Senate Kills Auto Bailout Deal

Under the threat of a Republican filibuster and the ire of the American public, the Democrat-controlled Senate late Thursday night killed the auto bailout deal, effectively ending any federal help for the Big 3 automakers during this session of Congress.

GOP Senators Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and a few others listened to their constituents and threatened to effectively shut down debate on the bailout bill with a filibuster.

A filibuster wasn't necessary, however, as the bill failed overwhelmingly.

Michelle Malkin has the complete, late-breaking update on the vote.

What Should the GOP Filibuster?

With the victory of Saxby Chambliss in the U.S. Senate runoff election in Georgia, Republicans in the Senate have blocked a potential 60-seat Democrat 'supermajority.'

60 votes are needed by the majority Party to cut off attempts by the minority to 'filibuster' in order to block pending legislation favored by the majority.

Now that the Democrats lack the 60 votes necessary to end a filibuster, the Republicans can use the filibuster to prevent Leftwing extremist legislation put forth by the Democratic majority.

We have already heard that one GOP Senator has threatened a filibuster to block the pending bailout of the auto industry.

But is such a move wise at this point?

I say no.

Having the power to use the filibuster does not mean it is prudent to use it at the drop of a hat. The filibuster has a long history in the Senate as a measure of last resort--the absolute last tactic to be used to block foolhardy legislation.

This means that the filibuster should be used sparingly.

While I detest government bailouts of large corporations, there are some other more important matters coming down the pike that the GOP will need to block by necessity. The overuse of the filibuster on less important matters may make sustaining such a move in the future more difficult.

I would much rather the Senate GOP save the filibuster as an absolute last resort to use against Obama judicial appointments, for example.

Obama will attempt to make his mark on the judiciary by appointing Leftist judges early-on. These individuals should be blocked from the bench at all costs.

And to those who cry 'foul,' I would remind you that this is the very tactic the Democrats used against the appointees of George W. Bush, many of whom could not even get a simple up or down vote in the Senate.

If ever there were a time for payback, it is now. If Obama is allowed to move the judicial branch leftward with liberal appointees, then there will be nothing stopping the Obama-Democratic Congress steamroller from smashing ALL of our cherished victories to bits, particularly when it comes to firearms legislation.

CHAMBLISS WINS! 60-Seat Dem Majority Blocked

Blocking the attempt of the Democratic majority to gain a 60-seat filibuster-proof Senate super-majority, Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss has defeated challenger Democrat Jim Martin in a runoff election held Tuesday in Georgia.

Chambliss' victory effectively puts an end to the Democrats' quest for a 60-seat super-majority that would have prevented the minority from using the filibuster to block blatantly extremist legislation put forth by Barack Obama and liberal Democrats.

This is great news for those who believe it is vital that there be at least one check on the unbridled power of the Obama-Democratic party steamroller in Washington.

The only other outstanding Senate race yet to be decided is the recount in Minnesota that pits Republican incumbent Norm Coleman against Democrat challenger Al Franken.

Coleman appears to have the lead in the recount, but Franken is attempting an end-run around the voting process by pleading with the Democratic majority in Congress to nullify the vote and make him the winner.

It is yet to be seen if there will be a protracted legal challenge to the vote in Minnesota once the recount is complete.

Palin Ignites Crowd for Chambliss in Georgia

Sarah Palin traveled all the way to Georgia to fire up the crowds on behalf of embattled U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, who faces a runoff with Democratic challenger Jim Martin today.

Making 4 stops across the state, Governor Palin was met with enthusiastic crowds as she asked Georgians to send Saxby Chambliss back to the U.S. Senate.

The Governor also encountered many who are already making plans for 2012, carrying signs that stated, 'Palin for President in 2012.'

If ever there were a time when Georgians need to step up to the plate to do the right thing for the country, it is now. Saxby Chambliss may be the only thing standing in the way of a 60-seat filibuster-proof Senate.

Americans have shown time and again that they prefer a divided government in Washington over one that is dominated by one Party or one ideology.

With 60 seats in the Senate, Barack Obama and the Democrats would have basically no reasonable checks on unbridled power. They could do anything they wanted no matter what any of us think.

And as dangerous for the country as we have consistently proved Barack Obama to be, the citizens need the reassurance that at least in the Senate there is a built-in safety-valve to prevent reckless, unbridled power--the filibuster.