A question about filibuster rules?

[kentuck]

If the Senate needs to approve the President's nominees for different positions in his Cabinet, and the Republicans invoke the 60-vote rule, why is it that the Party making the nominations has to get 60 votes to continue debate, instead of the Party that is against the nominations?? Shouldn't it be 60 votes to "stop" debate?

Doesn't that sound bass-ackwards?

[Faryn Balyncd]

1. The rule DOES require 60 votes to "stop debate", which has evolved into the de facto practice of...

... just giving the Republicans their way without even making them bear the adverse consequences of actually standing up and filibustering. All they have to do under the present rules and practice is convince Harry Reid that they have enough votes to prevent Democrats from stopping a potential debate, and then Harry Reid announces, and the media reports, that Democrats "do not have the 60 votes needed" to advance the bill.

The Republicans thus are given the benefits of getting their way (stopping the bills) without even having to actually filibuster.

The reality, of course, is that if they had to stand up and filibuster, the adverse consequences of carrying out actual filibusters would include the negative PR of being public obstructionists, and this consequence would make filibusters the rare thing they were during the great majority of American history.

The rules, and the accompanying customs, of giving the Republicans their way with only the threat of a filibuster, is the enabling that makes Republican rule by 41% a reality.

[Paladin]

2. The only filibuster rule that matters: Harry Reid is bound to crater. (nt)

[1-Old-Man]

3. You wrote your post 17 minutes ago - Go to C-Span-2 right now and see what Harry is doing

Harry is at the Center for American Progress right this minute setting up for the Senate Rules change that will be discussed in Caucus this afternoon and voted on tomorrow morning.

Right now, Monday morning, 10:35 eastern time, Cspan-2, either on TV or on line.

[Paladin]

4. Thanks for the tip. I refuse to get my hopes up---too many prior disappointments. (nt)

[rdking647]

5. there is an unspecified senate vote at 5:30 tonight

the feeling is its to reform the fillibuster