Neil Gorsuch Confirmation Process Discussion (confirmed 54-45)

[136or142]

(Lewis and Clark were given air rifles as well to use on the adventures)

"Were given" is kind of misleading. Clark was given basically a blank check by Jefferson with which to requisition stuff from Harpers Ferry and Pittsburgh and that included the air rifles. It is not like they were "issued to them" as if by command. Clark selected them, as well as most all of the other equipment.

And they were illegal in France and Britain. In Britain because poachers used them, in France because they were used by snipers against Napoleon's Army.

Fine, but they were not available to the common person to be bought.  They weren't illegal, they just were impossible to manufacture in great quantity.

Every musket was hard to manufacture in great quantity until the introduction of standardized parts. One of the things Clark also made sure of was, that all the rifles he requisitioned were built according to the new interchangeable standards.

The Industrial Revolution, also made manufacture much quicker and cheaper over the following decades.

That was subsequent though to the writing of the Constitution in 1789 (or, at best concurrent) and the Framers of the Constitution had no real ability to know of the technological progress that would ensue in the years following their writing of the Constitution.

Edit: the Constitution was ratified in 1789 but written in 1787.

That wasn't what I was responding to though. You said the air rifles were difficult to make and thus out reach. They were legal and available, though. And my point was that all rifles were relatively expansive and difficult to make, until technology changed that.

Except there were a lot of manufacturers of muskets, even though they were difficult to make in 1787, but there weren't a lot of manufacturers of air rifles.

http://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1489&context=wmlr

Air rifles (or air guns) needed a great deal of training in order to be used safely, so, it made sense that there wasn't as large a market for air rifles as opposed to muskets, hence less incentive to manufacture them.

[Confused Democrat]

No's just hit 41.

[136or142]

No's just hit 41

Is this the vote on the filibuster?

[Confused Democrat]

No's just hit 41

Is this the vote on the filibuster?

This is the cloture vote.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Heitkamp: AYE

Vote is 48-41 in favor

[136or142]

No's just hit 41

Is this the vote on the filibuster?

This is the cloture vote.

Oh right.  I suppose the vote on the 'nuclear option' will take place right after.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Bennet: AYE

Vote is now 51-44 in favor

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

51-44

[Confused Democrat]

There's no use in counting anymore. Republicans can't get 60, so they need to put up or shut up.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Will Isakson vote?

[Confused Democrat]

No's just hit 41

Is this the vote on the filibuster?

This is the cloture vote.

Oh right.  I suppose the vote on the 'nuclear option' will take place right after.

Yes

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Why did a bunch of Republicans vote last?


Blunt, Burr, McCain, Portman all in a row.


55-44 now.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I guess Isakson voted.

Last vote was Johnson.


56-44.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Isakson: AYE
Donnelly: AYE

CLOTURE VOTE finishes at 56-44. We'll see what McConell does.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I am assuming McConnell switched to no so he could bring it up again?

[Confused Democrat]

Wait what?

McConnell no?

[RI]

I am assuming McConnell switched to no so he could bring it up again?

Almost certainly.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I am assuming McConnell switched to no so he could bring it up again?

yes

--------

It finishes at 55-45, motion fails.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

They are now in a vote to authorize reconsideration. This only requires a simple majority.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

C-span lists this as a revote of cloture with 60 votes required.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Isakson: AYE
Manchin: AYE
Bennet: NO


Vote is 47-41 in favor

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So Bennet hoped off the train.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Heitkamp and Donnelly are still on the train.


Motion to reconsider passes 55-45.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Now Schumer is motioning to postpone the nomination to April 24th.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

C-span has been making a lot of lazy mistakes lately it seems. They that as a revote.