Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Ted Cruz Launches Filibuster in Opposition to Obamacare

Via WaPo:
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) launched an old-fashioned talking filibuster Tuesday afternoon to try to slow debate over a short-term spending measure by speaking against the new federal health-care law "until I am no longer able to stand."

"I rise today in opposition to Obamacare," Cruz announced as he began his remarks, saying he would be speaking on behalf of millions of Texans and Americans opposed to the new health-care law. 
"A great many Texans, a great many Americans feel they do not have a voice, and so I hope to play some very small role in providing the voice," he said.

By holding the floor, Cruz and his allies are launching what most Americans know as a traditional filibuster, or the practice of holding the Senate floor for several hours on end by speaking continuously, an exercise perhaps best epitomized by actor Jimmy Stewart in the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

But even if Cruz were physically capable of speaking for more than 24 hours -- the longest filibuster in U.S. history is 24 hours, 18 minutes by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond and other Southern senators opposed to civil rights laws -- there are already parliamentary procedures in place that dictate that Cruz will have to yield the floor by Wednesday afternoon at the latest.

At that point, the Senate is scheduled to hold a key procedural test vote that is near certain to pass with bipartisan support.

Cruz, a freshman senator, said he will be joined in his efforts by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who was seated in the Senate chamber when Cruz began speaking at 2:41 p.m.
Cruz and Lee have vowed to use whatever Senate procedural tactics are available to slow debate on the legislation.

It's not going to stop Obamacare, but let's see what arguments Cruz will use to oppose it.

4 comments:

  1. Fun watching this clown self-destruct.

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    Replies
    1. Why are you calling this man a clown for trying to defund something that has nothing to do with actual medical care and will financially destroy so many people and small businesses, and that will absolutely wipe out any remnants of medical privacy that Americans have left?

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    2. Because he is both a troll and a leftist political ideologue, which means he doesn't care what the actual results of Obamacare will be, as long as it comes from leftist politicians and the rhetoric of it all makes them "seem" like caring humanists among their ilk.
      His, and their, ultimate aim is not to actually improve the world, but to see his team beat all the other teams.
      That's why they never care when they are proven factually or logically wrong. It's not about being right; it's about his team being the winner of the game.

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  2. Obamacare: So Fantastic that the politicians that sing its praises are exempt from it.

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