Rand Paul Begins Patriot Act Filibuster

The Patriot Act is up for re-authorization and Rand Paul has begun his promised filibuster on the Senate floor. Watch live on C-SPAN 2 (cable log-in required). Can Rand Paul outdo Ted Cruz' legendary Green Eggs & Ham filibuster?

Rand Paul Vows To Filibuster Patriot Act

Sen. Rand Paul said yesterday that he plans to filibuster against the impending reauthorization vote for the Patriot Act.

"I'm going to lead the charge in the next couple of weeks as the Patriot Act comes forward," he said in a one-on-one interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader. "We will be filibustering. We will be trying to stop it. We are not going to let them run over us. And we are going to demand amendments and we are going to make sure the American people know that some of us at least are opposed to unlawful searches." Paul, the Republican U.S. Senator from Kentucky, said that even architects of the Patriot Act say roving wiretapping by the National Security Agency was not part of the legislation's intent.

More from The Hill:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has said that he favors a full reauthorization of the measures, but other lawmakers say they would be willing to pass reform legislation. A short-term extension would give lawmakers more time to sort out their differences beyond the current June 1 deadline for renewing the law. A filibuster of the Patriot Act provisions could give Paul more visibility as the presidential campaign ramps up. He lists his opposition to the National Security Agency's surveillance programs on the homepage of his website and sells a “NSA Spy Cam Blocker” in his campaign store.

Wingnut Coalition To GOP: Now We LOVE The Democrats' Filibuster Rule Change

A coalition of far-right groups has sent a letter to incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging him to keep the filibuster rule change made by the Democrats last year.

A group of 26 conservative academics, advocates and leaders wrote in a letter that they see “very little upside” to restoring the old rules, which had allowed the minority party to require 60 votes to confirm nominees. They say the rules would help Republicans put “committed constitutionalists” on the bench if the White House changes hands in 2016. “The decision by Senator [Harry] Reid and his Democratic colleagues to deploy the so-called ‘nuclear option’ was transparently designed to facilitate the confirmation of judicial nominees who would insulate ObamaCare and other aspects of President Obama’s agenda from meaningful judicial review,” the letter says.  Regardless of their motives, we see very little upside and significant downside in reviving the judicial filibuster.

You will recall that these groups screamed bloody murder when the Democrats made the filibuster rule change, even though many of them had explicitly advocated for that very change the last time the GOP was in charge. Among those signing this week's letter are Phyllis Schlafly, Gary Bauer, Concerned Women head Penny Nance, AFA radio shrieker Sandy Rios, Liberty Counsel head Mat Staver, and Family Research Council senior fellow Ken Blackwell.

Brian Brown: We're Working To Get 51 GOP Senators To Smash LGBT Movement

"Dear Joe, We're striving for 51. What would it mean if we had 51 US senators who supported marriage as the union of one man and one woman to go along with the majority of US House members we already have? It means we would be able to move forward legislation such as the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act, which was introduced in the House by Rep. Raul Labrador and is expected to be introduced in the Senate shortly. This legislation would protect people and groups who stand for marriage in the public square against government retaliation. It means we'd be able to stop the Obama Administration from the regulatory power grab they are deploying to ignore federal law and impose same-sex ‘marriage' wherever they can — in the military, among immigrants, etc. 

"And it means that we'd have a fighting chance at advancing Rep. Tim Huelscamp's proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, which would preserve marriage across the country as the union of one man and one woman and strip courts of their authority to redefine marriage. Imagine how good it would feel after being on defense for so long to be able to pass federal laws protecting marriage, to hold the IRS and the Obama Administration to account and to advance a federal marriage amendment that would make the federal courts powerless to redefine marriage ever again?  This is all within our grasp if we can hold the House and gain control of the US Senate. But that will happen only if you help us by making a year-end contribution right now to our Marriage Victory Fund." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, changing his tune about the Senate filibuster rules in his (allegedly) final money beg of the year.

FRC Prays Against Themselves

The Family Research Council's "prayer team" has posted a plea to God about the Senate filibuster rule change.

President Obama now has three years to stack the courts with liberals -- judicial activists with life-long tenure -- who will strike down pro-life, pro-family and pro-religious liberty laws, even if conservatives win back the Senate in 2014 and the White House in 2016. Only prevailing prayer and God's mercy can preserve us. Just as a wind from heaven prevailed against Cornwallis 232 years ago, may our God-fearing Senators be given winds of wisdom to navigate their way amid this new, even more hostile environment. May God protect us from judges who oppose what God calls right! (Ex 15:9-13; Dt 16:19; 25:12 Chr 20:6; Ps 51:16-23; Is 33:22; Jn 7:24 )

As I noted two weeks ago, in 2005 the Family Research Council demanded the exact change made by the Democrats last month: "The Senate must act as steward of the federal courts by returning the power to confirm judges to the Constitution’s simple majority requirement. The unprecedented abuse of the filibuster is a device intended to undermine the prerogatives of the Presidency as well as the tradition of the Senate. It must not stand." Snork!

Porno Pete: Yes, I'm A Hypocrite

Note that Porno Pete doesn't acknowledge that his name is on the 2005 letter that I tweeted to him three days ago.  Nope, it's just conservatives in general that are "all over the map." But hey, it's something.

Today In Porno Pete Hypocrisy

And now....we go back in time.

"We call for a restoration of Senate traditions, returning to the majority vote on Advice and Consent the Constitution mandates. While there is no doubt that the Minority’s filibusters have helped Republicans win recent elections, we are certain that Republicans will do the right thing for themselves and the Nation by ending the partisan obstruction now. We call on the Senate Leadership and the Republican Majority to end the filibusters on appellate nominees and well before a Supreme Court vacancy occurs." - Peter LaBarbera, signing on to a 2005 open letter to the US Senate.

Today In Tea Party Hypocrisy

"Judges have lifetime tenure. Activist judges can read their views into the Constitution. We saw it when the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act this year and upheld ObamaCare last year. But frustrated by his inability to ram some of the most radical nominees in history through the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid -- with the president cheering from the sidelines -- just abolished the judicial filibuster. Now, all Reid needs is 51 votes, out of 55 Senate Democrats, to confirm literally anyone the president nominates. The president could even nominate his Marxist buddy Bill Ayers to the federal bench and probably get him confirmed. You would think the spectacular failure of ObamaCare would have tempered his hubris. Instead, it's fed his already enormous ego. Truly, this president is out of control." - Tea Party Unity president Rick Scarborough, in a press release published today by Christian Newswire.

And now...we go back in time.

"In just the past two weeks, Scarborough has recruited 2,000 more Christian ministers for his Patriot Pastor network, boosting total membership of the three-year-old alliance to about 5,000 members. The Senate returns tomorrow from a one-week recess, and the showdown over judges could come sometime in the next few weeks. Scarborough is part of a constellation of Christian right and socially conservative groups that are spending millions to mobilize their followers to pressure the Senate to try to break a Democratic logjam blocking some of Bush's most conservative and controversial judicial nominees. Focus on the Family has run ads in favor of the filibuster rule change and co-sponsored with the Family Research Council a televised Sunday evening simulcast." - From a May 2005 article in the Washington Post. (Tipped by JMG reader Kyle)

Today In Liberty Counsel Hypocrisy

"Today’s action by Harry Reid is frightening, and every freedom-loving American should be deeply concerned. Not only is the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals considered a launching pad to the Supreme Court, this circuit court hears constitutional challenges to executive rules and regulations. President Obama has been issuing ‘fixes’ and using ‘enforcement discretion’ to roll out his tyrannical overreach into healthcare. Now he is trying to stack the court that would rule on his unconstitutional executive orders. One thing is clear, today’s change in Senate rules is about packing the D.C. Circuit with liberal ideologues that will transform it into a rubber stamp for anything the President wants." - Liberty Counsel president Mat Staver, in a press release issued yesterday.

And now...we go back in time.

"Liberty Counsel, as part of the National Coalition to End Judicial Filibusters, recently signed a letter urging the the U.S. Senate leadership 'to end the judicial filibusters at the earliest possible moment and well before a Supreme Court vacancy should occur.' The letter also pointed out that 'while it is the right of the President to expect the Senate to give Advice and Consent within a reasonable period of time, it is the duty of every Senator to offer Advice and Consent through an honest, up or down vote.' A number of Republican senators still remain opposed or undecided on the issue. We have compiled a list you can use to call the Senators and ask them to end the judicial filibusters."- Liberty Counsel president Mat Staver, in a press release issued April 5th, 2005.

(Bolding is motherfucking mine.)

Today In FRC Hypocrisy

"Democrats used a parliamentary trick to change the Senate rules and strip the minority of the little power they had. In doing so, they blew up a 225-year-old process and cleared the way for a simple majority to rubber stamp the President's outrageous nominees. Instead of requiring 60 votes to end debate on a nomination, liberals lowered the threshold to 51 -- virtually guaranteeing the majority party a blank check to confirm anyone they want, regardless of how extreme or unqualified. In the short term, it will help consolidate more power for Democrats, silence conservatives, and end what little negotiating the Senate does. Of course, Senator Reid is only in favor of rewriting the rules when it suits his purposes. Apparently, the Majority Leader lives by the same creed as the President: if you don't like the law, break it." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, via email.

And now...we go back in time.

"Partisan special interests have threatened judicial independence again by inserting ideology into the Senate confirmation process of federal judges. Now the Minority has changed 215 years of Senate tradition by abusing the filibuster for the first time against nominees with clear majority support. The Senate must act as steward of the federal courts by returning the power to confirm judges to the Constitution’s simple majority requirement.  The unprecedented abuse of the filibuster is a device intended to undermine the prerogatives of the Presidency as well as the tradition of the Senate. It must not stand." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, in an open letter to the US Senate dated April 4th, 2005.

(Bolding is motherfucking mine.)

Obama Applauds Filibuster Vote: Change Was Overdue, Enough Is Enough

New Filibuster Rules For Senate

Via Buzzfeed:

After months-long threats and last-minute deals to avoid a major rules change in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid led the chamber in eliminating the 60-vote majority needed to vote on most presidential nominations. The vote began at a little past noon, with 52 Democrats voting to eliminate the 60-vote threshold needed to invoke cloture and avoid a filibuster — a threshold that Democrats said has kept too many of President Obama’s nominees from a final vote in the Senate. Democratic Sens. Carl Levin, Joe Manchin and Mark Pryor voted against the rule change. No Republicans voted for the change.

Fox News is very unhappy.

It's a defining feature, for better or worse, of the U.S. Senate -- the power of the minority to gum up the works through what's known as a filibuster. While this makes the Senate one of the most deliberative (read that as, slowest) legislative bodies in the world, it also prevents legislation and appointments from moving too fast. But now, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is moving to undermine that right. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell charged that Reid's attempt proves the Democrats are willing to "do and say just about anything" to get their way. The particulars of what Reid is doing are highly technical but make Republicans seethe.

Of course, this could come back to haunt the Democrats the next time there's a GOP majority in the Senate and a Republican president in the White House.

Ted Cruz Is Filibustering

Ted Cruz, on Senate floor, says he'll keep talking "until I am no longer able to stand"
— Josh Lederman (@joshledermanAP) September 24, 2013

Now fielding #filibuster drinking game rules. Drink when the staffer in front of Cruz yawns. #cruzcontrol
— Dan Riffle (@DanRiffle) September 24, 2013

Maybe Ted Cruz can recite the Canadian national anthem if he needs inspiration for during his filibuster. #p2 #gop #tlot #teaparty
— Bachmann's Brain (@BachmannsBrain) September 24, 2013

Email Of The Day - Eugene Delguadio

"Harry Reid is dangerously close to the 51 votes he needs to pass literally anything he wants through the Senate. That would virtually nullify the gains Republicans made in November! And Joe, the sad fact is that without this rule, the Homosexual Lobby would have already rammed through every last bit of their anti-family legislation: The Homosexual Classrooms Act, the Gay Bill of Special Rights, the Entry for Homosexual Aliens Act, and Nationwide Mandatory Homosexual Marriage. I shudder at the thought. And that's why I need you to take action immediately." - Eugene Delguadio, the self-titled Public Advocate Of The U.S., writing to complain that Harry Reid is attempting to reform Senate filibuster rules.

Nationwide Mandatory Homosexual Marriage! Squee!

Almost Nine Hours Later.....

Mr. Smith Sanders Goes To Washington

If you've got access to a television, independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is approaching the fourth hour of an EPIC filibuster of the tax cuts bill. I picked it up in the second hour and have been riveted. At this writing, Sanders has just invited Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to "colloquy" with him. Watch on C-SPAN2 at the above link. Business Insider is calling this "historic."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Threatens To Filibuster Obama's Tax Cuts Deal

Maddow On John McCain's Plan To Filibuster Today's DADT Vote

Plus coverage of Gaga's rally in Maine yesterday.

Keep Out Kagan Day

A right-wing student group called Young America's Foundation has named today "Keep Out Kagan Day" in their phone campaign to prevent the Supreme Court appointment of Elena Kagan because of her opposition to DADT while dean of Harvard Law School.

Evan Gassman, a spokesman for YAF, explains there are a multitude of reasons why these groups are fighting this nomination. Among them are Kagan's efforts to punish military recruiters because of the law banning homosexuals from military service. "As dean of the Harvard Law School, she prevented students from meeting with military recruiters," Gassman reports. "She signed an amicus brief that opposed the Solomon Amendment, which...is an amendment defending students' rights to get organized with ROTC." And the conservative spokesman insists that Kagan's confirmation is hardly a foregone conclusion. "When she was confirmed to be solicitor general, 31 senators voted against her," he explains. "So it's very realistic to say that we can get enough senators to vote 'no' on her, given that this Supreme Court nomination is a lifetime seat."

Today's phone campaign is demanding that Senators filibuster against Kagan's approval.

GOP Threatens DADT Filibuster

With the backing of John McCain, GOP Senate members are threatening to filibuster any floor vote on the compromise repeal of DADT, even though the repeal will likely be attached to an important Defense funding bill.

Armed Services ranking member John McCain said Thursday that he would “without a doubt” support a filibuster if the bill goes to the floor with repeal language. “I’ll do everything in my power,” the Arizona Republican said, citing letters from the four service chiefs urging Congress not to act before a Pentagon review of the policy is complete. “I’m going to do everything I can to support the men and women of the military and to fight what is clearly a political agenda.” With Democrats trying to rally support for compromise language hammered out this week by the White House and Congressional repeal backers — and adoption of that language at this week’s Armed Services markup looking increasingly likely — Republican opponents of repealing the 1993 law are beginning to look ahead to floor debate.

Earlier today, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) indicated that he would provide the final necessary vote to move the repeal bill out of the Senate Armed Services Committee. A full debate and vote on the Senate floor is expected to take place after the Memorial Day break.