A Filibuster Without Action is Not a Threat

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Saturday November 28, 2009 · 1:43 PM PST

2009/11/28 · 13:43

I can't help but wonder how the filibuster has been reduced to a threat. The mere mention of the filibuster in today's Senate is enough to automatically raise the threshold for bill passage to 60 votes. Why are Republicans' feet not held to the fire when they threaten a filibuster? Where's the cry of bullshit on this con? Why are they not paraded, one by one, for days at a time into the Senate chamber to endlessly recite recipes (a la The West Wing), or the Bible, or whatever the hell else they care to read? At the very least, this would provide endless hours of visual evidence of obstructionism---evidence which can then be used in election time advertisements for moderate republicans and obstructionist democrats.
Promises should be fulfilled, and threats are meaningless without consequences. I believe in the filibuster. It is a necessary tool to prevent tyranny by majority fiat; however, it requires either putting your money where your mouth is, or shutting the hell up. The Democrats' unwillingness to force action on Republican (or other useless would be Democrats--I'm talking to you Droopy Dog) filibuster threats allows OUR agenda to be hijacked using simple words.

Lindsey Graham Can Kiss my a$%!

MITPeriodic

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Thursday June 12, 2008 · 5:14 PM PDT

2008/06/12 · 17:14

Below is the direct release from Sen. Lindsey Graham's office regarding the small beam of sanity penetrating SCOTUS these days.

Poll

34 votes Show Results

Can Lindsey Graham Kiss Your Ass?

34 votes Vote Now!

Can Lindsey Graham Kiss Your Ass?

YES! I look forward to the smooch

23 votes

Yes! I look forward to the smooch in a "manly" (i.e. not quite comfortable with my sexuality yet) way

4 votes

No! I think that people who love to play with toys that blow things up and send people to their deaths like their sockpuppets should decide who lives and dies

7 votes

My letter to President-to-be Obama

MITPeriodic

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Thursday June 05, 2008 · 7:27 AM PDT

2008/06/05 · 07:27

I am hoping everyone is writing to Senator Obama's website and encouraging him not to bow to political pressure by selecting Hillary as his running mate. I have done just that, and my letter is below the fold.

MITPeriodic

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Friday April 04, 2008 · 1:44 PM PDT

2008/04/04 · 13:44

I am a UC Berkeley graduate, 2005 in physics to be precise, and yesterday I submitted a letter to CAL's chancellor asking for the termination of John Yoo's appointment. The text of this letter is below the fold, but first I would like to respond to a point raised in today's diary Defending John Yoo. As the author is also a Berkeley graduate and fellow Kossack:

Poll

29 votes Show Results

What is worthy of losing your tenure?

29 votes Vote Now!

What is worthy of losing your tenure?

Not playing well with others

0 votes

Having dissonant viewpoints, such as "global climate change is a liberal hoax"

1 vote

Being outspoken and issuing opinions which don't directly involve the torture and murder of human beings

0 votes

Helping to transform a democracy into a fascist state by constructing the legal framework by which the President can torture and murder anyone he damn well pleases for anything

28 votes

My letter to the Super Delegates

MITPeriodic

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Sunday February 17, 2008 · 11:48 AM PST

2008/02/17 · 11:48

Today I've done what I hope many of you have already, taken advantage of the opportunity to send a message to the democratic super delegates requesting they respect the People's will. There is a link on Obama's website, and hopefully Hillary has one as well, (although I suspect she's not as keen on having the majority voice determine the outcome). Everyone in this community who believes, as I do, that this election's outcome should be determined by the We The People, should take a few minutes to let these Establishment Delegates know where you stand.
My message below the fold.

Poll

40 votes Show Results

Will the popular vote be enough to sway the "Super" delegates?

40 votes Vote Now!

Will the popular vote be enough to sway the "Super" delegates?

Yes

33 votes

2 votes

Not a chance, everyone knows the Establishment wins

5 votes

Who cares? I'm voting for Hillary! (see the choice above)

0 votes

Help me hold Pelosi accountable!

MITPeriodic

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Friday October 12, 2007 · 11:51 AM PDT

2007/10/12 · 11:51

I am a San Francisco resident, and have had enough of Speaker Pelosi's lack of leadership. I have done my part as a responsible constituent and citizen, by writing letters to her office--but this is simply not enough.

MITPeriodic

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Tuesday October 09, 2007 · 9:26 AM PDT

2007/10/09 · 09:26

As a resident of San Francisco, I feel it is my duty to speak out loudly for leadership in the House. Below the fold is a letter I sent to Speaker Pelosi today. I encourage any other kossacks who live in this district to do the same. In San Francisco, change happens, happens frequently, and "liberality" is synonymous with electability. I am sure Ms. Pelosi understands this, so WRITE WRITE WRITE! For residents, the site is: http://www.house.gov/... and for non-constutuents, the site is: www.speaker.gov

Poll

39 votes Show Results

Can we find a primary challenge to Speaker Pelosi?

39 votes Vote Now!

Can we find a primary challenge to Speaker Pelosi?

Yes

25 votes

5 votes

Heck of a job that Pelosi

5 votes

we're f**ked

4 votes

Hesistance about 9/15 Anti-War March

MITPeriodic

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Friday September 07, 2007 · 8:46 AM PDT

2007/09/07 · 08:46

I am planning on attending the March 9/15 anti-war march in Washington DC, but have a couple concerns I wanted to see if anyone else shares them.

MITPeriodic

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Wednesday April 25, 2007 · 10:34 AM PDT

2007/04/25 · 10:34

As we know, the language one uses when framing an issue controls its perception. This is why great debaters win, whether they believe in their point or not, or whether their point is more logical or not. Case in point: the recent language used by Mr. Bush and Mr. Reid over the Bush War spending authorization bill.

MITPeriodic

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Sunday April 01, 2007 · 12:18 PM PDT

2007/04/01 · 12:18

This is my first post, so please excuse me if I do not adhere to any posting protocols, (I am sure you will let me know)
I must agree with Kos on this issue: Senators just get attached to the lead weight anchors of thier votes, and are too easily drowned by them.

RSS

A Filibuster Without Action is Not a Threat

Lindsey Graham Can Kiss my a$%!

My letter to President-to-be Obama

If not Yoo, then who?

My letter to the Super Delegates

Help me hold Pelosi accountable!

My letter to Speaker Pelosi (w/poll)

Hesistance about 9/15 Anti-War March

Open letter to Congress: Please change the subordinate tone

Current Senator=Presidential Candidate Liability