grantcart's Journal - A sure fire plan for Reid to humiliate the traitor Lieberman

Follow up to a previous article on the US Filibuster explaining how it originated, the fact that it is relatively recent partisan tool in American politics:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/...

This graph explains the point as well:

The Senate Majority Leader has two important tools that he can use to confront Lieberman and humiliate him in front of the world:

Step One - Invoke Standing Senate Rule XXII

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster#U....

In current practice, Senate Rule 22 permits filibusters in which actual continuous floor speeches are not required, although the Senate Majority Leader may require an actual traditional filibuster if he or she so chooses. This threat of a filibuster where no floor speech and no quorum is required may, therefore, be more powerful than an actual filibuster, which would require attendance by a quorum of Senators as well as the physical presence of the Senators speaking.

Previously, the filibustering senator(s) could delay voting only by making an endless speech. Currently, they only need to indicate that they are filibustering, thereby preventing the Senate from moving on to other business until the motion is withdrawn or enough votes are gathered for cloture.

This will require the Republicans and the traitor Lieberman to reenact an actual physical filibuster that Jimmy Stewart made famous in "Mr. Smith goes to Washington".

Step Two - Leave the Issue on the Agenda indefinitely

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster#U....

A filibuster can be defeated by the governing party if they leave the debated issue on the agenda indefinitely, without adding anything else. Indeed, James Strom Thurmond's own attempt to filibuster the Civil Rights Act was defeated when Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield refused to refer any further business to the Senate, which required the filibuster to be kept up indefinitely. Instead, the opponents were all given a chance to speak, and the matter eventually was forced to a vote.

Step Three - Schedule the Senate to meet 7 days a week and no holiday breaks

Simply schedule the Senate to meet in permanent session - No Thanksgiving breaks, no Sunday breaks and no Christmas breaks.

The result of these three steps would mean that the Republicans and the traitor known as Lieberman would have to maintain a 24/7 filibuster.

No other Senate business, including funding for the government, the war, or their own pet projects could be considered.

When it comes to an actual physical filibuster these scoundrels don't last long. Strom Thurmond's filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 lasted only 24 hours and 18 minutes.

This would have numerous benefits. It would result in a public humiliation of the traitor Lieberman and it would show that the Republicans are paper tigers - they are willing to blow hard but they will not be actually sustain a filibuster that ruins their schedule with their mistresses.

It would also bring attention to the ludicracy of the filibuster, the relatively modern misuse of it and the extraordinary power small unpopulated states have that have resulted in the Senate becoming increasing less democratic in principle.

Short of tar and feathering it is the best way to expose them and humiliate them on a large stage.