‘Filibernie’: Sen. Bernie Sanders Stages 9-Hour Filibuster of Tax Compromise
- Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:21pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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UPDATE: After nearly 10 hours, Senator Bernie Sanders has ended his one-man filibuster of President Obama’s tax compromise. Among the highlights of his non-stop speech were rants about the “insanity” of cutting taxes for America’s top earners; ramblings about the weather; outspoken opposition to the Comcast-NBC merger; and a plug for tourism with praise of his native Vermont’s snow skiing venues.
At this point, there’s no word whether the “filibernie” may resume next week. But his outspoken opposition to the president’s compromise on taxes thrilled many liberal Americans as Twitter lit up with praise for the Vermont Senator. At least one website popped up Friday afternoon to track Sanders’ remarks and support his campaign: IsBernieSandersStillTalking.com.
UPDATE:
USA Today explains that actual filibusters are rare these days, and lets us know that Sanders is far from Strom Thurmand’s 24-hour marathon in 1957:
An actual filibuster — where a lawmaker talks on and on — is kind of a rare thing in Congress these days. Senate Historian Donald Ritchie said a real filibuster is when a senator gets up in the chamber and talks forever to delay a vote on an issue.
But these days people use the word “filibuster” whenever an issue hits a snag — such as with the repeal of the policy on gay men and lesbians serving openly in the military — even though a senator isn’t talking non-stop.
(By the way, Ritchie noted that the Senate was in what is called “morning hour,“ and not in the period known as ”legislative business.” That means technically what Sanders did is not a filibuster. Morning hour is when senators get floor time to speak about anything, for as long as they want.)
The Senate has pulled all-nighters in the past, such as in 2007 over Iraq war policy.
The record for the longest speech in the Senate was set by Strom Thurmond in 1957: 24 hours, 18 minutes talking in opposition to a civil rights bill.
UPDATE:
Hour number 8:
UPDATE:
Sanders‘s filibuster is now in it’s seventh hour. “He” is posting consistent updates to his twitter account. Here’s the latest:
UPDATE:
NRO says hour six included “shout outs” to Arianna Huffington’s book and Slate.com.
Also on NRO, Jonah Goldberg offers some thoughts on Sanders and his statement earlier in the speech that his job is to protect the middle class:
I was listening to Bernie Sanders’s filibuster in the car a few minutes ago. He made an interesting statement. I’m paraphrasing, but he said the job of Congress — representatives and senators — is to fight for the interests of the middle class and their kids, or something very close to that.
It’s an interesting statement from an avowed socialist (I’m assuming the No Labels speech police will let me take Sanders’s own word for what he is). The idea that the middle class is the one deserving of protection runs counter to a lot of socialist theory, I’m pretty sure.
But that doesn’t interest me much. What does interest me is the suggestion that our legislators are supposed to be looking out for the middle class to the exclusion of other concerns. I thought, borrowing from Burke, our representatives owed us their judgment. I can think of any number of circumstances when the right thing to do would impact the middle class negatively. It’s really not hard to do. For instance, taking all the money from the rich and giving it to the middle class would “help” the middle class (at least by socialist reckoning), but such an act would — I hope — be unconstitutional or at least wrong in the eyes of Congress.
Goldberg goes on to point out that Sanders‘s constitutional oath doesn’t mention anything about defending one class over another.
UPDATE from USA Today:
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is about to begin his sixth hour on the Senate floor criticizing President Bush’s tax cut deal with Republicans.
Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, had vowed to do anything he could to block the deal, including a filibuster. We’re checking with his office to see how long he plans to talk.
The Senate vote is scheduled for Monday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is about to reach reached the five hour mark in an extensive filibuster attempt of Obama’s tax compromise that began at about 10:30 am ET this morning.
You can watch the filibuster live here:
Business Insider has been watching it for all five hours:
Update: It’s in its 5th hour, and Senator Sanders is talking again, after having handed the baton to Mary Landrieu.
Original post: The Bernie Sanders filibuster against the tax deal is now in its 4th hour, and currently Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu has joined in.
Just one thought: This is a disaster for Obama.
It’s the first time we can recall that something happening on the liberal side is getting people excited — #filibernie is a hot topic on Twitter right now — and Obama isn’t part of it. In fact, he’s against it.
HuffPo reports that the filibuster became so popular this afternoon it shut down the Senate video servers:
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is leading 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.”
The filibuster, which began at 10:25 AM, became so popular that it temporarily shut down the Senate video server.
Sanders explained the move in a blog post:
I think we can do better, and I am here today to take a strong stand against this bill, and I intend to tell my colleagues and the nation exactly why I am in opposition to this bill. You can call what I am doing today whatever you want — you can call it a filibuster, you can call it a very long speech. I’m not here to set any great records or to make a spectacle. I am simply here today 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.
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Comments (148)
Dilbert is Real
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:06pmI haven‘t seen anything regarding why he’s going old school. Do the progressives have the 60 votes needed to override the “new and improved” filibuster?
Report Post »MGB-CPA
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:17pmDelbert … The progressives are doing the filibuster. Why would they stop a filibuster they are participating in? They are so stupid … oh I forgot they are commies. No common sense!
Report Post »axxis 409
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:04pmOh! one more thing, I cant wait till you come back to Vt Bernie,,you’re gonna hear it from us but good…you walking stool sample !!!!
Report Post »True American66
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:02pmThis grandstand works for me…LESS TIME FOR THEM TO PASS A BUNCH OF CRAP IN THE LAME DUCK SESSION. January is coming!!!
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:02pmsit down and shut up you old crazy dude ….. we ve seen this to many times and it s never going to work …
Time for a revolution.
Revolt.
Report Post »Diamond Girl
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:02pmSocialist Whining Windbag..full of his usual self-serving Hot Air.
Knew he was doing this since early this morning my time, been laughing since- hell, he was whining about the debt, he’s been one of the biggest contributors to it for so many years now I lost count- just look up his voting record from his years in the House up until today in the Senate. Tells you all you need to know.
He’s impressing no one but himself and the leftist-talking-head-loons, you know, the usual suspects.
Report Post »stopprintn
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:01pmThe good Congressman from Vermont could donate his pay to redistribute if he wishes.
Report Post »axxis 409
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:01pmBernie Is a commie from wayyyy back I,m a Vermonter and I am still amazed that this steaming pile stilll gets reelected !!! I guess its because of all the hippies who came here in the 60s…REAL Vermonters are mostly conservatives and the rest certainly NOT communists!! We tried our damnedest to keep the imbicile out of office last time! maybe, if he keeps up this socialist crap we can get him next time!!!
Report Post »MONTANABORN
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:00pmYou tell us Bernie, you Socialist P–, When is enough enough? The Demo dirt bags along with the Socialist pi#s have been addicted to The spend and waste of OUR MONEY for way too long.
Report Post »These clowns don’t even have a budget that was due in Oct. Now they want more money! for what?
The non stop spending like a bunch of juvenile delinquents has got to stop! Bernie is right however, we can do better. Like NO tax increases for anybody, NO additional spending like paying people not to work, NO increase of the death tax from 0 and NO pork to entice spineless politicians.
dont ****** me bro
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 7:06pmbut you are ok with the Tax cuts for the 250K and above, right?
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 7:32pma) We are in favor of extending the current tax rates for everyone.
b) A tax cut is not an expense. If you owned a store and discounted your prices, would you count that as an expense?
Report Post »MHP
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:59pmHow much is this idiot worth? Probably millions of dollars.
I’m bettini Sgt. Schultz won’t have him on today.
Time for a revolution.
Revolt.
Report Post »Spyder
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:09pmTrying to solve an issue by creating an even larger one is just ludicrous. If you fight small battles, then you give the government the reason they need to drop the hammer and take power. Revolt through education and find a way to unite the people. Gather a force that is to large to manage and armed with knowledge and the desire to live with freedom. It is not about vengeance. It is about breaking free of the shackles of dependency and slavery to people (Just like you and me) who think they are somehow better. Knowledge is power. Violence is a dead-end. (Pun intended)
Report Post »Spyder
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:59pmSo they found a scapegoat and it just so happens that he is an independent, so now it can’t be blamed on either side. Whatever… Taxes are going up people. Plain and simple. Congress could have handled this months ago; before the election and we all know it. Now we are just seeing the finale of the set-up.
Report Post »joseph Fawcett
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:57pmThe left does not like the cuts in goverment, and keeping the taxes lower so that We the People can become independant and figure out our own futures. The Dems want to tell us what we can do, say. and accomplish for the goverment.
I think this is being done to make Obama more acceptable to the American people so that he will get elected for a second term. If he does then all steam ahead for the progressives.
http://www.jospehfawcettart.com western artist
Report Post »imareader
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:54pmGo, Bernie Go… If you shut down this lame duck fiasco and keep your ******* pals from wreaking any more destruction on us, our children and our grandchildren, you’ll have done America an enormous favor..Go, Bernie!…We‘ll be cheering the Republican who’ll shows the same guts next week if Reid brings up the DREAMscamamnesty act.
Report Post »Shawn-GA
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:51pmThis claim that the super wealthy do not want a cut… is insane!!! If the wealthy want to give more.. they CAN!!! The federal government does takes donations….
Report Post »dont ****** me bro
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 6:51pmDang Tin LIzzy, you hit a trifecta of stupid…i am impressed
Report Post »tinlizy
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:50pmHey! Mr. socialist sanders, there was a time about 40 years ago when you would not have been allowed to servie office because of you self proclaimed socialism. The Communist control act need to be brought back into law.
Report Post »AntiCommie
Posted on December 12, 2010 at 5:17amRight on! Most of the people in the WH couldn’t even get security clearances and they wonder how the WikiLeaks documents got out. It is part of their anti-American plan to destroy the security of the US.
When they were giving our secrets away during the Clinton Administration, then Secretary of Energy, Hazel O’Leary, said that if everyone had our secrets the world would be a safer place. She also fought to have all security badges look the same to avoid discrimination.
Report Post »tinlizy
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:49pmwhat planet are these people on. endore? mars?, clingon? can we just send him home now?
Report Post »Shawn-GA
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:49pmThey keep adding the amount not collected from the rich as adding to the deficit, shows they already counted it and thought they had it in the bag. I saw let it go, do not pass anything, 1/3/11 the new Congress will pass a tax CUT not continue the Bush rates but an actual cut. LOL
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:52pmthat would be great one upmanship.
I was thinking the same thing.
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 6:44pmBetter: Flat tax.
But do you really think they have the balls for that? Or that Obama would sign it?
Report Post »And remember, Harry Reid is still Majority Leader in the Senate.
VoiceofReason
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:48pmI can’t wait for Rand Paul to filibuster the debt limit. Then the reindeer games will really begin!
Report Post »Air~Biscuit
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 5:12pmRand Paul—Who 3 days after the election said he was looking foward to working with some of the GOOD people in congress like STENY HOYER?????
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:43pmSen. Bernie Sanders is a socialist.
Mr. Obama, indirectly, is being filibustered by a confirmed socialist.
Wow.
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 6:46pmYep. I think Obama’s in real danger of being challenged from the left in 2012.
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:43pmbla bla bla bla bla Not impressed.
Silversmith
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:40pmsure no Jimmy Stewart or speaking for AMERICANS is he.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:39pmAt this point, it appears like typical Washington. There will be “pork” added to this bill. Today, Rush talked about Ben Nelson getting a boatload of subsidies, as well as Grassley and Harkin of Iowa.
Do we really need this right now, especially considering what just happened in the elections? Isn’t it better to wait and let the “new blood” fight to keep pork out of this bill? Screw the freakin’ halt of the tax increase, if that’s the case. We ought not do this unless we do it the right way.
Besides, all these idiots talking about it will create jobs and will be a stimulus – is hogwash. If the current tax rates were cut yet again, then, they might be onto something.
Each day that passes, the more this thing stinks!
Report Post »AntiCommie
Posted on December 12, 2010 at 5:08amI actually watched the this whole mess and recommend it as a definition of what’s wrong with the country. He was quick to point out the billionaires who don’t want tax cuts (you know the ones with the army of accountant and tax attorneys to avoid taxes), but conveniently left out any mention of all those in the middle class who don’t want to screw the highly successful. The best way to help us is to eliminate all the free stuff for the low class. Do away with Pell grants, etc. and let the middle class get into college on their grades – this would lower tuition and certainly bring our global scholastic standing up. Granted there are a few in the low class that can make it, but they generally do it on their own – not with a free ride.
And, after 99 weeks on unemployment, their skills are losing value, yet they will not take a job unless they can get the pay they want. The arguments for the illegals is that they do jobs Americans don’t want to do – one is only worth what someone is willing to pay them.
Bernie actually had the nerve to tell the ‘sad’ story about a family living at a ski resort who couldn’t pay their heating bills – an intelligent person would recognize that Vermont may not be a place for poor people to live – after all, they do have cold winters every year.
His speech was full of contradictions.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:37pmGosh, why do they want to stop people from getting unemployment cheques? Are they that mean? Also, aren’t they criticizing Obama? Doesn’t that make them racists? Racists who want to starve the poor. Golly, what ever is wrong with these Democrats?
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 6:30pmBernie is exactly what the Peoples Republic of Vermont wants and deserves He is so far to the left, Raul Castro is to his right. This socialist a-hole, originally from New York, is so out of touch with American values, he needs to be deported.
Like others have said, keep it up til January. See what kind of a deal you get then. What a POS!!!! (and a boring one at that)
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 8:31pmDemocrats are caught in their lies. They say, how do we pay for the tax cuts, then stuff the bill with their pork. The real question is how to pay for all the pork spending.
The bill shall fail and he republicans draft the real tax relief bill.
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:36pmMakes me miss Sen Byrd, he was the fillamaster….this guy is putting me to sleep.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:26pmStill, I have to give him credit for conducting an ACTUAL filibuter, instead of the usual “announcing an intention to filibuster” nonsense that’s been in effect since the Senate rules were changed a decade or so ago.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:26pmThe turds finally are forced to work with republicans and they are having a melt down. Oh wait, no they don’t they still have the majority. Whats up?
Report Post »youguysready_letsroll
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:58pmShouldn’t they be able to get common ground amongst themselves without the Repubs and cram through whatever they want before the next congress comes in?
Report Post »dont ****** me bro
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 6:50pmThat would be an intelligent comment if a simple majority mattered in the Senate, it doesn’t. The Dems have not had a supermajority (60) since before ted kennedy died. The Reps will feel that pain after the new year.
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 9:30pmNearly 10 hours of that, and a ranking Republican member in the house can’t get recognized for 1 minute of rebuttle. No wonder this country is going to hell in a hand cart.
Report Post »Cliff
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:23pmWOW just a bunch of turds…
What do we want? More taxes…
When do we want them??? NOW!!!
http://www.mentorlynx.com
dkhartman
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:31pmThe ‘gimme gimme’ party or the party of ‘no’. Sounds about right
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:45pmI already e-mailed my rep (Eric Canter) that we are the party of know and that is exactly why he received my vote…
Maybe these guys need to be reminded that we will get a much better deal in January..
Filibuster away you ignorant pos… Filibuster till January.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 3:52pmin the next congress we need to have them look into all the commies we seem to have in this country now. ole berney here calls himself a socialist but we all know what that really means hes a friggin commie pure and simple.
Report Post »bolec slodkie
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:00pmI wish the republicrats would filibusterer the deal over the extension of unemployment (hey I just started mine a few weeks ago).
Report Post »They should demonstrate conviction by pushing for lowering taxes, ending the death tax, and just being right.
MGB-CPA
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:02pmThe party in power filibustering it’s own president….what a revelation. The most ignorant people of all time need a new direction. Say! How about if you commies go to the east coast and the west coast and us sane people will stay or move to our states, Oklahoma, Teaxs, Louisiana, etc. We’ll keep our oil and our capitalism and you can have your socialism and live happily without our help …. from now on. Build your great social experiment but leave us out of it.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:03pmIn reality Bernie is running out the clock on his own party. Yea the tax cuts won’t happen until 1-3, but then we won’t have to add the 99 weekers and all the pork that will be hidden in this one…
Report Post »Andrew.TX.
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:14pmREALLY! What is wrong with these ppl!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:30pmBernie Sanders is always running his ignorant, crap spewing mouth constantly….so, this would be different how?
Report Post »Reagan/Demint.deciple
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:32pmHe’ll be a hero on MSLSD, but when the repubs fillibuster ANYTHING, they say they should do away with the fillibuster and complain…
Report Post »chfields62
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:32pmFirst off, THESE ARE NOT TAX CUTS!! There are 2 choices, extend the CURRENT RATES or RAISE the taxes. We need them not to pass it now and let us get in next year and pass a much better plan, that doesn’t include all that pork anD takes money from the pork projects like speNding millions to build tunnels under roads for turtles to use to keep from getting run over, and use that to fund the unemployment checks.
Report Post »Mister President
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:54pmAt least he’s actually doing the filibuster. Usually just the threat of one is all it takes to stop something. I think they should be required to actually do one for a minimum of ten hours with no maximum.
Report Post »Daniel4
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:54pmObserve: One of the major causes of Man Made Global Warming. Can we tax Comrade Sanders?
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 4:58pmAt least now we know the origins of the myth for ‘global warming’ or ‘climate change’ with the amount of hot air released by these senators, the earth should be a lump of carbonized rock adrift in the bare vaccum of space.
Europe is burning, Revolution there and here is coming, and they just watch as the tinder is gathered, and the people wait with lit torches.
Report Post »AnnMarie
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 7:07pmHe should have been this involved with the kaos of the health care bill was going on…
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 8:39pmNoDaDAZone
Report Post »On your post…………ENOUGH already, We know about DADA. It is posted on every story of posts.
Please give it a rest.
Cemoto78
Posted on December 10, 2010 at 8:55pmSomebody get one of Obamas gym socks and stick it in this clowns mouth.
Report Post »nickyinva
Posted on December 11, 2010 at 7:27amTerm limits. Time for you to go Bernie.
Report Post »JKN
Posted on December 11, 2010 at 9:07amI may not agree with Senator Sander’s opinions, but at least he has the integrity to stand by his convictions. This man has principles and is willing to take a stand for what he believes in; something sorely lacking in most politicians today…
Report Post »dawgPound
Posted on December 11, 2010 at 9:35amBetter than that p*ssy stuff that passes for a fillabuster these days. Go Bernie, Go!
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on December 11, 2010 at 10:20amI want to know what kind of drugs the people who elected and then reelected Sanders is on. I want some. It must really be good stuff. I could use some on the Wise County Va School board to stop stupid school consolidation against the peoples wishes.. Why would any one elect a self professed Socialist?
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