[Peace-discuss] [OccupyCU] Closer Than You Think: Top 15 Things Romney and Obama Agree On

[C. G. Estabrook]

With the 60-vote rule in effect, legislation can be stopped in the Senate if those in favor of the legislation cannot muster 60 votes to end debate. 

Hence 41 votes were all that were necessary (in a 100-member Senate) to block a war funding bill. The Democrats could have done that, but didn't.


On Sep 3, 2012, at 7:40 PM, Stan Waggoner <swag901 at ymail.com> wrote:

> Carl,
>  
> That is nonsense.
>  
> Neither party can pass anything with a mere 41 votes. 
>  
> Then there is the fact that I was not talking about stopping the war, but rather the jobs programs (infrastructure, extension of unemployment, etc) that would directly help middle-class  Americans.
>  
> I am not happy with Presidednt Obama's stance on the wars, however, if we divide the Democratic party such that Romney gets elected, then we will most likely have yet another unfunded war.
>  
> Stan
>  
> --- On Mon, 9/3/12, C. G. Estabrook <cge at shout.net> wrote:
> 
> ...Once the Democrats were given control of the Senate (in 2006) they could have abolished the 60-vote requirement. (Even with it they could have halted war appropiations with a mere 41 votes). But they preferred not to, insiting that they couldn't do any of the good things they'd really like to, because they were being prevented by the nasty Republicans. It was a good story - you and others bought it - but it's a (conscious) lie.