Senate GOP Vows Payback For Nuclear Option, Ignores Own Role In Filibuster Fight...

[Indi Guy]

Source: Huffington Post




WASHINGTON -- When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) declared Thursday that he intended to push ahead with a "nuclear option" rules change in order to confirm a handful of President Barack Obama's stalled nominees, Republicans declared that he was destroying the world's greatest deliberative body -- and that he would pay for it.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) went so far as to declare that Reid would be remembered as the "worst leader of the Senate ever" if he changed procedural rules with just a 51-vote majority -- instead of the usual super-majority -- to help nominees evade threats of filibuster.

Democrats responded that Republicans had already destroyed the chamber by using blocking tactics to turn every nomination (and much legislation) into a drawn-out, time-consuming fight that eats time from the rest of the country's business and hamstrings the executive branch's ability to function.

The heated rhetoric requires some context. The Senate has changed its rules in mid-session before, and the reform Reid is talking about is relatively narrow, applying only to administrative nominees in the executive branch. But it's still a bombshell because it targets the core advice-and-consent duty of the Senate, and because use of the nuclear option has been threatened before, but the historically judicious body has not actually used it. Proponents dub the maneuver the constitutional option...

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/14/senate-nuclear-option_n_3592496.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

[Atman]

1. I still don't how the Republicans passed everything w/51 votes.

It was a regular occurrence under Bush, and how much of his signature legislation got passed. How can they be outraged at be forced to follow the same rules the utilized?

Oh, wait...because they're lying hypocritical scumbags. Never mind.

[wordpix]

2. "applying only to administrative nominees in the executive branch" WTF? I thought this was

the NUCLEAR option, not the narrowest of narrow options.

Harry Reid still won't stand up to the repugs

[Mnpaul]

6. If Reid had a clue

He would be in front of every camera talking about how every candidate deserves an up or down vote.

[starroute]

7. Since regular legislation has to pass the House, it doesn't matter as much

The unique thing about administrative and judicial nominations is that they only require Senate confirmation.

For that matter, does anyone know if what Reid is proposing would also include judges? There are a lot of empty federal judgeships thanks to GOP obstruction as well.

[Hosnon]

15. It makes sense though.

The President deserves the staff he wants.

Judges are for life and are a separate branch, so this does seem to be a meaningful distinction.

[nolabels]

3. More drama and bullshit?

Reid should grow up and put his big-boy pants on. Wasn't it like six or eight years that this was supposed to happen?

Color me not impressed

[gtar100]

4. Could you please make that picture of McConnell a little smaller?

It's such an assault on the eyes. I have to go wash my face now.

[another_liberal]

5. Coming from a political party . . .

The Republicans' warnings of the Senate's potential destruction would have a lot more impact if they weren't coming from a political party whose members openly call for dismantling the entire Federal Government (except for the Pentagon, FBI and CIA, of course).

[rhett o rick]

8. I am skipping all further threads on this subject until Reid actually takes action. Until then

this is just empty rhetoric.

[underpants]

9. Not only have we had a tough summer but they are lying jowls of crap

bust them Harry. Even if it is just for appointees - BUST THEM

[Martak Sarno]

10. 60% for acceptance? In everything?

Maybe we need to make sure every candidate for every office in every state including Congress and the Presidency garners at least 60% of the votes to be elected? If they don't get the "super majority", redo the election process. Spend more money. I'm sure big Corporations won't mind shelling out another half billion or so...maybe two or three times then losing to the "other candidates". You can bet the Kochs or Adelson would love to spend an equal amount again and again on Romney...(Would it be tax deductable? for them? LOL!)

Wouldn't that be just so Republican?

[alfredo]

13. Three suggestions: public financing, end corporate personhood, money is not speech.

[AllyCat]

11. "Instead of the usual super majority"??? WTF?

No. We don't need a "super majority". At least we didn't until the GOP nutbags took the country hostage. Jerks.

[Thinkingabout]

12. This might be about posturing, today McConnel said all Reid needed to was to put the

Nominees up for a vote. I would put one up for a vote and if the GOP blocked the vote then I would go the nuclear option. Call McConnell's bluff.

[sofa king]

14. Statewide elections, 2012: Dems: 30, GOP, 12

That doesn't mean they won't steal the White House for Jeb in 2014--they will--and it doesn't mean we'll be free of the evil entities that bought control of the Republicans and will soon start buying up Democrats because that's all that will be left.

Republican Senators are going to lose next year's elections at the same 2.x to 1 rate, and that should be just enough to end Republican ability to delay in the Senate... forever.

If Harry Reid actually executes this procedural change, the writing is on the wall for all to see. It's one thing to use the nuclear option as a political tool, but it is suicidal to actually do it UNLESS one is absolutely certain that the opposition is politically de-fanged and on its way out forever.

This is a direct result of the massive human tragedy perpetrated by Republicans upon the American people. They got exactly what they wanted--and after they cut out the social safety net, Republican voters started falling through and splattering on the concrete. They're dying off or relocating to urban areas with better social services, where their foolish decisions are easily absorbed. The banks own empty suburban houses where Republican political power once lay.

Nothing can stop that now, because America is destroyed. Perhaps we can still build a better America over the graves of the people who ruined it.

[Indyfan53]

17. Make your prediction a reality and vote in the midterms.

Wee need to make sure that if we go nuclear on the filibuster, it can't be used against us. We need to put the same effort into 2013 and 2014 as we did in 2008 and 2012.

[sofa king]

19. Special shout-out to Virginians:

Vote this year against every Republican on the ballot and your voter registration shall be extended through next year, meaning that if you vote this November, The Man will have a much harder time disenfranchising you in 2014 and 2016. Virginians time their gubernatorial elections to fall in odd-numbered off years in which there are no Congressional elections.

This is the year that Dems have a chance to hammer in a solid Democratic presence in the very capital of the Old Confederacy and to send Republicans in the state a loud and clear message about our feelings on old-boy corruption.

The Republicans have not yet killed off its nucleus of paleo-Democrats, who to this day will not vote for the party that freed the slaves. That doesn't help us but it adds further difficulty to Republican plans.

And should it happen that Virginia has a Democratic Governor and Secretary of State come 2016, that's one more state in the Union that cannot easily be stolen for Jeb Bush.

So dust off that registration card and get ready to knock it out of the park!

[Indyfan53]

21. +1000

[Indyfan53]

16. Vote Democrat in 2014.

It's the only way to fight them. Let's please stay awake and not repeat 2010. Instead, let's repeat 2006 and take back both chambers of congress.

[lobodons]

18. Even IF GOP takes control in 14

Even IF GOP takes control in 14, and they continue the Nuclear option and even expand it, their majority will be short lived and the precedent will have been set to greatly limit or even do away with the filibuster. Good!! The future changing demographics do not look good for the GOP so their majority will be short lived.

[Arkana]

20. Translation: "You better not do it, or else we'll hold our breath till we turn blue!"