A close observer from up on the Hill shares some history and insights about filibusters and sundry delaying tactics …
Reams could be and have been written on the origins, history, evolution and current relevance of the filibuster, but on DC’s point, the answer is pretty simple – any debatable motion can be filibustered. The motion to proceed to a bill or nomination has always been debatable. That’s why it will ultimately take two cloture votes to cut off debate and get a vote on the final bill. Several other motions to move the bill to conference are debatable too. Most of those motions are usually adopted by unanimous consent, but they may not be in this case. Passing a bill when there is passionate opposition to it is hard. That’s just the way it is. It may seem silly to endlessly debate a motion that only starts the debate, but that’s Senate procedure, and it has little to do with the filibuster rule itself.
Jim Comey and Jack Goldsmith defend Holder’s decision to have KSM & Co. tried in civilian courts in New York City — make many of the now standard arguments and make factual points about the overselling of military commissions/tribunals that a lot of people are ignoring.
Some key points — the Bush administration used civilian courts to secure numerous convictions of al Qaeda terrorists since 2001 and the record of military commissions has actually been rather poor, not simply on constitutional or civil liberties grounds, but by the concrete measure of actually convicting people and securing long sentences. What’s difficult to question is that convictions in civilian courts would be vastly more durable and secure against second-guessing than any from military commissions, given how uncertain their status is in US and international law.
And not just with Sarah Palin …
I have a pretty hard time imagining he’d actually lose a race for reelection. But a new poll has him running neck and neck with professional bombast and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth in a potential 2010 Republican primary.
Robert Gates says troops are poised to start flowing quickly to Afghanistan once President Obama makes his decision on strategy. That and the day’s other political news in the TPMDC Morning Roundup.
Jon Stewart warns about two scary men plotting al Qaeda terrorist attacks on the floor of the House of Reps. Alas, they’re GOP reps from Texas and Arizona.
I’m not trying to be ungenerous but at what point do we see Sen. Specter showing up at the next WTO protest with a black t-shirt and a bandana around his head? Maybe he hits Copenhagen.
A lot of reformers see ending the health care industry’s anti-trust exemption as an extremely important part of reform, perhaps more important than a lot of provisions that are getting more attention. But Sen. Reid (D-NV) seems to have jettisoned that provision in a bid to secure Sen. Nelson’s (D-NE) support on key procedural votes.
The pro-Obama Organizing for America is raising money off Sarah Palin.
Obama’s approval rating has dropped below 50% in the Gallup daily tracking poll for the first time. How does his first foray below 50% approval compare to other post-war presidents?