Using Parliamentary Rules to STOP "obamacare" in the Senate

Here is a WONDERFUL article by Erick Erickson explaining the parliamentary procedures by means of which the Republicans can STOP the Senate from passing the "health scare" bill:

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/12/12/fight/

Yesterday, Sen Tom Coburn (R OK) started using one of these parliamentary rules: He demanded that a 700 page amendment be read aloud on the floor of the Senate. It would take 17 hours to read it. Sen Jim DiMint (R SC) announced yesterday that he would demand that the entire 2000 page bill be read aloud on the floor of the Senate.

These, and other weapons described in Erick's paper show that the Republicans CAN Kill the Bill! Use the Parliamentary Rules!

However, yesterday, the progressives started attacking Tom Coburn. So I called Coburn's and DiMint's local offices [I read where our calls have more impact if we call the local offices instead of the DC Office] to THANK THEM AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP IT UP! I also told them I was asking my Senator, Bob Corker of TN, to join them. The lady at DiMint's office said they were hoping for such support!

So, may I suggest that you call? I called Tom Coburn's office at (918) 581-7651 & Jim DiMint's at (843)727-4525.

And do call Bob Corker's office to ask him to join Coburn and DiMint and go kick some democrats' *sses.

But first, read Erick's article - it is a hoot! I sure would love to be on the floor raising all these Parliamentary objections! We would have such FUN! And those progressives would get so mad they would spontaneously combust!

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Permalink Reply by Vern Shotwell on December 17, 2009 at 4:23pm

It's a beutiful article!
My early thought was merely that the GOP guys had never read the rules... don't read anything else!
But they do have the ability to load bills up with garbage.... as the left now does.

My preliminary conclusion is that the GOP must be complicit... as an entity! Or do I misunderstand Ericks article?
Comments?

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Permalink Reply by Publius Huldah on December 17, 2009 at 4:50pm

I think too many of the Republican Senators are timid. Lamar Alexander (R TN) is a perfect example. Blandness is his defining characteristic. WE THE PEOPLE must stop voting for such wimps!

Rush Limbaugh said something today to the effect that the Senate Republicans believe that if they don't play "nice", they will alienate the Independents.

I suppose weak people can always find an excuse to take the easy way out. Also, remember that many Republican Senators loaded down the last budget bill with PORK of their own. They don't care about the Constitution either.

BUT STILL, We need to get Bob Corker (R TN) to join Coburn and DiMint. Apparently, under the Senate rules, when a bill or amendment is being read at a request of one party, there must always be a representative of that party in the room! So! The two brave ones, Coburn & DiMint, need more Republican Senators to take turns listening!

People! Please call your State's U.S. Senator (if a Republican) and ask him to support Senators Coburn & DiMint!

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Permalink Reply by Linda W on December 17, 2009 at 5:45pm

See this blog entry of the transcript of a caller to Rush's radio program today. The caller works in the Senate and he explained how the Senate rules, which are fixed, were broken without a blink by the Dems. Once Sanders' amendment began being read, nothing should have stopped it. The caller was quite distraught at the violation of 200+ year old Senate rules.

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Permalink Reply by Publius Huldah on December 17, 2009 at 9:27pm

For NOW, we need to get more Republicans to stand with Senators Tom Coburn and Jim DiMint and use the parliamentary procedures to STALL, DELAY, STONEWALL, so as to STOP this bill!

As Erick Erickson's article shows, there is a host of parliamentary tactics available to the minority party. Rule No. 1 in fighting: Hit the enemy HARD with everything you have.

So, I hope all will contact your republican senators and ask them to stand with Coburn & DiMint and use the parliamentary rules to STOP this bill.