McConnell: Filibuster Changes Would ‘Poison’ Party Relations

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



IGOR BOBIC 2:40 PM EST, MONDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said on Monday that any attempt by Democrats to change filibuster rules would "poison" party relations in the upper chamber even further, adding that it would "undermine the very purpose of the Senate" and amount to "an affront to the American people."

"Do they really think they're going to be in the majority forever?" McConnell asked of Democrats on the Senate floor, suggesting that if any filibuster rules go into effect, Republicans would have the upper hand should they retake the majority in the future.

-30-

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/mcconnell-filibuster-changes-would-poison-party-relations

[Angry Dragon]

1. the Tortise speaks and says nothing

[on point]

2. Actually it is the antidote to the poison the repukes have already spiked congress with

[Stewland]

3. Hypocrite of the Highest Order

He is so out of touch as not to notice his behaviors poisoned relationships .

[Xyzse]

4. Actually... Even if the Democrats are in the minority...

I want this change.

I want to know who and why they are opposing a particular legislation.

The current method is cowardly, and allows them to hide.

Which to me is plain ridiculous.

[Kber]

7. Absolutely!!

I think there are sufficient minority protections included the the proposed rule changes.

[cstanleytech]

17. Agreed. nt

[Andy823]

28. +100,000,000,000... nt

[musiclawyer]

42. Spot on

Let the majority party be accountable for its laws and let the minority voice it's concerns in the open without gridlock. The people will decide if the law is good or not

And the GOP would simply get rid of The filibuster outright if they had a chance ....

Filibuster reform + off the fiscal cliff = Democratic House in '14. Bookmark this

[1StrongBlackMan]

59. I suspect ...

McConnell is betting that the majority of the electorate don't know that the current filibuster rule is not to prevent votes on a bill; but rather, to prevent even the on record discussion of a bill.

[yurbud]

46. democrats used it so rarely a minority, they wouldn't notice.

republicans use it too much and democrats didn't use it at all.

[harun]

58. Agree. Filibuster is anti-change and anti-Progressive.

Well said.

[annabanana]

86. Democrats aren't afraid to air their policies in public!

It's the toxic Repub policies that must be hidden in proforma filibusters

[madokie]

87. Yes

[Laurian]

5. Hell, they're already toxic. Nothing to lose, here.

Go for the filibuster change!

[Festivito]

27. Yes. Already toxic and poison. Already bad for "party relations," and bad for US in general!

Stand up when you filibuster.
Stand up to questions from anyone who asks.
We the people should be allowed in for those hours to ask and ask and ask. And, when your response doesn't make sense we say so and ask again.

We have all day and all night all day all night all day all night.

You've done nothing anyway. At least this way we can ask.

[Historic NY]

6. No turtle neck it would get some work done w/o your meddling.

[Panasonic]

8. McTurtle. Speak for yourself.

Dickhead.

Your Republicans have abused the filibuster so many times, it needs to be reformed and you sitting in the corner with a dunce hat.

Thank you.

[elleng]

9. And the current party relations are just FINE AND DANDY!!!

[AAO]

79. Where? Did I miss it again? Darn! (n/t)

[Scuba]

10. Too late, smegma-breath, you did that when you vowed to make Obama a one-term President.

[SoapBox]

11. Hey Chinless...Relations? Already DOA, thanks to the Pukes and Baggers.

How can they get any worse?!

Do It Reid!

And Chinless...one more thing...F.U.C.K. Off!

[ProudProgressiveNow]

53. +1000 nt

[Marrah_G]

12. ROFL

Yeah because Filibustering every fucking thing for the last 4 years has brought the parties together.

up is down, peace is war, hate is love........

[Panasonic]

13. And to answer your question, McTurtle, yes, we will be in the majority for a LONG time.

Because you Republicans have abused the power of the people, and your productions have shown negative numbers, and thus completely useless. This tells me that the people won't trust the Republicans to do the right thing, so in other words, FUCK OFF AND SIT IN THE CORNER AND LET THE ADULTS DO THE WORK.

The House would be Democratic already, if it was not for the ridiculous gerrymandering of certain states.

[Dubster]

14. Spam deleted by gkhouston (MIR Team)

[Vincardog]

15. The turtle and his obstructing minority have "an affront to the American people." since

President Obama was elected. What are they afraid of, that they will have to stand in front of the American people and actually resist progress?

[2naSalit]

78. The point being that

they had no valid argument for the umpteen holds and silent filibusters they utilized for the past four years trying to make sure that the vast fissure created by their party while the $hrub was raping us would hold and widen. The intent to break the democracy is their ultimate goal since they can't deal with the concept that people of all types have equal rights in this nation. They can't live with that. Brillo Riledup spoke their truth when he started his fear campaign against the not-so-white-anymore America. They will do whatever they can to mess it up like ensure that since we aren't all so pearly white we will have to be slaves. That's what it's all about. They had a hard time with President Clinton not being part of the cabal (and he had a successful and intelligent wife too), now they are just writhing in angst over a not totally white man in the sacred oval office. Picture a wet cat being stroked from tail to head, that would be their comfort level here and the aim to do everything they can think of in their myopic miniscule minds to make sure that whatever progress we might make is tainted with their jism. I hope their collective heads explode during a massive aneurism. It's all they deserve at this point. No mercy.

[harun]

16. > 300 million people in this country and 41 of them in the Senate can simply say "No"

and no governance can take place whatsoever.

Fuck Mitch. If he is against it we know it will be good for Democracy and the American people.

[Botany]

18. Hey Mitch F*** You!

4 straight years of non stop obstructionism did not help for "party relations."

The very day in 2009 when Obama was sworn in you, Mitch McUseless,
set about to hurt and hinder the President by hurting the economy
and by doing so to make the American people hurt too. If you had
shown the slightest bit of willingness to work w/ the other side
this would not be necessary.

[still_one]

19. That is the funniest thing I have heard in years. When was the last time relations between the

parties was good?

Get rid of the filibuster. No matter who is in the majority, it has been abused and used to do such things as slavery.

It is time to move forward

[tahoelewis]

107. the rule changes, NOT the filibuster

Some readers seem to be confused. The filibuster remains in place but the underlying rules would be changed to force the debate into the open and possibly prevent a single senator from blocking appointments.

BTW, it's worth noting that, with changing latino, asian, and black demographics, the Democrats in the senate would never have to be concerned with a Republican majority again if they continue to pursue a progressive slate of inclusion and opportunity. Increasing taxes on the uber wealthy, shutting down the off shore cash hiding places, bringing corporations under control, and promoting health care, education and fair wages are all that is needed to prevent the R's from ever controlling the senate again.

[allan01]

20. re:McConnell: Filibuster Changes Would ‘Poison’ Party Relations

these folk (rs) have been blocking our legislation for years with the fillabuster tactic even threataning us with the nucluear option once in a while . party relations indeed . bah humbug

[lsewpershad]

21. If the dems allow this

fea mongering to deter them they deserve to lose the senate.

[madamesilverspurs]

22. Watching this on Cspan -

pleased to see Harry Reid accuse McConnell of abusing the Senate rules. The rules aren't the problem, the ABUSE is the problem. Making the rules less abusable will only benefit the country.

I was going to add "Fuck McConnell", but even the thought of that makes me gag.


-

[mtasselin]

24. let me

"FUCK McCONNELL"

[GoCubsGo]

39. I would rather he...

... go fuck himself.

[Lilma]

23. I wrote to my Senator

Dick Durbin and demanded that he support the changes to the filibuster rules. You all should also.

[denverbill]

25. Fuck McConnell. Those assholes filibustered a record number of bills.

They filibustered judges and cabinet nominees. They refused to negotiate anything relating to Obamacare. They completely dedicated their entire party to obstructing Obama, even if it hurt America. They are the most irresponsible, polarized, obstructionist party in American history and we made their lives easy when the new rules for filibuster went in 30 years ago. Go back to the old filibuster and screw the Republicans.

[southerncrone]

26. You brought it on yourself, Mitchie!

They've abused the filibuster to create a stalemate & gridlock. He is the main problem....admitted his intention in 2008..."defeat Obama in 2012". He then went about logjamming the entire process. He's admitting that IF the Repukes ever get back in power, they would ABSOLUTELY change the rules. Why shouldn't the Dems do it since WE are in power. These monsters have been ruling us for so long, they cannot/will not accept the fact that the shoe is now on the other foot.

Yertle is such a pathetic creep.

[caveat_imperator]

29. Of course, if the rethugs ever won a majority of seats in the Senate

the very first day they sit they would get rid of the filibuster.

[BE10sCoach]

30. Mitch McConnell

has already poisoned the Senate and the relationships, Let the Pasty Faced Turtle go to Hell. I agree FUCK EM'. If they want to Filibuster make them get up and keep talking round the clock. There had a record number of filibusters by just saying it and then leaving the chamber, enough of this bullshit!

[CanonRay]

31. Flash to McChinless

Relations are already poisoned. You guys poisoned them.

[Smilo]

32. The affront to the American people is such as McConnell,

Boehner and Cantor - who do not understand that they are not running this country and behave like two year olds having a temper tantrum in the sand pit.

As for the further poison relations - McConnell et al have done a pretty good job of doing that anyway and any further poisoning is firmly on their shoulders.

[LynneSin]

33. Relations are already 'poisoned' but honestly I'm a bit worried about reform

because we may not always have the majority and then we would be fucked especially when it comes to judges.

I want reform but I want the democrats to think about how that reform would impact them should we be in the minority.

[2naSalit]

80. I feel that the Ds have already

thought this out long and hard. Besides, they are not getting rid of it, they are trying to restore it to its original form which is a safety check for the minority. All they are saying is: you want to filibuster, go for it but that also means you have to hold the floor in order to convince your opponents of your objection to a proposed Bill or confirmation of an appointee. Nothing to freak out about if the move is successful.

On edit... this also means that Bills will pass by a simple majority vote (50+1) rather than the super majority (60) votes to pass. Because the assbites have been able to filibuster everything on the docket for four years, not much was accomplished in a deeply divided Senate. With the restoration of the filibuster as originally intended, some progress in doing the people's business can ensue. It's really a win, win for everyone but the temper-tantrum gang of miscreants.

[Heathen57]

113. On one of the prime time shows

TYT or MSNBC the host asked on of the Dem senators if they could stand to have these rules if they became the minority once again.

His answer was definitely. The Dems are not interested in blockage of the Senate business in the amount that the Rethugs have done. If it is important enough, they would take and keep the floor as the rules were originally set up.

So the Dem Senators don't seem to have any worries on this.

[Third Doctor]

34. Party relations have been poisoned for years

and they have gotten worse since Obama has been in office. The are mad because they will not be able to obstruct government and will shut that same government down of they can't get what they want. The Dems and the Obama should take this to the people. The Repubs lost badly and the people have spoken. I had wished the repubs would reform but now I want the party to dissolve. They are not part of any solution that I have seen for the past decade.

[mac56]

35. I honestly thought this was from The Onion.

Does he really think party relations are lovely right now, and that this is the thing that will spoil them?!

He can't possibly be this stupid.

[GoCubsGo]

43. Yeah, the CAN be this stupid.

However, I don't think stupidity is what is the driving force here. Insanity is. The GOP has gone off the deep end. They are completely void of reality at this point. This is their last ditch effort at trying to retain what little power they think they have in the Senate.

[leftyohiolib]

36. "if you destroy the filibuster we will block everything you try to... oh .... well will be very mad"

[BlueCaliDem]

37. So was breaking your word to Reid to only use the filibuster rule carefully back in 2011.

That ship's sailed. The Democrats don't want this war, but it was pushed upon them by the GOP, and now they're wailing and having tantrums that the Democrats are - rightfully - taking their favorite toy away?

Cry me a river.

[frylock]

38. TRANSLATION: we won't be able to step all over the dems if they actually make us filibuster

[loyalkydem]

40. here's some lettuce

Now go sit in a corner

[bamacrat]

41. So majority rule is tyranny to him eh?

Can you imagine were the roles reversed, how unAmerican the filibuster would be? What douche bags.

[GoCubsGo]

50. We don't have to imagine.

We just have to look back at the 12 years where the GOP held both the House and the Senate. They were threatening the "nuclear option" every time the Dems threatened to filibuster. They were locking Democrats out of committee meetings. They were calling votes at the last minute, when few Democrats were present. They were pulling all sorts of other dirty tricks that I am sure others here can tell you about, as well. It was UGLY. So ugly that they feared losing their majority because they were afraid of what the Dems might do to them in retaliation.

[leanforward]

112. We don't have to imagine.

Thanks for the history lesson. I don't always believe in pay back, but with what you just cited and the graph on the filibuster, I say we bring back the talking filibuster. Get them on record. In perspective, someone cited the fact that LBJ encountered one filibuster.

[Cha]

44. This is from the poison who said:

"That's my single most important political goal, along with every active Republican in the country."

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/mcconnell-stopping-obamas-re-election-still-

How'd that work for ya, Mitch?

Too bad for mitch he has such a big mouth. Maybe it's Kentucky that needs to get rid of him?

[2naSalit]

81. Okay, so he failed

at his single political goal, I guess it's time for him to just go home, nobody needs him anyway. He's not representing his constituents... well maybe the bigots in his state and his benefactors but that would be it.

Mitch, you've made your big stink, now go home, stay there.

[BlueStreak]

45. How would we know the difference

between poisoned relation and what we have today?

[Raster]

47. Poison warnings from Mr. Yuck himself.

[yurbud]

48. I doubt even his wife wants to have relations with him

[Cleita]

49. Really? I think that Kool-Aid has already been mixed.

Ignoring the will of the majority of the people in a filibuster rule by the minority is the real poison. Time to clear the obstructionists out of our legislative process. Yes, sometimes there will be Democrats prevailing and other times Republicans but they will be reflecting the will of the American people, not international corporations and the military.

McConnell is a fossil from the Middle Ages as far as I'm concerned. It's wonderful to be king.

[GoCubsGo]

51. They're drowning in their freaking Kool-Aid.

It's what turned Boehner's skin orange from soaking in it for decades.

[The Second Stone]

52. Relations are already poisoned

let's get the people's business done by majority vote.

[Deep13]

54. Geez, I wonder what THAT would be like. nt

[Lint Head]

55. McConnell is an expert on poisoning. He has poisoned the United States of America with

his presence.

[texshelters]

56. Get rid of the Senate

PTxS

http://texshelters.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/the-senate-is-the-most-democratic-legislative-body-in-the-world-update-for-linking/

[Gregorian]

57. You just don't like working for your money!

[olegramps]

60. The slack jawed weasel faced baboon farts again.

[Bucky]

61. SLA to Cops: Releasing Patty Hearst will poison the relations between us and the courts.

This sounds like me trying to convince my girlfriend that we need to have an open relationship. Harry needs to pick up a skillet and remind McConnell just who's boss here.

[Bucky]

62. What balls! Don't sneak out with the family car all week if you want to borrow it from Dad on Friday

[tclambert]

63. Poison party relations? Oh, dear. They get along so well now. What a shame to spoil that.

Before they poison party relations, wouldn't they first have to resuscitate them? Like that could be done.

[grantcart]

64. So this means that they either have the votes or are getting close to it.

[The Wizard]

65. McConnell is a jerkoff

and any Democrat who tries to have an honest debate or discussion with him is an idiot. Addison Mitch McConnell is a first class jerkoff. No one should waste valuable time talking to him. He's from Kentucky. There are no real Americans living there. The other senator is Kim Jong Paul.

[juajen]

110. Stop insulting democrats and other reasonable people who live in red states.

This is just not productive, and our chances of eventually taking those states is not enhanced by poison posts. You must want them to go 100% red. I, and other like-minded people, protest, again, at this narrow-minded handling of red states.

[Bossy Monkey]

66. Mr. McConnell is taking up standup comedy as a career rather late in life

or perhaps I should say adopting irony as a worldview.

[Vietnameravet]

67. Well Mitch you dumb ass clown..

Poison the wonderful relations between Democrats and Republicans that you have created!!?? ? Demos are supposed to not make any changes that would block a filibuster so we can expect you to do the same when and if you win the senate? We are supposed to not anger you so we can expect decent treatment from you?

FU.. Mitch and the rest of your crew....We won the election and as the old saying goes.."when you got them by the balls, their minds and hearts will follow"

We must end the filibuster and return to majority rule ..radical as the idea of majority rule may sound!!

[Dont call me Shirley]

68. Mitch is the one who poisoned "party realtions". Whiners, the all of the gop!

[Diclotican]

69. DonViejo

DonViejo

Could the relationship between the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party be any worse than it already is?.. Let the change happened - and let the republicans play tantrum on the Senate Floor... And let the american people se them as they really are - not as they way want it to be shown...

Democrats in your Senate need to play hardball with the republicans - continue to let them show them are they are - the only thing the Democratic party really need to do - is to explain to the american population what they want to do - and let the Republicans play them self out of existence...

Diclotican

[oldhippydude]

70. Mitch asks "do Democrats think they will be in power forever?"

the short answer should be a resounding yes.. Republican policies, along with changing demographics pretty much guarantee it..

your move Mitch

[quaker bill]

71. Senator McConnell,

Please describe the meaningful ways in which we will be able to detect a difference. (I do not think you have an answer)

[bluedigger]

72. Your concern is duly noted and summarily dismissed, Mitch.

Let us know when you have anything, anything, positive to contribute to the body politic.

[IggleDoer]

73. Did I miss something here?

Didn't hear McConnell say that, if the Democrats change the filibuster rule, he will have all Repubicans sign a pledge to change it back, if they ever regain power.

[LoisB]

74. I think someone forgot to tell McConnell and Boehner that they lost the election. Party

relations have been poisoned since November 2008 by Mitch McConnell.

[sheshe2]

75. The only "Poison" in the upper chambers are the GOP!

...and the only "Affront" to the American People is Mitch and his ilk, saying that their most sacred job was to make Obama a one term president!

See how well that worked out for you Mitchie...your time will come in 2014!

[Volaris]

76. "Do they really think they're going to be in the majority forever?"

If Reid re-works the filibuster, and Dem's actually get to govern on Democratic/Progressive Ideas (yeah, I know, they aren't ALWAYS the same) The Turtle is TERRIFIED that this will actually become Reality.

Do it Harry. Even if it comes back to bite us in the ass, I want the precedent set that 51 Senate votes is a Majority again. It forces compromise, and that's good for all of us OVERALL (even if sometimes the result isn't exactly what we wanted).

[AAO]

77. FUCK YOU! Your dirty evil DNA experiment with genes from a human (Stalin)

and merged with genes from a tortoise (May God Bless the REAL tortoises) - you are a Turtleman.

The Turtleman is nearing his end.

[trailmonkee]

82. like they aren't already You Fucking Sleestak!

[2naSalit]

83. Surely this cad is a waste

of good air that could be put to better use by any number of endangered species that he has helped to endanger even further.

[dicksmc3]

84. Turtlehead

Mitch "Turtelhead" McConnell is a real DICK!! He knows damn good and well what has transpired the last 4 years. After he made the statement on Fix so-called news that his main objective was to make President Obama a one termer, he sees the Dems finally going to call him and the other clown Repulicans out for their actions when it comes to filibusters. Harry Reid told him in no uncertain terms the obstructionsim the Dems have faced with these Republicans. Harry even siting several instances over proposed legislation offered in the Senate. I just hope that people in Kentucky wake up and vote McConnell and Rand Paul out when their terms are up..

[yellowcanine]

85. Of course saying your number one priority is to keep Obama from winning reelection did

wonders for party relations.

Some of us do remember things which happened 4 years ago, Senator.

[ReRe]

88. I'm an American People, and it wouldn't be an affront to me, Mr Thumb-with-a-face on it!

K&R

Wrong again. It would be an affront to him. Would "poison party relations in the upper chamber"???
Uhhh.... yes, Mr. McConnell, they do know what they are doing... yes, they would live under the rules they make if they EVER should become the minority again, which according to the demographics might realistically never happen again. Bring it, McConnell. Your credibility, if you ever had any to begin with, is non-existent.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

89. SO WHAT!!!!!! We hate you and everything you stand for!

[BlueToTheBone]

90. Like they're so cordial and all freiendly now!

Go Harry!

[bhikkhu]

91. filibuster reforms would lead to legislation actually making it through the senate

god forbid! Their 7% approval rating is in jeopardy!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

92. The clueless turtle

Go away McConnell. You're useless.

[BadgerKid]

93. What part of 'GOP intransigence got Obama re-elected' does he not understand?

McConnell must be bilnd or something.

[Horse with no Name]

94. They are fucking terrorists

If you....we will!

Fuck them. The Democrats will sit at the adult table and the republicans can take their seat at the kids table.

[Swede Atlanta]

95. Unbelievable....but consider the source

No, Mr. McConnell, the Democrats do not believe they will always be in the majority. However, they recognize that the current system impedes governance when the minority party threatens to filibuster ALL legislation unless they are in total agreement.

The purpose of the filibuster was to prevent the tyranny of the majority by giving the minority an opportunity to stall or postpone legislative action by requiring the minority party to actually filibuster, e.g. keeping debate open including such antics as reading the phone book.

The relations are already poisoned Mr. "Minority" Leader by YOUR party. So don't throw this back on our faces you little rodent (my apologies to all rodents worldwide).

[Jack Rabbit]

96. Senator McConnell is an affront to the American people

We saw what he did with the current filibuster rules: He made sure the Senate did nothing. We've wasted enough time on legislative nihilism. There is legislation that needs to be passed and we must stop McConnell from punishing American because first of all they voted and then didn't vote Republican.

The Democrats won't be the majority forever, but who will replace them? If the Republican don't want to learn the lesson presented to them earlier this week, they will soon be as irrelevant as the Republicans are now in California. Some filibuster you can put up then, Senator McConnell.

[Odin2005]

97. They are not, already? Turtle can go fuck himself.

[Lasher]

98. Oh look, Yertle would stop being so nice.

I the civil words of Lord Vader, go fuck yourself.

[DallasNE]

99. How Can It Be Poisoned Any More Than It Already Is?

The body is currently disfunctional. The filibuster rule change doesn't do away with the filibuster, it only returns previous rules and the end of talking allows a simple up or down vote. The only time the filibuster comes into play is on a bill that would otherwise pass. Votes are routinely taken on measures without the votes for passage and they die and this wouldn't change one iota. The area most affected would actually be on appointments and this would permit some Judges to be appointed in a somewhat timely manner and I think that is where the "poison" comment comes mostly into play.

[Gregorian]

100. I just realized somethig. Is anyone else looking at this from another angle? MINORITY RIGHTS?

It's tangential and off topic. But, isn't it ironic that all of a sudden the phrase "minority rights" is being used by Republicans?

Strange. And revealing. And I really wish these turds would see just how it feels. All of a sudden the very nature of what America stands for is meaningful to them. Yet they don't even see the irony.

[Lil Missy]

101. No, it would just change who has to "eat" the poison.

Last edited Mon Nov 26, 2012, 11:59 PM - Edit history (1)

You served it up .......

[rks306]

102. Will poison

The turtle man has been doing that already with his parties record number of filibusters.

[Shilo]

103. Like the party relations are so good now, dipdoid Mitch!!

[bucolic_frolic]

104. I don't ever want

the GOP to have a simple majority Senate, so I am opposed to this reform.

With the GOP needing only 51 votes, ANWR and the National Parks are GONE

to name only one unpopular and short-sighted measure they would pass.

Let the current system endure, no matter how hard on Harry Reid, and let the
voters see who obstructs. Eventually the voters will resolve this one way or the
other, and my bet is the Democrats will increase their majority within a few elections.

[eringer]

105. Let me answer your question Mitchie

Do they really think they're going to be in the majority forever?
YES
People like you have destroyed the GOP. Your are done.

[lonestarnot]

106. Hey Turtleman! WTF do you think they are now you wrinkled old weak.

[polichick]

108. It would change things alright - maybe our "reps"...

...would actually begin to represent the people.

"Poison party relations" - nice try.

[Brigid]

109. Dear Turtle Face:

You brought this on yourself. You Repugs have been the ones who believed that you would be in the majority forever. I have no idea why the people of KY keep sending you back to Washington. Now sit down and STFU.

Love,
Brigid

[jwirr]

111. The gop met together and formed a pact to refuse to work with the Obama administration on any

thing he wanted at the very hour he was being inaugurated in 2009 using this very method. And now they dare to pretend that we are the ones poisoning the congress? Pure bs.

[burnsei sensei]

114. You brought it all on yourself and your party,

you racist son of a bitch.