In a message dated 12/13/2008 2:28:41 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
On Dec 13, 2008, at 1:06 PM, Marty Hart-Landsberg wrote: > But I am not sure that what happened is in accord with what Carl > says below, that the democrats "could have passed the bill but not > have defeated the filibuster." > > According to the papers the bill did pass, with 52 votes. Doesnt a > filibuster take place to stop a vote? Isnt it the case that once a > filibuster starts, which means talking to stop a vote, that you need > 60 votes to force a vote on the motion. But the papers claim that > there was a vote on the measure and it passed. > I dont think that the Republicans actually launched a filibuster--so > when does the threat become real-- It's one of those arcane procedural things. It needed 60 votes just to bring it to the floor. Doug Comment Filibuster and Procedural filibuster The term first came into use in the _United States Senate_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate) , where Senate rules permit a senator, or a series of senators, to speak for as long as they wish and on any topic they choose, unless a _supermajority_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermajority) of three-fifths of the Senate (60 Senators, if all 100 seats are filled) brings debate to a close by invoking _cloture_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloture) ._[6]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster#cite_note-5) [_edit_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Filibuster&action=edit§ion=7) ] Procedural filibuster In current practice, _Senate Rule 22_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_Rules_of_the_Senate) permits filibusters in which actual continuous floor speeches are not required, although the _Senate Majority Leader_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_Majority_Leader) may require an actual traditional filibuster if he or she so chooses. This threat of a filibuster can therefore be as powerful as an actual filibuster. Previously, the filibustering senator(s) could delay voting only by making an endless speech. Currently, they need only 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that they are filibustering, thereby preventing the Senate from moving on to other business until the motion is withdrawn or enough votes are gathered for _cloture_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloture) . [_edit_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Filibuster&action=edit§ion=8) ] Preparations Preparations for a filibuster can be very elaborate. Sometimes cots are brought into the hallways or cloakrooms for senators to sleep on. While in a filibuster the senator talking must remain in the same spot and is only allowed to filibuster twice in a legislative day. A legislative day lasts until the debate is adjourned, which can take days. According to Newsweek: "They used to call it 'taking to the diaper', a phrase that referred to the preparation undertaken by a prudent senator before an extended filibuster. _Strom Thurmond_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond) visited a steam room before his filibuster in order to dehydrate himself so he could drink without urinating. An aide stood by in the cloakroom with a _pail_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pail) in case of emergency."_[7]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster#cite_note-6) Filibusters have become much more common in recent decades. Twice as many filibusters took place in the 1991-1992 legislative session as took place in the entire nineteenth century._[8]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster#cite_note-7) _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster) **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)
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