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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHarry Reid escalates `nuclear’ threat
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/22/harry-reid-escalates-nuclear-threat/Harry Reid escalates `nuclear threat
By Greg Sargent, Published: May 22, 2013 at 4:02
Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell have been slugging it out on the Senate floor today over Reids threat to revisit filibuster reform, and the escalating tone suggests this is now very real. Pay close attention to the statement Reid released today about their exchange:
Presidents be they Republican or Democratic deserve to have the people working for them that they choose. The Senates role is to advise and consent. But Republicans have corrupted the Founders intent, creating an unreasonable and unworkable standard whereby the weakest of rationales is often cited as sufficient basis for blocking major nominees. Due to Republican obstruction, the de facto threshold for too many nominees to be confirmed has risen from a simple majority to a supermajority of 60 votes. On judicial nominees, Republicans obstruction is equally unprecedented There is no reason to delay qualified nominees for so long except delay itself, and it is little wonder we have a judicial vacancy crisis in this country.
Despite the agreement we reached in January, Republican obstruction on nominees continues unabated. I want to make the Senate work again that is my commitment.
This statement is wholly focused on GOP obstruction of judicial and executive branch nominations. It excoriates the current GOP-created 60-vote threshold for nominees as unacceptable, and pledges to do something about it.
snip//
Indeed, as Sahil Kapur notes, if the GOP blocks those nominations, the pressure on Reid to press the button will get very intense indeed. Major Democratic constituencies (labor, environmentalists) have a big stake in these nominees, and the consumer protection bureau represents a major component of one of Obamas signature domestic initiatives Wall Street reform.
By the way, all of this could have very far reaching implications indeed. As Jonathan Chait notes today, Obama and Republicans are headed for a major showdown over climate change this summer, one focused on his pending plan to curb carbon emissions from existing power plants. And the battle could unfold in the D.C. Circuit Court, where Obama has not yet filled vacancies. Republicans will filibuster any efforts to do that.
At any rate, given todays public statements from Reid, if the current level of GOP obstructionism continues, its hard to see how he has room to not make good on his threat to hit that button.
winter is coming
(11,785 posts)I'll believe it when it actually happens.
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)Cha
(297,678 posts)Mr. David
(535 posts)Now which is it?
Swamp Lover
(431 posts)If Reid ever made a right call, it is likely an error.
The Magistrate
(95,255 posts)babylonsister
(171,092 posts)you heard it here first! I have no choice but to hope he finds his spine.
The Magistrate
(95,255 posts)But I would not put up one dollar against ten to back my hope, unfortunately.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)MrSlayer
(22,143 posts)When "we" had the House and the Senate, "we" should have rolled right over those sons of bitches and enacted the most progressive legislation EVER. Really rolled back the Reaganism. But no, instead they enacted a bunch of Republican bullshit that the Republicans wouldn't even vote for.
Fuck you Reid.
spanone
(135,877 posts)Flashmann
(2,140 posts)My money is on him doing NEITHER!
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Mitch McConnell Loses His Mind and Accuses Harry Reid of Intimidating Him
Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251307457
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Btw, 18 of the 19 judicial nominees were ones that the GOP blocked in Obama's first term.
Some of them were blocked for over a year!
There has been only ONE nominee that was 'originally' nominated in 2013 that has been confirmed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Barack_Obama
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)RandiFan1290
(6,244 posts)Just in time for the dems to lose the Senate and his friends on the right will use it as an excuse to continue the rule change. Just another game to let the right get their way.
MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)TampaAnimusVortex
(785 posts)Its a short term win at best. Be careful what you ask for, it might come back to haunt you later.
msongs
(67,442 posts)TampaAnimusVortex
(785 posts)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_option
Both sides have used it as a hammer mind you, but no side has actually pulled the trigger yet.
Even the article makes note of it being used in retaliation.
the metaphor of a nuclear strike refers to the majority party unilaterally imposing a change to the filibuster rule, which might provoke retaliation by the minority party.
Again, do you really want to let Pandora out of the box?
Dragonfli
(10,622 posts)All it would mean to the Democratic leadership is if used against us, we wouldn't have to refuse to filibuster to "keep our powder dry", it's not like Harry will use the damned thing if we regained the majority.
What exactly are we supposed to fear here? The end to never ending obstruction?
You do realize there are no actual nuclear weapons being used here don't you?
TampaAnimusVortex
(785 posts)What happens when the republicans have all 3 branches again and you dont have so much as a filibuster to slow things down. All I am saying is that these swords have 2 edges, you appear to only be looking at the one that seems handy to you at the moment.
Besides, I'm not sure what it is you think your going to get passed in the senate by a simple majority that wouldnt get shot down in the house under it's current ownership.
Dragonfli
(10,622 posts)They not only use it but abuse it beyond all recognition making every single vote require sixty. you also miss the obvious pointed out already, the house doesn't have squat to do with confirmations so they are irrelevant to a large part of the abuse and obstruction, important posts are not being filled unless they are Republican friendly stooges we give them to get any damned one approved.
Your two edged sword is blunt on one side, compare filibuster records between the parties, we use a butter knife they use a razor.
TampaAnimusVortex
(785 posts)I'm not sure where you are getting your data, but see this graph.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/post/the-history-of-the-filibuster-in-one-graph/2012/05/15/gIQAVHf0RU_blog.html
As you can see, after 1975 - when the rules were changed and cloture was reduced from 3/4ths to 60 votes... up until Obama, democrats had the lead in using the filibuster. Yes, Rs just took the lead recently, and they used it aggressively under Obama - but don't pretend for a second that Ds rarely used it.
Again, be careful about what you ask for. As we see from history and the facts... that sword is indeed sharp on both sides.
Volaris
(10,274 posts)it would be a VERY long time before the GOP controlled all three branches again...and even if it were not the case that I'm right, can you see a GOP Congress voting to repeal something like Single-Payer, or even Public Option Healthcare after a Dem Majority passed it with only a simple majority, and then let it actually WORK for say, 6 years?
NO WAY. It would be the 30-year-cycle equivalent of the GOP trying to impeach Clinton. It would fuck them as a national party for 50 years, and given the shifting demographics numbers, McConnell damn-well knows this.
Yes, I want this done. I'm PISSED that Harry didn't do it in January.
demwing
(16,916 posts)Do you think the Republicans will NOT eliminate the filibuster if they ever get the Senate back?
The point is to do as much good as possible, while possible, before we lose the Senate (it will happen eventually).
wilsonbooks
(972 posts)Dragonfli
(10,622 posts)DevonRex
(22,541 posts)beaten Democrats up so much that there's no hope whatsoever of getting a liberal agenda through. Either that or he'll wait and do it right before he hands the Senate back over to Republican control. That's how much confidence I have in Harry Reid, who proudly said he doesn't work for Obama in January 2009 and said Obama had to go slow with his agenda. Thanks Harry.
GeorgeGist
(25,323 posts)Gawd some people are naive.
Paladin
(28,273 posts)JHB
(37,162 posts)I think the rest of me will join it. Not likely to miss Harry's show, just his endless warm-up.
liberal N proud
(60,346 posts)What a waste of breath to yet again lay down a false threat.
If Reid had a backbone (I was told BALLS wasn't a good word for this) he would have already implemented the rule change.
kentuck
(111,110 posts)Why?
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Yawn...