Landmark Senate Vote on Filibusters Weakens GOP Power

AP Via New York Post ^ | November 21, 2013 | Staff

[lbryce]

Senate Democrats eased the way for swift approval of President Barack Obama’s current and future nominees on Thursday, voting unilaterally to overturn decades of Senate precedent and undermine Republicans’ ability to block final vote.

The 52-48 vote to undercut venerable filibuster rules on presidential appointees capped more than a decade of struggle in which presidents of both parties complained about delays in confirming appointees, particularly to the federal courts.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who launched the move, accused Republicans of “unbelievable, unprecedented obstruction” of Obama’s selections to fill court vacancies and other offices.

“It’s time to change the Senate, before this institution becomes obsolete,” he said.

His Republican counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, accused Democrats of exercising raw power, and said they would regret it when political fortunes switched.

[lbryce]

It would deliver a major blow to the GOP’s ability to thwart Obama in making appointments, though Republicans have promised the same fate would await Democrats whenever the GOP recaptures the White House and Senate control. It also could adversely affect the level of bipartisan cooperation in the Senate – a quality already in short supply in an era of divided government. The maneuvering occurred after a decade in which first one party, then the other, nursed a lengthening list of grievances over delays in confirmation for nominees to the courts. McConnell noted that Democrats sought to thwart some of President George W. Bush’s conservative appointees, while Democrats say the GOP has done the same to Obama’s appointees.

I was just wondering. I remember Republicans in previous administrations full of spunk, initiative and determination being involved in the process of governing, The didn't win every confrontation, but my God they'd put up the effort.

I'm trying to figure out the cause for the Republicans seemingly having lost all interest in living. It's like they're Erectile-Challenged or something, but this thing is all over from head to toe. I'm thinking that maybe the DemoRats are putting sumthin in the Republican water fountains. Maybe we should call Bob Dole and have him dole out all the free samples he got when he he was spokesman. On a side not, Bob Dole wasn't a shoo-in for the job. I heard he had stiff competition.

[LS]

I’m not worried. A new batch will soon step forward. Dems don’t realize it but they just killed themselves. Can you now imagine, w/o the filibuster, Justice Palin? Or Justice Cruz?

[PATRIOT1876]

*His Republican counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, accused Democrats of exercising raw power, and said they would regret it when political fortunes switched.*

...and the Republicans will be able to laugh like Renfield when they regain the Senate!

[Viennacon]

The House should simply refuse to do anything for this piece of sh7t and his senate until 2014. At the end of the day, lower courts are not a ‘legacy’. Obama wants amnesty and ENDA and other crap. Just pocket it in the House and flip Obama the bird. Stick it to him in any way possible.

[Red Badger]

What goes around comes around......................

[rktman]

The gop-e had power?

[Jim from C-Town]

The GOP establishment is a group of worthless cowards. They are pussies who sill never stand up for themselves for fear that the MSM will call them meanies.

[lbryce]

I liked that. Wish I said it. I read it and thought, hey, this guy’s onto something. He should be working at Fox.

[fella]

Perhaps the minority party should borrow a bit from the RAT playbook and refuse to attend and go into hiding so that a quorum can’t be had. Make the RATs chase em down and drag them in cuffed and protesting.

[originalbuckeye]

I expect to see ads on TV IMMEDIATELY, telling the American people the Democrats have shattered Senate rules to complete their One Party Rule. And hammer them from now until next November. Knowing the impotent Republican ‘leadsrdhip’ , I won’t hold my breath.

[Daveinyork]

You may have to run those ads yourself.

[Maine Mariner]

I am so sick of whiny Republicans at least the Rhino types.
Go along to get along. Refusing to fight back. Refusing
to debate. Refuse the challenge the basic premises of the welfare state-just support a little less spending but never
challenge the idea of a large and expanding federal government. McConnell is mad-gee what a surprise.

[DJ MacWoW]

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[Baynative]

"A new batch will soon step forward. Dems don’t realize it but they just killed themselves. " I thought the same thing until I realized that if the Senate loses their majority in November 2014, Harry will have three months to change things back before new members are sworn in.

[Baynative]

Did Lindsay and John vote with dems?

[TexasFreeper2009]

My only regret is they didn’t wait until closer to the next election to do this. But overall its a GREAT thing for us, because WE will have control of the Senate after the next election.

[FiddlePig]

IMHO Harry Reid/DemonRats power grab has a singular big purpose… seeing the looming electoral disaster coming next year, Horrible Harry and Liar Obama seek to pack the judiciary with leftist radicals who will then work to overturn every voter ID law in the country. Massive vote fraud is upon us! 2012 was just a rehearsal.

[4Liberty]

Despite their minority status, some Repubs want to speak & exercise their votes - unlike Assembly Rats who fled outright, from Wisconsin.

[usurper]

The Rats will have 1 year and one month to wreak havoc with this. When they loose the Senate in 2014 they will change back to the old rules during the lame duck session before the new senators are seated.

Then it will be up to the GOP to change the rules, anyone want to hazard a guess if they have the spine?

[4Liberty]