Showing posts with label Roy Edroso. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roy Edroso. Show all posts

Nov 22, 2013

U.S. Senate: Up-or-Down Vote and Majority Rules for Pres Appointees

Village Voice - January, 20 2010
On January, 20 2010 Roy Edroso wrote a piece in the Village Voice under the headline:

Scott Brown Wins Mass. Race, Giving GOP 41-59 Majority in the Senate

Edroso was right because the U.S. Senate makes its own ridiculous rules under Article 1, Section 5 of Constitution and the minority of 41 senators did have power to defeat the will of the 59 senators.

It's like a City Council meeting voting on a resolution: Resolution has nine Ayes, and two Nyes; resolution is defeated.

The rules are idiotic, something you might find in some far-away, corrupt regime without an appreciation for democratic values.

No appreciation for democratic values, yes, it's around.

One does not have to look too far: Look at Washington D.C., our nation's capitol, where the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House comprise the legislative branch.

Throw in a crazy political party, the Republicans, into the mix and catastrophe is guaranteed.

Yesterday, Harry Reid and Democratic senators decided that executive branch appointees and nominees for federal judgeships can now get an Up-or-Down vote, and if an appointee gets the most votes of sitting senators, she has won confirmation.

Legislation and nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court still face filibusters in the Senate.

Roy Edroso should write a new piece: U.S. Senate Still World's Most Dumbfounded Body.

Jan 26, 2010

In the SOTU Address, Remember the Village Voice

As in the Voice's headline for Roy Edroso's piece on the Massachusetts special election:
Scott Brown Wins Mass. Race, Giving GOP 41-59 Majority in the Senate

Message: Obstruction and business as usual will not sell.

Meaning: Call for ditching the filibuster in the name of the middle class.

Make those preserving the status quo pay.

Do you really believe Washington's asinine traditions and ring kissing mean anything to the American people?

Are the White House and Congress really unable to accept a brand declaring war on obstruction and business as usual?