Should the Senate filibuster be abolished?

by L.A. Times Posted 2013/01/25 16:00:00

Related Topics: Harry Reid, Obama, Democrat, White House, Senate, Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Votes, Image, Filibuster, Images, Block, Reid, House

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2,526 votes
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	Yes	1,668 votes	66%
	No	858 votes	34%

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shocked and infuriated many of his fellow Democrats on Thursday when he backed away from his pledge to put an end to the curse of the filibuster.

Minority Republicans have been flagrantly using the old filibuster ploy to block even the most mundane bills unless they can win votes from at least 60 of 100 senators. This has effectively stunted the Democrats’ 53-seat majority and stifled initiatives from the Obama White House.

+25

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Hawkeye 2013/01/25 19:20:45

No

+37
WHY is it that every time the Democrats don't get their way they want to change the rules??

THEN just before the Republicans take over,, they reinstate the rules that they had changed..

Of course.. I already KNOW the answers to these questions..
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Bun 2013/02/22 23:48:52

No

Nop it has it's place.

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thefatguy 2013/02/05 20:57:01

No

Harry Reid is the roadblock in the Senate, not the GOP. He hasn't allowed a vote on a budget in years. Reid should be thrown out with the trash, along with the L.A. Slimes.

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Elaine Magliacane 2013/01/31 18:19:08

No

They should have to actually take the floor and TALK about the bill... not the BS way they do it now. Watch the Demoncraps SQUALL if the Republicans take the Senate in 2014...

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postmamy 2013/01/31 02:00:06

No

+1
ah~~~just watch and give it a rest~~~~

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Cleaver62 2013/01/30 23:30:40

No

I don't believe it should be abolished but it is being abused by Republicans in the Senate. According to law, bills pass and people are confirmed with a simple majority vote of 51. Republicans have abused this policy by filibustering everything that the Democrats do and don't allow anything to come to vote. To stop debate on a topic, 60 votes are required. So Republicans are not allowing issues to be voted on. This is just plain wrong. If they want to hold up a vote, they should have to stand there and plead their case to the Senate about why they don't think the issue deserves a yes or no vote. They shouldn't be able to just stop votes because they don't like something. They should have to explain themselves and when the explanation is completed, the vote for cloture should be held again.

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concerned2 2013/01/30 22:28:09

No

+2
The majority always wants the filibuster abolished. When the Republicans were in the majority in the Senate (pre-2006) there was a call from the Republicans to abolish the filibuster. Just the fact that those in power don't want to have to listen to the little guy is enough for me. Without the filibuster one party will be able to bulldoze over the other without discussion, debate, or any attempt to compromise. It would be a disaster, no matter who's in charge.

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Jake Blanton 2013/01/30 22:13:06

No

+2
If the leftists don't like it, then I'm all for it!

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aphotodude 2013/01/30 18:49:12

No

+1
Well they would want it even more if it was them using it ! The Filibuster has served all sides well at one time or another and the o---bummer (white?) house needs stifled more than any in history!

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Joker~RWAC/CFM-THE REAL POTL 2013/01/30 17:09:48

No

+2
Despite popular belief our Government isn't made to be efficient. Do you know what the most efficient type of Government is? It's called a dictatorship.

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Samantha Lewis 2013/01/30 16:13:16

No

+3
What and give one party free reign? Nope

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MrWmnHtr 2013/01/30 15:10:15

No

+2
There should have been a third choice, Do you care? It's just theater. That's why they don't actually debate. They haven't been told what to think yet. I see 66% of the people are ignorant as usual. Isn't that same percentage of Dems to Repubs in congress? All Dems and Repubs should do the country a favor and kill themselves. They are all the same party just pretending to be on opposite sides.

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Heisenberg 2013/01/30 05:54:08
steven 2013/01/30 01:24:56

No

+4
Not until they also institute, pass and enforce by severe penalty a bill that requires ALL bills to be single issue only, with no pork and riders of any kind. So long as that is not in place, I say the longer they spout off steam and blather about nothing, the less harm they do to us who are under the thumb of their bills.

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aphotodude to steven 2013/01/30 18:52:37

+2
You Got it right!!!!

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concerned2 to steven 2013/01/30 22:29:42

+1
I like it!

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RubenRibnik 2013/01/29 22:50:05

No

+3
Leave it to Harry to want to do away with something he himself and the dems used against Bush.. LOL 2 faced son of a b i t c h , and I am from Nevada

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Angus 2013/01/29 21:49:52

No

+2
But Harry Reid should !!!!!!!

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RubenRi... to Angus 2013/01/29 22:50:47

+4
yeah Harry should GO

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aphotodude to RubenRi... 2013/01/30 18:53:25

+2
Away!

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Kenneth Huang 2013/01/29 20:33:19

No

+4
The Senate is supposed to allow for debate. So let's have some actual debate. If Senators don't want to end debate, they should be required to actually debate. That means talking.

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John BNO 2013/01/29 19:12:20 (edited)

Yes

Absolutely. It is nothing more than a cope-out way of blocking legislation as it is used today. Return to the old rules and keep the "filibuster" live on the floor.

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Angus to John BNO 2013/01/29 21:50:30

+3
It's a slide into dictatorship. PERIOD

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Ramón 2013/01/29 18:39:22

No

+4
Filibuster is another valid tool the minority uses to even the playing field. Like running out the clock in a ball game.

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johnnyg 2013/01/29 18:01:24

Yes

+1
The senate should be abolished.

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Joker~R... to johnnyg 2013/01/30 17:11:04

+1
Sarcasm?

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aphotodude to johnnyg 2013/01/30 18:54:51

Commie!!!

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johnnyg to aphotodude 2013/02/01 16:20:38

Commies love government. I hate government.

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Igor 2013/01/29 17:54:34

No

+3
He knows that sooner or later dems will be in minority and so he is very reasonably does not want to loose the power to block republican president

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t.eliot, topbard 2013/01/29 16:08:55

No

+6
Not abolished, but senators should be required to hold the floor and speak for the duration of their filibuster.

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rbeas 2013/01/29 15:59:12

Yes

+3
If I were a Senator I would have kicked Harry's rear end on the Senate floor.

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mrdog 2013/01/29 15:07:15

No

+2
Keep traditional rules....I like it...bark

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rbeas to mrdog 2013/01/29 16:01:43

+7
I dont have a problem with the filibuster. But do it like it was done on the floor for 200 years. TALK!

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mrdog to rbeas 2013/01/29 16:04:23

+2
That is fine with me....I saw Mr. Smith Goes to Washington....bark

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Space Invader 2013/01/29 15:05:30

No

+6
All they want is to control ALL forms of government

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Edwin 2013/01/29 14:47:52

Yes

I thought this was a done deal.

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Angus to Edwin 2013/01/29 21:52:09

+1
Seems you support the annihilation of our Bill of Rights. Got your brown uniform ready?

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Edwin to Angus 2013/02/12 12:00:48

Odd comment, considering the filibuster is not mentioned in the Bill of Rights.

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Angus to Edwin 2013/02/15 00:21:49

Neither is the fact that Obama is trying to make us believe that he has the right to infringe upon it.

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Edwin to Angus 2013/02/19 05:58:21

How did Obama enter this conversation about the Senate filibuster? Are you saying Obama wants to infringe on the right of the Senate to have a filibuster?

Or are you just trying to insert him into the conversation because you enjoy talking about him a lot?

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Angus to Edwin 2013/02/19 16:54:30

You bring up the Bill of Rights which is the same one Obama stomps on every time he opens his teleprompter mouth.

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