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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is leading a stalling session resembling a filibuster against Obama's tax proposal on the Senate floor Friday, after earlier promising "to take as long as I can to explain to the American people the fact that we have got to do a lot better than this agreement provides." As First Read notes, however, the event is not an actual filibuster under the traditional definition: "If it were a true filibuster, he would be blocking Republicans from conducting business or speaking." The near-filibuster, which began at 10:25 AM, became so popular that it temporarily shut down the Senate video server. Sanders kicked off the debate on the bill with a two-hour stand in opposition to the tax cut deal before handing over the lectern to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and then Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). "How can I get by on one house?" Sanders said. "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, we've got the lobbyists here and on Wall Street. Tough luck. That's the world, get used to it. Rich get richer. Middle class shrinks." In discussing the cost of Obama's plan, Sanders castigated Republicans for "hypocrisy" in their concern over the debt and deficit, saying that if they voted on the package, there should be "no more lectures" from GOP senators about spending. But Sanders said the issue wasn't only about the price of the two-year extension of the tax cuts, it was about the precedent that was being set by the deal. "If [Obama] caves in now, who's going to believe that he's not going to do the same thing in two years," Sanders said, expressing his belief that a vote in the future would produce a further and perhaps permanent extension of the cuts. UPDATE: A Sanders spokesman told HuffPost's Arthur Delaney that Sanders will talk "as long as he can" and that the 69-year-old senator has not taken a break since morning or had anything but water. The spokesman could not predict when the speechifying would stop. "He doesn't have an end time." UPDATE: The filibuster ended just shy of 7:00 PM ET, after 8 hours and 37 minutes of speaking.
Posted By: Richard Kigel
Friday, December 10th 2010 at 10:38PM
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Here it is, Irma.
I am not sure what he hopes to accomplish by all this.
Friday, December 10th 2010 at 10:39PM
Richard Kigel
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Irma--yes, the House of REpresentatives passed both bills. But they have to be passed by the Senate as well before it can be sent to President Obama.
Those people disrespecting the memory of Elizabeth Edwards are craZy!!!
Yes, Bernie Sanders is getting ltos of attention. HOpefully, people wil listen.
Friday, December 10th 2010 at 11:04PM
Richard Kigel
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Clark--
I agree totally--the deal sucks. Especially the estate tax giveaway.
But...I can't agree with you that if the Democrats manage to stop this from going forward that Obama is toast. In my opinion, the Democrats will get the blame.
The Democratic congress put Obama in this box where he was forced to make these compromises in order to get SOMETHING positive back. They could have acted on this legislation much sooner. They could have made it a campaign issue when it really mattered because voters were about to make their decisions. They punted. And now that they have the ball back they find themselves in terrible field position, backed up against their own goal line.
Here is another sports analogy I heard from a caller on 'THE ED SHOW". It made sense to me. Since you are a basketball fan, I'd love to know what you think.
He said--all this Democratic angst reminds him of a team that played a lousy game, lacadaisical defense, giving up easy buckets in the paint, losing the ball. It was a TEAM breakdown.
So now, late in the fourth quarter, they find themselves down by ten poitns. They keep putting the ball in theirshooting guards hands, hoping his offensive firepower will make up the difference. And pretty soon they are down by three with seconds left.
Now they have the ball. Their star offensive threat brings it up court and launches a game tying three at the buzzer.
He bricks it. Game over.
So does anybody blame the star shooting guard?
Yes, he missed the game tying shot--but it was a TEAM failure that brought them to that point.
That is how it seems to me. All through the election campaign the Democrats were literally afraid to bring up the Bush Tax cut issue, even though polls showed most voters supported their position.
To complain about it now--well, I can't blame anyone for complaining because it is such a frustrating giveaway.
My feeling is--the Republicans are the villains here, not President Obama.
In two years, when these same Bush tax cuts are up for review, this time take care of the ball and mount a vigorous game plan so letting them all expire becomes a no brainer for the nation. Hold the Republicans accountable for their crass greed.
In my opinion, that is the only viable strategy at this point.
What do you think???
l
Saturday, December 11th 2010 at 9:55AM
Richard Kigel
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Clark: Yup! It was Lloyd Free! Brooklyn guy straight from Canarsie High School.
Another hotshot who never came close to a championship.
I can't come close to competing with your escellent basketball scenario. You do have an escellent point. But...I can't make an equivalence of World B. Free and his freewheeling style to a certified philsophical thinker, policy wonk and Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
It does not compute.
Let's not lose sight of the simple fact that both of us are strong Obama supporters who want to see him succeed and espeically get re-elected in 2012.
We may have a difference of opinion on this particular policy decision. But the big picture is the same for both of us. I think.
My feeling is I would like to see the President put himself in the best position possible for 2012--and to bring as many fellow Democrats as possible with him.
Sunday, December 12th 2010 at 7:59PM
Richard Kigel
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I always liked watching him--you never knew what he would dol
He was fun.
I know they loved him in Cleveland.
And now he is making a difference in young people's lives, trying to inspire them.
Not bad!!!
Sunday, December 12th 2010 at 9:57PM
Richard Kigel
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..oha nd those breaks when he allow others to take over for him...well theyhave sometings to do with the natural functions of the body (things we refuse to admit exist, right i public)...
any way does anyone remember when Senater Jim Webb was left during the hilidays so Bush could not make any laws or moves on his own with just one Democrat left there at all times...soes the help with that manipulated media versionof he laft after 2 ours any. I doubt is as we no longe tink on our own natural methods now do we...!!!!!(nup)
Mrs. edwards what did she ever do to deserve any of this????but it is freedom of speechis it not or is it hate speechmaybe Rev. Al Sharptons regulat trips on The ed Show@msnbc can help us get back before the supreme court on this matter again a matter of wall street v main street...agai tahnk you Senater Bernie Sanders as it all ties to gether in an attempt to EDUCATE!!!EDUCATE!!!EDUCATE !!!ON HOW TOMAKE THE GOVERNMENT WORK IN YOUR INTEREST AND NOT THELOBBY INTEREST...(SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Rich, my only purpose is to try and get us to think from all sides...example, it maybe selfish, but we do always say experience is the best teacher...and if this is true then what better for these Americans to experience sitting and picturing as theyhave no toys and no Christams dinner to just look into their minds at the politicans ans realize ow much they had to spend to travel home, and on a full stomach with homes and lights and gas for the cars, ect. and realize whoit was taht caused all of this from no j opbs to no food to no place to call home still...
NOW FOR ME THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY BECAUSE AS I KEEP SAYING IF ANY POLITICIANS ABUSE THERE OFICE AND YOUR VOTE BY LAW YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE TISINVESTIGATED AND BROUGHT TO COURT OT UST THE COURT OF PUBLIC EMOTIONAL OUT BURST TAHT CHANGES EACH AND EVERY DAY...(SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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...and, I do believe tha tthe senater today was trying to get our attention as he ended his fillibuster with get on tehphone to your representatives and demand they work for you rinterest!!!!
again somtehing else I doubt if we will see him doing in sound bites pleading with us to help our ownslves demand we get those safety nets they keep talking about every 2 -4 years but neve rdo, now do we???? (nup)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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...as seen on Fox tonight in an interview with greta Vans. and rep. Kay Bailey hutcheingson..."TOW YERAS OF TAX CUTS IN NOT ENOUGH TIME TO CREAT JOBS" anybody get what the right-wing is already saying???!!!?...and please don't forget these are the same people who did not ask for this during theri watch, because america can not afford it...but we should see it can't be sold to the American voters now canit...
any one wondering where we will be getting the money to be able to correct so we can maybe be able to use those $millions of screwed up $100s we just printed??? (nup)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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once again the politicians will be able to eat their cake (lobby money) and continue to have us keep those blinders on so we can pat ourslves on the back all the way to the grocery store to by poisoned foods and tolisten to hate speech by rushand also remember all but this...
OUR PRESIDENT TOOK OFICE WITH THESE WORDS...HE WOULD NEED ALL OF OUR HELP TO GET OUR GOVERNMENT BACK INTO OUR HANDS AND OUT OF TEH HAND OF BIG BUSINESS LOBBY...ANYONE SEE THE TIE BETWEEN BILL CLINTON LOOSING AN ELECTION AND ALLOWING THE RIGHT TO CLOSE DOWN THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE RIGHT WING CLOSED DOWN ON THE PUBLIC 4 YEARS AGO OR DO WE STILL NOT UNDERSTAND THE "NO" VOTES YES AND BUSH GETTING EVERYTING HE COULD, GET HONESTLY OR ILLEGALLY BY NOT EVEN RECOGNIZING WE HAD A CONSTUTION...ANY COMPLANIT S THEN...ANY TALK ABOUT OUT SOURCED JOBS, OUTOF CONTROLED GAS PRICES FOR NO REASONAT ALL?????????????????????????????????????
HELL i DON'T BLAME OUR PRESIDENT FOR JUST LETTING SOMEONE ELSE TAKE OVER WE DON'T RECOGNIZE HIM ANY WAY OR HE WOULD NOT BE IN THIs FIX...!!!!!!!!!...!!
DID YOU VOTE ON NOV 2?????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???? (N...U...p) and good night...must fo chill...lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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@Clark, Bush used his 'exectative powers' it seem each time he could not get his way or it was taking too long to do what he wanted done...is there anythings he can do to force any thing done by either parties to make them work if they don't want to do so or is this only the speakers taht can do this...you know like saying this is a matter of national security / emergancy taht they get this done before they go home, period !...
maybe like sighting the conditons on the royalty in England as DESPERATE PEOPLES DO DESPERATE THINGS, AND CRISTMAS CAN ALREADY BE A VERY DEPRESSING TIME EVEN IF ONE IS NOTLACKING IN MATERIAL THINGS.(SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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ME, "I" now put my faith in the pending Wilileaks reports for us to learn what is goin gon in our country along with the coming trials of from Cheney to C-Street residents in congress for tax evasions...
I have mentioned Wilileaks because we will never have a news frenzy to debate if this is true or false what Senater Bernie Sanders said,...
"THE UNION JOBS OF THOSE WHO MADE CARS USE TO BE THE GOLD STANDARDS OF THE LIVING WAGE EARNERS. THEIR HOURLY WAGES HAVE GONE FROM IN THE $20S TO ABOUT $15.OO AN HOUR TODAY"...OH WELL...THIS IS AMERICA IS IT NOT???? (NUP)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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@Clark is it not some room in teh next two years to force the right to in their battle with the Teaparty to also be forced to better explain how they fill their duty, job discritpion as law makers beyond the past 4 years of just saying "NO"...?????..
"I" do believe our president is going to do exactly what Congress does...he is going to now be able to have his cake and eat it to...example, the only jobs that are going to be created are those that he keeps talking about...jobs that do not require big oil producers to dictate if they stay or leave our country...is my belief, hope and what I chant (pray) happens to, for and by our country as we begin to reach out to better protect our children, the most needy at all cost and by any means necessary. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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...and, I will say this and shut up for a while...
DOES THIS NATION REALLY NEED (WIKILEAKS) OUR PRESIDENT TO TELL THEM HOW / WHY THEY LOST FROM THEIR (LIFE LONG JOBS) FACTORIES PRODUCING S-A-F-E- TOYS, FOODS, ECT. THE FAMILIES LOST AND LOOSING (PUBLIC SCHOOLS) ,LOVED ONE IN WARS, LACK OF INSURANCE THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR, HOMES, CARS, ECT.?!?
ME, "I" DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS NEEDED AND RESPECT ANY AND ALL WHO ARE LIKE ME ON THIS ONE. ALONG WITH ON NOV 2, 10 WE VOTED FO REVEN MORE OF THE SAME!!!!!(NUP)+ (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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