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Originally Posted by wolf
If the issue is the qualifications of the various nominees, shouldn't those qualifications be the matter under discussion rather than just filibustering to avoid voting on the nominee?
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The qualifications have been discussed for quite a while, and will continue to be. The qualifications are the reason the filibuster is being invoked. I'm sure that any filibuster that occurs will include more discussion of the qualifications. But at this point, the qualifications arent the biggest issue. Right now, the issue is the Republican attempt to destroy the filibuster, and with it the two party system, by getting Cheney to rule the cloture rule unconstitutional, which everyone knows to be a lie.
1) The rules allow filibuster, and filibuster has been used before.
2) The Republicans want to change the rules to ensure 100% of Bush's nominations are approved.
3) A rule change requires 2/3 vote.
4) Declaring a rule unconstitutional requires only a ruling by Cheney, and then 50 senators.
5) So, even though they know it is constitutional, for political purposes they will declare the cloture rule unconstitutional because it's easier than changing the rule.