Posted on 11/21/2013 6:13:21 AM PST by sickoflibs
The Senate is on the verge of striking down the long-standing filibuster rules for most presidential nominations, potentially doing so on a party-line vote that would alter nearly 225 years of precedent.
Democrats, infuriated by what they see as a pattern of obstruction and delay over President Obamas nominees, expect to trigger the showdown by bringing up one of the recent judicial nominees whom Republicans blocked by a filibuster. According to senior Democratic aides, Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) will set in motion a complicated parliamentary process that ends with a simple-majority vote setting a new rule that will allow for swift confirmation of executive branch nominees and most selections for the federal judiciary without having to clear a 60-vote hurdle.
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The impact of the move is more far-reaching, however. The means for executing this rules change a simple-majority vote, rather than the long-standing two-thirds majority required to change the chambers standing rules is more controversial than the actual move itself.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I believe the vote is happening right now on CSPAM 2 - I’ve not been paying close attention, but appears to be along party lines (big surprise!).
BTT
I kind of doubt that Reid can get his own party to go along with him.
I’m also of the mind that the republicans should help him pass the nuclear option. A year later the dems may not like what they wished for.
Only problem is that once we are in power we can never play as dirty and underhanded as they do.
Even more cynically, upon seeing a Republican Senate-elect in 11/2014, they’d change the rule back just so the GOP can be criticized for “going nuclear” in 2015.
HF
C-SPAN says they need 60 votes so party line would be good (except for traitors like McCain et al).
They just took the vote:
http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN2/
only got 57 votes but Reid is plowing ahead
It is far from a done deal. The GOP will figure out a way to screw things up. Look for the GOP Congressional leadership to push comprehensive immigration reform prior to the midterms thus splitting the base and reducing turnout.
You don’t think that if a Republican President was in charge and the tables were turned we wouldn’t be calling for the exact same thing? C’mon.......
I think Johnny Boy actually voted the “right” way on this one. Quelle surprise!
Re Amnesty: If the GOP passes Amnesty, I will not only quit the party but de-register as a voter.
“Only problem is that once we are in power we can never play as dirty and underhanded as they do.”
Agreed! We “share” (fools that did that).
Sorry - I thought I heard that it was the vote on this, but just hear it was a Motion to Adjourn:
46 Yea
54 Nay
Now they’re voting on motion to advance Millett nomination.
I called my RAT senator. They do not want to walk the plank on this for Dirty Harry - but they need some cover. Quickly.
I called my rats also
Great...and when we retake the Senate next year we will defund ObamaCare with a 51-vote margin.
There was, we did, and we didn’t.
The Senate rules already allow that under budget reconciliation. In fact the final Obamacare bill was passed that way by changing only budget related items.
If GOP takes the Senate and makes those changes to rules then in theory they could completely REPEAL all of Obamacare with 51. Then Obama vetoes it.
If I heard correctly on FNC - it just passed.
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