Stacking the court: the REAL reason for changing the filibuster rules in the Senate

This is the main reason why Democrats changed the nominating rules: to give President Obama an advantage on “executive orders” that are legislative workarounds so that he doesn’t actually have to compromise on anything.

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Scandal? Have I got a scandal for YOU!

Jonathan Bernstein over at the Washington Post wants you to know that of course he knows about that (phony) Benghazi thingie, not to mention all the to-do about the IRS that, while "apparently" real, is only just a tiny little one (scandal).

But have you HEARD about those Senate REPUBLICANS?  They're "continuing, and possibly accelerating, obstruction of executive branch nominees" as we speak!

Yes, I know that in the way Washington works, this kind of routine disruption of normal government procedures doesn’t qualify as a Scandal! But it should. And while it’s quite proper for those concerned about good government to be outraged by the IRS story, this one is a much bigger deal, and the facts of it are plain for all to see — in fact, the people responsible are openly bragging about what they’re doing.

Now that’s a scandal!

So, folks, don't waste your time on all these can't-keep-track-of-'em-'cause-there's-so-many-of-'em scandals swirling around Obama's head (along with all those flies) because you just might miss out on the REALLY big one over at the Senate with, who else, the Republicans.

I'm sure he tried to squeeze George W. Bush in there somewhere...or Rush Limbaugh...or Sarah Palin...

But anyway, "Republicans...make it impossible for the normal machinery of government to function" don'tcha know?

(Don't pay any attention to the Stimulus or Obamacare or Dodd-Frank, though...)

Did you know...

Senator Rand Paul, speaking about his recent filibuster on the U.S. Senate floor:

At about 6:30 p.m., something extraordinary happened. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who has been recovering from a stroke, came to the floor to give me something. I was not allowed to drink anything but water or eat anything but the candy left in our Senate desks. But he brought me an apple and a thermos full of tea — the same sustenance Jimmy Stewart brought to the Senate floor in the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” That was a moment I will never forget.

"I believe the support I received this past week shows that Americans are looking for someone to really stand up and fight for them. And I’m prepared to do just that."

This makes me sad

Friday Afternoon Roundup - The Senator from Al Qaeda

"The Paul filibuster was about drone strikes on American soil, the way that Obama 'only' wants to ban assault rifles." --Daniel Greenfield

Excerpt from RAND PAUL/VAN JONES 2016

If you stand with Rand, this is what you stand with.

Everyone can do what they please, but if you're going to stand with Rand, then let's be clear about his positions and agenda. And be clear about whether you share them or not.

No more dressing this up in "Rand Paul is standing up for the Constitution." That's the same dishonest claim his father made for years. And none of the even more dishonest, "Drone strikes on Americans in cafes" nonsense.

That's not what this is about.

1. Do you think that the United States is murdering innocent Muslims and inspiring terrorist attacks?
   
   
2. Do you think that if we just leave them alone, they'll leave us alone?
   
   
3. If you think all those things, then wasn't the left, which has been saying all these things since before September 11, right all along?

#StandWithRand

THE BLAZE: Here Are All the GOP Senators That Participated in Rand Paul’s 12+ Hour Filibuster… and the Ones Who Didn’t 

#StandWithRand

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Senator Rand Paul’s principled stand yesterday, filibustering on the Senate Floor for 13 straight hours, was inspiring, encouraging, and reassuring.

We stand here today inspired by Sen. Paul’s passionate and courageous leadership, and by the support shown by many others in the Senate Chamber and around the country.

Thank you Sen. Rand Paul for standing up on the floor of the Senate to demand a debate about the Constitution’s relevance, the importance of the Fifth Amendment, the Senate’s constitutional mandate to advise and counsel the President, whether the different branches of government are truly intended to provide checks and balances, and whether there are limits to the Executive Branch’s power.  Each of these arguments is important and valuable to our country today and essential to ensuring a better future for all Americans. Sen. Paul has shown wisdom and political leadership to use the filibuster as a bully pulpit to elevate these principled arguments to the forefront of the media.  We need more leaders like Sen. Rand Paul.

Yesterday, we also saw that there were several others willing to stand with Rand Paul: Senators Barasso, Chambliss, Cornyn, Cruz, Flake, Johnson, Lee, McConnell, Moran, Rubio, Scott, Thune, and Toomey. Thank you all for your willingness to have Sen. Paul’s back and, more importantly, to stand up for the Constitution. It’s important to note that Sen. Mike Lee was the first person to assist Sen. Paul, and Sen. Ted Cruz stayed until the end, reading supportive Tweets to his colleague, among other contributions. Thank you Sens. Lee and Cruz!

Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat from Oregon, spoke in support of the questions Sen. Paul was asking of the White House, and referred to the two of them as the “Checks and Balances Caucus.” Sen. Wyden was willing to put aside political party loyalty to consider what is best for all Americans. Thank you for that, Sen. Wyden.

We are finally seeing Senators and Representatives who were elected as a result of the tea party movement beginning to establish their footing, use their voices effectively, and make a difference by pushing Congress to again function the way it should.  This would not be possible without the time, dedication, commitment, perseverance, and determination of the Patriots around the country who have stood for fiscally responsible, constitutionally limited government through Tea Party Patriots, Campaign for Liberty, 912 groups, and other like-minded organizations.

Now is the time, with our Constitution and our liberties under such an organized and sustained attack, to fight back harder than ever, and to never, ever give in. Sen. Paul’s physical effort alone was so inspiring that many of us across the country could barely sleep last night. This is the spirit of America we long to see in our elected officials.

When we began Tea Party Patriots four years ago, we knew it would take a long time to achieve our goals. We have a 40-year plan. We will continue to build upon the foundation we have laid. We are only just beginning!

Thank you and God Bless America!

Jenny Beth Martin
Co-Founder and National Coordinator
Tea Party Patriots

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On this day in 1964...

GatewayPundit: Democrats Filibustered the Civil Rights Act

The secret that is hidden inside the U.S. Constitution

When the elitists find out this is in the Constitution they are going to go insane...

What "reconciliation" actually IS

For the Record:

"For those not versed in the arcane rules of the U.S. Senate, reconciliation is not what a divorced couple attempts when they visit Dr. Phil. It is a mechanism for avoiding filibusters on certain budgetary issues. If Democrats can find a way to apply it to health care reform, they could pass a bill with just 51 votes, negating the election of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and the loss of the 60-seat supermajority.

Reconciliation was established in 1974 to make it easier for Congress to adjust taxes and spending in order to 'reconcile' actual revenues and expenditures with a previously approved budget resolution. Thus, at the end of the year, if Congress found that it was running a budget deficit higher than previously projected, it could quickly raise taxes or cut spending to bring the budget back into line. Debate on such measures was abbreviated to just 20 hours (an eyeblink in Senate terms), and there could be no filibuster.

As Robert Byrd, (D-W.V.), one of the original authors of the reconciliation rule, explained, 'Reconciliation was intended to adjust revenue and spending levels in order to reduce deficits ... [I]t was not designed to ... restructure the entire health care system.' He warns that using reconciliation for health care would 'violate the intent and spirit of the budget process, and do serious injury to the Constitutional role of the Senate.'

In fact, in 1985, the Senate adopted the 'Byrd rule,' which prohibits the use of reconciliation for any 'extraneous issue' that does not directly change revenues or expenditures. Clearly, large portions of the health care bill, ranging from mandates to insurance regulation to establishing 'exchanges,' do not meet that requirement."

--Cato Institute senior fellow Michael D. Tanner

Received from PatriotPost.us

President tells Senate Democrats an astonishing bald-faced lie that they obviously had to know was a lie

Does the President know he is lying? Do the Democrats know he is lying? Do they even care if he is lying? Does anyone else care if the President is lying?

From Hugh Hewitt

Today President Obama told Senate Democrats that they had faced "enormous procedural obstacles that are unprecedented..."

"You had to cast more votes to break filibusters last year than in the entire 1950s and 1960s combined. That's 20 years of obstruction jammed into just one."

This is astonishing. A filibuster is the successful use of 41 or more votes to prevent the closing of debate. There wasn't a single filibuster in 2009. Not one.

The president will say anything to advance a narrative that makes him a victim of obstruction. It is clear that 2010 will be spent pivoting from his 2009 mantra of Bush's fault to his campaign year blasts at the "do nothing Republicans."

His advisors must foresee grim news on jobs to offer up such a transparent and unpersuasive, indeed almost purposefully alienating argument.