Cornyn Says It Again: Senate GOP Will Block The Seating Of Al Franken
Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who heads up the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has restated his position that the Senate Republicans will oppose seating Al Franken on a provisional basis during the expected litigation that will come after the Minnesota recount.
Cornyn signaled a few days ago that the GOP would keep Franken out, saying that it was "unprecedented" to seat somebody during an ongoing election dispute -- which as we pointed out is simply not true.
The Senate Republicans do have enough seats to mount a filibuster. So if this becomes a strict party-line vote, they can keep Franken out for weeks or maybe even months, depending on how the court proceedings go.
It's probably a good thing for the health of democracy that so many races are landslides. Imagine if they were all as close as this one.
And what's Harry gonna do about it? Absolutely nothing- and Cornyn and the Repugs know it.
January 2, 2009 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
So Cornyn wanst to filibuster Franken? I wonder if that is even doable.
But if so, why not filibuster McConnell? And don't tell me because there is no election contest in Kentucky. I am talking strictly tit for tat.
Come on. Are we going to be subjected to another 2 years of gutless leadership from Harry Reid? When will Democrats wake the f--k up?!
January 2, 2009 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you want the Democrats to not seat any of the Republicans, why not John Cornyn himself-- he was just "re-elected"--or was he, hmmm.
Trade them one filibuster (or knotting up the "seating process") one for the other--and go after the one who is calling for blocking the seating of Senator -elect Franken.
January 4, 2009 1:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't there one just recently back in 2000 or so?
January 2, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't there one just recently back in 2000 or so?
January 2, 2009 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Harry Reid started this mess about blocking Senators from serving when he brought up the idea about blocking Burris.
January 2, 2009 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Harry Reid has not singled out Burris.
Harry Read and Every Single Democratic Senator pledged not to seat anyone appointed by Blaggo.
They made this pledge weeks prior to Burris being appointed. The pledge was made in an attempt to stop Blaggo from seating a replacement. They made the threat, the threat didn't work, now you want them to back down on the consequences they promised? And why? Because you like Burris?
A huge number of posters here continually complain about the Democratic Senate's lack of backbone. If they back down on this, they will epitomize the spineless spaghetti noodles most here claim to hate.
A lot on the left are making this about Burris, repeat after me.
It's not about Burris
It's not about Burris
It's not about Burris
Reid and all the other Democratic Senators have done exactly the right thing regarding Blaggo's appointment. Were they not to oppose Blaggo's appointment (no matter who it was), Blaggo's corruption would have been carted all the way to Washington.
If Burris can get the courts to force the Senate's hand, so be it, but the Senatorial Democrats have to fight it every step of the way. It's not about Burris, it's entirely and totally about Blaggo.
Seating Blaggo's appointment without a fight will taint this new government with Blaggo's corruption. Exactly the crowbar the Republicans want to use against Obama and the new congress. I simply cannot believe that so many Democrats are so enthusiastic to give the Republicans exactly what they want.
January 2, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Cornyn himself an appointee? Also, no one outside of Illinois gives a damn about whether or not Burris is seated, and I bet a majority of Illinois doesn't either. Seat Burris and move on. Really, no one cares one way or the other, and dragging this out just serves the GOP in the long run.
January 2, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
You really couldn't be any more wrong in reading the political impact of this.
How often does every single Democratic Senator sign on to anything consequential?
People inside and outside of Illinois will care. The national press will care. Every elected Republican will keep up the pressure.
Blaggo is the highest profile, most nationally famous corrupt Democrat we've seen in Decades! For god's sake, he tried to SELL Obama's Senate seat. The Senate cannot and Will Not back down on this.
Truly, I believe anyone seriously suggesting the Senate Democrats flip 180 degrees and seat Blaggo's appointment are either totally and completely nuts, or are astro-turfing for the Republicans.
January 2, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
This isn't about Burris and it really isn't about Blagojevich. It is about the rule of law and, more specifically, about process.
Under the 17th amendment to the U. S. Constitution and in accordance with Illinois state law, Blagojevich legitimately appointed Roland Burris to succeed Barak Obama in the U. S. Senate.
Under Illinois law, the Secretary of State -- Jesse White -- is required to certify the governor's appointment. (Burris has petitioned the Illinois Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus to require the Secretary of State to fulfill his statutory duty.)
Since Burris is constitutionally qualified to serve in the U. S. Senate (over 30, a U. S. citizen and resident in the US for at least nine years) and since there is no question that he was legally appointed to the U. S. Senate by the duly elected governor of Illinois, acting under authority of both the U. S. Constitution and state law, Senate Democrats have no cause to block Burris' being seated.
If Democrats really wish to uphold the rule of law, they will concede that they have no valid reason to forbid Mr. Burris from taking his Senate seat and will back off from their threat to block his doing so.
And no, John Cornyn was not appointed to the Senate. He was duly elected (shamefully) by nitwits in Texas in 2002 and 2008.
January 2, 2009 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree completely. Plus Blagojevich understands all this and can marshal his appointment of Burris as evidence that he is fully capable of exercising the functions of his office. So much for the incompetence argument -- always was a dead end anyway.
So he has the Dems over a barrel. If this goes to court, Blagojevich is certain to win. He's done nothing wrong (until proven guilty) and in the meantime carried out his gubernatorial duties to the letter. The best they can do is make protesting noises and then accept the inevitable. Sounds like a win-win for the GOP, unfortunately.
January 2, 2009 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its win-win for the GOP but only for a news cycle or two. If Burris is seated he will vote as instructed by the Dem leadership all down the line. Burris has always been a party functionary and I don't see him changing his stripes. We here in Illinois will have a bona fide replacement for him in 2010 and it won't be a Republican.
Also, Franken has won the Minnesota race -- barely but he's won -- its all over but the moaning and whining. Sadly it could take a while
There would be no problem with the delay if the country (and the world) weren't circling the drain at an accelerating rate.
As Blaggo and the Republicans do their best to sabotage the "first 100 days" it will be clear to all who is screwing things up and why they are doing it. In the long run it all breaks bad for the Republicans.
January 2, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its win-win for the GOP but only for a news cycle or two. If Burris is seated he will vote as instructed by the Dem leadership all down the line. Burris has always been a party functionary and I don't see him changing his stripes. We here in Illinois will have a bona fide replacement for him in 2010 and it won't be a Republican.
Also, Franken has won the Minnesota race -- barely but he's won -- its all over but the moaning and whining. Sadly it could take a while
There would be no problem with the delay if the country (and the world) weren't circling the drain at an accelerating rate.
As Blaggo and the Republicans do their best to sabotage the "first 100 days" it will be clear to all who is screwing things up and why they are doing it. In the long run it all breaks bad for the Republicans.
January 2, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lemme modify that. It's a victory for the Repugs, but only in the short run. In due course, Burris will get his seat, and so will Al Franken. By the time Burris runs for his office, he'll have built up a solid record of consistent support for the wildly popular Obama administration, and will win election handily, fair and square. Cornyn and company are only postponing the inevitable.
January 2, 2009 6:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
You and many others suggest the Senate should seat Blaggo's appointment because they are legally bound to do so. You may be right, you could also be completely wrong. This is anything but settled law.
There are number of legal observers who believe the Senate does indeed have the legal authority to block Blaggo's appointment. They believe the 1969 precedent has absolutely no bearing on this particular case.
A list of the many opinions can be found here, some in favor, some against:
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/01/more-reading-on-burris-and-another.html
Since this matter is anything but cut and dry, it is certainly within the Senate's rights to allow the courts to settle this matter. The Senate is not the final arbitrator of Constitutional questions, the courts have that role.
As this matter is so legally muddy, the hard reality is that the Democratic Senate is not going to back down on this. The courts are where this issue should be decided, the courts are where this issue will be decided.
January 2, 2009 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
They could always threaten to seat Burris if the Republicans block Franken.
They can get away with this one because Obama's going to need a functioning Senate to pass the "Keynes Rides Again" package. The Republicans would love to stop that by shutting the place down filibustering Franken, but my guess is they're going to be afraid to be seen stopping an economic relief package. (I could be wrong about that. The Republicans seem to be on a self-destruction kick of late that makes Amy Winehouse look like a Mormon.)
But at some point, Harry's going to have to pick a popular bill they're against and then roll out the damn cots and make 'em do a real filibuster, and then another, and another, and another, until the the Republicans' phones are clogged with calls from angry constituients.
January 2, 2009 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why would threatening to seat Burris have any impact on the Republicans? They want Burris seated.
The IL seat will be filled by a Democrat regardless. So the Repugs will be thrilled with a wimpy, tainted, serial loser who (a) can become their poster child for Democratic corruption, (b) has not chance of winning in 2010 and (c) squanders 2 years of seniority for the IL senator.
Why do you think so many Republicans are saying Burris has a right to be seated?
January 2, 2009 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're exactly right.
The Republicans are hoping and praying that the Senate Dems lose their backbone and allow Burris to be seated.
Blaggo is the most famously corrupt Democratic politician the US has seen in many, many years.
Each and every one of the Senate Dems pledged not to seat any Blaggo choice. If the Senate Dems were to go back on this pledge, they'd immediately paint themselves with Blaggo's corruption.
The Republicans are hoping that the Democratic Senate's infamous lack of a spine will again reveal itself. Fortunately, I don't think our Senators will be quite that stupid.
I just wish people would quit making this about Burris. It's not about Burris, it's entirely and totally about Blaggo.
January 2, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
"But at some point, Harry's going to have to pick a popular bill they're against and then roll out the damn cots and make 'em do a real filibuster, and then another, and another, and another, until the the Republicans' phones are clogged with calls from angry constituients."
Is the "Harry" you are referring to Harry Reid? Because that spinless piece of shit is in the business of enabling Republicans, not making their lives more difficult.
January 2, 2009 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, I'm in the "he's pretty much done the best he could given our razor thin Lieberman-dependant majority in the last Congress" school.
Harry Reid's performance as minority leader after the 2004 debacle earned him a lot more slack from me than it did from most blogosphere types. Now that he's got the political capital of the last election and some margin for error in his caucus, I rather expect he's going to supprise a lot of people in the lefty blogosphere who are prepared to be disappointed.
January 2, 2009 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
KagroX was just writing about disputed seats and senators.
Cornyn is full of it: they've previously seated people who were convicted of stuff that qualifies as moral turpitude.
January 2, 2009 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I realize it's the House, not the Senate I mention here, but California's favorite crook, Darrel Issa, is a very good example of this fact.
Golly gee, just how the heck did so many crooks get into our government?
...gambling at Rick's place?
Remember in A Clockwork Orange, how the petty criminals became the local police?
Kubrick, like Orwell, never seems to become outdated or obsolete.
January 5, 2009 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Things are going to look pretty good for the Dems in 2010 if we can keep these kinds of tactics in front of the public eye. Due process has been participating in this situation since the very beginning. The Right's determination to fly in the face of the courts is simply more evidence that they have no respect for the rule of law and the justice system. That is how this should be framed. Perpatuating this contest will hurt them more then help, imho.
January 2, 2009 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree! The public wants action. Let the Republicans have a big hissy fit about seating Franken. They lose.
January 2, 2009 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I fu&k*ng hate Texans! And I actually happen to be one. Old Harry Reid and the rest of them need to work the full court press on Cornyn, as he is the junior senator from Texas and has been much more than a cheerleader for Bush and Co. going back to his days on the Texas Supreme Court, just like Alberto "Gonze-O" Gonzalez. Let's call his bluff, clearly the GOP has seated people before a race was officially called before. So print the story as an editorial in all the Texas newspapers and stamp Cornyn's name to all these little shaningans/trivialities in our countries time of need.
By the way if any of you happen to live in Texas, go ahead an write his office and you like me will recieve a letter two weeks from today which reads that he is happy to hear from a fellow texan and is intersted in hearing more. Blah, Blah, blah, someone please corner the bastard.
January 2, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Probably a good time to post some pictures of "big hug" photo ops featuring Cornyn and W.
January 3, 2009 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Never underestimate Mitch McConnell and Co.'s willingness to burn the house down to make a point. I think there is a growing realization among GOP leadership that they will be in the minority for many years to come. So why not try a continuing scorched earth policy and blame any disastrous results on the Democrats.
Harry Reid needs tp wake up and realize that everything disastrous that happens from hereon out will be placed at the feet of Democrats, rightfully or wrongfully.
He loves to give whiny speeches from the Senate floor complaining of GOP obstructionism, as he rolls over for the umpteenth time to GOP obstructionism.
Instead of blocking a properly appointed Democratic Senator, he should be wooing Maine's 2 senators to leave the dark side and come into the light. Collins and Snowe can't want to be in the minority for the rest of their careers.
January 2, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Snowe and Collins are as likely to change parties as they are to start in the Celtics' backcourt.
Snowe is Mrs. Maine GOP. Her husband is the last Republican governor. She is the queen of all she surveys, small though that kingdom is.
Collins is a complete creature of the Party. She picks two or three votes a year (ANWR, e.g.) to buck the party, and the rest of the time she's McConnell's tool. In the other party, she'd be a laughing-stock and a warm body. In the GOP she's a playa.
January 2, 2009 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Scorched earth...What a great idea! Worked wonders for Hitler.
January 2, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Dems should seat Burris, then move to expel him. They should also take the position that the US Constitution prohibits them from doing anything else. Any R that votes to seat him can be hung with that vote, one would think. Illinois is not going to elect an R right now.
THus, when Al Franken's seat comes up, they have to seat him. And at that point, no one's going to move to expel him (they simply won't have the votes.). Game, set, match.
Granted, there may be sides of this I don't understand, but I don't see the harm in this rule for D's if the shoe's on the other foot. If the rule goes the way the D's seem to want it now, the party in power always controls seating and I'm not sure that that's such a good thing.
January 2, 2009 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm confused about how this works. As I understand the elections board is basically ready to declare Al Franken the winner, they just have to figure out what to do with absentees. After that the only hope for Coleman is to challenge the results in court. Am I correct that the Senate can't block letting Franken in once Franken's been declared winner, even if Coleman is challenging it?
January 2, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Under Minnesota law, the election certificate isn't issued when there is a recount until after the lawsuits are settled.
January 2, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I see, thanks.
January 2, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you Candide about Reid's need to woo some of the more sane GOP members but let's be clear, what has John Cornyn done for the American people over his short term in the Senate? He has been a cheerleader to many fo the failed policies of the Bush admin, thus not carving much room fro his own political career, and has been a leader for Texans who disagree with Bush adn many fo the other GOP policies. Hutchinson has disagreed with Bush, and now she is thinking of running for Governor, because the boob we have now thinks his hair and ego can take him to the Presidential office. Ha-Ha, even most of the GOP inside Houston, Austin and San Antonio think Perry is joke and are just biding their time until hsi career is comes to end when Hutchinson decides to run. People like Cornyn are on notice after this election. He will have a tough fight going forward, so let's make it tough!
January 2, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cornyn is one of the single least intelligent Senators of all time, and that's saying something. Texas will probably just replace him with another blithering white male idiot.
January 2, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Instead of blocking a properly appointed Democratic Senator, he should be wooing Maine's 2 senators to leave the dark side and come into the light. Collins and Snowe can't want to be in the minority for the rest of their careers."
Yes, however all of the above would require Reid to be assertive. I don't know if he has that skill. He's George McFly.
As soon as Reid and co. said they would block any Blago. appointment I knew this was going to degrade into stupid. Nice work. Ironic that Reid chose to get assertive over this- the Senate getting involved in state politics. Reid's involvement was/is just a big pander. Now it's blowing up in his face. Blago has totally played Reid, imho.
January 2, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
quote at top by candide.
January 2, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
George McFly...I like that!
January 2, 2009 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Have Pugs learned nothing from the election? I prey that they continue down this partisan road and it will continue to yield them the same fruits they've received since the 2006 elections!
January 2, 2009 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe the Dems should try to refuse to seat Cornyn!!!
January 2, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go ahead Cornyn, make our day.
Then watch the other Ohio Senate seat flip to the Dems in 2010.
January 2, 2009 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nuclear option should be taken now to remove the filibuster and a big FU should be given to those POS's GOP'ers that think they are being cute.
January 2, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I understand it, the Senate can alter or repeal any Senate rule at the beginning of a new Congress (like now.) If that's true, by a simply majority vote, Dems could reduce the number of votes required to invoke cloture to, say, 55 from 60. Several years ago, the number was reduced from 67 to 60. No reason why Dems shouldn't change it now to head McConnell off at the pass.
January 2, 2009 5:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Would the Senate Democrats just find somebody, anybody, with the courage to take the Republicans on. Just make the Thugs really filibuster a few times and the American people will understand who is obstructing Americas rebirth. I do not want to read again that the Senate failed to pass some measure when the Republicans actually refused to let the bill come up for a vote.
January 2, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was going to comment about Franken and Cornyn but it seems like most people are talking about Burris.
IF the Minnesota elections board certifies the results, then Franken is Senator and there isn't a goddamned thing Cornyn or the GOP can do about it. Seating a Senator is not something that can be filibustered, (because membership of individually elected Senators isn't voted on), and expelling a Senator takes a two thirds majority vote, (67 votes), which ain't gonna happen. Cornyn and the GOP obviously need remedial government or arithmetic classes. If the results are certified, then Cornyn and the GOP have. No. Choice.
January 2, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Would the Senate Democrats just find somebody, anybody, with the courage to take the Republicans on. Just make the Thugs really filibuster a few times and the American people will understand who is obstructing Americas rebirth. I do not want to read again that the Senate failed to pass some measure when the Republicans actually refused to let the bill come up for a vote.
January 2, 2009 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's no more reason for excuses from these lame so-called leaders. The Democrats now have the Executive branch and a decided majority in both Houses of Congress. If Reid & Co. can't figure out how to govern now, it ought to be peasants with pitchforks time. The craven cave-in syndrome has to stop! If the minority threatens to filibuster, then MAKE them filibuster . . . [profanity profanity profanity.]
January 2, 2009 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
About the only thing more irritating than the wimpy inept stumble-footed Democratic congressional leadership is the Talking Points Memo dysfunctional commenting process.
January 2, 2009 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Regarding filibustering the vote to allow somebody in the Senate: Doesn't that seem like one of the times that filibustering would not be allowed? Seems like a chicken and egg problem if you can prevent a person from being a voting member by having a minority of the body object. Sounds very bad as a structure.
January 3, 2009 1:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Reid continues to "mealy mouth" through this type of response from the Repubs, even before Obama is officially our leader then it is a sure sign that he needs to be replaced immediately if not sooner. The state of our Nation, and hopes for our future are planned around the notion that our Congress will work together . . . these are distinct signs the Repubs have a different idea and intention and we need to act now!
January 3, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
It is no longer unprecedented to block a Senator if there is a dispute as to the legitimacy of the process by which he obtained the seat: See Burris.
January 3, 2009 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Any possibility that a Dem could try to pull the rug out from under Reid this coming week as majority leader?
Certain senators from CT and NY have ethics problems. Feinstein is said to want to run for Gov. next year. And then there is he who got into it on the senate floor with Darth.
Could anyone else walk into the limelight and grab the edge?
January 3, 2009 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if GOP refuses to seat Franken, I say Democrats should refuse to seat all Republicans.
I mean it. Refuse to seat all Republicans and see how easier it will become to move forward.
January 4, 2009 3:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
So we have the Republicans blocking seating Franken and the Dems blocking seating Burris. Sound like a stalemate? Not quite.
While watching Harry Reid on Meet the Press this morning, he ended a line of query about the Burris matter with the line "Everything's negotiable" or something similar.
If, say, both sides drag out their positions until the courts have weighed in on things, the Republicans still lose. If the court says Dems have to seat Burris, that's a win-win situation for the Dems as it takes the blame away from them for any perceived corruption cloud. Big deal that the Republicans only delayed the inevitability of Dems seating two senators.
Or, more importantly, in the meantime, the Repubs could cause obstruction of any relief package to get underway if things really got stupid. And we know they're probably crazy enough to shoot themselves in the foot like that, as they've done it before. Think Big 3 bailout.
Either way, they lose. Harry Reid knows he's in the cat-bird seat here and has the leverage to negotiate seating both senators, and saving face in the meantime re: Blago.
January 4, 2009 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suggest that Al Franken keep a tally of the minutes filibusterd against him and return the favor once he's officially seated.
I would wager more than the million bucks I have never had that I usually bet on these spontaneous wagers, that Franken would make them all laugh, make them cry, he can make them feel guilty and feel proud, as well or better than any of them.
Franken's what most of them wish they were.
Keep a tab, Al.
And remeber, payback should be a roll-on-the-floor five-hour comedy routine for the public record. Once you're legit, stick it to em'.
...minute for minute, hour for hour, insult for insult. We look forward to your historic revenge filibuster.
January 5, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink