Nice spelling on that poster!
Posted on 11/21/2013 9:52:06 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
Edited on 11/21/2013 9:53:53 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
A bitterly divided Senate voted Thursday to ease the confirmation process for most presidential nominees, a momentous and potentially risky step that limits the ability of Republicans to block President Barack Obama's choices for executive-branch and most judicial posts.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) engineered the rules change, over Republican objections, with a complicated parliamentary maneuver that ended up placing new curbs on the use of the filibuster—a move so controversial that it is often called the "nuclear option."
"The American people believe Congress is broken. The American people believe the Senate is broken…It's time to change the Senate before this institution becomes obsolete," Mr. Reid said.
The key vote was 52-48, with all but three Democrats voting for the change and all Republicans opposed. Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Joe Manchin of West Virginia broke from their party and voted against changing the rules.
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That's been the case at least since GHWB.
The funny thing is, the only real outcome will the massive influx of Judge Impeachment hearings in the future, as everyone will want to impeach those they don’t agree with to stack the courts with those who tow their party line.
Once Republicans take control of the Senate, it is probably likely they start gutting the 9th of that partisan, unconstitutional bunch - and Obama will have a bitch of a time getting the seats filled since anyone he puts up that isn’t constitutional enough will be regected by the then majority party
In the long run, this could actually lead to a more balanced court overall
you assume there are senators on the side of the US people.
this by DC for DC and ONLY for DC.
for the DC crowd (politicians, lobbyists, people who pay the lobbyists, staffers, desk jockies etc.) citizen equals slave.
Some of it depends on how much money is thrown into the game. But Virginia was going Republican with 88% of the precincts reporting and then it was all over.
no, I just know the history that you don’t.
We can use this if we ever get back in power to take down some if the nanny state. Could never happen with the filibuster in place
You have an excellent point. With direct election of senate and house and with no filibuster for the minority party in the Senate, we simply have a bifurcated unicameral legislative branch.
It was a smart move if you believe that stacking the court with left wing liberals will have a long term effect that will change many of the constitutional protections that have stymied the Dems while they have the majority.
And it is a smart move if the Dems believe that they might lose the Senate in 2014. They need to get as many judicial nominees thru as possible now.
And it is a smart move if the Dems believe that they are on the verge of becoming the permanent majority party based on our rapidly changing demographics.
If the Reps don’t stand together in the Senate and House and declare their own version of the nuclear option, i.e., there will be no cooperation with the Dems until the Senate nuclear option is rescinded, then they deserve to be the wimps abused and derided. We need street fighters not these perfumed princes.
Sadly, I agree.
Functionally it’s unicameral. All decisions are made in the conference committee and the two houses rubber stamp it.
His Judges will fast track everything.
I fear you are right, Invar.
At home, here in PA, they just passed a huge gas/diesel fee/ tax increase with heavy Republican support.
The Fed govt doesn’t seemed to be handicapped by bad economy, although that might still hurt states and municipalities. So, if the politicians don’t need to worry about economics to get re-elected what recourse do we have.
Going Galt won’t hurt them, at least nationally. So what to do?
I am at the point of resigning from the Republican party, but still voting. However, I will always vote against the incumbent.
My new rule: vote for the most likely to win challenger. And prepare for the day the country implodes...
That the Senate is elected by States as a whole, as opposed to gerrymandered districts (which, ironically enough, ends up giving state legislators indirect control over their house delegations in a way not envisioned by the framers), and that the Senate is not directly based on population, does still make for some difference. Not as robust as things once were, but still enough difference to allow for some creative gridlock—for now.
When Pubs had everything, they “power shared” with the Dems.
So they could look “nice” to the MSM who never, unless it fits with their agenda (like McShamnesty), will report accurately on a Repub.
Obama will still be in the WH. And if the Reps gain control of the Senate, why would they change the rules back so the minority Dems can block them?
The only reason to change them back would be if the Reps think they can't get together and vote along party lines to stop Obama judicial nominees. Then it makes sense to have 60 to enforce cloture knowing that at least 41 Reps will vote together to block nominees.
Nice spelling on that poster!
Correction:
We will rue the day!
If the Reps don’t stand together in the Senate and House and declare their own version of the nuclear option, i.e., there will be no cooperation with the Dems until the Senate nuclear option is rescinded, then they deserve to be the wimps abused and derided. We need street fighters not these perfumed princes.
That’s what the kenyan wants. Gridlock in Congress leaving him free to rule by EO.
Far better for the GOP to make it personally uncomfortable for the Dems right now. Don’t wait for the election.
A unified GOP message carpet bombing the Dems with populist Cruz missiles would be devastating right now. It would destroy the Dem brand with kenyancare bill mail bombs exploding across the country.
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