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'Mr. Smith' filibuster bill http://www.sabresjunkie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2704	Page 1 of 1

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Author:	Godzilla1960 [ Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:	'Mr. Smith' filibuster bill
I didn't know this, but apparently Senators who wish to block legislation from being voted on by employing the filibuster don't currently have to actually filibuster, i.e. keep talking. Sen. Frank Lautenberg from New Jersey has proposed a bill that if a Senator is going to hold up a vote then he or she has to do it the old fashioned, Jimmy Stewart way -- keep on talking 'til you drop. Sounds reasonable. The filibuster is a valid tool to slow down the will of the majority, but it shouldn't be used to thwart the will of the majority.

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Author:	Crosscheck [ Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: 'Mr. Smith' filibuster bill
yeah...I think that's been the case since the 70's or 80's. It's kinda weak if you ask me. If the minority wants to stall, get up there and talk just like the good old days. In 1961 (I think) the Republicans talked for 4 days straight to block a Supreme court justice from being promoted to Chief justice.

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Author:	Crosscheck [ Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: 'Mr. Smith' filibuster bill
scratch that...it was 1968 over the nomination of Abe Fortas for chief justice. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... Mar17.html

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Author:	Godzilla1960 [ Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: 'Mr. Smith' filibuster bill
Here is an abstract of an interesting article that really rips into Mr. Smith Goes to Washinton as a film that celebrates "sentimentality, ignorance, corniness, showy patriotism, a hatred of politics masked by ostentatious reverence for the constitutional forms that politics alone can bring to life, populist demagoguery, and stupidity." http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1998/0 ... _000015201

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