Letters from NYC

Filibustering, by any other name

Last night, as I was doing computer upgrades and trouble shooting, I was listening to the radio on that day's filibustering in the Senate. Well, to hear what was going on was a mind-numbing experience.

I've posted in the extended entry a one page transcribed excerpt I found on either Hewitt's site or Fox news (sorry lost the link & page), just in case anyone was interested in seeing our hard earned tax dollars at work. Here's a link to the MP3 excerpt (via radioblogger.com) of the portion I didn't transcribe because of the overwhelming urge to laugh and scream simultaneously. For the love of God, can anyone tell me what this man means by the Republicans "Hamanizing" the Senate?

I'm interested in what others are doing to stay informed, so please let me know what you think and if you've kept up with the filibustering. Sometimes the personal annecdotes drive me over the edge, because I think to myself: "this is the crap that's going into the senate record for the day!"

Read on McDuff's, you be the judge and see if the wheels of democracy have come to a screeching halt.

Cast of Characters:
RB - Senate Dean - Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.,
BF -Senate Majority Leader - Bill Frist,
Chair - Senate Chair - VP Cheney

BF: Will the Senator yield for a question?

RB: Well, let me finish.

RB: Here's my guide, the Constitution of the United States. What does it say? Does it say that each nominee shall have an up or down vote? Does it say that? I ask the Senator from Tennessee, I ask any Senator to respond to that question. Does this Constitution accord to each nominee an up or down vote on the Senate floor?

BF: Mr. President, I'd be happy to respond to the question directly.

RB: Let me ask unanimous consent that I may yield without losing my right to the floor.

Chair: Is there objection? Without objection, the Senator from Tennessee is recognized.

BF: The question, does the Constitution say that every nominee of the President deserves an up or down vote? And the answer is no, the language is not there. And up or down vote, that's the language we use to signify that when the President of the United States to the highest court in the land says, which is his or her responsibility, which is in the Constitution, they send it to this body for advice and consent. And it's common sense to me, in fairness to me, that when they come over to get advice and consent, we go through the Judiciary Committee. If they make it out of Judiciary Committee, the way we give advice and consent on this floor is a vote. That's what we're elected to do. That's what...and vote no. I don't mean you have to vote yes on them. But advice and consent to the American people who are listening now, when they elect us here, what is fair, what is our responsibility, what is our duty, is to vote. That's how we give voice. You can't cut these nominees in half. You can't reshape them. You can't amend them. You can't send them to conference. All of those things...that's why filibuster...I'm a tremendous advocate for the filibuster for legislative matters. But when you have a nominee that comes over, all you can do is shine the light. You examine them, you debate it, unlimited debate...and then to give advice and consent, which is in that Constitution, advice and consent, right there, how do you do it? Vote. Yes, no. Confirm, reject. We accept it. 100 people have spoken, and then we move on to the next nominee.

RB: Mr. President...

Chair: The Senator from West Virginia.

RB: This says, that he, the president, shall have power to nominate...

[He then went on to shift the conversation to the personal and eventually pulled out the bible and began reading from the book of Esther (specifically the story of Mordachai and Haman) to make his next point. In the middle of this reading Frist, who by now had had enough, walked out of the chamber, mad as hell and obviously not willing to take it anymore, while Byrd continued (click through for audio of the senator reading)]

RB: I ask the Leader that he please not “Hamanize” the Senate of the US! [and the filibustering continued]

Sorry, but as an english major who loves language, I reached my breaking point at the introduction of the word "hamanize" into the American lexicon. When I rolled my eyes at the radio I knew it was time to stop listening.

There's nothing much I can do/say to persuade Hillary of my viewpoint, as I understand she's already made up her mind. Besides, her staff is involved in a campaign finance scandal that involves huge amounts of money, so I know, she's busy covering her tracks elsewhere.

You have the info you be the judge!

Posted by Michele at May 14, 2005 08:46 AM