POL: Dems to force actual fillibusters

[Barkeep49]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/16/monday/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Democrats plan Senate sleep-in to highlight GOP filibusters on Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Frustrated by Republican efforts to block votes on bringing American combat troops home from Iraq, Senate Democratic leaders said Monday they'll roll out the cots and stage an all-night debate on the war this week.

Republicans have managed to use the filibuster -- the Senate's tradition of unlimited debate -- to prevent Democratic efforts to wind down the 4-year-old war from reaching the chamber's floor.

So Democrats are employing a bit of political theater this week to at draw attention to the tactic, keeping the Senate in session overnight Tuesday before a vote on an amendment to the 2008 Pentagon authorization bill that would require troop withdrawals to begin in 120 days.

Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would schedule other votes during the overnight hours to ensure the session is a "real" all-nighter, but said he does not yet know what measures would be taken up.

-- From CNN Capitol Hill Producer Ted Barrett (Posted 4:17 P.M.)

[finketr]

sounds like the typical gamesmanship to me.

[flere-imsaho]

Hey, up-or-down (http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-05-15-oppose_x.htm) vote.

[Cringer]

Is there going to be pizza?

[larrymcg421]

I've been wondering when this would happen. The filibusters we've had the past few years have been complete jokes. Watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and get some nuts, boys.

[cartman]

I much prefer this approach as opposed to the threat of doing away with filibusters altogether.

[Flasch186]

Filibusters should exist and 24 hours exist in a day....

I love it and perhaps it'll force both sides to actually get some stuff done.

[JPhillips]

I think the minority has every right to filibuster, but the agreement that the threat of a filibuster is enough to force a cloture vote has been badly abused. When the minority has to actually work to kill a bill and then take the PR heat for doing so, failed cloture votes won't be as commonplace.

[Phototropic]

I hope they've got their preorders in.

[sabotai]

Is there going to be pizza?

I wonder if they will play "Who would you rather..."

[larrymcg421]

Might not want to use the john after Kennedy or Stevens.

[sterlingice]

Much better way to do it.

Reminds me of the bullcrap camping at KU for certain hoops games. You only have to be in line between certain hours and one person counts as 20 people and other nonsense.

SI

[MrBigglesworth]

I think the minority has every right to filibuster, but the agreement that the threat of a filibuster is enough to force a cloture vote has been badly abused. When the minority has to actually work to kill a bill and then take the PR heat for doing so, failed cloture votes won't be as commonplace.
Agreed. Filibusters should be available but rare.