dagblog - Comments for "Harry Reid Shuts Down McConnell's Attempt to Filibuster AJA"

McConnell and the Republicans

AmericanDreamer — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:21:08 +0000

In reply to Harry Reid Shuts Down McConnell's Attempt to Filibuster AJA

McConnell and the Republicans have filibustered the AJA.

They went back to blocking an up-or-down majority vote on AJA. Apparently the "no filibuster" offer was a one-time only offer on an earlier version of the bill which Democrats did not have the votes to pass by majority vote.

They're holding the vote open for Shaheen, who will join with 50 Democrats to allow an up-or-down (majority) vote, making, in effect, a majority in favor of having a majority vote.

Obama issued a rare statement following the GOP's "successful" attempt to thwart majority rule in the Senate:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2011

Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the American Jobs Act

Tonight, a majority of United States Senators voted to advance the American Jobs Act. But even though this bill contains the kind of proposals Republicans have supported in the past, their party obstructed the Senate from moving forward on this jobs bill.

Tonight's vote is by no means the end of this fight. Independent economists have said that the American Jobs Act would grow the economy and lead to nearly two million jobs, which is why the majority of the American people support these bipartisan, common-sense proposals. And we will now work with Senator Reid to make sure that the individual proposals in this jobs bill get a vote as soon as possible.

In the coming days, Members of Congress will have to take a stand on whether they believe we should put teachers, construction workers, police officers and firefighters back on the job. They'll get a vote on whether they believe we should cut taxes for small business owners and middle-class Americans, or whether we should protect tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.

With each vote, Members of Congress can either explain to their constituents why they're against common-sense, bipartisan proposals to create jobs, or they can listen to the overwhelming majority of American people who are crying out for action. Because with so many Americans out of work and so many families struggling, we can't take "no" for an answer. Ultimately, the American people won't take "no" for an answer. It's time for Congress to meet their responsibility, put their party politics aside and take action on jobs right now.

Yeah, I know they also need

Beetlejuice — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:03:59 +0000

In reply to You don't hang out in the

Yeah, I know they also need the House to rubber stamp whatever they pass ... which won't happen. Was just hoping the stunt Reid pulled was just a warm up for what's to come before the 2012 general election and the GOPer's take them to task in a fight to the death for control over both House and Senate. Otherwise, he just opened a political pandora's box which his action cannot be undone. So the GOPer's will take full advantage of his political maneuver to paint the town red at his expense once they take the leadership back. That's a huge future price to pay for oneupmanship today. So I would hope he has a plan.

Some job loss data for

AmericanDreamer — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:10:38 +0000

In reply to Harry Reid Shuts Down McConnell's Attempt to Filibuster AJA

Some job loss data for educators "police, firefighters, courtroom secretaries, aides for the severely disabled and their families, and many others whose work the private sector is unlikely to replace, even when the economy improves."

http://www.offthechartsblog.org/education-jobs-still-disappearing/

You don't hang out in the

Michael Wolraich — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:48:06 +0000

In reply to Okay. So Reid dusted off the

You don't hang out in the Senate much, do you?

I know, I agree. I hope Harry

tmccarthy0 — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:32:40 +0000

In reply to It pisses me off that there

I know, I agree. I hope Harry Reid can pull this off.

Thanks. You know, I actually

AmericanDreamer — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:19:15 +0000

In reply to This One-word response

Thanks. You know, I actually do use this thing called google that artappraiser has been telling me about, but maybe I need to use it even more!

Okay. So Reid dusted off the

Beetlejuice — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:13:08 +0000

In reply to Harry Reid Shuts Down McConnell's Attempt to Filibuster AJA

Okay.

So Reid dusted off the GOPer's tactical political nuke and turn in on them. And the GOPer's where shocked, awed and angered that he and his fellow Democrats had the unmitigated audacity to underhandedly use the GOPer's weapon of mass political destruction on them. Now hand-to-hand political warfare in the halls of congress is all but assured.

My only suggestion for Reid and his fellow Democrats is not to stop here. They can siphon another GOPer weapon of mass political destruction from the GOPer lead state legislatures ... ram thru as many changes as possible before they lose their minor majority. That way if the GOPers do regain the majority, they'll have a full plate of legislation to kill and the Democrats can be just as annoying to the GOPers as they were when the Democrats were the majority.

This One-word response

Donal — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:06:32 +0000

In reply to Ok, thanks...

This

One-word response placed after a quote on a message board as an affirmation of the author's agreement with the quoted person's view or opinion. Commonly used on Fark.com.

Some guy: "Nice to see that the human race has advanced to the point of using robots to poke things with a stick."

Another guy (after quoting above): "This."

It pisses me off that there

AmericanDreamer — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:03:41 +0000

In reply to I think McConnell wanted the

It pisses me off that there aren't 51 Senate Democratic votes for the President's AJA bill. Because there aren't, there is the need for negotiations to try to get to 51 Dems and that's what McConnell was trying to exploit and would have succeeded in exploiting had Reid not gone "nuclear" last night. Which may or may not be a precedent that comes back to bite us. The GOP surely will use it to do stuff they want to do when they get the reins next.

The message to the Senate Democrats seems clear enough: Get to 51 on AJA fast, and move...now. It looks to me as though Reid is very much on the case but herding cats is easy compared to getting a fellow Senator to vote the way you want them to.

Ok, thanks...

AmericanDreamer — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:52:52 +0000

In reply to I agree with it.

Ok, thanks...