Why Can’t Conservatives Be Honest About Filibuster Reform?

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Friday December 14, 2012 · 9:16 AM PST

2012/12/14 · 09:16

The following was originally published at OurFuture.org

Yesterday I noted that the main Senate Republican arguments against filibuster reform pretend that Democrats want to do away with minority filibusters, when in fact the proposals on the table simply ensure that filibusters be conducted in public view.

Today, the National Review's Daniel Foster adds to the misleading. In his piece, "The Plot to Kill the Filibuster" he asserts that the Democrats' plan is "the reintroduction of the 'talking filibuster' in certain cases, and its complete elimination in others."

What "in others" is he talking about?

To eliminate the use of the filibuster before any floor debate has even started.

BillScher

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Monday June 13, 2011 · 11:58 AM PDT

2011/06/13 · 11:58

Tonight is the first Republican presidential debate with all the top contenders planning to attend. And there is only one question I want to see asked:

Why didn't the Bush tax cuts create any jobs?

Every candidate on tonight's debate stage not only continues to support the Bush tax cuts, but also proposes additional tax cuts for corporations and individual millionaires.

BillScher

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Monday January 03, 2011 · 12:24 PM PST

2011/01/03 · 12:24

The House Republican leadership has announced it will enact two things immediately upon taking control of the House this week: a new "CutGo" rule to require revenue offsets for any increases in spending, and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act health reform law.

The Republicans might want to pass health reform repeal first.

Because if they install "CutGo" rules first, they won't be able to repeal health reform without also finding $1 trillion in spending cuts over the next two decades to make up for the taxpayer savings they'll be throwing away.

BillScher

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Thursday October 14, 2010 · 12:49 PM PDT

2010/10/14 · 12:49

The Tea Party has long attempted to portray itself as a populist movement -- angry both at Wall Street bailouts and social spending. The notion of government action working to save the private sector from collapse was literally depicted as a giant step towards Nazism, most prominently by unofficial Tea Party leader Glenn Beck.

And it is that Glenn Beck who today wrapped his arms around the U.S. Chamber Of Commerce business lobbyists who, when facing crisis, clamored for that government help -- the fascism known as TARP, and the slavery known as the stimulus.

Today, Beck cut a check for $10,000 to the Chamber of Commerce, and urged his radio listeners to follow his lead. "They are us" said Beck.

What is it that so closely bonds the Chamber with Beck?

BillScher

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Monday September 27, 2010 · 12:12 PM PDT

2010/09/27 · 12:12

This Saturday, progressives will be marching on Washington for the One Nation Working Together rally. Should you bother?

The New York Times reports:

Predicting a crowd of more than 100,000, some 300 liberal groups — including the N.A.A.C.P., the A.F.L.-C.I.O., the National Council of La Raza and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force — are sponsoring a march on Saturday in the hope of transforming the national conversation so it focuses less on the Tea Party.

What does that mean?

BillScher

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Tuesday September 21, 2010 · 12:35 PM PDT

2010/09/21 · 12:35

UPDATE 9/22/10 7:45 PM ET: Sen. Durbin's view was not reported accurately by Bloomberg. He does not believe we should begin deficit reduction until unemployment drops below 6%, not 9% as stated in the initial post below. More details here.

Last week, 300 economists warned Washington of the "grave danger" that a "premature focus on deficit reduction could slow growth and increase unemployment – and could push us back into recession."

Someone got the message. And he just happens to be the highest-ranking Senator on the White House's deficit commission.

Sen. Richard Durbin told Bloomberg that we shouldn't start cutting the deficit until the unemployment rate drops below 9 percent:

BillScher

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Tuesday August 24, 2010 · 12:02 PM PDT

2010/08/24 · 12:02

House Minority Leader John Boehner pulled a sly move today, calling for the resignation of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and top presidential economic adviser Larry Summers. It gave the media an easy headline to write, and obscured the rest of the speech.

That sad, pathetic, empty shell of speech -- a chain of lies, exposing an agenda of nothing but more tax cuts and fewer rules for multi-millionaire CEOs.

Boehner's fact-deprived speech needs a fact-stimulus. Here are just the most egregious examples:

BillScher

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Monday August 02, 2010 · 11:23 AM PDT

2010/08/02 · 11:23

Originally published at OurFuture.org

The Senate is expected to vote today on providing $26 billion in aid to fiscally distressed states and cities.

The vote is about many things. Jobs. Health care. Tax fairness.

But it's not about the deficit.

Why? Because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has completely offset the cost.

Any Senator who claims to oppose this bill because it will increase the deficit is a liar.

Then what is the vote about?

BillScher

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Tuesday July 27, 2010 · 9:37 AM PDT

2010/07/27 · 09:37

The following was originally posted at OurFuture.org

In two weeks at the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, hundreds of thousands of bikers will have a chance to send a message to Harley-Davidson, Inc. and its fellow irresponsible corporations: Stop hoarding profits. Create jobs. Support America.

BillScher

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Friday April 09, 2010 · 9:00 AM PDT

2010/04/09 · 09:00

The following is by Campaign for America's Future Co-director Roger Hickey

This weekend, CNN is giving four hours of free airtime to the leading propagandist fanning the flames of deficit hysteria, Pete Peterson, along with his lackeys. Bloggers and online activists are joining today to promote this action:

Click here to demand CNN stop giving free airtime to deficit crazies this weekend –

And if they do go ahead with this programming, tell them to provide balance to Pete Peterson's deficit hysteria. Give equal time to defenders of Social Security, Medicare and public investment.

BillScher

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Monday March 01, 2010 · 12:37 PM PST

2010/03/01 · 12:37

The exploitation of the Senate rules to obstruct the majority will has reach it's inevitable but inane endpoint.

Sen. Jim Bunning has single-handledly forced the furlough of 2,000 transportation workers and cut off hundreds of thousands unemployed Americans from critical assistance -- benefits that stimulate the overall economy for everyone.

That's what happens when the congressional minority filibusters at a "record-setting pace" to make it impossible to govern. People lose jobs.

BillScher

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Tuesday February 23, 2010 · 12:28 PM PST

2010/02/23 · 12:28

On a blogger conference call earlier today, representatives from AFSCME, Economic Policy Institute and Progressive States called for a major grassroots push to secure critical aid for fiscally distressed state governments and help tackle the jobs crisis.

While aid to state and local governments was included in the House jobs bill that passed in December, it is not included in the tiny jobs bill currently on the Senate floor.

What are the prospects in the Senate for additional legislation? AFSCME Legislative Director Charles Loveless described the legislative landscape in the Senate as "extremely unsettled."

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Why Can’t Conservatives Be Honest About Filibuster Reform?

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House GOP Will Obliterate Its Own "CutGo" Rule When It Repeals Health Reform

Tea Party Populism RIP: Beck Backs Pro-TARP, Pro-Stimulus Chamber Of Commerce

Why March Saturday? Take Back The Discourse (That The Tea Party Stole)

Highest Ranking Senator On Debt Commission Heeds Warning From 300 Economists. Will Anyone Else?

Boehner's Economic Speech Needs More Than A Fact-Check, It Needs A Fact-Stimulus

The State Aid Vote Today Is Not About The Deficit

Attention Sturgis Bikers: Your Sponsor, Harley-Davidson, Is Hoarding Cash And Killing Jobs

URGENT: Stop CNN From Airing Deficit Propaganda

Sen. Jim Bunning Literally Gives The Finger To America. Here's How We Can Fight Back.

Big Push Needed To Win 60 Votes For State Aid & More Private Sector Jobs