Sen. Booker is crossing the performance / obstruction Rubicon -- if he eats up a legislative day and Republicans have to reschedule the nomination for tomorrow or later, it's a clear example of what advocates have been asking for, in line with using up debate time on Vought - ThreadSky

aaronhuertas.bsky.social • 6 days ago

Sen. Booker is crossing the performance / obstruction Rubicon -- if he eats up a legislative day and Republicans have to reschedule the nomination for tomorrow or later, it's a clear example of what advocates have been asking for, in line with using up debate time on Vought

Reposted from Hunter Walker

CSPAN has now taken the 10am Senate session, which was the Whitaker vote, off their schedule for the day. But sure, go off king!

Comments

lovesdemocracy.bsky.social•6 days ago

"How can the central precept of our country, founded on on principles that are reflected in the good book, how can we say we should cut healthcare from the sick and the needy to give bigger tax cuts to Elon musk?"
Corey Booker.
Speaking from the Senate floor, 04\01\2025

riker.bsky.social•5 days ago

Most importantly, it’s at least something, which puts him leagues ahead of every other senate democrat

chapofthemanor.bsky.social•5 days ago

So who’s the next Democrat to follow his lead ??

thadmessenger.bsky.social•6 days ago

Makes no difference. Trump will just use recess appointments.

stevie-z.bsky.social•6 days ago

Wait, is that Matthew "Meatball" Whittaker, the dude who scammed veterans? Or is this another 4th Reich urinal scraping?

cheesebiscuits.bsky.social•6 days ago

The same used toilet salesman.

stevie-z.bsky.social•6 days ago

It's like a Stephen King Pet Cemetary From Hell. Blech.

marccunat.bsky.social•6 days ago

Sen. Booker should be using these pie charts. Please help get them to him on the Senate floor. https://bsky.app/profile/charlesgaba.com/post/3ljko2ipwfc2j

senorsabelotodo.bsky.social•6 days ago

Call his office to thank him! Go Cory Booker!!!

202-224-3224

giamonroe.bsky.social•6 days ago

💪🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

obscurem.bsky.social•6 days ago

It's also good timing because of "Liberation day" tomorrow. And since he started yesterday, fewer people think it's an April Fools joke

cheetodusty.bsky.social•6 days ago

Messes up Donald’s “Liberation day”

crdenny.bsky.social•6 days ago

That shouldn't happen, because another Democratic senator should pick up where Booker leaves off and start a new 20-hr filibuster tonight or tomorrow. Or is he the only one willing to do it?

amidprivilege.bsky.social•6 days ago

Other senators are asking him questions and making their points

crdenny.bsky.social•6 days ago

I know. But what we need is another 20 hours, with the same support from other senators... and then another...

nivcharayahel.bsky.social•6 days ago

Once he yields the floor, that ends the filibuster, because he can't directly yield to the next speaker himself. That goes through the chair, who is a Republican. They would likely move for a recess as soon as he yields so no other speaker can request the floor.

crdenny.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yes, which would be perfect, since no business would get done. Next time they resume, start again...

nivcharayahel.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'm not saying that's bad strategy ... although they might struggle to get the floor again. Just saying that Booker leaving is what ends this filibuster (as a matter of procedure).

nivcharayahel.bsky.social•6 days ago

That's why he's taking breaks by yielding for questions while retaining the floor, and why he has to continue to stand at his podium during those breaks.

amidprivilege.bsky.social•6 days ago

We want all our senators to ask Booker questions! Let's tell them!

amidprivilege.bsky.social•6 days ago

I believe there is a time for "what we need is," and a time for "thank you for what you are doing."

There's a vote in Wisconsin today, and what we hope are huge demonstrations on Saturday. Inspiration, encouragement and momentum are good, if not sufficient.

crdenny.bsky.social•6 days ago

This is clearly a time for both. I thank Senator Booker enormously for what he's done, and I expect other senators to now do the same in turn. Thanks to Cory Booker, this is is their moment, and whatever the election outcomes are today, they'd better seize it if they want future electoral support.

amidprivilege.bsky.social•6 days ago

I wrote both of my senators last night asking them to support Booker.

I'll call their offices this morning.

clesn3.bsky.social•6 days ago

Go Sen. Booker! Shut it the hell down!

oldcountrylawyer.bsky.social•6 days ago

A fine audition for minority leader.

izzypuff.bsky.social•6 days ago

More "good trouble..." 🙏

dustinheron.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'll believe it when I see it

jscram3254.bsky.social•6 days ago

Then turn on C-SPAN2 so you can see it.

dustinheron.bsky.social•6 days ago

What i want to see will not be on CSPAN2 for quite awhile.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

I mean it's happening now -- they can say they delayed a nomination by an hour and six minutes. Will be a lot harder for other senators to say they can't do this or other obstruction tactics. It's a thin wedge, for sure, but it's a wedge, similar to when they actually opposed Vought's nomination.

memphis11.bsky.social•6 days ago

What's the end game for increased senate procedural radicalism?

memphis11.bsky.social•6 days ago

Chewing up time seems like a decent goal imo

memphis11.bsky.social•6 days ago

No idea what the max amount you can do is though, I'd assume senate Rs would rationally counter procedurally instead of becoming democrats.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

IMO Republicans would have to start voting to overrule whatever Dems are doing, so it would make the Senate function more like the House with power concentrated in leadership and less discretion for individual senators

youtackything.bsky.social•6 days ago

Except Vought still got confirmed on schedule.

dustinheron.bsky.social•6 days ago

Note too that Booker agreed to UC on Thursday to advance the nom and take a 3 day weekend. Maybe he had an epiphany over that time but let's see what the actual result is here.

youtackything.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'd be *delighted* to be proven wrong.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

I give them more credit for Vought because debating all night is how people actually think the senate works. It’s still wired, but it’s closer to the Mr. Smith version of the senate

dustinheron.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yeah that's all well and good. But I'm waiting to see more. It's too late to call an hour a victory, ymmv.

katinthesoup.bsky.social•6 days ago

Once you put a crack in the egg it’s easier to break it open. And this is a crack.

dustinheron.bsky.social•6 days ago

Of course, you can also crack open an egg that should have been eaten 60 days ago and now it's too late.

katinthesoup.bsky.social•5 days ago

It’s better than what we had from the democratic leadership yesterday. And while it isn’t the timeline I would have preferred it’s a start.

dustinheron.bsky.social•5 days ago

Sure, but people are dying, being tortured, and have been for weeks. Its welcome but we are also well past the need for baby steps.

let's see what happens the next time unanimous consent is asked for, or if they take another 3 day weekend, or take their 2 week recess this month.

lylescout.bsky.social•6 days ago

Badass.

squeakins85.bsky.social•6 days ago

USE THE REPUBLICAN PLAY BOOK ON THEM. GUM UP THE WORKS!

profbobhowarth.bsky.social•6 days ago

So why isn't every Democratic Senator doing this?

caioalmendra.bsky.social•6 days ago

You know what this means, right? The US will totally get a streamer senator very soon

r.v.cx•6 days ago

Cory Booker has earned a tiny, meaningless gesture from me: I donated a buck. https://corybooker.com

if7ate9.bsky.social•6 days ago

I’m curious if any of the Dems that ridiculed Sinema and Manchin have sent any apologies or thank yous for voting to keep the filibuster alive.

mcclain142.bsky.social•6 days ago

Is there a procedural reason he didn't START this morning? I assume it's because he wouldn't be recognized and starting in the evening is just the way these things have to go?

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'm not sure. He flagged that he wanted to do this to each party's leadership. Generally senators have wide privileges for being recognized and holding the floor when there is not other business on the floor

mcclain142.bsky.social•6 days ago

Kinda figured that. So he probably had an easier time racking up hours for the speech starting yesterday.

sunrises.bsky.social•6 days ago

Strategically, I think it is more effective and noteworthy to wake up to him having already gone all night and entering hours 13, 14, etc.

ernieattorney.bsky.social•5 days ago

Cory Booker has been a true leader from Day #1.
https://youtu.be/cZi_q9fwQfg?si=zkDt_EiGP7xYdzfF

tarastelluto.bsky.social•6 days ago

If that is the effect of this, I will apologize to everyone yelling at me. On the other hand, making Whitaker the US ambassador to NATO is probably the least harmful place we could put him. NATO's done with us already anyway.

christrolles.bsky.social•6 days ago

They should have been doing this for the last 2 months. Fucking Chuck Schumer stopped them and look at where we are and what’s happening. Chuck Schumer needs to resign.

nataliewrites.bsky.social•6 days ago

I’m glad to see this! Used to think Booker would be part of the change. Maybe that’s still a possibility.

susanmcgraw88.bsky.social•5 days ago

I’ve been watching C-SPAN two since last night at 7 PM. It’s now 6:15 PM Tuesday evening.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

And to be clear, even if they vote for Whitaker later today or this evening, that's still a bit of substantive obstruction and less time for Republicans to do bad stuff on the floor.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

A routine excuse Dems have used about obstruction tactics is that they wouldn't *actually* cause delays when they vote to go home on the weekends. Well, here's an example of them causing an actual delay in a way that is clearly repeatable under Senate rules.

karloffsghost.bsky.social•6 days ago

plus it is in fact generating press coverage! if you act like the circumstances are extraordinary, the media will be thrilled to play that message up for you!

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

IMO that's what often holds them back -- they actually have to do novel stuff and provoke conflict.

karloffsghost.bsky.social•6 days ago

yes, exactly. and also because they act as though public opinion is static and they must be purely reactive to it, rather than imagining that they have some agency in helping to shape it.

frambley1.bsky.social•6 days ago

"Well, here's an example of them causing an actual delay in a way that is clearly repeatable under Senate rules."

It's not nothing, get on it (& no more votes for nominees):

@wyden.senate.gov @jeff-merkley.bsky.social

@schumer.senate.gov

@warren.senate.gov @adamschiff.com
@amyklobuchar.com

ezralevin.bsky.social•6 days ago

47 Dems at an average of 10 hours a piece eats up what, 20 full days?

mel2lou.bsky.social•5 days ago

We don’t need to have Mr. Smith goes to Washington all the time just make a demand that senators deny unanimous consent!

alexandergruchala.bsky.social•6 days ago

And then pass the baton back to the beginning.

peggystuart.bsky.social•6 days ago

Go for it!

mel2lou.bsky.social•5 days ago

If a senator is a good speaker like Booker then yes but please let’s not have Schumer up there for 24 hours. L O L. Love to see Dems finally putting up a fight!

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yep! If their tactics start actively pissing off Republicans they will get 1,000x more attention than whatever Booker is getting right now from the base hype train. Obstruction is a great tool for getting them to argue in your frame.

https://bsky.app/profile/usspcrichardandson.bsky.social/post/3llr5y2tvdc2w

erichluepke.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'd say Senate Dems are at a 4 right now and we want them to be at a 9, where 10 is starting a revolution.

erichluepke.bsky.social•6 days ago

4, to be fair, is about the highest they've been in the modern era.

erichluepke.bsky.social•6 days ago

At this point, if Democratic Senators started taunting Republicans with improvised weapons I would consider it in line with their Constitutional duties.

litscrib.bsky.social•6 days ago

But we should do both. Don’t mock booker for his filibuster. It’s been a very effective tool. Esp now when republicans are waking up. It’s going to take everything and every one evil to stop this fascist train.

bravebasil.bsky.social•6 days ago

We need to use every tool available to us, and thankfully the house of representatives and senate are absolutely full of tools. Maybe they can be useful like Sen. Booker and Bernie and AOC

zathras5.bsky.social•6 days ago

Well, good.

raidersyourface.bsky.social•6 days ago

@schiff.senate.gov & @padilla.senate.gov please get in on this.

clearlyundone.bsky.social•6 days ago

Schumer seems to have been shamed into speaking up. For the first time.

cinnamon--girl.bsky.social•6 days ago

does everyone have to stay an listen? or can they walk out?

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

They can leave. I don’t think anyone has demanded a quorum call or if that would interrupt him

aluminumcuffs.bsky.social•6 days ago

like id said to another - i am grateful for this! i am. but to pretend this is enough or all that needs done is fatally shortsighted and expecting too little. this is a great *first step*

mizzmelissa.bsky.social•6 days ago

Good point. They’ve got to keep this up. Every single day for the next 4 years.

valoisdubins.bsky.social•6 days ago

The first step is crucial. It’s like the first hole in the dam.

aluminumcuffs.bsky.social•6 days ago

i wont start holding my breath till the crack gets way bigger, but i can hope

valoisdubins.bsky.social•6 days ago

Don’t hold your breath!

Use your breath to shout MORE of this. MORE obstruction. MORE opposition. MORE bringing the people to the fight. MORE.

aluminumcuffs.bsky.social•6 days ago

girl i am a disabled trans woman my resistance is surviving this society actively attempting to kill me

valoisdubins.bsky.social•6 days ago

Apologies. I didn’t know.

What I said to you is what I would say to people who have the resources the current clusterfuck is denying you.

fulphl.bsky.social•5 days ago

If a delay is wanted then they can co-sign the judicial impeachment articles. That would tie congress up for a good chunk of time.

Kind of like the CR. Sign up to move the bill out and then vote against the bill. Also, forces the senate to hold trial/vote and no way it gets 2/3.

cyberrb25.bsky.social•6 days ago

Were I a Dem senator, and would it be possible to go after that, I'd continue the filibuster after Booker goes down for staying too much up.

mdenger15.bsky.social•6 days ago

He said he still has gas left in the tank. Keep going @booker.senate.gov.

sethdaire.bsky.social•6 days ago

Newt Gingrich gave speeches to an empty House chamber, knowing it was broadcast on C-SPAN. Political theater can be effective when strategic. A long speech by Booker won’t change the world, but it can certainly matter.

sunrises.bsky.social•6 days ago

It does matter. And it has the potential to start something real, a sustained challenge to business as usual.

jojojo.bsky.social•6 days ago

I’d argue that politics IS theater to some degree

bookreadingguy.bsky.social•6 days ago

Always has been.

comish4lif.bsky.social•6 days ago

@aaronhuertas.bsky.social can Booker pass this off to someone else? Can @chrismurphyct.bsky.social relieve him?

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

Not directly since they agreed to vote on the Whitaker nomination under a unanimous consent agreement but as they’re demonstrating they are perfectly capable of coordinating obstruction at multiple points

athx1138.bsky.social•6 days ago

I’m glad he’s doing this and showing some fight, but I’m also really disappointed that this is likely his entrée into a 2028 run for president.

He’s a pharma shill and a Netanyahu apologist

https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/senator-booker-on-israel

ericjmorey.com•6 days ago

Perfect is the enemy of the good in this moment.

athx1138.bsky.social•6 days ago

OK, you’re right perfect isn’t what’s necessary. But how about not being pro apartheid? Is that OK?

This is one of the key issues. The Democratic Party is going to have to come to grips with. A lot of people don’t want to vote for people who like genocide.

ericjmorey.com•6 days ago

Your claim is that Booker is pro-genocide?

athx1138.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yes

https://theintercept.com/2019/03/30/cory-booker-aipac-leaked-recording/

ericjmorey.com•6 days ago

I'll read through that, but is it really an indication that Cory Booker wants to see genocide carried out on Muslim people?

amidprivilege.bsky.social•6 days ago

I mean FFS

jcar8mm.bsky.social•6 days ago

How come MSNBC hasn’t been covering this right now? All they’re doing is talking about Trump.

brindlemutts.bsky.social•6 days ago

That’s why I don’t watch msnbc in the morning . 🤨

notamole.bsky.social•6 days ago

Thanks to Senator Booker. I hope this leads to a more concerted effort by Dems to throw sand into the gears of the running of the Senate.

openingmyheart.bsky.social•6 days ago

if this was his intention why did he start at night?

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

Not sure it was but I think unless he objected to other business that was the first time the floor would be open. They’re still operating under unanimous consent agreements to schedule votes on Trump nominees

openingmyheart.bsky.social•6 days ago

what does that mean, exactly? (the unanimous consent agreements to schedule votes).

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

Looks like there’s an official explainer here

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RS20594

originalnose.bsky.social•6 days ago

We need ALL DEMS to do this

mishotem.com•6 days ago

Who's in line to start this *after* Booker so he can get some sleep and come back later for round 2?

frambley1.bsky.social•6 days ago

Queue up:

@wyden.senate.gov @jeff-merkley.bsky.social

@schumer.senate.gov

@warren.senate.gov @adamschiff.com
@amyklobuchar.com
cc: @corybooker.com

ericjmorey.com•6 days ago

Senators have been requesting Booker to yeild time (while Booker retains the floor) for asking questions to Booker. The questions usually take 5 to 10 minutes to ask. They'll probably figure something out to give him a real rest.

thedeathofmusic.bsky.social•6 days ago

I think there's at least one other Dem senator that's prepared to step in to help the filibuster if needed

rodneyo13.bsky.social•6 days ago

If some more Senators join they could drag this on for days. Get off your backsides and stand up for America. Be a Cory!!!

ratherbfishing.bsky.social•6 days ago

I applaud Sen Booker for fighting for all of us! Something needed to be done to slow the Republican destruction of our democracy.

bambinamomma.bsky.social•6 days ago

Even if he doesn’t stop a vote, at least he is powerfully stopping business as usual. This cannot be ignored. And every word that has been uttered on this floor has been forceful and brilliant. Bless this man.

tweinstein.bsky.social•6 days ago

Can't a single senator deny unanimous consent for a whole host of things? Can the Senate conduct business without it?

blockhead48.bsky.social•6 days ago

More please

internethuman.bsky.social•6 days ago

Hey Aaron, what's your take on this?

https://bsky.app/profile/brooklynpsu.bsky.social/post/3llqysyj7xc26

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

That's a core problem with a lot of their rhetoric even when they do take good actions -- they are advancing the Senate's business through UC.

Each time they say granting UC actually pushes the scheduled vote down the calendar, but if they refused UC totally, that'd be a different ballgame.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

You'll also find impatient Republicans who wanted to speed run more of Trump's nominees. There's also weird Senate rule stuff like even when the Dems were correctly using maximum debate time to oppose Vought they were passing other measures via UC

reuxben.bsky.social•6 days ago

Seemingly so many horrific graduates from Yale Law make political news these days, it's just great at long last to have a positive force for once.

conejooaks.bsky.social•6 days ago

Why didn’t he start at a time when most of the speech would block action rather than just eat up already unscheduled night time?

mjdlt.bsky.social•6 days ago

Serious Q: isn’t withholding unanimous consent a more effective tactic? Why has this not been used?

sunrises.bsky.social•6 days ago

They should use any and all levers available.

aaronhuertas.bsky.social•6 days ago

My personal opinion: yes AND the most important thing is using an array of tactics to mess with them each of which would have to be disposed of.

frambley1.bsky.social•6 days ago

An array of tactics. Get on it:

@wyden.senate.gov @jeff-merkley.bsky.social

@schumer.senate.gov

@warren.senate.gov @adamschiff.com @corybooker.com
@amyklobuchar.com

pauljunhyuk.bsky.social•6 days ago

So, is Cory up to replace Chuck, do we think?

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