CIVICS LESSON: The filibuster does not require someone to talk.

[TheWraith]

This was inspired by my other thread on cloture reform, and the recurring misinformation that a "filibuster" requires someone to be constantly talking in order to be real.

In fact, those sorts of filibusters haven't existed for nearly a hundred years, and they were the reason that cloture votes were created, in order to eliminate them. Cloture was originated so that instead of simply talking until no one could talk anymore, there would be a vote to end the period of debate. This was done to halt the obstructionism of certain isolationist Senators to votes related to World War I.

Now while the old filibuster didn't let debate end by simply continuing to talk and not yield the floor, the new filibuster was simply a result of not having sufficient votes for cloture, meaning that the "debate period" couldn't be ended according to Senate rules. This does not require someone to talk, and there is no "real" filibuster that DOES require someone continuously talking. Period. The idea that we can force the Republicans to reenact Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is simply not true; there is nothing in the current Senate rules that would require it under any circumstances.

[louis-t]

1. I'd like to see someone filibuster with 3 days of

whoopie cushion noises. "This is what I think of your stupid republican ideas". OK, I better go eat, I'm getting ridiculous.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Don't bother.

Honestly, people aren't interesting in hearing the truth.

But as a pre-emptive response, Strom Thurman did his filibuster on civil rights because he wanted to, not because he had to.

[alfredo]

3. If we reform the filibuster, the Reps would then abuse the holds

They'd have never ending quorum calls. They will do anything to prove our government doesn't work.

[Ozymanithrax]

4. I've stated these same facts several times...

Most people don't care. The believe something to be a fact, and therefore it is.

But this is a damn good try.

[Recursion]

5. I'm close to giving up on this one

I'm starting to just leave a link to the appropriate page of the Senate rules and let them have their fantasy.

[gratuitous]

6. Is that true for Priuses, too?

:P

[former9thward]

7. I think your history is a little off.

The modern filibuster rule, where one does not need to talk, was put into effect in 1975, not really a hundred years ago. In the 1960s the Senate passed a two-track rule which allows other legislation to be considered while a filibuster is going on. That rule was passed after Robert Byrd spoke for almost 15 hours trying to stop the Civil Rights Act.

[TheKentuckian]

8. If you are reforming the existing system then you are free to say you that is a goal.

After a record session of filibusters last congress the rules needed reform BAD.