Reid appears to back away from "nuclear option" on fillibusters

[Alhena]

Source: NBC News

With one of President Barack Obama’s key nominees on the verge of being confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appeared to edge away Wednesday from an idea that some Democrats are calling for: enacting a change in Senate rules to stop filibusters which delay votes on Obama appointees.

During a debate on the Senate floor with Republican Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, Reid said, "I'm not saying we're going to change the rules" regarding the filibuster, but argued that the Senate must move faster to confirm Obama nominees.

He accused Republicans of “slow-walking” nominees and bogging them down by submitting hundreds and, in one case, a thousand written questions to the nominee before the confirmation vote could occur.

Read more: http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/22/18425950-reid-appears-to-back-away-from-nuclear-option-on-filibusters?lite

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Republicans are using the fillibuster to simply delay for months even those judges who were unanimously approved by both parties in the judiciary committee. I was happy to see Reid showing some spine on this issue earlier, but - surprise surprise - he now seems to be getting wobbly.

[sharp_stick]

1. I don't know why he keeps bringing it up

it's obvious to everyone that he's never going to do anything about it.

[Enrique]

3. maybe he likes messing with us

[Mr. David]

2. Harry Reid needs to resign from his Majority Leader role

and let someone with BALLS take care of the filibuster issues.

Reid has been nothing but a milquetoast Democrat for a very long time.

[4dsc]

6. He's scared of what 2014 might bring

But I say fuck 2014 and lets get the people's business done today.

[jeff47]

10. Then he's a moron.

The Republicans will kill the filibuster as soon as they have a majority.

[24601]

19. Why? Presume they take control after the 2014 election. What does eliminating the filibuster gain

when it takes 2/3 to override a veto?

[jeff47]

22. Because they want that veto

It lets them blame all problems on Obama. Can't get a veto without passing a bill.

[rurallib]

9. who might that be among Democratic senators?

[Arkana]

40. The problem is that if he does, more likely than not we'd get Chuck Schumer.

And he certainly wouldn't do anything to reform the filibuster.

[unblock]

4. this is exactly it. it's a threat he keeps using to get something else.

it's starting to seem a bit like roe v. wade for republicans. they actually don't want it to go away because it's such a great fund-raiser, rallying point, and vote-getter for them.

I think reid trots this out whenever he feels republicans are frustrating him "too much" and this gets them to back off just enough.

so now it's a weapon in reid's political arsenal and he doesn't really want to give it up.

[tblue]

28. We need someone who doesn't play these games

if that's what he's doing. We got serious problems. And this method he's using is a disaster. It ain't working.

[SylviaD]

36. Amen! n/t

[Stuckinthebush]

5. Well, tie me to a fencepost

and paint me surprised.

[Stuart G]

8. I am so surprised about Harry Reid..

Last edited Wed May 22, 2013, 07:07 PM - Edit history (1)

How could he go back on his word???

AGAIN?

[sofa king]

38. There is a reason it is called the "nuclear option."

Because, just like real nuclear weapons, the plan only gets used once, creates great destruction, and ensures that your opponent will attempt to use the same weapon against you, with overwhelming force, practically guaranteeing your own eventual destruction as well.

Furthermore, Harry Reid and President Obama, working as a team, have managed to generate an unusually strong list of achievements over the past three years by simply turning the greed and small-mindedness of Republicans against themselves. Reid did a much better job of holding back the Bush Administration with the filibuster than Republicans have done against us, because Republicans specialize in exploiting laws and rules, rather than working within them.

Worse, there is always the chance that Republicans, who work best outside of the laws they pretend to create, will steal elections until they regain control of the Senate, at exactly the same time that Jeb Bush must win election in order to control eight years' worth of incriminating documents generated by his idiot brother.

At which point we become the Fourth Reich, because there will be no way to slow them down as Harry Reid did for eight long, miserable years.

The filibuster is our game, and as long as the Republicans are forced to play it (with the inherent disadvantages their malevolence imposes), we retain the initiative. Take it away from Republicans now and they will immediately return to the extralegal means they prefer, until they can use the new conditions against us.

Or, you can say Harry Reid is a spineless coward and walk away, which increases the chances that Reid will actually have to resort to this option someday and eventually doom us all.

[tblue]

42. I am surprised that Harry Reid

is STILL Senate Majority Leader!!!! How? Why??? He's an embarrassment and he does not represent the Democratic Wing of anything.

[hobbit709]

7. Like Lucy with the football.

[Jester Messiah]

11. Spineless worm. [nt]

[mpcamb]

21. Amen

He belongs in the garbage heap of history.
What a useless excuse.
Get it done you spineless b@$+@rd and get done talking if there's any semblance of backbone in you.

[GeorgeGist]

12. The Dems just called asking for money.

My wife told them she's filibustering until Harry Reid is replaced with a leader.

[tblue]

29. I'm with her.

But I started filibustering long before this.

[AndyA]

13. No one could have possibly predicted Reid might change his mind!

He usually does what he says.

Reid needs to go, we need someone who isn't afraid to stand up to McConnell and the Republicans. Reid must have left his spine at home in Nevada.

We can't afford to play footsie with the GOP any longer, we've already wasted too much time. They haven't kept their word, no reason to expect they will going forward. We need new blood, new commitment, and someone with reserves of strength Reid apparently doesn't have.

[Plucketeer]

16. Reid is from Searchlight, Nevada

They need to turn that searchlight on and see if they can find Harry's balls and his spine. He lost them before he ever got to be leader of the senate! Reid is a pathetic JOKE of a "leader". I wish I could say that straight to his face!

[tblue]

30. He was never going to do it.

I never thought he meant it. And I don't care what excuse he makes for his inaction. Reid is worse than useless. I am so tired of having no leadership in the Senate.

[City Lights]

14. I'm shocked! Just shocked!

No one could have predicted...

[Agnosticsherbet]

15. The reports of his growth of a pair of testicles were premature. n/t

[ReRe]

17. When is Harry...

... going to have his backbone operation?

[awoke_in_2003]

18. Shut your pie hole, Harry...

You're either worthless or complicit (I would bet on the latter)

[cyberswede]

20. There's a shock.

*sigh*

[Dustlawyer]

23. He is complicit in it all!

[Counterpoint PA]

24. Reid's

decisions on this have been beyond disappointing, I don't have my hopes up for a reversal of course.

[OnyxCollie]

25. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[babylonsister]

26. Different interpretation...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/05/22/harry-reid-escalates-nuclear-threat/
Harry Reid escalates `nuclear’ threat

[BlueCaliDem]

32. Strange that no one's paying your post any attention when the WaPo article was released on the same

day as the NBC article that contradicts the NBC one. Hm.

[Alhena]

43. One interpretation is supported by Reid's repeated prior actions

the other is not. I know which one I find more likely to be accurate.

And I've been following these articles very carefully and one thing I've noticed is that in recent days the discussion has turned to using the nuclear option only for executive nominations like the EPA head, instead of judicial nominations.

It all points to a future cave-in to me. I hope I'm wrong since there's nothing I'd like to see more than for hard-ball to finally be played with the Republicans. But I doubt I am.

[Doctor_J]

27. he already caved on this months ago

He and Obama are a perfect pair to lead the party to destruction.

[villager]

31. Of course, he does. No one can afford to have the fiction of "two" parties actually stripped away

Might start to be some questions, then

[Dragonfli]

33. .

[sakabatou]

34. If he does back away, it'd be no surprise

[Fearless]

35. Naturally. n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

37. SUR-PRISE, SUR-PRISE, SUR-PRISE!

[Arkana]

39. Of course.

Coward.

[xxqqqzme]

41. This is no longer a tactic.

it is worn out, old and threadbare. Reid has said this so many times and done nothing, who even cares anymore?