Dem Congress Moves to Repeal the House Fairness Rules

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palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
11,521
0
76
Originally posted by: bbdub333
Originally posted by: senseamp
Originally posted by: bbdub333
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Why not just give the President the ability to pass legislation then? It would make it easier for him to pass important laws more quickly.

The Constitution. Gingrich's house rules and Senate filibusters are not in it.

That doesn't make any sense. Why would the Constitution prevent the the president from having the ability to pass legislation? It only makes sense for a more efficient government that the president be able to pass important legislation quickly and without being filibustered.
That's called a "Dictatorship."

If that's what you're looking for, perhaps you should check out Zimbabwe... I think you'll just love it there!
 

brencat

Platinum Member
Feb 26, 2007
2,170
3
76
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Thankfully, there were 14 realists (John McCain one of them) that blocked the Repubs from going 'nucular' when they held the reins years ago. Sorry, but the minority party needs to have a say too. It's this winner-take-all mentality that has to stop, in both parties.

Stupid idea and a stupid comment on your part. FAIL
 

woodie1

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2000
5,947
0
0
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

And who decides what is important and what is not important legislation? I think that the filibuster is a good tool myself even though it does get in the way every once in awhile.
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
11,521
0
76
Originally posted by: brencat
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Thankfully, there were 14 realists (John McCain one of them) that blocked the Repubs from going 'nucular' when they held the reins years ago. Sorry, but the minority party needs to have a say too. It's this winner-take-all mentality that has to stop, in both parties.

Stupid idea and a stupid comment on your part. FAIL

this.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,198
126
Originally posted by: palehorse
Originally posted by: brencat
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Thankfully, there were 14 realists (John McCain one of them) that blocked the Repubs from going 'nucular' when they held the reins years ago. Sorry, but the minority party needs to have a say too. It's this winner-take-all mentality that has to stop, in both parties.

Stupid idea and a stupid comment on your part. FAIL

this.

NOT.

Voice, yes, veto, no. The Constitution does not provide a minority party in Congress with a veto, only the president. You so called "strict constructionists" should know that.
You are forgetting the flip side of the Gang of 14 compromise, which was that the Democrats would only use filibusters in extreme circumstances.
Nuclear option needs to be on the table for just this kind of leverage, in case the Republicans get too busy obstructing. American people have voted, elections have consequences.
 

UberNeuman

Lifer
Nov 4, 1999
16,937
3,087
126
Originally posted by: palehorse
Originally posted by: brencat
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Thankfully, there were 14 realists (John McCain one of them) that blocked the Repubs from going 'nucular' when they held the reins years ago. Sorry, but the minority party needs to have a say too. It's this winner-take-all mentality that has to stop, in both parties.

Stupid idea and a stupid comment on your part. FAIL

this.

No... The "republicans" had nearly eight years to work with the opposing party, and chose not too..

Face it, your "republican" party is busted, morally as well in intent......

 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
1
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Originally posted by: senseamp
Bunch of whining losers.

Wow... Only one post to once again prove Whoozyer's Axiom: Politics is a team sport. Nobody gives a shit what their team does as long as they're winning.

And here we are...

Please take the time to look at what is being proposed here. It's not just taking away the tools to obstruct from the Republicans (something they GAVE to the Dems after it had been denied to them for decades) it's closed door committee hearings, Chairman proxy votes (one man effectively rules the committee and passes whatever he wants) no more committee chairman term limits (see previous) and no longer holding congress to the same legal standards as the rest of us... among other things.

This is not good. Will Pelosi actually DO all of this tomorrow? Maybe. Maybe not. But the fact that it's all on the table is unconscionable. I know my link is to a super-right wing blog but even Jhhnn's link doesn't deny these actions, and, quietly roots Nancy on.

Originally posted by: senseamp
Congress passing laws and President executing them is in our Constitution. Filibusters and Gingrich's rules are not part of the Constitution.

I get your point. By all rights the Dems can write whatever rules they want to conduct the 111th congress by. They have the majority. They can write the rules. That's beside the point. The point is they are moving to take any transparancy out of the legislative process. They are moving to concentrate power into the hands of a very small minority in congress.

Do you really want congress to be able to pass anything they want without any kind of public review or internal debate? People accused Bush and the Rs of creating a rubber-stamp congress. Can you imagine what would have happened if these rules weren't in place? I don't care what party you're affilliated with, this takes the rubber-stamp concept to a whole new level.

This is the potential life of a bill in congress if these rules are repealed:

Proposed bill goes to committee. The guy who wrote it tells the chairman what's in it. (Plus he's owed a favor) Nobody reads it. Hell, nobody else was in the committee for that matter. He holds proxy for all his party-mates. The chairman rubber-stamps it through committee where it goes to the floor.

Noone in the general public complains about what's in the bill because he barred C-Span and the press from his chamber for the meeting with Mr X who presented the bill so nobody even knows there's a bill in the first place.

The majority whip tells everyone to vote for it. No debate, amendment, motion to recommit or alternate bill is allowed to be presented. It's passed and sent to the president where he signs it. Bang, it's law. It's law and nobody ever read it, debated it or subjected it to public review.

Do you really want that?


 
Jun 27, 2005
19,216
1
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Originally posted by: eskimospy
Still waiting for a credible, non ultra partisan source?

Look up. Jhhnn posted a lefty blog from a few days ago talking about the same thing.

Guess we'll find out tomorrow. That's when the new rules are presented and voted on.
 

Double Trouble

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,270
103
106
Yowsah... this is exactly the kind of stuff that hubris brings. Both sides always seem to quickly forget that 1) they won't be in control forever and 2) rules that give the minority a voice in the process are generally there to protect everyone, not just the minority party. The repubs did the same stupid things, only the "gang of 14" prevented the "nuclear option" from coming about.

Sad, I figured it would at least take a little while before these kinds of stupid moves would begin.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Of course the mainstream media won't report this.

And yes, I agree with the person who says that DC needs an enema. But it's too late. We are Rome. We are burning. In 100 years, the USA will mean nothing.

<--- Glad he voted 3rd party!
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,091
513
126
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Brilliant, why not just outlaw other political parties and be done with it?
 

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
0
0
Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Brilliant, why not just outlaw other political parties and be done with it?

Baby steps.

Thats step #4.

First take control of the House.
Ban guns then confiscate
Stomp on freedom of speech
Ban opposing political parties.

PROFIT!

But I'm waiting for some more reliable info too. Frankly, this seems like a bit of an overstep even for the power hunrgy Obamawhacko terrorist Pelosi.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,686
136
At this point, it's really difficult to tell if the proposed rule changes would have the kind of effects those on the Right are raving about, or if the changes would merely prevent outright obstructionism on their part. They are fond of obstructionism, let's face it, particularly when the political winds shift against them.

Repubs have put themselves in a very bad position. In the past, they've used wedge issues and emotionalism to bridge the huge ideological gulf between themselves, their radicalized base, and more moderate voters. It gained them total dominance in 2002 and again in 2004, which they used to implement policies of total gluttony, deceit, and fantasy. They burned that bridge right to the ground, revealing themselves as liars, looters and worse. If they attempt to change, they'll lose that base and the funding base of ultra-wealthy rightwing ideologues as well. If they don't, they'll not be able to bridge the gulf with their usual methods given the justifiable skepticism on the other side, relegating themselves to minority status for a very long time to come...

I think they'll opt to keep what they've got- it's still a money making enterprise, and that's all they ever cared about, anyway...
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
20,984
3
0
As we saw in the previous congress, the real game is in the Senate. And it was GOP stalling and foot dragging that prevented the democratic Congressional majority from getting anything done.

Basically GOP stalling sent Congressional polling ratings into the sewer, nothing got done, more importantly, the American people sent the GOP a very clear message from the voting booth in 11/08, and we should be thinking these actions by Pelosi are simply telling the American people that the GOP is going to have a far harder time slowing or stopping needed legislation.

The GOP has plenty of ways to take their case to the American people, but there is only so much time in a year for public debate on the house floor, and if each of the 180 or so GOP house members offers 15 minutes of fame niggling amendments on every bill, that better than a weeks open house floor time on every bill. These things are supposed to be resolved in committee.
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy ~~snip~~

Proposed bill goes to committee. The guy who wrote it tells the chairman what's in it. (Plus he's owed a favor) Nobody reads it. Hell, nobody else was in the committee for that matter. He holds proxy for all his party-mates. The chairman rubber-stamps it through committee where it goes to the floor.

Noone in the general public complains about what's in the bill because he barred C-Span and the press from his chamber for the meeting with Mr X who presented the bill so nobody even knows there's a bill in the first place.

The majority whip tells everyone to vote for it. No debate, amendment, motion to recommit or alternate bill is allowed to be presented. It's passed and sent to the president where he signs it. Bang, it's law. It's law and nobody ever read it, debated it or subjected it to public review.

Do you really want that?

Exaggerate much?
 

First

Lifer
Jun 3, 2002
10,518
271
136
I question your shrewdness Whoozyerdaddy if you seriously think Dems are trying to get rid of C-SPAN based on the word of a wingnut web site, or even more ludicrous the notion that Dems (or any party) is going to ban the process of open debate or amendment in either house. Come on.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
81
Isn't that the first rule of a public policy - all organization seek to extend their size and influence? (Any Policy grads here?) All that will do kill their majority ever faster.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
81
Originally posted by: Specop 007
Originally posted by: Genx87
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Brilliant, why not just outlaw other political parties and be done with it?

Baby steps.

Thats step #4.

First take control of the House.
Ban guns then confiscate
Stomp on freedom of speech
Ban opposing political parties.

PROFIT!

But I'm waiting for some more reliable info too. Frankly, this seems like a bit of an overstep even for the power hunrgy Obamawhacko terrorist Pelosi.

Heh my brother said if obama moves to reinstate AWB, he's putting all his savings into exotics guns (Aug, HK usc, Galil etc. )
 

bbdub333

Senior member
Aug 21, 2007
684
0
0
Originally posted by: palehorse
Originally posted by: bbdub333
Originally posted by: senseamp
Originally posted by: bbdub333
Originally posted by: senseamp
I hope Senate goes nuclear on the GOP too. They should not be allowed to filibuster important legislation.

Why not just give the President the ability to pass legislation then? It would make it easier for him to pass important laws more quickly.

The Constitution. Gingrich's house rules and Senate filibusters are not in it.

That doesn't make any sense. Why would the Constitution prevent the the president from having the ability to pass legislation? It only makes sense for a more efficient government that the president be able to pass important legislation quickly and without being filibustered.
That's called a "Dictatorship."

If that's what you're looking for, perhaps you should check out Zimbabwe... I think you'll just love it there!

I was using exaggerations to make the point that senseamp seems to support the letter of the law and not the spirit of it. The Constitution has measures in an effort to prevent one entity from gaining too much influence in government. The rules that are in question do the exact same thing, yet since they are not in the constitution he seems to think that it is ok. It's basically like arguing that the president should be able to do anything he wants with executive privilege and signing statements because the constitution does not forbid it, when we all know that he would never support that argument. It's hypocritical and a blatant display of partisanship being justified because "they were asking for it". Senseamp represents exactly what is wrong with American politics.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
0
Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy ~~snip~~

Proposed bill goes to committee. The guy who wrote it tells the chairman what's in it. (Plus he's owed a favor) Nobody reads it. Hell, nobody else was in the committee for that matter. He holds proxy for all his party-mates. The chairman rubber-stamps it through committee where it goes to the floor.

Noone in the general public complains about what's in the bill because he barred C-Span and the press from his chamber for the meeting with Mr X who presented the bill so nobody even knows there's a bill in the first place.

The majority whip tells everyone to vote for it. No debate, amendment, motion to recommit or alternate bill is allowed to be presented. It's passed and sent to the president where he signs it. Bang, it's law. It's law and nobody ever read it, debated it or subjected it to public review.

Do you really want that?

Exaggerate much?
This is the same Nancy Pelosi that adjourned the house and then turned the lights out because she was afraid the Republicans were going to force a vote on the drilling ban.

Pelosi has a history of ignoring past precedence and democratic principles to get her way so I wouldn't be to surprised at what she does in the future.