General Discussion

branford

(4,462 posts)

40. I am an advocate of the First Amendment.

Thu Oct 23, 2014, 11:28 PM

Oct 2014

The NRA, ACLU, Michael Bloomberg, the KKK or anyone else is entitled to speak freely and lobby their elected representatives, regardless of their viewpoint. There is no "manufacturers of deadly weapons" exception to the Constitution.

Moreover, as the NYT articles explains, as many as 10 Democrats will not support Murthy. No matter what you think of his qualifications, he cannot muster a simple majority of the Democratic-controlled Senate. The reason for the lack of support is immaterial. The filibuster issue is a red herring (and a "hold" is not a filibuster). The reason why the White House and Harry Reid are not screaming about Republican obstructionism is because forcing a vote will backfire on our party, and could even cost us the Senate. Murthy would also still fail to be confirmed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/us/senate-balks-at-obama-pick-for-surgeon-general.html

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Republican Congressman Is Unaware There Is No Surgeon General To Head Ebola Response [View all] babylonsister Oct 2014 OP

This is so pointedly disheartening. Clueless seems rampant in that party. pinto Oct 2014 #1

I totally agree. Pretty pathetic babylonsister Oct 2014 #2

It is pathetic bsis. sheshe2 Oct 2014 #25

Why aren't you empowering the person that doesn't exist because your party has been blocking it? tanyev Oct 2014 #3

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Hekate Oct 2014 #4

And tens of millions of Americans will RACE to the polls to elect him and others like randys1 Oct 2014 #5

Answer to your question: No, we won't. freshwest Oct 2014 #28

Wonder if he has a challenger? ReRe Oct 2014 #37

no. NYtoBush-Drop Dead Oct 2014 #73

... napkinz Oct 2014 #6

But we have pro NRA DUers who will tell Dr. Murthy that he is irrational BrotherIvan Oct 2014 #23

Sad isn't it? Nt abelenkpe Oct 2014 #34

Every day is one step closer to Idiocracy. Enthusiast Oct 2014 #69

+1000 sheshe2 Oct 2014 #26

How are Republicans blocking the Surgeon General? Yupster Oct 2014 #41

Rand Paul placed a hold. eom Qutzupalotl Oct 2014 #43

Here's the definition of a senate hold Yupster Oct 2014 #53

so has anybody bothered to inform him that we don't have a Surgeon General magical thyme Oct 2014 #7

Isnt is Reeds responsibility to bring the issue up for vote Travis_0004 Oct 2014 #76

In his defense, it's hard to keep up on all that governing stuff when there fundraisers to attend. Scuba Oct 2014 #8

It's impossible to keep up with reality when they are so entrenched in Lies to motivate and Cha Oct 2014 #68

I'll bet the Fox folks roughly corrected the nitwit, right? gratuitous Oct 2014 #9

We have an acting surgeon general who has all of the powers of the Surgeon General onenote Oct 2014 #10

Not only do we have a Surgeon General, he is arguably more qualified than the nominee. branford Oct 2014 #12

NRA involvement - pinto Oct 2014 #19

Whether or not you like the NRA, they're entitled to lobby for or against a nominee. branford Oct 2014 #24

The Acting Surgeon 840high Oct 2014 #32

Media Matters - "What Conservatives Get Wrong In Their Smear Campaign Against The Surgeon General... TomCADem Oct 2014 #45

Whether you or I believe the NRA claims about Murthy is irrelevant. branford Oct 2014 #48

Accepting Your Argument Encourages More Pretextual Attacks TomCADem Oct 2014 #49

Your issue is really with the Democrats branford Oct 2014 #55

No, my issue is with Republicans TomCADem Oct 2014 #56

Reid can end Paul's hold today. branford Oct 2014 #58

If the NRA lobbies for anything then I know it's evil and bad for America. nt TeamPooka Oct 2014 #75

Dear Rep. Jason Chaffetz, pinto Oct 2014 #11

Republicans have not filibustered the nomination branford Oct 2014 #15

Ah yeah, got it. pinto Oct 2014 #16

Chaffetz can be a fool, but Murthy's confirmation is a Democratic caucus problem. nt branford Oct 2014 #18

actually you're wrong green917 Oct 2014 #38

I am an advocate of the First Amendment. branford Oct 2014 #40

Does all that water get heavy? Thor_MN Oct 2014 #44

+1...nt SidDithers Oct 2014 #52

Does that snark mean you have no intelligent response? Sen Reid could force an up or down vote if rhett o rick Oct 2014 #62

Wow, project your world much? Thor_MN Oct 2014 #74

Senate holds can be broken with a cloture vote same as a filibuster. Reid is protecting rhett o rick Oct 2014 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author Yupster Oct 2014 #42

Jason you are one dumb asshole. Wellstone ruled Oct 2014 #13

You would think the media would be all over the Republican and NRA blockade...puzzling... Fred Sanders Oct 2014 #14

You need to speak with the approx. 10 Democratic Senators that don't support Murthy. branford Oct 2014 #17

What difference would it make if they confirmed Murthy onenote Oct 2014 #36

His own personal Emily Litella moment. lpbk2713 Oct 2014 #20

Unbelievable, the ignorance. WinkyDink Oct 2014 #21

I'm convinced these idiots won't be satisfied no matter what Obama does. Initech Oct 2014 #22

Come on, Chuck Todd ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2014 #27

B/C mush for brains Rand Paul and the Rs say no irisblue Oct 2014 #29

The GOP really doesn't care about government or the people of this nation. Rex Oct 2014 #30

Yes they do. Only fucking richie rich matters to any of them. lonestarnot Oct 2014 #84

Abbot and Costello's "Whose on first?" makes more sense than this teabagger clown. kairos12 Oct 2014 #31

Oh, he is aware... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2014 #33

Is there a cure for dumbola? Sancho Oct 2014 #35

Another oblivious politician. bigwillq Oct 2014 #39

Hey Jason, Renew Deal Oct 2014 #46

The stupid burns malaise Oct 2014 #47

He doesn't really want the answer to that question does he? LiberalElite Oct 2014 #50

John McEnroe has responded BeyondGeography Oct 2014 #51

Unaware or don't care, the Republican way. sammy750 Oct 2014 #54

Typical Republican, dumb as hell. . . B Calm Oct 2014 #57

I've been in and out watching that hearing... George II Oct 2014 #59

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2014 #60

The right hand doesn't know what the far-right hand is doing. n/t Orsino Oct 2014 #63

Update: Congressman denies knowledge of his own mental state... xocet Oct 2014 #64

part of awesome quote "The surgeon general is also an office. It's the Office of the Surgeon General Botany Oct 2014 #77

Yes, that is an awesome statement by Chaffetz - very Palinesque save the self-reflection.... xocet Oct 2014 #79

and yet he will be re-elected Botany Oct 2014 #80

It is too bad that he will be re-elected. Weirdly, Descartes' hair seems to fit his image.... xocet Oct 2014 #81

And yet we Americans are so pathetically ignorant and stupid that PatrickforO Oct 2014 #65

$175,000 a year, the best health care, excellent perks... KansDem Oct 2014 #66

From time to time . . . OldRedneck Oct 2014 #67

It begs the question... czarjak Oct 2014 #70

... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #71

A case of giving Fox News too little credit WhaTHellsgoingonhere Oct 2014 #72

Did he even know who the acting SG was? ileus Oct 2014 #78

The Headline SHOULD have read: "Republican Congressman Clueless That HIS PARTY is BLOCKING TrollBuster9090 Oct 2014 #82

ZOMG! Repubs are Blocking. Except they're not. ARMYofONE Oct 2014 #85

Republicans blocked the nomination on orders from the NRA, who threatened to score the vote, and TrollBuster9090 Oct 2014 #86

ouch C Moon Oct 2014 #83