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Senate Republicans deploy ‘nuclear option’ after Gorsuch filibuster
Foxnews.com ^ | 4-6-2017 | Judson Berger

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 ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: confirmation; court; filibuster; gorsuch; justice; mcconnell; nuclear; option; schumer; scotus; senate; supreme; trump; trumpwinsagain
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To: servo1969
"Senate Republicans deploy ‘nuclear option’ after Gorsuch filibuster"

Senate Republicans deploy demoncrat-designed ‘nuclear option’ after Gorsuch filibuster...

61 posted on 04/06/2017 10:14:03 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: servo1969

The filibuster has produced the opposite of what it claims is its purpose. The stated purpose is to allow debate, thought, and the crafting of legislation much better for having gone through that process.

In reality, it is the exact opposite. It is a way to shut off discussion, statesmanship, compromise, and cooperation.

It’s simply a weapon to obstruct. There might have been a day when that was not so, but I don’t recall a time when it was other than a weapon of obstruction.

It must be placed in the back file someplace for a different day, if it is ever resurrected. There are things that must be done, and it appears that the simple majority rule will more likely lead to the eventual negotiation between our warring branches of the congress.


62 posted on 04/06/2017 10:14:19 AM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory.)
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To: napscoordinator

“I want a 7-2 Republican Supreme Court”

I understand what you mean, but I would put it differently

The preference is a Supreme Court which could be described as strictly made up of those that understand and support our Constitutional Republic and judge from that perspective

Thus a 7-2 Conservative/Constitutional Supreme Court is the goal.


63 posted on 04/06/2017 10:28:29 AM PDT by Syncro (Facts is facts)
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To: LeonardFMason

I would imagine sometime in the next 8 years the Supreme Court will “BE RUTHLESS”


64 posted on 04/06/2017 10:33:30 AM PDT by Syncro (Facts is facts)
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To: servo1969

I guess if democrats revere the filibustering of Supreme court justices so, they can reconstitute the rule if they ever take power back


65 posted on 04/06/2017 10:34:58 AM PDT by Personal Responsibility (We need a separation of press and state!)
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To: Ray76

Perhaps you didn’t read the article you linked?


66 posted on 04/06/2017 10:45:02 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: Cubs Fan

OR another Roberts or Kennedy. I keep hearing how this will return the balance of power to 5-4 in favor of Conservative Justices. I don’t know what decisions the people who write these articles are looking at..........


67 posted on 04/06/2017 10:46:59 AM PDT by TangledUpInBlue
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To: LeonardFMason
IF/WHEN the Dems are in power they will be ruthless. That is a fact.

Susan Rice, Brenner, and Hussein Obama's illegal monitoring of the Trump administration is going to continue to destroy the RATS.

Under Hussein, the RATS lost over a 1000 elected seats. It may mean that the RATS keep loosing for decades to come.

68 posted on 04/06/2017 10:57:45 AM PDT by politicianslie (What would a terrorist do if he were made POTUS? : Exactly what Hussein Obama did=)
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To: Syncro

How about a 9-0 conservative SCOTUS?


69 posted on 04/06/2017 11:03:33 AM PDT by SouthernerFromTheNorth
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To: servo1969

I wonder who loaned him the testicles and when he has to give them back.


70 posted on 04/06/2017 11:06:35 AM PDT by katana (It still hasn't occurred to them that Trump doesn't give a s***)
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To: servo1969

I have to honestly say I don’t understand the Gorsuch nomination.


71 posted on 04/06/2017 11:12:20 AM PDT by Crucial
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To: Nifster

According to Rush this p.m., it was passed by the Democraps in 2003 to prevent confirmation of Estrada, a “W” appointee. It had been used until it failed to meet the needs of Democraps at which point Harry Reed and the Senate nuked it to pack the lower courts with Leftists.


72 posted on 04/06/2017 11:18:42 AM PDT by Postman (The Flies have finished defining BHO and HRC and will be moving on)
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

What are you even talking about? Have you been paying attention to what has been going on the last year?

And the rule is now gone.


73 posted on 04/06/2017 11:22:13 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: oldvirginian

President Trump wasn’t even the nominee yet when McConnell began this process last year to block Obama from making the replacement.


74 posted on 04/06/2017 11:23:54 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: TankerKC

Sorry, posted on wrong thread.


75 posted on 04/06/2017 11:43:39 AM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Republican Wildcat
President Trump wasn’t even the nominee yet when McConnell began this process last year to block Obama from making the replacement

And McConnell wasn't yet supporting Mr. Trump when he was beginning to build the campaign that gave McConnell control of the senate.

76 posted on 04/06/2017 11:55:02 AM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: servo1969

Why didn’t they first have 24-hour 7-day a week sessions to let the filibuster proceed until the members talk themselves to exhaustion?


77 posted on 04/06/2017 12:00:54 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Let's not squander the golden opportunity of 2017.)
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To: Republican Wildcat

True, but Mitch hasn’t shown much courage otherwise and it takes much more courage to invoke the nuclear option against his “friends across the aisle”.

The poor Turtle won’t be getting as many dinner invitations as he’s accustomed to though the thought of a working weekend at Mar A Lago may be dancing through his mind.
Perhaps a bit of Rand Paul envy going on?


78 posted on 04/06/2017 12:13:01 PM PDT by oldvirginian (Government is at best a necessary evil, at worst a millstone around the neck of the citizenry.)
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To: oldvirginian

Way back when Merrick Garland was nominated by Obama, everyone knew what the end game would be if Trump was elected.

This was all Kabuki Theater. The real battle will come when it comes time to replace a Liberal on the Court. That’s when s__t gets real.


79 posted on 04/06/2017 12:15:18 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator
The real battle will come when it comes time to replace a Liberal on the Court. That’s when s__t gets real.

Hopefully we get another this year

80 posted on 04/06/2017 12:16:28 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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