From the Department of Duh, via TPM:
“The Republican leader thinks things are going well here. He’s in a distinct minority because things aren’t going well around here,” Reid said. “Lyndon Johnson: one cloture. Reid: 386. That says it all.”
Only 3 percent of bills introduced in the U.S. Senate ever get passed. The Senate is dysfunctional, because of Republican abuse of the filibuster to impose a de facto supermajority requirement for nearly all legislation.
Two years ago, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid blocked filibuster reform. Now he says he’s willing to consider either a “talking filibuster,” which makes senators stand up and take responsibility for obstructing legislation, or a plan to make the “motion to proceed” non-debatable, which would eliminate the minority’s power to keep bills from reaching the Senate floor.
If Senator Mitch McConnell were the majority leader, he would immediately get rid of the filibuster. It only takes 51 votes to change the Senate rules.
#1 by Richard's Fact Checker on November 27, 2012 - 11:47 am
“If Senator Mitch McConnell were the majority leader, he would immediately get rid of the filibuster. ”
Source please.
#2 by Richard Warnick on November 27, 2012 - 12:22 pm
Source = TPM
If he ever becomes the majority leader, Mitch McConnell is smart enough to want to avoid the possibility of Democrats doing to him what the Republican minority is now doing. So he would of course get rid of the filibuster. Or do you think McConnell likes dithering and half-measures?
#3 by Richard's Fact Checker on November 27, 2012 - 2:41 pm
That quote proves that he ISN’T going to put in the filibuster, not that he is. I guess you don’t understand English.
#4 by Richard Warnick on November 27, 2012 - 4:30 pm
Perhaps Senator McConnell trusts that Dems are too nice to engage in an unprecedented level of obstruction if they were the minority. But I would bet he would axe the filibuster right away if he became Senate majority leader, just to make sure.
#5 by Richard's Fact Checker on November 27, 2012 - 4:37 pm
That isn’t what the quote means.
#6 by Richard Warnick on November 27, 2012 - 4:40 pm
You are not going to find a quote from any current member of the Senate advocating total elimination of the filibuster. But they’re thinking about it.
Remember when the Republicans used to have a Senate majority? They were always threatening the Dems with the so-called “nuclear option.”
#7 by Richard's Fact Checker on November 27, 2012 - 5:53 pm
“You are not going to find a quote from any current member of the Senate advocating total elimination of the filibuster.”
Then why did you state it as fact?
“But they’re thinking about it.”
You a mind reader?
#8 by Richard Warnick on November 27, 2012 - 7:04 pm
Maybe if you read what I wrote, it would help.
I did not say that Senator McConnell admits he would get rid of the filibuster. However, logic indicates he would have to. Plus, when they were in the majority Republicans repeatedly threatened to do away with the filibuster.
#9 by cav - FAT checker on November 28, 2012 - 12:00 am
President Bush cut taxes and it made billionaires give everyone a job.
#10 by Richard's Fact Checker on November 28, 2012 - 8:55 am
So you are speculating and mind reading is what it comes down to. Even if this contradicts what McConnell himself said.
#11 by cav - FAT checker on November 28, 2012 - 9:10 am
And the words of a sleazy, smug, patronizing, ungracious sonuvabitch are to be respected why exactly? Because?
#12 by Richard Warnick on November 28, 2012 - 9:20 am
Yes, it is speculation. No, it doesn’t contradict what Senator McConnell said. In fact, he threatened to eliminate the filibuster entirely if he ever becomes majority leader, something Senator Reid isn’t even proposing.