Posted on 11/20/2014 2:22:46 AM PST by Gorilla44
Under pressure from a large faction of rank-and-file members, Senate Republican leaders are warming to the idea of keeping the rule change known as the “nuclear option” that Democrats imposed to end filibusters of nominations.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican who will become majority leader in January, is leaving the decision to the will of his members, and at least half of them currently oppose reversing course, said GOP aides close to the discussions.
The leadership team this week began signaling that the new rule, which reduced the number of votes needed to cut off confirmation filibusters from 60 to 51, is likely here to stay.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The Republicans should stop referring to it as the “nuclear option” and consistently refer to it as the “Harry Reid Rule”.
Any time a reporter uses the first term, they should stop and correct him/her.
They'd better not forget it.
No Obama appointments confirmed between Jan 2015 and Jan 2017 - as Obama likes to say, PERIOD!
Orrin hatch, the most establishment of a establishment Republicans, said at last weeks Federalist Society convention that he wants to keep the nuclear option. that says to me it’s a done deal
“This GOP Senate is going to be more confrontational then any other.”......
I will believe that when I see it with my own eyes. I DO NOT, and never have cared for McConnell or Bohner as “leaders”, both are too much middle of the road types and typically go along to get along. Simply, they do not know how to play hardball, a tactic the demodummies thrive on.
Like I said, the proof will be in the pudding.
The pubbies can just change it back and include legislation.
Do they have the guts for it is the question.
Or will McConnell foreswear it in the name of fairness?
The error that is easy to make is to think that Republicans will be in the majority in January. Nominal Republicans will have that majority. However effective Democrats who carry the Republican label leave the Opposition a distinct minority. Even the Leadership is concerned about “showing they can govern” i.e. co-operate with the Sultan.
I am pretty sure that, by 2015, the nuclear option will be gone or nullified by some sort of “power sharing” agreement. That is just the way Senate ‘Pubbies are...
No, but a lot of others replying to this thread are missing something. The ONLY advantage this Reid Rule has to the GOP is if the GOP has both a Senate majority and the presidency. It is otherwise useless to the GOP. It is, in fact, a disadvantage to conservatives. With this rule in place, and assuming Landrieu looses, all Reid needs to do to get Obama nominees confirmed, is pick off four RINOs (McCain and Ghramnesty come to mind) and the Obama nominees get approved with a tie breaking vote by Biden.
Two words: hoist, pitard
“I’m not so sure that this is to our advantage.”
I’ve wondered that too. It’s almost like the Senators are doing it to stop the Tea Party, rather than stick it in the eye of the Democrats. We don’t need the rule now and it only makes it easier for Obama to get his way with nominees.
But, the other side, if the rule continues in place for the next two years, then the Dems will not be able to make headway when it stays in place for President Cruz...that is where it is REALLY NEEDED.
IF McConnell is truly a conservative, I think you’re right Alaska. If Reid could change the rules both ways, so can McConnell — IF he has the political will and ...
If there aren’t some ‘Gang of 8’ garbage by McStain, Grahamnesty, etc. Never underestimate a RINO’s willingness to eat the [bleep] sandwich for his real allies.
And McConnell BETTER dance to the Tea Party’s tune too, or I have a plan that would make his head spin.
[Coming up.]
Actually, I don’t care what McConnell does. He still openly declared war on the Tea Party. We’re just ‘allies of convenience’. So ...
We should also encourage the state legislators to network and threaten the ‘Utah Option’ if the following is not at least supported by congressional republicans:
‘State Empowerment’ that could repeal executive orders, overturn this amnesty coup completely, and could solve many other problems.
Through a targeted suspension of congressional rules, a simple concept could be made into a constitutional amendment.
The state legislators collectively could appoint or replace a ‘Chief representative’ [term limited to three years] who can be a check against ALL tyranny through ‘anti-power’ authority:
1. Repeal executive orders [by the president]
2. Censure executive branch officials [three censures lead to an impeachment process by the states].
3. Veto new federal legislation.
4. Unilaterally freeze or cut any federal spending by 1% every two months except for Social Security benefits while disregarding union agreements.
— There are more, but this thread is about ‘Immigration’. —
Immigration is the only ‘act of power’ that the Chief could trigger:
IF the 2/3 of the states are dissatisfied with immigration/borders, they can permit the Chief to appoint a Borders Czar [who is also term limited to three years]. This czar could be loaded with so much focused power [checked and balanced through easy replacement and impeachment] that I do not foresee any effective political or legal sabotage of the czar’s plans:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3228427/posts?page=2#2
[Post Three, right below that link ...]
Obama is setting the stage for a Republican to become president and use all his newly Obama like kingly powers against liberals!
Liberals will rue the day they turned the president into a king.
then send Obama bill after bill after bill for him to veto!
make it obvious to the American people that if they elect a Republican president in 2016 these bills will get signed!
“And the VERY FIRST confirmation on which it should be used is Holder’s new replacement.”
We seriously need ‘Lame Duck’ reform.
Why won’t Reid just expedite a midnight appointment during Thanksgiving or the Christmas Season as a ‘special ‘gift’ in our stockings?
“...nuclear option will be gone or nullified by some sort of “power sharing” agreement...”
A new gang of Eight. ‘Aint they a ‘sensation’?
Reid, with his bully boy tactics, has poisoned the well and the Republicans aren't going to forget it!
We are all hanging our hats on mere threads of hope, wishing our guys would have the fortitude to do the brave things needed. Or, at a minimum, not shoot themselves or other allies in the process.
I'm so used to being not only let down, but tossed overboard, that I'll just have to wait.
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