About three hours ago, just as he took the Senate floor, Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) staff, tweeted: "You can call what i am doing today whatever you want, you it [sic] call it a filibuster, you can call it a very long speech..."
And he's been speaking, almost uninterrupted, ever since.
It's a filibuster as filibusters were originally intended -- and, as such, makes a mockery of what the filibuster's become: a gimmick that allows a minority of senators to quietly impose supermajority requirements on any piece of legislation.
Joined at different times by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sanders has been decrying the Obama tax cut plan for bailing out the wealthiest people in America. "How can I get by on one house?" Sanders railed, sarcastically. "I need five houses, ten houses. I need three jet planes to take me all over the world! Sorry, American people. We've got the money, we've got the power."
And he's doing what he feels needs to be done, even though I think this is a mistake, and that the Dems aren't going to get a better deal.
But at least he's standing on his principles and is trying to force negotiations.
Two years too late, the Senate (or at least Bernie) grows a spine.
ReplyDeleteFive hours in, and he's still spitting fire.
ReplyDeleteIf our firebagger friends had a fraction of this focus and skin in the game, I'd cut them some slack.
Democrats: stick with us and maybe someday we'll actually have the guts to attack people in the other party!
ReplyDeleteFierce advocacy, aimed directly at one's own foot.
ReplyDeleteIt would be heartening if it wasn't the political equivalent of an own goal.
You gotta love an old school filibuster, though.
ReplyDeleteFTA:
ReplyDelete...Sanders has been decrying the Obama tax cut plan for bailing out the wealthiest people in America. "How can I get by on one house?" Sanders railed, sarcastically. "I need five houses, ten houses. I need three jet planes to take me all over the world! Sorry, American people. We've got the money, we've got the power."
I wonder if ol' Bernie thinks those houses and jet planes owned by wealthy people appeared out of thin air. It would seem to me that those wealthy people paid other people, providing jobs, to build the houses and appliances and furniture and airplanes and airplane parts and jet fuel and airport rental and airport maintenance and so on and so forth.
Why does Sanders hate workers?
BWAHAHAHAHA! Steviepoo, never leave us. I can't get comedy that pure hardly anywhere.
ReplyDeleteSo, like Sanders, you think these items appear out of thin air too?
ReplyDeleteI see you haven't thrown out those glasses yet, have you?
ROFL, you are just precious!
ReplyDeleteMore, do more! *claps*
Oh, suggestions from the peanut gallery! Which dead unicorn should Steviekins beat next?
I'll bet you think Republicans passed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", don't you?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I'm so glad to provide you with comedy. You will get a bill for this service.
OMFG ROFLCOPTER!
ReplyDeleteUnless you've got my address on file, Steve-o, I'm afraid you're providing all this joviality as a service free to the public.
Hope that doesn't chafe.
Now isn't that just like him, expecting comedy to be some kind of subscription service, like firefighting?
ReplyDeleteGuess when I want comedy, I'll have to go back to the sex scenes in Atlas Yawns.
if bernie was doing the negotiating we'd get a better deal. this deal is crap. tune in to cspan2 and watch him stand up for the working and unemployed people in this country. it's quite amazing. he's going into hour 8. and i don't believe this is aimed at his own foot. he calling for a popular uprising to call your representatives and say no to this immense give away to the rich
ReplyDeleteIt only works if there's actually an uprising.
ReplyDeleteWhich there will not be. Quick! Dancing With The Stars! Real Housewives Of Wherever! Who's playing the NFL Sunday night game this week? Order the Super Extra Large Mega Pizza deal!
Bread and circuses trumps torches and pitchforks every time.