Posted on 04/06/2017 9:16:33 AM PDT by servo1969
Senate Republicans deployed the so-called “nuclear option” Thursday afternoon in a bid to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, moving to overcome a Democratic filibuster just minutes earlier.
The Senate initially voted 55-45 on a motion to end debate on Gorsuch, with four Democrats breaking ranks; it needed 60 to succeed. Known as a filibuster, this vote triggered Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to go “nuclear.”
This means he is trying to change Senate precedent so that the Senate can move to a final roll call with just a simple majority of 51 votes, as opposed to 60. If he succeeds, a final confirmation vote would be held Friday.
The dramatic and fast-paced chain of events is poised to significantly change the way the Senate does business. Each party blames the other for the escalation and the breakdown in the Senate’s parliamentary decorum, and the impact could be felt for years, if not decades, to come.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, kicking off Thursday’s session, blasted Democrats for the filibuster attempt and accused them of driving the upper chamber to this point. He said their opposition to Gorsuch isn’t about the nominee but “the man who nominated him” – and part of an “extreme escalation in the left’s never-ending drive to politicize the courts and the confirmation process.”
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Finally, Mitch gets it.
Well give them credit for actually doiing something courageous for once. I sure Gorsuch isn’t another souter...If he is we’re in big trouble. If not this is a huge win.
McConnell is a klutz.
cleanup on aisle 2
should have said—I sure HOPE Gorsuch isn’t another souter.
I wouldn’t call it a huge win, it’s the preventing of a huge loss, since we are replacing a Conservative on the Court.
A “Huge Win” is replacing a Liberal SCOTUS member with a Conservative one.
I saw a report on “going nuclear” on the news a few nights ago. Lots of hand wringing on what would happen IF the Republicans did it.
Absolutely NO MENTION that Harry Reid and the Democrats had already done it several years back.
It’s time for the filibuster to go in any event.
Make them all take on-the-record votes on EVERYTHING.
Then the voters can judge come election time.
This will also remove the layer of insulation from the voters that says “My Congressman is a left-wing screaming whack job, but he always delivers when it comes to money for local bridges and the Community Center. So I’ll vote for him and trust the Filibuster will prevent these crazy ideas from actually becoming law.”
No more. You vote for it, you broke it, you OWN it.
No matter what, Trump will go down as historic when he completely changes the Supreme Court. I am hoping he gets at least another 4 justices named and it is very possible. I want a 7-2 Republican Supreme Court. Quite frankly if he does nothing else, he is a success. And yep I give McConnell big time credit for this and last year’s action which I am sure he took a lot of crap over but stood strong (surprisingly but he did it). Our country is on it’s way back and today is a big part of it. Oh and if we get the Supreme Court of our dreams, watch the Democrats add justices to it next time they are in power.....you know they will which is why Trump should add another 2 or 4 to the court before they do.
That is enabled with the nuclear option today.
The filibuster is not in the constitution. It is part of senate rules wasn’t in place for a lot of years. Can be changed anytime
Of real significance is this sentence:
He said it is an “extreme escalation in the left’s never-ending drive to politicize the courts and the confirmation process.”
The Left.
This is a new development where we finally start calling the real enemy here, the international left, by what they are. Leftists.
In the past it was always language like “my friends across the aisle” and “the more liberal members of congress’ and crapola like that.
It is crucial for Conservative leaders to quit giving them a pass. Call them what they are. They are hard core leftists.
WOW! McTurtle found his cajones! I didn’t think he would!
A “Huge Win” is replacing a Liberal SCOTUS member with a Conservative one.
The fat lady has not sung yet. We have 3 and a half years (at least) left and I bet at least 1 liberal will be off the court and McConnell just made it easy to confirm.
Why wouldn’t the Rats filibuster? The GOPe in the senate led by Mitch and his buddies Linda and McStain always roll over.
I am surprised theybare holding firm on Gorsuch.
I bet they get Gorsuch through then roll over and reinstate the stupid filibuster rules for the next supreme court justice nomination.
I’m not sure going nuclear will happen. I think I just heard there are at least two senators who may not support it: Collins and Corker. Tie goes to Pence.
I know this is an indelicate thing to say, but I find photos of nuclear explosions hauntingly beautiful and fascinating.
Yeah that would work but then the Senators couldn’t get out of town tomorrow night.
If you are correct, then the GOP is kabuki dancing us again.
Mitch will say “I tried”. The Dems will go on obstructing.
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