Key Senate Democrats Flip, Now Ready for Fillibuster Reform Through Nuclear Option

[Alhena]

Source: Huffington Post

Senate Democrats who were previously opposed to changing filibuster rules via the "nuclear option" are so fed up with GOP obstruction of the president's nominees that they now say they want to go nuclear.

"I am very open to changing the rules for nominees," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told The Huffington Post. "I was not before, because I felt we could work with them. But it's gotten to an extreme situation where really qualified people can't get an up-or-down vote."

"I do now," Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) told reporters when asked if she supports filibuster reform. She said she changed her mind on the issue after watching as a bipartisan deal to let President Barack Obama's nominees get votes, struck over the summer, went nowhere.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/senate-filibuster-reform_n_4304091.html?1384890572

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It looks like the nuclear option might actually happen this time. The seem to have 51 votes for it (including Biden if there's a tie).

[Bill USA]

1. This is huge. IF it comes to pass, it will be a momentous development in the Democrats battle with

the totalitarian spirit of the Right.

[Cheap_Trick]

2. Nuke the fuckers into oblivion. nt

[SoapBox]

25. Double ditto the nuke.

[mtasselin]

33. yes

Nuke the fuckers and then nuke the fuckers again!

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. I now question Boxer's sanity if not her intelligence

with this statement ""I was not before, because I felt we could work with them." Maybe she has been on vacation someplace with no TV, Radio, People, Newspapers, Life, or thought. I suppose it's possible.

[Plucketeer]

6. I'm with you on this

She's MY senator and I'd assumed all along that Reid was the primary impediment to changing the rules! Barbara - WTF????

[elleng]

32. It was clear to me that there was/is a bunch of Dems

'afraid' to do this. Don't know who would be 'primary,' but fed up with it.

[CTyankee]

37. Look, even Obama gave them a chance. We can't be guilty of not doing at least that.

It's sad, but that is the reality. Let's move on from here.

[MyNameGoesHere]

39. Well

I wondered about the President as well. I mean if someone stabs me in the back enough times, I think I would get the idea they aren't going to change. I wonder if they ever heard that story about a lion or snake or tiger, that eats it's companion and the person wants to know why. It's because it's what they do. Sorry I haven't been a kid in a long time and I forget the whole story, but the meaning I still remember. They do what they do because it is what they are.

[CTyankee]

41. Not they've done it enough and that's that. I don't think Obama is going to be Charlie Brown

any more. That's over and done. He had to learn that lesson on his own, to his great dismay. Now he has to regroup and redirect and make changes. It seems to me that this group around him is not that fast on their feet, but perhaps this crisis will energize them. I sure hope so!

I'm pretty old and have seen political figures rise from the ashes time and time again. But once a president is literally BURIED in ignominy, it is very difficult for them to get out. I keep waiting for the "turnaround" moment...maybe it will come soon. It has before, for Clinton in particular, but not in time to save the Dem party from their mistakes and lose in 2004.

[MyNameGoesHere]

43. Yeah

I waited on Carter and Clinton to seize the moment. I think they both had it in them, but perhaps fighting the good fight is tiring after a while. Who knows? It's a job I would not want to have, but I can sure do some couch quarterbacking. Ha.

[quakerboy]

44. Sometimes it takes a long time

for someone in an abusive relationship to come to terms with it.

[rbrnmw]

47. it took me 20 years.......

[Scuba]

4. Already?

[napi21]

5. Sure hope Harry finallyt does away with this antiquated

Senate rule! Yes, I know there's no guarantee that the Dems will forever hold control of the Senate, but it's worth doing to get some rationality beck into the Senate.

[Doctor_J]

7. I'll save my rec for when it actually happens

Probably more bs

[mountain grammy]

8. NUKE 'EM! Enough already!

[PoliticAverse]

9. So it's time for Reid to make yet another deal with McConnell?

(Warning: This post is not labeled for the sarcasm impaired)

[Merlot]

10. Just called both my senators to support them!

Judges and nominations should be confirmed. The repubs don't get to obstruct the democratically elected presidents nominations.

[olddad56]

11. It is a great idea as long as the Dems have 51 votes, someday if the obstructionists have the votes,

not so good.

[Alhena]

12. Presidential politics favor us going forward

Yes, we will likely still have to face a Republican president nominating judges at some point, but the demographics favor us on presidential politics. And any Republican who gets elected is likely to be a more moderate Republican- I doubt we'll see another president as conservative as George W Bush in our lifetime. So I see getting rid of the nuclear option as being very positive for us in the long haul.

[chillfactor]

13. but without the nuclear option....

this country will not move forward for three years....I also have some trepidations....but I am sick and tired of the recon obstructionists....blow them the hell out of the water!

[rhett o rick]

18. As I have said over and over, holding back on using the nuc option because you think that would

ensure that the Repukes wont in the future, is insane.

[rhett o rick]

16. But if we dont use the nuclear option, they will the first chance they get. I you think that by not

using the nuclear option, will guarantee that the Repukes wont when they are in power, then you're as naive as Senator Boxer is pretending to be.

[Merlot]

36. Getting judges on the bench is more important

The senate can go back and forth, the judges are in place for a long time. bushco got his judges, Obama should have his.

[quakerboy]

45. Why does that matter?

When we have 51, we get blocked from doing anything.
When they have 51, its time for a gang of x to make a compromise and do what they want anyway.
It does not work to our advantage during either situation.

If they elect 51 senators, they deserve to control the senate agenda. Thats how the whole democracy thing works. The filibuster is profoundly antidemocratic, especially when you consider how undemocratic the electoral system to elect senators is to begin with. Its a bad rule. The only possible way it makes sense is if you require a talking, active filibuster so that a senator can truly put themselves bodily in the way of something they oppose.

[rhett o rick]

14. Why do I see visions of Lucy (Senate Democrats) telling poor ole Charlie Brown (Obama)

"Go ahead and make nominations, we will nuc the filibuster this time."

[yodermon]

15. .. but just for nominees, though, right? not wholesale filibuster reform? n/t

[lastlib]

31. right.

sounds like Pukes would still be able to filbuster legislation.

[Vietnameravet]

17. How crazy is it for Democrats to say./.

"Well if we do this now, the Republicans will end the filibuster if they gain the majority!" Does anyone not know this is exactly what they will do if they ever gain control regardless of what we do now?

End this abusive fillibuster and lets get back to majority rule...in spite of what Repubs think or want. Screw 'em!

[rhett o rick]

19. Something smells bad in Denmark. Why after all this time? Please dont tell me you

believe Sen Boxer that she thought she could work with the Republicans.

[Purveyor]

20. Has "Uncle Harry" checked in on this yet? He is the one that fucked this up the last time around.

I'll hold off on popping the cork on the hard cider for now...

[Major Hogwash]

21. The Rethuglicans in the Senate just filibustered the 4th nominee to the DC Court today!!

Enough is enough!!

I should trademark that phrase!!

[StarrGazerr]

22. PLEASE make it so

I know there are pitfalls to the "nuclear option", but between voter suppression, gerrymandering, trying to play games with the Electoral College, and ALEC's latest plan to get around the 17th Amendment, this may be the last chance the Democratic Party has to protect the democratic process. We see almost daily the results of years of stacking the Federal courts with conservative activist ideologues - Bush v. Gore, Citizens United, Heller v. District of Columbia, etc., and if we cannot restore some balance and integrity to the courts now, we may never shake the extremists off.

[frylock]

23. 2010 called. wants to know what the fuck took you so long.

[silvershadow]

24. Good. nt

[DirtyDawg]

26. The solution...

...to the excuse for not changing the filibuster rules is that, one day, when Democrats find themselves in the minority, they'll wish they hadn't...is simple. Don't lose elections to nincompoop Republicans and, correspondingly, you won't lose the majority...see?

[ffr]

46. And who amongst us believes McConnell wouldn't have changed the rules

without 48 hours of gaining the majority. He wouldn't think twice. Then the GOP would enact martial law against progressives and go hunting from there.

Push the button Reid. American needs to move forward. The world awaits our leadership.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

27. Do it!

If the blast doesn't get them, the fallout will!

[Tx4obama]

28. Kick n/t

[Alhena]

29. This article makes it seem Harry is serious this time ... link

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/harry-reid-filibuster-nuclear-option-100074.html?hp=t3_3

He says he wants all three of the DC circuit judges and won't compromise on one or two. Previously, he was saying he needed at least one confirmed.

There's no way all three will be confirmed, so a last minute compromise seems unlikely this time.

[Gothmog]

30. It is time to go nuclear

I hope that Reid pulls the trigger on the nuclear option soon.

The SCOTUS just refused to stay the opinion of a 5th Cir. judge named Priscilla Owen who was confirmed solely due to the GOP threatening the Nuclear Option back in 2005. Priscilla is a horrible human being and worse judge and should not be on the bench.

[sulphurdunn]

34. It is absolutely imperative

that republicans control the DC appellate court to further their corporate agenda. The democrats also have a corporate agenda. I'll believe the Charlie Browns of the Democratic Party are willing to tell Lucy to shove her football up her ass when they do it and not before.

[TrollBuster9090]

35. Lucy Flips On Issue Of Placekick. Ready To Not Remove Football...

The phrase:"She must think I'm the STUPIDEST person alive" comes to mind.

Still, for all that, I can tell you EXACTLY WHEN the Filibuster will be reformed. FIVE MINUTES AFTER MITCH MCCONNELL becomes Senate MAJORITY Leader. And then he'll take THE NEXT five minutes to UNDO the ACA, the Lilly Ledbetter Act, Dodd-Frank, The Consumer Protection Bureau............

[yurbud]

40. yep--which is also the problem with incremental approach Obama has taken

If you enact convoluted, pre-compromised policies, it's harder for the public to get up in arms when they are rolled back because they're not sure what they are losing or if they are actually losing anything.

[yurbud]

38. anyone who thought the GOP would stick to their deal is either lying or an idiot

[NickB79]

42. In the immortal words of Signorney Weaver

With an enthusiastic "Fucking A!" at the end there.

[davidpdx]

48. I'm skeptical

Those two were part of the seven that refused to go along to with it the last time.