine its rules of proceedings. [...] The power to make rules is not one which once exercised is exhausted. It is a continuous power, always subject to be exercised by the house, and, within the limitations suggested, absolute and beyond the challenge of any other body or tribunal. The constitution provides that 'a majority of each [house] shall constitute a quorum to do business.' In other words, when a majority are present the house is in a position to do business. Its capacity to transact business is then established, created by the mere presence of a majority, and does not depend upon the disposition or assent or action of any single [144 U.S. 1, 6] member or fraction of the majority present. All that the constitution requires is the presence of a majority, and when that majority are present the power of the house arises. So, a) the Constitution allows the Senate to make any rules it wants, as long as it meets the simple guidelines mentioned above, and b) the current Senate rules allow for filibuster. How can this be considered extra-constitutional, again?

thejoint00

Nov 20, 2009 2:40 AM CST

even if all of the republicans vote no, they still need democratic votes to stop the bill from coming into effect. as long as there are enough democrats that side against the bill, republicans would be stupid to start a fillabuster. any mentions of such a fillabuster at this time is a scare tactic from the left to blame republicans for the delays during thier democratic super-majority time in congress bridled with thier democratic president.

Derni

Nov 19, 2009 10:03 AM CST

Republicans the top 5-10 % with money-if you're not in that 5-10% and you claim to be a Republican (and inly 20% will admit ti that) then keep voting no and siding with a party that likes the way things are those with and the worker bees..get a vote -get a life

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds Major Cash Inside

Study Finds Arsenic in Baby Formula, Cereal Bars

Washington Post (Source Grid »)

Politics • Health

Congress • Senate • Senate Democrats • Senate Republicans • legislation • filibuster • health care reform

More Newser Stories

GOP: Congress, Prez Must Go On Public Option

If there is one, which we hope there isn't. Good idea, say Dems.

(NEWSER) - In the circus that is the Senate these days, a couple of anti-public-option Republicans—Tom Coburn and David Vitter—rolled out an amendment to the health care bill Friday requiring members of Congress to enroll in any such plan that might come to pass. When Dems didn’t object—Sherrod Brown, Chris Dodd, and Al Franken tried to cosponsor, but were rebuffed—GOP senators upped the ante and added in the president. The amended amendment would extend the mandate to the whole executive branch. More»

GOP Plans Stall Tactics for Health Bill Fight

Opponents hope long debate will force voters to 'understand this thing'

(NEWSER) - Lacking the votes for a filibuster and increasingly resigned to the fact that Democrats will stand united, GOP senators have a novel strategy to stall the health care reform bill: They’re going to stall it however they can. The Democratic plan “is inconsistent with the American people,” says Richard Burr of North Carolina. “So I’m not sure it’s as much about us as it is about making sure that the American people express their deep concern over this.” More»

Don't Use Budget Process for Big Reform: GOP to Obama

Procedure would allow Democrats to pass agenda with 51 votes

(NEWSER) - To circumvent a likely 60-vote minimum in the Senate for big-ticket bills like health reform, President Obama is considering pursuing proposals through a budgetary tactic known as reconciliation, where just 51 votes are needed and no filibustering is allowed. But Republicans are having none of it, Politico reports. Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl warns that using the process would turn Obama’s agenda into a “purely partisan exercise.” More»

27% of Senate Press Releases Taunt Other Side

Professor analyzes writings, finds lots of name calling

(NEWSER) - This could explain why Congress is having such a hard time agreeing on a budget: Its members are too busy taunting one another. A Harvard professor analyzed the writings of Congress members, and found that about 27% of the time, they're just insulting each other. “It’s jarring and surprising,” he tells the Washington Post . "The entire government may go bankrupt, I guess. This week, right? We probably want our representatives to be listening to each other rather than calling each other names." More»

Democrats Defy Reid, Keep Financial Debate Going

They want tougher amendments

(NEWSER) - Harry Reid had to fight with Republicans to begin debate on financial reform, and now he's got to fight fellow Democrats to end it. He called a vote today to move toward final passage ("We've got to put this thing to rest"), only to have Democrats such as Maria Cantwell and Russ Feingold turn against him and block the cloture measure. They want more time to push through their amendments, reports the Wall Street Journal, which has more details on them here . More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

GOP Traffic-Jam Ploy Is Snarling Senate