Harry Reid is set to go nuclear

[Judi Lynn]

Harry Reid is set to go nuclear
By Greg Sargent
November 19 at 4:10 pm

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.

“Reid has become personally invested in the idea that Dems have no choice other than to change the rules if the Senate is going to remain a viable and functioning institution,” the aide says. That’s a long journey from where Reid was only 10 months ago, when he agreed to a toothless filibuster reform deal out of a real reluctance to change the rules by simple majority. Asked to explain the evolution, the aide said: “It’s been a long process. But this is the only thing we can do to keep the Senate performing its basic duties.”

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

[sharp_stick]

1. I'll believe that when I see it

He's blown so much of the last Congressional term wasting everyone's time talking about this I'm starting to think he'll do it but not until he's sure the pukes will take back the Senate so he can sit and complain about his lack of ability to use the damned fake filibuster.

[dionysus]

9. each congress can make its own rules, so if he stripped it out the rethugs could put it back in if

they ever take back over.

[sharp_stick]

10. Yeah but they won't

It would be a cold day in hell before they gave that up, especially if they were able to say it was a Democratic rule.

My point was that Reid has been blowing smoke up our collective ass for ages over this rule change and hasn't even bothered with a test vote. If he does ever manage to do it you can bet that it would be for one vote before the Senate changed hands.

[dionysus]

12. sadly, i agree.

[AndyA]

2. Reid must have a long fuse on that nuclear bomb of his

He just needs to quit talking about it and get on with it.

At the rate they're going, the Republicans aren't going to win control of the Senate any time soon, and will likely lose the House next year. They've pissed off everybody except old white men and the KKK.

Just do it already, Harry.

[Mass]

3. I' ve read that so often that I will wait to see something to believe it.

[marsis]

4. Hahahaha, good one, almost got me.

[StarrGazerr]

5. Fingers crossed

The biggest fear Harry and the Democrats have about filibuster reform is that if the Republicans regain control of the Senate there will be nothing the Democrats can do to block their extremism. But I think they're finally coming to realize that even if the Democrats DONT do anything about filibuster reform the Republicans will blow it up anyway as soon as they have a chance. For years the Republicans have stacked the Federal courts with extremist conservative activist ideologues who will toss the Constitution whenever it's convenient. If we cannot get some respectable judges on the bench NOW, we may never again get the chance.

[TBF]

7. Good point.

Welcome to DU ~

[kelly1mm]

6. Nice timing. Gives the R's cover for when they toss the filibuster in 2015 when/if they get

the senate. Great job Harry! Maybe you should have thought of doing this in 2009.

[Paka]

8. The very real possibility that the GOP could

take over the Senate has contributed to Harry's reluctance to going nuclear all along. I read this new push as a signal from him that he expects to still be in charge come January 2015. Let's make that true!

[musiclawyer]

11. His reluctance is stupid

The modern GOP senate will nuke everything first chance they get. Winner take all !
Compromise, looking into the future, is something reasonable people do when dealing with reasonable people. The moden GOP is the unwavering political arm of the sociopathic wing of the 1%. There is no compromise in 21st century Politics. It should have been winner take all starting on 2009 and then in 2012 in the Senate.
That the Reid is just figuring this out is beyond comprehension ..... And nuking everything is the only way things will get done if the democrats take the house. Nuking everything facilitates taking the House in my book

[trublu992]

13. When he does it then I can believe it. He's sooo full of it!

[grahamhgreen]

14. I'm sure he'll get it done the day before a Republican majority....