Harry Reid is set to go nuclear(as early as this week)

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Senator Harry Reid appears set to go nuclear — before Thanksgiving.

With Senate Republicans blocking a third Obama nomination to the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, a senior Senate Democratic leadership aide tells me Reid is now all but certain to move to change the Senate rules by simple majority — doing away with the filibuster on executive and judicial nominations, with the exception of the Supreme Court – as early as this week.

At a presser today, Reid told reporters he was taking another look at rules reform, but didn’t give a timeline. The senior leadership aide goes further, saying it’s hard to envision circumstances under which Reid doesn’t act.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/11/19/harry-reid-is-set-to-go-nuclear/

[Tansy_Gold]

1. Not holding my breath n/t

[Demeter]

15. Me neither

I've been asphyxiated before...

[Tansy_Gold]

17. And apparently

We aren't alone!

[mpcamb]

63. Ain't nuthin' nuclear or "nucular", if you're a GWB ignoramus, about it.

It's a parliamentary procedure to prevent a bunch of idiots from running the gov't when, in fact, they lost the last election in all the contested states.

What an abuse of the English language by the press... Nuclear my ass!

Tone it down to... god, I don't know, fighting back, maybe.

[99th_Monkey]

2. Ya-ya, Harry's going to blah blah blah.

When Harry fucking DOES this, THEN I'll know Harry is really serious.

[Shrike47]

3. God, I hope he does.

[Plucketeer]

4. Fucking REID would do it TODAY....

but first he'll consult with McCONell to see if maybe he'd "shake hands" again. If Harry can get another secret handshake with the turtle, Harry'll be happy to keep the status quo!

[GoneFishin]

33. Yep. I think you nailed it. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

5. Don't hold your breath.

How many times have we heard this?

[Richardo]

6. yeah, wake me when you actually see the mushroom cloud

"Wolf" has been cried way too often.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. How about doing away with the filibuster altogether?

It's extremely undemocratic.

[Kelvin Mace]

14. It is the way it is currently structured

All you have do is say "I filibuster" and it's a done deal.

If they just changed it to a real talking filibuster, that would be sufficient.

[jberryhill]

27. A lot of things are undemocratic

The idea, before bastardized beyond recognition, was that a minority could hold things up - if it was important enough for them to do it. Safeguards of minority interests are important, but the filibuster, as currently implemented is a sick joke.

[Stonepounder]

36. Seems to me that there is a very simple change they could make.

Just change the rules so that you bloody well have to stand up and talk, and talk, and talk. You could yield to buddy and he could talk, and talk and talk. And he could yield to a buddy. And so on. But....and this is where the big change comes in...nothing else gets done in the Senate while the filibuster goes on. And anyone who tunes into C-Span sees nothing but Repugs yakking and yakking.

Yeah, they could keep repeating their talking points over and over, but they would, in effect, be shutting down the government. You see how well that worked the last time. And if the filibuster goes on long enough and bills start to back up, and continuing resolutions, and so on, how long do you think the public will stand for not allowing something to finally come to a vote? And how many times can they pull the same filibuster stunt before even the MSM starts to take note.

Just make them talk.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

8. Maybe he'll have another 'gentlemen's agreement' with the Turtle.

That worked so well in the past.

[neffernin]

9. Politics as usual

Boring rhetoric like a skipping record. I'll believe it when I see it.

[ZRT2209]

10. long overdue, YEARS overdue

[Lasher]

11. Yeah, sure.

That's the ticket.

[backscatter712]

12. The usual pattern is to threaten the filibuster until the GOP caves...

It worked last time - the GOP did cave!

But yeah, I'm in favor of nuking them.

[Kelvin Mace]

13. Call me when the missile detonates

otherwise...

[Lebam in LA]

16. Yeah, right

I don't believe him

[global1]

18. It's Humorous To Me That Harry Reid Is A Senator From Nevada - You'd Think He'd Be A Gambling Man...

but he's been afraid to pull the trigger on this.

You know if he would have done this right from the beginning of taking the Senate - the Dems could have done so much good for this country - that he wouldn't have to worry about the Repugs coming back in control - the voters would have supported him.

Now as we draw close to an election - particularly when the Repugs have changed the topic to - the President lied and his poll numbers are down - will it be too little too late?

I say go for it Harry.

[NV Whino]

19. I'll believe it when I see the mushroom cloud.

[bvar22]

20. Is anybody else worried that we could possibly lose the Senate in 2014 or 2016?

... just in time for Harry Reid to hand this "Nuclear" power to the incoming Republicans? Once we do this, there is no Take Backs.

I was terrified when the Republicans threatened to Go Nuclear during the Bush Administration..
.
.
.
but I have grown so cynical over the last 25 years of Party Politics,
accompanied by the steady rightward conservative movement of our government no matter WHO was in the White House or WHO held "majorities"
that on most days I believe ALL the "deals" are all ready made by Lobbyists with Envelopes in the backrooms,
and the only part we are allowed to see is the Kabuki Theater scripted by the Power Brokers and Spin Masters in both Parties to give the appearance that The People still have a choice and a voice.

[Bandit]

22. No, it is undemocratic when the Democrats use it just as when the Republicans use it.

Majority Rule should be how our Government is run. If the people don't like what they do then they can vote them out...One person should never be able to DICTATE Policy....and that is how it currently stands. One person can place a hold on any legislation or appointee and never remove it..

[Doctor_J]

24. Yeah, the time to do this was April 2009

This stinks to high heaven

[woo me with science]

45. +1

[Bradical79]

46. Nope.

If Republicans take the Senate, then we're simply left back at square one with no nominations getting through. And if Republicans managed to take the presidency too, they would probably make the same rule change if Democrats used similar obstructionist tactics and didn't cave in. The way Republicans are using the filibuster is unprecedented. I don't see the downside here.

[Cosmocat]

48. Its a lose, lose

They would do it a heart beat.

There is on way to win with them, they are SO far gone, they think they are justified in anything they do.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are playing queens rules.

[Enrique]

21. and when it doesn't happen

Greg Sargent will be there to explain that Reid never said this Thanksgiving.

[Doctor_J]

23. In other news, Lucy will let charlie kick the football "possibly before Thanksgiving"

[ChiciB1]

25. If Or When It Happens...

I'll shout Hoo-Ray! But, I too am not holding my breath!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

26. Which means he won't.

[Lint Head]

28. Yeah. Sure.

[MADem]

29. Everybody sing!

[AverageJoe90]

30. And it better not be one of those tiny little Hiroshima/Nagasaki type bombs, either.

I'd like a multi-megaton boomer....preferably a Tsar Bomba if possible, but at least something that would blow away parts of the Republicans' obstructionist stronghold.

[frylock]

31. *yawn*

[CFLDem]

32. Actual size of Reid's nuclear explosion:

[WinstonSmith4740]

34. I'll believe it when I see it.

We've ALL been down this road with Harry before. McConnell manages to sweet talk him into something fairly useless, and Harry folds yet another winning hand.

[ffr]

35. BREAKING NEWS! Reid comes to agreement with McConnell to avoid nuclear option.

BREAKING NEWS! McConnell breaks agreement and filibusters more nominees...AGAIN!

[Wolf Frankula]

37. Harry, You DO this thing and then come back.

Wolf

[go west young man]

38. I remember when everyone here at DU thought

Harry was gonna kick their asses. Turns out Harry fights like a turtle.

[libdem4life]

39. Three strikes...we're counting...please, Senator Reid. Call them Out.

We've forgiven a lot, so don't push it. Pull the Plug.

[onestepforward]

40. He should have done that after the FIRST year of obstruction! n/t

[LibGranny]

41. He's cried WOLF too often! I'll

believe it when I see it!

[yurbud]

42. I wish he would shut up and just do it

[heaven05]

43. I'll believe it when it happens.

[OnionPatch]

47. At this point it's just embarrassing.

Either do it or keep your mouth shut, Harry. My God, how many times have we heard this empty promise?

[novano]

49. God, I hope he does.

[Javaman]

50. I will now commence with the ceremonial holding of the breath...

in other news: boy cries wolf.

[randome]

51. Previous threats were withdrawn after negotiations.

The GOP refused to negotiate this time. They filibustered all 3 judges. That is what's different this time around.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]TECT in the name of the Representative approves of this post.[/center][/font][hr]

[4dsc]

52. Just DO IT!!

and call me in the morning.

[Arkana]

53. Really? Well we should send in UN inspectors then.

(lol)

[Gothmog]

54. Carl Levin and a few holdouts are in the way

Reid needs 51 votes and there are a couple of Senators who are not supporting this plan http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/reid-readies-nuclear-option

I have not yet seen a firm vote count on this, but rumor has it that Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) are not yet on board, with Levin, who is retiring next year, maintaining his role as the fiercest opponent of the change....

Update: It looks like Delaware’s Chris Coons is no longer among the skeptics: “It’s time to changes the rules for nominees.”

Levin is not going to budge but with Coons, Reid may have 51 votes. Unlike Boehner, Reid is not going to go forward with this effort if he does not have the votes. It would be better if Reid can get Manchin and McCaskill on board. This is all assuming that there are no other Democratic holdouts.

[randome]

58. Thanks for the reality check.

Too many don't understand the politics involved.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[Alhena]

60. He can do it with 50+ Biden

better not to have to use Biden, but he's there if needed.

[Gothmog]

62. It would be best if do not have to rely on Biden

I personally would prefer all of the Senate Democrats vote for this matter but that is not going to happen

[rpannier]

55. Yeah Right nt

[blkmusclmachine]

56. Suuuure he is...

[Nihil]

64. Interesting ...

It took just over 50 posts for the official mouthpieces to arrive on this
subject ... isn't that a bit slow?

Are they getting overwhelmed by the number of things they're having to
apologise for/explain away or are they just getting tired after this many
years of saying the same thing?

[on point]

57. When will Charlie Brown get a clue and pull the trigger? He needs to be replaced

[Alhena]

61. Going down tomorrow, per NY Times

[Bonobo]

59. His threats have not one iota of weight any more. nt

[avebury]

65. I am not holding my breath and will believe it

when I see it. I don't know why on earth the Democrats allow him to congtinue to be the Majority Leader. Surely there has to be someone better.