Posted on 09/11/2015 2:06:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A senior Senate Republican leadership source reached out to discuss the case I laid out this morning (linked an excerpted by Allahpundit here) concerning a possible path to breaking Democrats’ Iran deal filibuster. He said Majority Leader McConnell will schedule another cloture vote early next week, likely on Tuesday. If and when that fails (assuming none of the 42 filibustering Democrats relent), GOP leadership is considering a number of options, including forcing votes on one or more highly-charged amendments related to the Iran deal. This maneuver would respond to Democrats’ politicized posturing in kind, contriving scenarios in which filibuster-sustaining votes would be politically painful to cast, and could be used in future attack ads. The aide declined to provide details on the substance of these potential amendments.
As for whether upper chamber Republicans are girding for a bruising fight in which all Senate business is ground to a halt until Democrats cease their obstruction of an up-or-down Iran vote, the source demurred. Leadership is keen on moving other items to the floor in the coming weeks, including a ban on late-term abortions, as well as a government funding bill. With the clock ticking toward a potential partial government shutdown, the time frame for a protracted battle over what ultimately amounts to a symbolic vote is limited, he said. McConnell has stated repeatedly that Congressional Republicans will not allow another government shutdown, a move critics have blasted as preemptive disarmament. The aide also said that a key difference between the sex trafficking filibuster brawl Republicans won this spring and the current scenario is that Democratic members actually wanted to pass the trafficking legislation, whereas they’ve lined up against the Iran deal disapproval resolution.
Point taken, but I’d argue that obstructing an Iran vote is uniquely precarious for Democrats. The Senate voted 98-1 to demand a say over the deal, with yes votes coming from all 42 Senators who’ve now joined a filibuster to prevent their own legislative body from having that say. As I’ve detailed in my original post, the American people have turned sharply against the nuclear agreement, and a supermajority of voters believes Congress must approve of the deal before it’s implemented. The House just voted against the deal by a 107-vote margin, with more than two dozen Democrats joining the opposition. It’s true President Obama’s power grab has guaranteed that his unilateral accord will go into effect without Congress’ approval. But Senate Democrats have cynically decided to strip themselves of a vote on the matter altogether — all to spare Obama the procedural humiliation of overruling the legislative branch’s bipartisan rejection of his reckless policy. Democrats should be made to defend this unpopular stance, publicly and often. Their arguments are weak, and the public isn’t inclined to buy their feeble talking points. Such a reckoning won’t occur unless Republicans really force the issue, which unfortunately requires manufacturing some political theater to cut through the noise. Speeches, statements, and press availabilities won’t suffice.
If GOP leadership is unwilling to exploit their control over the legislative agenda — afforded to them by voters in 2014 — in order to fight on an issue of enormous geopolitical and national security consequence, and on which they enjoy a substantial public opinion advantage, what is the point of having a majority? (For what it’s worth, I pose this cynical question as a supporter of the Corker/Cardin bill, which every Republican Senator but Tom Cotton voted for). I’ll leave you with Marco Rubio’s take on Fox News earlier today. Spot on:
“We should be creative about doing everything possible — if there was ever an issue on which we would stop everything to focus on something like a laser, it would be this. And instead, I get the sense that it’s like, ‘let’s have a couple votes then let’s move on to the next issue. This thing is done with.'”
Are Republican leaders interested in pursuing creative solutions here? A more instructive question, perhaps: How would Democratic leadership play their cards if the roles were reversed? Oh, and here’s the White House’s cavalier, childish attitude toward all of this. Laugh it up:
White House mocks Republicans again for scheming to prevent Iran deal, says it probably seemed like a good idea after a couple of margaritas
— Francesca Chambers (@fran_chambers) September 11, 2015
Editor’s note: A version of this item is cross-posted at Townhall.com
And no spine either! Such an embarrassment. To think I believed in those guys until the gang of 14.
-PJ
McConnell, Boehner & Corker must go...immediately!!!. Put Ted Cruz or Jeff Sessions in as Senate leader, invoke the “nuclear option” wherein 51 votes carries the day and vote!!! End of story!!! If you depend on McConnelll or Boehner for any action like this...you are smoking too much reefer!!! these two are deeply in Obama;s camo & pockets!!! “TRAITORS”!!!!
Why did Corker-McConnell put up their “no opposition” bill in the first place?
Only God in heaven knows!!! They must have been stoned when they did this...or Obama has pictures of them playing with each other!!! Idiots & Morons combined!!! GOP needs to broom these fools, like, right now!!!
sorry but NO
Stop being such Boy Scouts - use the nuclear option which ‘rats already employed to approve a few judges - stopping the Iran sellout is much more important and deserves an up or down vote in spite of some attempted filibuster.....
Rush today said it is inexplicable.
No, it’s not. Anne Graham Lotz nailed it right after 9/11.
Our nation, including millions of professing Christians, has wholly rejected God, and He has withdrawn His sovereign hand that has protected us from ourselves and from Satan’s desire to destroy our nation - that was birthed because if its belief in Him. A large part of our nation, maybe even a majority, has literally given God the finger.
His protection being withdrawn, every conceivable evil is being unleashed on us. External, internal, political, moral, everything is collapsing.
The root of the problem is spiritual - not political. It won’t be solved politically, even if Ted Cruz or Ben Carson becomes our next president.
The twin towers total collapse 14 years ago was symbolic of what is happening to us as a nation now.
We can only repent and cry out to God for mercy.
The Dimocrats have “leadership,” the GOP has, well, Mitch McConnell...
Won't happen.........
I agree.
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