Politics
Briefs
The Filibuster Question
WE THE PEOPLE . . .
Rep. K. Michael Conaway,
R-Texas, has a unique idea for
A 60-seat Senate majority now out of reach, Democrats
improving Congress: Require
all staffers to read the U.S.
must woo moderates in order to push the new president’s
Constitution once a year. The
Constitution is considered
agenda. Who in the GOP is likely to cross the line?
“only as an afterthought in
many of our debates,” Conaway
says. Unfortunately, the
By John Mercurio
representatives themselves
merely would be encouraged
W
ITH GEORGIA SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS’ — not required — to read the
seat safely in the GOP column, the
founding document annually.
Democrats’ hopes for a fi libuster-proof
FLAKE AS HERO
majority have been dashed. Efforts to push the
The tally is in on how much
Democratic agenda will now focus on a few
pork Congress jammed into the
moderate Republicans seen as likely supporters $700 billion Wall Street bailout
of President Barack Obama’s pet projects.
bill, and it isn’t pretty. More
Chambliss beat out Democrat Jim Martin in
than 2,320 earmarks costing
$6.6 billion were attached
a runoff election in Georgia on Dec. 2, leaving
to the measure, according
the Democrats with 58 Senate seats, two shy of
to Taxpayers for Common
the super-majority needed to keep Republicans Sense. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.,
from derailing legislation with fi libusters, the
OUT OF DOGHOUSE Sen. Joe Lieberman’s vocal
emerged as a
notorious tactic senators usually accomplish
support for Sen. John McCain riled Democrats.
conservative
hero during the
with endless fl oor speeches. White House, U.S. attorneys and judges and
debate. Flake
One other race remained unresolved at press dams and roads and ambassadors and all that
repeatedly
time: Millions of votes still were being recounted other stuff, somebody should take them out introduced
in Minnesota, where Sen. Norm Coleman had a to the woodshed,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse,
fl oor
minuscule lead over Democrat Al Franken. D-R.I., recently told The New York Times.
amendments
attacking
The loss in Georgia might have hindered Already anticipating the super-majority
individual pork-
Rep. Flake
Democrats’ ability to move a legislative backlog shortfall, Democrats have been girding them-
barrel projects
of proposals — healthcare, public works, energy, selves for bipartisan battle. Indeed, when — to no avail. Flake warns the
and other issues on which they clashed with Senate Democrats decided to let Sen. Joe
bill will “fundamentally alter”
President Bush — through the Senate. But evenut even LiebermLieberman keep a key committee chairman-
government’s relationship with
the private sector.
without 60 Senate seats, Democrats still have ship, the move was hardly one ofs
formidable options. altruism.a
YOUTUBE TERROR
First, party leaders are likely to put Lieberman, who actively support- The idea that YouTube
pressure on a dwindling number of ed Republican presidential candidate
could provide an unfettered
moderate Republicans to switch parties. John McCain, had angered many on
glimpse into life on Capitol
Hill apparently is alarming to
That target list could include the left with his anti-Obama campaign
those who work there — which
GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and rhetoric.
explains why Congress wants
Susan Collins of Maine, as well as But by allowing Connecticut’s inde- to regulate it. The Senate has
Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, pendent Democrat to keep his chair-
already passed guidelines,
Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and George manship of the powerful Homeland
but House Republicans
MAGIC NUMBER
object that the rules infringe
Voinovich of Ohio.
Democrats have
Security committee, Democrats avoid-
OMPOSITE/ISTOCKPHOTO
on free speech. Technically,
Failing that, Democrats would be
other options
ed the prospect of losing Lieberman’s
House regulations already bar ARGET C
forced to operate on a vote-by-vote basis,
despite missing
vote on party leadership races and key members from posting videos
seeking support from Republicans that their target. fi libuster votes.
to outside sites. Congressmen
has less to do with party affi liation than Lieberman likely will stay within
routinely ignore the rule when
AP IMAGES / T
they post to their own sites,
with targeted lobbying by Senate leaders and Democratic circles, but he may side with the
however. The House measure
administration offi cials. Obama can, of course, use GOP on fi libuster votes.
would provide an approved list
the unique tools at his disposal to corral support. He has warned that, without 41 votes siding of sites to which videos could
“If the White House political team can’t fi g- with Republicans trying to stop “passions of
be posted.
AP IMAGES / FLAKE/
ure out a way to get two Republican senators to the moment,” America’s well-being could suf-
vote with us between Air Force One, tea at the fer under Democratic rule. LIEBERMAN/
40 NEWSMAX / JANUARY 2009
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