Feb 22 2010
Cunningham Calls for an End to the Filibuster
Cal Cunningham, North Carolina candidate for the U.S. Senate, has mirrored the calls of some of his Democratic colleagues around the country, calling for an end to the use of the filibuster in the Senate. Many members of the Democratic Senatorial caucus have been getting frustrated with the increased use of the filibuster by the Republicans to stop legislation from moving forward and allowing it to die in the Senate.
The filibuster is an interesting piece of American history. It is not a part of the Constitution or even the original Congressional rules when they were first established, but it has been around off and on since 1837 when the first one took place. At times during Senate history there was no cloture procedure to end a filibuster. At other times it’s required a 2/3 vote of Congress. Today and most recently it is 60. It also used to be far more brutal for the filibustering party. Just a few decades ago they would stand up there and talk for the entire duration of the filibuster, not just symbolically stop the legislation like today. These guys have it easy now. They just say they are filibustering and that’s all there is to it. In the good ole days, the longest traditional filibuster that ever took place was done so by our own former Senator in South Carolina, the late Strom Thurmond who filibustered the 1957 Civil Rights Act for 24 hours and 18 minutes.
The call to bring about an end to its use is stemming from how frequently it has been put into effect since just the turn of the century. Most recently, it is the left that feels it is being abused too much by the GOP, although the Democrats were just as bad about it when the Republicans had the majority. I can’t say that I agree with Cunningham that we should do away with it altogether. I think it should remain a rule to protect the governing minority, but the rules surrounding its use could probably use some overhaul. Personally, I think they should require a filibuster to be a true filibuster like back in Thurmond’s days. Make them stand up there and speak for hours, having to piss in a bucket (yes, that actually happened), until eventually one side gives. That would limit the use of the tactic to only when there is a major struggle going on in the Senate.
The majority flips back and forth between the parties every few election cycles. If the filibuster were to be done away with and Cunningham ends up getting elected to the Senate this year he may wish he had the ability to use it again down the road when the Republicans are in charge and pushing and agenda he doesn’t particularly care for. So as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.
Share
This just shows that Cunningham is nothing but a Harry Reid lap puppy who wants to change the rules to let the arrogant, out of control leadership totally goose step all over our rights. Reid and Pelosi are a big enough threat to our liberites the way it is. They do not need even more power.
[Reply]