Posted on 09/08/2015 10:53:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
We already knew that Barack Obama won the fight over the Congressional disapproval of his deal with Iran. Last week, when Barbara Mikulski became the 34th vote in favor of the deal, that took the veto override off the table — even if that had been a long shot at best in the House already. In quick succession, seven more Democrats quickly followed suit, and now Obama has enough to filibuster a disapproval bill, according to the AP’s tally:
Three undecided senators announced their support for the deal in quick succession — bringing supporters to 41 votes. That’s enough to bottle up the disapproval resolution with a filibuster later this week.
The announcements came from Ron Wyden of Oregon, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Gary Peters of Michigan.
Supporters were cautiously optimistic the votes would allow them to block the disapproval resolution from passing in the Senate. They weren’t declaring victory because opponents of the deal are pushing for senators to allow a final vote on the disapproval resolution, leading to uncertainty about the outcome under the Senate’s complicated procedures.
That puts the filibuster in play, a dangerous weapon to use in this instance. Don’t forget that the American public opposes this deal on a 2:1 margin, making a diktat a risky strategy. Will Harry Reid resurrect his old role in blocking legislation from hitting Obama’s desk? Put it another way: are Reid and 40 other Democrats so shameless in boosting Obama and John Kerry that they won’t allow a floor vote even on a toothless bill of disapproval?
Prediction: Yes. A few of those Democrats may have qualms about cutting out any input from Congress on a momentous foreign agreement such as this one, but that probably won’t keep them from prioritizing their partisan calculations ahead of constitutional concerns. It didn’t keep them awake at night with Corker-Menendez, nor when Obama refused to submit the deal as a treaty and threatened to implement it through temporary executive waivers allowed in statutory sanctions.
I wrote last week that Mikulski’s vote would put ownership of Iran’s terror support squarely on the shoulders of Democrats. A filibuster on a floor vote would cement this to Obama, Reid, and Senate Democrats, and the party as a whole. Denying a vote to opponents will only anger constituents even more and remind voters which party shoves unpopular policies down their throats — and in this case sends more than one hundred billion dollars into the coffers of the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the world without allowing so much as a debate in the Senate.
On that point, if Mitch McConnell were ever to strip the Senate of the last vestiges of its filibuster, this would be the moment for that “nuclear option.” At least that would allow the Senate to register disapproval of the nuclear gift Obama and John Kerry wrapped up for the Iranian mullahs and the IRGC.
Back last century, Oklahoma’s favorite son, the comedian-commentator Will Rogers, said “I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat.” This has turned mirror image, Democrats fall into lock-step with even the ‘dissenters’ like Chuck Schummer, getting a knowing nod and wink!
The GOP, on the other hand, lacks the courage of their constituent’s convictions and have a nano-second length memory. I remember Ol’ Mitch warning Harry Reid that playing the ‘nuclear option’ would free the GOP to use it at will themselves. Toothless & cowardly hyenas should not make threats they cannot keep!
the Corker bill should be killed.
It won’t. so...
use the nuke option...
Fine, so make them stand in the well and actually filibuster... until,they drop
” I don’t think the Congress can vote away their job “
They have been voting away their job by refusing to vote for a while .
all 41 need to be removed from the senate - Trump ‘em
So, when a million American’s eyes are seared blind; when the entire electric grid is brought down in America; when several harbors are rendered permanently unusable.....
.... I intend to hold these Senators personally accountable.
There names should be carved in a granite stone so the names of the guilty will be known after the nuclear holocaust.
Yes every senator except Cotton voted 99-1 to change the rules so that Obama would only need 34 votes instead of the 66 approval . they called it the Corker bill.
So they all voted for it but now put on an act like they are against it. Typical and the sheep believe them still
They did something similar with TPA and obama trade , vote for it before they vote against it then give a speech.
Yes every senator except Cotton voted 99-1 to change the rules so that Obama would only need 34 votes instead of the 66 approval . they called it the Corker bill.
So they all voted for it but now put on an act like they are against it. Typical and the sheep believe them still
They did something similar with TPA and obama trade , vote for it before they vote against it then give a speech.
Yes every senator except Cotton voted 99-1 to change the rules so that Obama would only need 34 votes instead of the 66 out of 100 Senators for approval . they called it the Corker bill.
So they all voted for it but now put on an act like they are against it. Typical and the sheep believe them still
They did something similar with TPA and obama trade , vote for it before they vote against it then give a speech.
McConnell;
Nuclear option the Senate or get out because your BS-ing otherwise.
Does anyone know if The Turtle has to bring this up for a vote, ever? Or can he just let it sit there a wither till another Congress is elected?
Still not 2/3 for a valid treaty.
Those are strong words, hold them responsible. Sounds like something the right wing of the uni-party would say.
I'm an incredibly forceful and direct person.
"If mistakes were made, especially by members of a party other than our own, I will foresee a time when we will call a caucus that will decide to create the committee that will hold them directly responsible by issuing a strong condemnation."
DON'T MAKE ME ****ING DO IT.
There would be justice if the first Iranian nuke, delivered atop a Russian ICBM, bursts over the District of Corruption.
Few days of this Democratic circus on TV and in the press and the filibuster would be worse for them (and Obama and the putative Democratic presidential candidates) than having to put their treasonous votes on record.
Let's not let them get away with just vote-counting — make their votes, non-votes and filibusters count! This spectacle should be an unforgettable event, especially going into presidential elections!
The country is very much against them and Obama on this issue. For Republicans, at least, it's a rare great political opportunity to put Dems on the defensive (and procedurally indefensible), especially after Harry Reid's antics on the (how apropos!) "nuclear option" and all...
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