Here we are about 3 hours away from the "Nuclear Option" and not a word on DU.

[1-Old-Man]

Talk about distractions, if it were not for Zimmerman's release there would be no DU. Later this morning the Senate will do something that is either awfully smart or awfully stupid and will effect this country for years to come in ways we can not begin to fathom and not a word of discussion.

Here is the word of the day: Shallow.

[Evergreen Emerald]

1. We have heard "wolf" too many times from Harry Reid

I will believe it when I see it....and I said this very same thing last time and Mr. Reid backed off allowing McConnell and the reps to continue to hamstring our democracy.

Regarding: "affect this county for years," I don't know if I agree. Every Congress creates their own rules. Nothing would stop the republicans from doing the very same thing when they are in charge.

[rugger1869]

16. Yes and No

Every Congress creates their own rules

For the HoR this is true... every two years when a new Congress is in session the first couple of days are used to establish the rules, etc.

For the Senate, which is germane to the "nuclear option", the rules don't change at all from Congress to Congress without action from the Congress... The Senate as a body of legislation has been in continuous session since 1789, hence the staggering of the Senators elections every two years.

When the Senate changes its rules, it is typically for a long time and has a profound effect, e.g. Senate Rule 22, that allows cloture with 2/3s majority... was established in 1917.

[Evergreen Emerald]

23. We have discovered that the Republicans have no shame

and no regard for tradition or frankly for democracy. I have no doubt that the first order of business by the Republican controlled Senate would be to do everything they could to gain every once of power they could --rules and tradition be dammed.

[Horse with no Name]

34. Yep...it is as popular as Fitzmas was once...n/t

[klook]

2. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014538845

[Deep13]

3. It hasn't happen yet, so we don't actually know that Reid will do it. nt

[Deep13]

44. Okay, blew it again! nt

[madokie]

4. I heard them talk about it on the local news just now

cbs local tulsa ok

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

5. If he does it, you won't hear a peep. If he doesn't, there will be dozens of threads.

Until then, we have partly cloudy skies with scattered cynicism.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. but the horizon is black. Stormy. Dangerous.

Especially after Reid caves.

[Bonobo]

14. Wow, you know DU THAT well after 204 posts? Amazing. nt

[frylock]

42. been here all of a week

[cali]

22. bzzzt. try again. If he does it- really does it- there will be a dozen ops

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

25. We'll see. But I'm sure there'll be some negative tidbit of it people focus on to make threads. nt

[cali]

27. wow, that's quite the retreat.

[SidDithers]

26. Exactly...nt

Sid

[LisaLynne]

6. The Zimmerman case and what it says about this country and what it may end up doing to this ...

country is pretty profound. Nothing "shallow" about discussing it.

[DefenseLawyer]

7. I smell a grand bargain n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. and some kind of gang of something

I await the outcome and if he does I will nominate the shit out the thread.

[DefenseLawyer]

12. There will definitely be a gang

all lined up at the press conference vowing devotion to unity, comity and civility.

[southernyankeebelle]

8. Well I will believe it when I see it. I don't have high hopes.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

9. cuz lots of us are anti-nukes, especially weapons.

Oh, you mean the senate?

I still feel that Reid will cave in.

And if we lose the senate in 2014, the GOP will destroy the philly-buster for their own benefit.

[KeepItReal]

13. Harry Reid alone has empowered the GOP minority from Day 1 of President Obama's term

He's allowed an astonishing and record number of GOP secret holds and filibusters of nominees and legislation while having a majority of the votes.

Excuse me for not getting exited about him actually (hopefully) embracing his roles as Majority Leader and Democrat.

[Autumn]

15. Actually you would be wrong.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014538845

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023267829

Those are the two I have seen.

[muriel_volestrangler]

32. Plus:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023268419
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023267752
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023267022
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023266975
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251315795
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023266386
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014538194
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023264336
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023264129
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251315748
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023261538
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014537343
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023252975
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023241222
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023240773
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251315431
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023235274
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023233529
...

[Autumn]

33. Well then I say DU is not so shallow after all.

[99Forever]

17. I've got news for you ...

... 1 Old Man...

The racially biased court system has already "affected this country" for more than a few fucking years.

Oh yeah, Spineless Harry won't do jack except capitulate, like always.

[Thinkingabout]

18. I have mixed emotions, I believe the majority rules and the recent past the GOP has abused

This rule too many times. While true each Congress makes their own rules changing the rules is not going to be assure what happens in the Senate in the future. The one event presently occurring is Reid's threat has at least gotten McConnell to say on Sunday he may be willing to vote on nominees perhaps to hold off the Senate rules changes. The meeting last night has opened talks within the Senate. However the Senate changes this stalemate in the Senate would be welcomed.

[cali]

19. I have Lucy with the football post traumatic stress syndrome

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, three times, four times and more, shame on me again and again and again.

[ebbie15644]

20. Nobody believes it will happen

[JustAnotherGen]

21. Because

Harry Reid is going to back down. He always does.

[Safetykitten]

24. And that is the correct answer.

[ladjf]

28. I saw at least one article on DU this morning about the nuclear option in the Senate on

the verge of happening. nt

[Gothmog]

29. It is time to push the button

The GOP have been abusing the filibuster for far too long

[kenny blankenship]

30. Here's a word: Overdue.

Also, show me. Let's see Harry Reid follow through on something.

Also, show me a change that will make the Senate actually more democratic. A "nuclear option" that only makes it possible for a President to rush appointees through the Senate confirmation is not more democratic. It's arguably less democratic, as it would remove a check on the Unitary Executive. An end to the filibuster altogether - that would be more democratic. The US Senate would still be an abomination of antidemocratic privilege due the way its composition conspicuously disregards the principle of one man, one vote. But a truly de-filibustered Senate would be an improvement.

[Democracyinkind]

31. 1. Harry talks, but doesn't walk.

2. Most DUers can contemplate and discuss more than one subject at once. Thinking along those lines, why post a meta thread about the nuclear option instead of an actual discussion about it? Doesn't the wording of your thread defeat its intent (discussing the nuclear option).?

[bullwinkle428]

35. Here's my word(s) : I'll party like it's 1999, IF IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

[madville]

36. We just need to realize the other side will abuse it

When they hold the Senate and Presidency at some point in the future.

[marions ghost]

37. Here's another word: Overflowing

Thanks for bringing that battlefront to our attention.

But we are not "shallow." There are many arenas of action.

[Marrah_G]

38. Probably because we don't believe it will happen

Boy who cried wolf and all that.

[femmocrat]

39. I have "adopted a wait-and-see attitude".....

and I am "cautiously optimistic" but "at the end of the day", my expectations are low. I hope I'm wrong.

[NightWatcher]

40. Word of the Day:Wuss

Reid will say that a gentleman's deal was reached to avoid this.

[MelungeonWoman]

41. Mitch won't give even the smallest of crumbs and yet Reid still wrings his hands.

He has the votes, the real question is - what's in it for the elite???


I won't be holding my breath.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

43. Here are two more words for the day:

af·fect

/əˈfekt/

Verb

1.Have an effect on; make a difference to: "the dampness began to affect my health".
2.Pretend to have or feel (something): "as usual I affected a supreme unconcern".

Noun

Emotion or desire, esp. as influencing behavior or action.

ef·fect

/iˈfekt/

Noun

A change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.

Verb

Cause (something) to happen; bring about.

Seriously, if you're going to bust on DUers, get it right. Join us in the NC forum... we're a little busy, thanks to the GOP assault on this state.

[WilliamPitt]

45. How about "smart"

because it was never going to happen: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/16/reid-announces-tentative-deal-to-avert-rules-showdown/

[Demo_Chris]

46. Not at all, we have been trained to expect bullshit from our party leaders...

Do you seriously expect us to get excited over a promise no matter how specific?

[kenny blankenship]

47. Obama and Reid CAVE AGAIN

And not one word about it on DU???

Unions Sacrificed In Reid-McConnell Filibuster Deal
http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/07/17/unions-sacrificed-in-reid-mcconnell-filibuster-deal/

By: DSWright Wednesday July 17, 2013 5:53 am

While some are trumpeting the deal reached between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on filibustered nominees, the devil is in the details. Part of the deal involved President Obama withdrawing nominees to the National Labor Relations Board, a move one union leader considers a betrayal.

Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), said Tuesday that the two members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Sharon Block and Richard Griffin Jr., are “definitely tossed under the bus” in a Senate deal that will allow five of Obama’s other nominees to receive up-or-down votes before the Senate.

“There is not one intellectual argument, either about Block and Griffin, why those nominations shouldn’t go forward. It’s just [Republicans] want their pound of flesh from working people in this country, and this is where they’re going to get it because they were able to convince four or five Democrats to go with them,” he said.

And what was so great about keeping the filibuster again? Doing damage to the filibuster might have been even better public policy than getting the appointments.The filibuster seems to make an appearance only for progressive legislation, then disappear for reactionary bills like the Patriot Act and TARP.