BACKFIRED: REID CALLS MCCONNELL BLUFF

Debt Ceiling Bluff Called By Harry Reid, Leaving Mitch McConnell To Filibuster Himself

WASHINGTON -- A move to embarrass Democrats backfired on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday as the Kentucky Republican proposed a vote on raising the nation's debt ceiling -- then filibustered it when the Democrats tried to take him up on the offer.

On Thursday morning McConnell had made a motion for the vote on legislation that would let the president extend the country's borrowing limit on his own. Congress would then have the option to disapprove such hikes, in a fashion similar to one that McConnell first suggested during last year's standoff over the debt ceiling.

The minority leader apparently did not think Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) would take him up on his offer, which would have allowed McConnell to portray President Barack Obama's desire for such authority as something even Democrats opposed.

Reid objected at first, but told McConnell he thought it might be a good idea. After Senate staff reviewed the proposal, Reid came back to the floor and proposed a straight up-or-down vote on the idea.

McConnell was forced to say no.

"What we're talking about here is a perpetual debt ceiling grant, in effect, to the president, " McConnell said. "Matters of this level of controversy always require 60 votes."

Sixty votes are required to end a filibuster during debate on a bill and hold a vote.

Democrats immediately seized on McConnell's reversal, noting it was the sort of obstruction that they think warrants changes to the rules on filibusters.

"What we have here is a case of the Republicans here in the Senate once again not taking yes for an answer," Reid said. "This morning the Republican leader asked consent to have a vote on his proposal. Just now I told everyone we're willing to have that vote, an up-or-down vote, and now the Republican leader objects to his own idea, so I guess we have a filibuser of his own bill."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/0 ... f=politics

Ooopsie.... You can't make this stuff up... Mister Filibuster, himself, paints himself into a corner trying to be "too cute by half", and gets hoisted on his own petard, and then has to filibuster his own bill..... rofllol rofllol

The GOTP has become nothing more than pathetic entertainment....

sorry, cross posted without seeing your thread.

Same posters,,, same shit. I'll let ya'll handle it.

LadyJazzer wrote: Mister Filibuster, himself, paints himself into a corner trying to be "too cute by half", and gets hoisted on his own petard, and then has to filibuster his own bill..... rofllol rofllol

That is too funny.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: Same posters,,, same sh**. I'll let ya'll handle it.

Martin, since you have shown that you are unable to handle anything, your bowing out is appreciated.

Probably sounded better before his first coffee break.

But is it time to do away with the debt ceiling? Instead of having the country go through the drama of approving new debt ceilings all the time, just make the debt like a gold American Express card with no limit.

Personally I don't like that idea, I think it is good for the country to step back ever now and again and see how much we have put on the shoulders of our kids and their kids. And threatening to shut down goverment is one way to do it.

Lawrence O'Donnell On Mitch McConnell Filibuster: 'Most Idiotic Thing' A Minority Leader Has Done In Senate (VIDEO)

Lawrence O'Donnell slammed Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell for filibustering his own bill on Thursday.

McConnell's attempt to embarrass Senate Democrats backfired when he proposed a vote on legislation that would increase the national debt ceiling. Senate majority leader Harry Reid called his bluff and agreed to move forward with the offer. McConnell then objected, arguing that sixty votes — the number required to end a filibuster and go to a vote — were necessary.

Speaking on MSNBC later that day, O'Donnell said that the stunt was "the most idiotic thing any minority leader has ever done on the Senate floor." After recounting how it unfolded, O'Donnell said that the event was remarkable for two reasons.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/0 ... r=Politics

Funny video... Poor McConnell is getting so senile, perhaps he should retire while he's behind....