Reid finally grows a pair - Senate will end GOP filibuster obstruction of nominees

[Las Vegas Mixx]

... finally !!!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/21/harry-reid-nuclear-senate/3662445/

[Scuba]

1. Rec for the graph.

Harry's obviously several years late to the party.

[LVZ]

44. another good chart >> 168 nominees blocked - 82 under Obama - 86 under all other Presidents combined

http://www.examiner.com/article/senate-democrats-go-nuclear-end-filibuster-rule-on-judicial-nominations

[chillfactor]

2. you do realize that in order to affect change....

Reid had to have the votes..he has not had them until now............too many bull-headed Democrats....

[WowSeriously]

25. He never tried to get the votes until now.

[dsc]

48. that is a flat out, gold carat falsehood

In July he tried, that is when we got the first deal. In 2011, he also tried and we got a deal then. He also tried in Jan of 2013.

[WowSeriously]

51. I'm not sure what a gold carrot is.

Regardless, he an his whip have a responsibility to marshal the votes. And I saw no evidence of that activity taking place.

[global1]

3. Is This Just To End The Filibuster On Judicial Nominees Or Is It Across The Board?......

I didn't hear Harry speak - so I'm not sure. Can anyone clarify this for me?

[HERVEPA]

4. I believe all executive nominees only, but not including Supreme Court

[Las Vegas Mixx]

5. only judicial and administrative nominees and excludes the Supreme Court n/t

[MANative]

6. From what I could understand in his comments, it applies to nominees of ...

both the judicial and executive, but not to Supreme Court nominees. Saw it live on MSNBC.

[politicaljunkie41910]

7. Judicial nominees only excluding SCOTUS. Should have scuttled the filibuster altogether

since the GOP will only retaliate and assure that nothing passes the Senate. At this point, Reid had nothing to lose by going total Nuclear. As if there is any doubt that if the tables were turned, the Repugs would have changed the rules on day one of Obama's first term.

I've said it over and over again, the Dems need to learn that the way to stay out of the minority party is to "get things done".
The Dems will pay a price with Independents, and some Dems, for being part of the "do nothing Congress".

[rhett o rick]

8. Why now? nm

[JoePhilly]

9. Because he has the votes?

[rhett o rick]

12. So before now, when he didnt "have the votes" he was afraid to call for a vote

in case it would embarrass his colleagues that werent supporting reform of the filibuster? Gotta love that transparency.

[JoePhilly]

13. Why would he call a vote that won't pass ... so that the media can use it against him?

What, you think the NO votes would be embarrassed? You do realize the NO votes are DINOs, right? They'd crow about voting no.

And the media would crucify Reid with absolutely zero benefit.

But hey, I do understand the need to figure out why this is a bad thing.

[AgingAmerican]

17. The media would not crucify him for growing a pair

Except FOX 'news' but nobody with a brain cares what they think.

[JoePhilly]

19. If the vote fails, they will.

[AgingAmerican]

22. For what, having balls?

Democrats have to stop being afraid of everything and just do what's right.

[JoePhilly]

23. For failing to get his caucus in-line ... makes him weak weak weak.

That is what the media would say.

But its a moot point now ... it passed.

[MADem]

33. People just don't understand that it is the job of leadership to count the votes.

One of the best vote counters in the House AND the Senate was LBJ.

He was even a good vote counter as VP and President.

It's an art. It involves quid pro quo, bribes in the form of PAC money for reelection campaigns, arm twisting, even threats. It's not just a "Gee, would you vote YEA on this for me, please?" exercise.

[AgingAmerican]

40. Reid has threatened to do what he did today

...on numerous occasions. Previously, he has always come to an 'agreement' with Mitch the bitch and not gone through with it. Every time the Republicans break the agreement. This has been the pattern for years.

It's about time someone grew a pair.

[MADem]

41. He probably made the deals because his votes weren't terribly secure.

The tipping point has been reached, at long last. Let's hope they can make some hay with it.

[AgingAmerican]

53. Hogwash

Doubtful his constituency demands cowardice.

[MADem]

54. Well, someone plainly doesn't understand the concept.

I'm not talking about his constituents. I'm talking about his leadership role. The votes he needs to 'count' are the ones from his delegation, not the voters of his state.

I think you need to drink that hogwash, there. This isn't about "cowardice." It's about persuasion, and that fine dance between promises and threats that leaders on the Hill are so skilled at doing.

[AgingAmerican]

57. Balderdash

nt

[MADem]

58. You can enjoy that as a side dish with your hogwash. nt

[JoePhilly]

46. Part of making the threat is to pressure members of your own side.

[MADem]

59. File that under "people who are unaware of the concept."

He doesn't get it, and that may well be willful as opposed to the result of naivete.

[JoePhilly]

63. Its like some folks have never taken a civics class.

"What is this vote counting that you speak of??"

Its like the Syria agreement. So many on DU simply could not contemplate the idea that the SoS and his staff had been working behind the scenes on a deal for over a year prior to the deal actually being made.

And yes ... willful, intentionally naive, actually naive ...??

[MADem]

64. There are people here who do not understand how the Senate Majority Leader is selected.

They actually think they have control over or input into the process, or something...or they missed that block on their ballot (Yeah, I didn't vote for him for Majority Leader!!!!! That kind of stupid shit...). It's sad, really. Civics needs to be taught again in schools--if I ruled the world, it would be!

And yes, the Syria business--the attitude is, if I didn't know about it, it didn't happen!

[AgingAmerican]

35. Absolute nonsense

This cowardly "We can't even try" attitude is why Dems have been so ineffective and weak. Reid could have done this ages ago. Milqtoast thinking.

[Las Vegas Mixx]

38. Yep, the most direct route to failure is not to try ... n/t

[JoePhilly]

47. "Not taking a vote" is not the same as "not trying".

You take the vote when you have the votes. Rarely do you take a vote knowing it will fail, unless its something the other side wants and you want people to see it fail.

[LVZ]

49. No, but Reid is an institutionalist and I doubt that Reid's action was really voluntary

http://blogs.rollcall.com/218/cbc-amps-up-pressure-on-harry-reid-to-go-nuclear/

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/biden-backs-reid-s-call-for-filibuster-reform

http://progressive.org/it-is-time-for-reid-to-move-on-filibuster-reform

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/29/patrick-leahy-filibuster_n_4175656.html

http://pol.moveon.org/filibuster/?r_by=25701-5677375-3WZ2Lxx&rc=paste
http://pac.petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-the-senate-to-fix?source=s.icn.tw&fb_test=0&r_by=933247
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/senators-feinstein-and-1

[AgingAmerican]

52. That is definite

Reid puts the MILK in MILQtoast.

[MADem]

55. It's obvious you know absolutely nothing about the man.

Keep digging that hole, though. By your words we know you.

[AgingAmerican]

56. I know him by his actions

...consistently cowardly, they be. It's about time he grew a pair. He should have done so years and years ago. We are sick of cowardly Democrats more worried about getting reelected than governing.

[MADem]

60. Again, you're showing us all your "grasp" of the subject matter.

I love it when people double-down on a stance that just isn't supported by facts.

Keep painting yourself into that corner, now!

Your remarks suggest that you do not understand how the guy got the leadership job he's in. Hint--it's not a beauty contest, and unless you are a sitting senator in the Democratic delegation, nobody cares what you think. Harry has to herd fifty five people, and he's doing a superb job at it.

The only people who are pissed at him right now are Republicans.

Perhaps you should be a little less concerned about Harry's "pair." It won't do you any good to obsess about them, in any event.

[rhett o rick]

45. Not calling for a vote looks like he cant get his caucus in line. I want him to at least expose

those that are not supporting the Democratic caucus. I agree it's moot now.

[Sheepshank]

20. perfect response

and I 100% concur with what is being attempted here by specific DU'ers

[WowSeriously]

26. He never tried to get the votes until now.

[MADem]

61. What--because he didn't call you and keep you informed of his behind-the-scenes negotiations?

Your homework--Read Caro's Master of the Senate. It will start to give you an appreciation of "how it's done."

[WowSeriously]

62. Had he called me then it would confirm his incompetence.

I think I'll read on on LBJ's mastery of the Senate, thanks.

[MADem]

65. Anyone who wants an understanding as to how a whip or a leader works, in House and Senate,

can get it from that book--which is riveting on a number of levels.

[WowSeriously]

66. Alright. I'll read it. And then I'll understand

How an Independent managed to chair a committee when Indendents didn't control the Senate.

[MADem]

67. The leader of the party with whom the Independent caucuses hands out the committee assignments.

I.E.....anyone with a committee assignment gets it with the grace and favour of Harry Reid. And if he doesn't want a person on a committee, they don't get the job.

[Las Vegas Mixx]

10. 3 vacancies in DC District Court will never be filled due to GOP obstruction without CHANGE

http://www.uscourts.gov/JudgesAndJudgeships/JudicialVacancies.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_District_of_Columbia_Circuit

There are three vacancies currently on the 11-seat D.C. Circuit Court, which is considered the nation’s second most powerful court because of its broad jurisdiction over regulatory matters, including the Affordable Care Act.

Its eight judges are divided evenly between Republican and Democratic appointees. Democrats argue, however, the court has a conservative tilt because five of its six semi-retired senior judges, who handle overflow work, are GOP appointees.

[sofa king]

18. I think it's a "gopher trap."

In World War I, where the lines were stalemated, an offensive was preceded by an enormous artillery bombardment. An hour or so before the attackers were to go "over the top," the artillery volume would be raised to a crescendo and then abruptly stopped.

The defenders would scramble out of their holes and begin to man their positions to defend the expected infantry attack, and as the smoke cleared those positions could be observed by the attackers. Then, after a few minutes, the artillery bombardment would resume, hopefully catching some of the defenders out in the open and forcing them to leave their equipment half set-up above ground where the bombardment could destroy it. I think it was Harry Truman may have used the term "gopher trap"--he was an artillerist in WWI--but I'm not sure.

That's what's going on here. Harry Reid has just plastered the Republicans with a barrage, and now he's waiting for them to stick their little rodent heads up above the muck so he can see what their planned response is going to be. At that point Reid might happily put the nuclear option back in the bag until next summer or fall, when he can use the intel he has generated--who is going to respond and how--to force the rodents out into the open at that time, with no time to hide in their holes before the next election.

This will hopefully force a couple of assholes into retirement by making them vote like assholes just before the election. But I wouldn't get your hopes up about this rules change being made to stick--unless there's an angle I cannot currently see, it seems to me the purpose of this exercise is simply to observe what the Republicans are going to do. If the response is favorable to Democrats, they would be more likely to close up the operation until a time when the GOP can be irreparably harmed by it--about 9 to 11 months from now.

Edit: I should be a little more clear about one thing. In particular, the "Republican response" is what procedural actions the Republicans in the Senate are going to take in response to this. Republican legislative staves have been steadily declining in competence for fifteen years and one thing Reid wants to know is whether or not any Republican Senators have staff members who can navigate the Senate rules and procedures. For example, the current vote that just went down could have been immediately halted in at least two ways--which I WILL NOT detail--but Republican Senators did not attempt those moves. It's highly unlikely they're playing possum; it is much more likely that the GOP is not competent enough to know that they had those options. That is a very, very useful thing to know down the road.

[kestrel91316]

11. I don't want to hear "will end". I want to hear "has ended", followed immediately by a long list

of appointees who have been confirmed.

I'll believe it when I see it, IOW.

[GoneFishin]

14. Me too. The seems to be a lot of premature celebrating. n/t

[Paladin]

16. That's my attitude. I'll believe it when it happens.

Reid hasn't earned anything beyond that, as far as I'm concerned.

[jenmito]

21. It just ended. n/t

[Las Vegas Mixx]

42. It was a "done deal" when Reid started talking. Rapid followup of "confirmed" appointees is key.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-senate-approves-nuclear-option-filibuster-20131121,0,4645277.story

[on point]

15. Actually one. Now extend this to bills and secret holds

[Blue Owl]

24. A spinal infusion

n/t

[Lint Head]

27. He needs to end the 60 to pass a law majority rule. period.

Not to just end it on "some" nominees.

[Las Vegas Mixx]

30. ... or at least reduce it to a more reasonable 55, subject to revision n/t

[Laelth]

31. +1. n/t

-Laelth

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

28. Let's send Harry...

...a pair of those hard rubber gonads often seen hanging from the rear bumper of pickup trucks!

[Laelth]

29. Excellent!

I would have preferred the complete elimination of the filibuster, but I will take what I can get. This is a serious advance for our republic. I am thrilled.



-Laelth

[Hawaii Hiker]

32. This is truly awesome!

Way. To. Go. Majority. Leader. Reid

[LVZ]

43. "It's a great day for America, everybody!"

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/bl-craig-ferguson-jokes.htm

http://www.notable-quotes.com/f/ferguson_craig.html

[lillypaddle]

34. Please send Senator Reid a note

of thanks and support!

[Hubert Flottz]

36. Would that be a strongly worded note?

Stick and move Harry!

[marshall]

37. Can it be given an expiration date?

Or at least be allowed to be revoted on in the future? In case we ever need it.

[Lns.Lns]

39. Don't know if it is legal... but

If they are worried about the future, couldn't they have just put a limit on the filibuster, like 10? That way they still retain the ability to filibuster a really bad nominee, but limit how many times the GOP could do this in a year?

They did pass it though just a little while ago.

[LVZ]

50. "You can hear the sound of gridlock breaking and progress coming"

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/harry-reid-s-victory-lap-20131121

It may have been "a sad day in the history of the Senate" for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, but for the liberal activists and lawmakers who assembled just off the Senate floor Thursday, the mortal wound Democrats delivered to the filibuster was cause for celebration.

The whooping and cheering began inside Mansfield Room even before Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid arrived, and continued as he and his fellow filibuster-slayers strode in triumphantly into room. It was one of two separate raucous standing ovations Reid would receive. "Our heroes have arrived!" announced Paul Begala, the Democratic strategist, who served as emcee for the event—part press conference, part victory rally.

"If you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of gridlock breaking and progress coming, because of what these men did today on the floor of the United States Senate," Begala continued. "It's a good day for democracy!"