Senate goes 'nuclear,' Democrats approve changes to filibuster rules - NBCNews.com

[Bill USA]

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/21/21562284-senate-goes-nuclear-democrats-approve-changes-to-filibuster-rules?lite

The Senate has voted to change one of the chamber's most fundamental rules, invoking the so-called 'nuclear option' for executive branch and non-Supreme Court judicial nominations.

Fifty-two Democrats voted for the measure, an unprecedented change previously threatened but not invoked until Thursday. Three Democrats -- Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Mark Pryor of Arkansas -- voted with Republicans against the change.


Senate Majority leader Harry Reid speaks following the Senate's vote to instate a simple majority to approve executive branch and judicial nominees except for Supreme Court picks, saying "Washington has been in gridlock, gridlock, gridlock" and "we're sick of it."

The vote overturned an existing rule that required a 60-vote majority for the approval of presidential nominees. Now, just a simple majority will be required for executive branch and judicial nominees except for Supreme Court picks.

Speaking after the vote, President Barack Obama said he supports the Senate's action.

"The vote today, I think, is an indication that a majority of senators believe as I believe that enough is enough," Obama said. "The American people’s business is far too important to keep falling prey day after day to Washington politics."

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. We the People, via Harry Reid, have spoken.

Woe be to any Republican who fails to hear.

[yourout]

2. About 5 years to late IMHO.

But better late than never.

And as far the Republicans crying about it......boo fucking hoo.

If the Dems had behaved like the Republicans have the last 5 years they would have nuked us years ago.

[Bill USA]

3. agreed. The Repugnants have just about brought everything in DC to a standstill. This should have

been done much sooner. It's a first step in dealing with our democracy's "Republican problem".

[freshwest]

4. Did anyone take some Dramamine and watch the TV coverage? I bet their pearls were clutched tightly.

After all, they'll call it an usurpation of the gawd given rights of gawd's own party to rule us all by usurping the entire executive branch. Okay, I'll stop now.