Anyone have numbers on filibusters?

[Devil Dog Dem]

Numbers of Clinton appointees filibustered versus number of Bush appointees filibustered?

Need to set someone straight who just old me that Dem are filibustering left and right.

[davidinalameda]

1. that's not the issue

you had a good chunk of Clinton appointees that were never sent to the full senate and those whose appointments just sat in committee without a vote being held

[Devil Dog Dem]

2. I agree, but the numbers on filibusters are pretty damning

and aren't as subjective as the other arguments.

[TahitiNut]

3. You'd have to tally the number of cloture votes.

They really don't filibuster much at all any more. If a cloture vote (to end debate) fails (less than 60 in favor), they usually remand the legislation and go on to other business.

When the Senate is cooperating, the 'nose counters' on both sides compare notes and don't bother to bring up legislation that faces a cloture vote. When they're under partisan 'leadership,' that leadership will oten bring legilation to the floor even though it will fail to pass on a cloture vote merely to build a specious political case about 'obstructionists' on the other side.

Note: Cloture once required 2/3 voting in favor. That's been reduced to 60%. Republicans want it to be a simple majority - to amplify their own power as a bare majority in the Senate.

[pk_du]

4. ...not directly addressing filibusters BUT...

..shows how many Judges were confirmed when Dems controlled Senate than in all but 2 of last 20 years.

http://democrats.senate.gov/~dpc/pubs/107-2-279.html