Filibuster and the Rassmussen Poll (WTF)

I was looking at the Rassmussen Poll on Filibusters and according to their polling 51% of Americans think the nominees should get an up or down vote, don't oppose the Senate ending filibusters to make it happen and 2/3 oppose the Dems shutting down the gov't if it happens. This is the only poll I've heard that is showing these favorable numbers for the pukies. Almost every other poll shows the public opposed to the senate nuke strategy.
In addition, the Dems never said they'd "Shut down the government." They said they'd allow necessary expenditures to be discussed and voted on.

an "up or down vote" and it was DOWN. It just happened in Committee, not on the Senate floor. Far more of Clinton's nominees were held up and never even got a hearing let alone an up or down vote, in committee or otherwise.

So for that first one, I'm not surprised to see 51%, they should get an up or down vote, only I accept the committee's vote as such but Rasmussen would have you believe I am for these fuckers getting ANOTHER vote on the Senate floor.

2/3rds probably do oppose shutting down the Government but if that was the question it was at least a false choice and at worst an outright lie. Bogging down the SENATE does NOT equal Shutting down the Gov't!

they got an up vote in committee, they were filibustered in the full senate

so looks like a "downer" to me. Although IIRC bush* did move a few via recess appointments.

"A simple up or down vote." It does sound sensible until you realize that the only reason they want that now is so they can stack the courts. This simple up or down vote concept would be fine if that's what we had been doing all along. But in the past our side has NOT been able to get a simple up or down vote when we had Democratic presidents because we weren't even able to get our nominees out of committee!!

People might think the simple up or down vote sounds sensible, but when this filibuster is eliminated and our courts are quickly stacked with extremist whackos, they will see why we needed the filibuster. I almost want to see this happen so I can laugh at the dumbasses who realize they supported the process that leads to the elimination of abortion and birth control. My brother-in-law is a perfect example. He thinks there should be a simple up and down vote. When I tell him abortion will be gone ASAP he says "Oh, they would NEVER do that." Right. Never. We'll see how quickly it happens and our country turns into a theocracy.

There's one point I rarely hear made in defense of the judicial filibuster and it's this: The filibuster ensures that judicial positions are given to more moderate judges that are acceptable to most of the population instead of having our courts filled with extremists from BOTH sides.

If you know Rasmussen's history, bio, and background... you know NOT to believe one word of his polling data!!!!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

Most Americans have no idea what the filibuster is and even less of an idea what the "nuclear option" is.

Pollsters can illicit any response they want by how they ask the question.

I generally have no problem with Rasmussen, they did very good in 2004.

... is a GOP hack.

He and his book "GOP Nation" can kiss my Democratic arse.. :kick:

~~~ :toast:

any more than John Zogby for being a Democrat.

"Are the president's nominees for judgeships entitled to an up or down vote in the senate?"

"Should a significant number of senators be able to use constitutional means to keep off the federal bench a nominee they conscientiously believe is unsuited for a lifetime appointment?"

The way the question is being asked, it sounds like the nominees don't get voted on at all. Democrats need to emphasize that a cloture vote IS an up or down vote that requires 3/5 instead of 1/2.

"Should every presidential nominee receive an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate?"
"Should Senate rules be changed to give every nominee a vote?"
"Who do you trust more on judicial nominations?"

...

No specific mention of filibusters, what they do, and the debate surrounding it (who wants to do what, etc). This is alot like Zogby's awful Terri Shiavo poll where he doesn't even mention Terri Shiavo. In that poll, he had questions like "should doctors be able deny food to disabled patients?" They are GOP talking points in the form of a question.

Every other poll (even GOP private polls) says Americans do NOT want filibuster rules changed.