In a sometimes heated discussion with witty rebuttals, the Bruin
Democrats and the Bruin Republicans on Tuesday night debated topics
relevant to current national and international politics, including
security threats from Iran, filibusters in the U.S. Senate and an
individual’s right to die.
Representatives from each student group offered varying
approaches to address the proliferation of nuclear weapons in
Iran.
Jessica Quintero, a third-year political science and Middle
Eastern and North African studies student who was on the Bruin
Democrats panel, said the United States needs to focus on
diplomatic measures to end proliferation.
Quintero said the United States should not engage in a war with
Iran, and suggested offering incentives to end proliferation.
Matt Knee, a fourth-year political science student and president
of the Bruin Republicans, said invading and occupying Iran was not
a feasible option, but the United States should consider limited
air strikes to destroy facilities where nuclear weapons are
produced.
Both panels also debated the viability of filibusters ““
extended speeches delivered in the Senate to prevent continuation
of the agenda.
In recent weeks, the filibuster has become an issue of national
debate as a group of Republican senators, led by Majority Leader
Bill Frist, R-Tenn., proposed modifying filibuster rules, and
Democrats conducted filibusters to prevent the appointment of some
of President Bush’s judicial nominees.
Eric Garthoffener, a fourth-year computer science student on the
Bruin Republicans panel, said the Democrats in Congress want to
maintain the filibuster option because with their minority position
in the Senate, it is the only tool they have to legislate.
But Kyle Kleckner, a first-year political science student on the
Bruin Democrats panel, said the Senate is using the filibuster to
prevent the appointment of extreme right judges who will use their
positions to legislate.
“The filibuster is there to prevent the tyranny of the
majority and that is the way it should be,” he said.
On Monday, a group of senators reached a compromise in which
Democrats agreed to go forward with three nominees while continuing
to filibuster two nominees.
Tuesday’s debate was the last of three hosted this year by
both groups.
Members who participated in the debate believe it is important
to provide UCLA with an informative discussion that represents
different views.
Gabriel Rose, a first-year political science student on the
Bruin Democrats panel, said he felt the debate could help students
form educated opinions on the addressed topics.