Drones, Caitlin Halligan, and Real Politics (or, Ya Been Had...)

[alcibiades_mystery]

Rand Paul is a cover operation. Brennan will be confirmed. Sorry, friends and Code Pink. Nobody really gives a shit about Brennan. The real issue is judicial nominees. The real issue is the unbelievable filibuster of Caitlin Halligan for the DC Circuit Court. The R's continue their obstruction, and there's suddenly real movement in the Dem caucus for filibuster reform. Durbin brings it up again. What to do?

Deploy a "bi-partisan" filibuster in the old style, so that any attempt to reform the filibuster will look like it is aimed at that, rather than at what's really at stake: the continuing refusal of perfectly qualified judicial nominees. Trust the so-called progressives to fall for it hook, line, and sinker. Then, after Brennan is confirmed anyway, they'lll never remember. When was the last time a progressive complained about progressive judicial nominees being filibustered? Oh yeah: never. Not sexy enough. But the real work of politics. One progressive on the DC Circuit is worth a thousand CIA chiefs. But no. Drones.

Bamboozled.

[The Magistrate]

1. Hear Hear, Sir

[Tx4obama]

2. Yep, Republicans ARE fighting to keep the Courts. See excerpt below

Republicans Block Obama Nominee To Appeals Court, Again

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have blocked the confirmation of federal appeals court nominee Caitlin Halligan for the second time, denying President Barack Obama a key judicial appointment.

Republicans say Halligan is too liberal to sit on U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and cited citing her work on lawsuits against gun manufacturers. The National Rifle Association opposed her nomination.

Democrats say the effort to block her is about maintaining a conservative majority on a key appellate court.

A majority of senators, 51, supported her nomination, but Democrats needed 60 votes in the 100 member Senate to get it past Republican objections.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/republicans-block-obama-nominee-halligan.php?ref=fpb

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. They're especially desperate to maintain their majority on the DC Circuit

That's what all this theater is about.

[abelenkpe]

3. K&R nt

[Cha]

4. thanks a_m

Suckered.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. Kick at confirmation time

Like I said, none of that nonsense last night was about Brennan or drones or even Presidential power.

[annabanana]

7. k&r ! . . .n/t