When Is a Filibuster Not a Filibuster?

When the Democrats whine after a cloture vote against John Bolton and some how with a straight face say it is not.

Well the Cloture vote has failed, 56-42

The Senate voted 56-42 to block a final vote on Bolton. Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted for the end to debate, but other Democrats argued they want more information on the nominee’s requests for certain intelligence intercepts. Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas also voted for cloture.

Question: You know when someone is filibustering a nominee?
Answer: When they tell you right after they have done so that they are not filibustering.

Thus, after the cloture vote, I think that Reid and Biden dost protest too much.

Still, the two insisted the vote was not a filibuster.

“We want to make clear that this is not a filibuster. It is a vote to protect the Senate’s constitutional power to advise and consent to nominations,” they wrote.

After the vote, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said the vote against ending debate did not reflect on the nominee per se.

“We’re not here to filibuster Bolton, we’re here to get information on Bolton,” Reid said.

Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist called it like he saw it after the vote.

“It does disappoint me,” Frist said after the vote. “It looks like we have, once again, another filibuster.”

Michelle Malkin has some more comments from the aftermath of the cloture vote from Bill Frist in comparing a duck to a filibuster.

658pm Frist: It certainly sounds like a filibuster. It quacks like a filibuster.
It does disappoint me…We are going to come back to this issue…but I think what America has just seen is an engagement of another period of obstruction by the other side…once again, another filibuster…

The Political Teen has the video.

More from ABC:

Frist said the Bolton matter soured the air of cooperation.

“John Bolton, the very first issue we turned to, we got what looks to me like a filibuster,” Frist said. “It certainly sounds like a filibuster … it quacks like a filibuster.”

Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., said Democrats do not want to postpone an up-or-down vote indefinitely.

“We are willing to vote 10 minutes after we get back in session, if in fact they provide the information,” Biden said.

MSNBC chimes in with the Glee of the Democratic victory of obstruction. I would really remind Democrats not to get so smug and overplay your hand. Less than 72 hours after Democrats and the idiot 14 claims the Republic was saved, the Democrats have filibustered. Do you really think there is an appearance of doing the work of the American people?

Bolton’s confirmation vote will now be delayed for at least a week, until the Senate returns from its Memorial Day recess.

In a last-ditch effort, two Democratic senators, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, had worked Thursday to round up the 41 votes needed to stop Bolton’s nomination.

Blogs For Bush live blogged the vote.

UPDATE I: Lets see what the Left is saying.Daily Kos

Looking that way. Democrats say this isn’t a traditional filibuster — Bolton isn’t being killed. His nomination is merely being delayed until the administration delivers information Dems consider crucial to making a final determination.
Good move.

If its so crucial why did Biden say that the minute they get the information they would allow and up and down vote? Good move? Maybe over playing a hand that people are growing weary of gridlock. Biden: “We are willing to vote 10 minutes after we get back in session, if in fact they provide the information,” By the looks of the comments the Left may just be overplaying the Ace/10 suited.

Atrios

Vote delayed. Given the fact that the administration/state department isn’t giving the Republican Committee Chair the information he requested, it’s the only right thing to do.

That’s a little thin for the same reasons as above.

Crooks & Liars, Democrats win crucial Bolton vote

The administration stonewalls on supplying documents. I heard Joe Lieberman say on Ed Schultz that he stood with the members until they received the proper information.

UPDATE II:
To answer a question posed by a commenter lets go to a post that hits the question dead on. Quando reiterates the uselessness of the documents requested and the high level of security that they contain
Question: But why doesn’t the White House simply comply to a very reasonable request? What are they hiding?

Answer: The papers in question, however, are highly classified documents that detail intelligence sources and methods. Redacted versions of the documents were considered unacceptable by the Democrats.

The State Department, referring to the Senate’s famed inability to keep such material secret, has categorically refused to turn those unredacted documents over to the Senate. Moreover, they state that the Department will never allow the Senate to see unredacted originals. In my opinion, State is quite right to make that determination.

Thus the Democrats are doing what they do best, circular logic. They are requesting a document stating that it is paramount to passing cloture yet they know they will never be given the document in a form that they are asking for. Sounds like doing the work of the American people to me. The Democrats talk about the Presidents approval rating; have they taken a good look at their’s lately?