Posted on 03/22/2005 9:11:25 AM PST by MisterRepublican
The alarm came just in time for the usual round of fund raising during Easter recess: Republicans want to change the rules to confirm judges, but Democrats stand ready to stop them by shutting down the Senate.
But last week's shutdown threat wasn't just a money raiser. Democrats really are ready for a Senate shutdown, and Republicans really are just about ready to change the rules.
Senate rules require 60 votes to end debate on most issues. That means the minority party can kill a nomination with just 41 votes. All the minority needs is enough senators to filibuster, saying they won't vote for cloture.
The filibuster has been a fact of life in the Senate for more than 200 years. But with federal courts deciding more and more issues, judicial nominations have become more and more political.
The Supreme Court's recent decision banning execution of underage murderers only added to Republican impatience with judicial filibusters.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
There is no more divisive a subject that politics, other than religion. IF this happens, it will further polarize the electorate.
Unfortunately, that is doubtful. The Repubs have proven over and over that they have no backbone when it REALLY comes down.
Now, I pray I am proven wrong.
The House once had similar rules as the Senate now does. They changed them over well 100 years ago. It didn't cause the implosion of the Republic, neither will changing the Senate rules so that the majority actually will be able to rule.
...talk is cheap...just do it.
What changed is that the Senate decided that 41 votes against cloture was enough to prevent consideration of a measure, and that the Senate would simply do other business without actually holding the 'debate'.
Making them do it the old-fashioned way would also let Frist et al. be seen lamenting how the Democrats are preventing the Senate from doing anything because they won't allow an up or down vote on the judicial nomination.
Laws for the sake of making laws... makes no sense
I think we need to judge 'em on how many laws they take OFF the books
If anyone shut down the senate, would we even notice?
I reiterate my wager, made in a previous thread, that no one took me up on. I will offer 10-1 odds, up to $100 (proceeds to be donated to FR by the loser in the name of the winner) that the Pubs don't have the sack for this.
Republicans should stop calling this the "nuclear option" and start calling it the Constitutional Option". Nowhere does it say the President needs a 2/3 majority for appointments of judges.
...and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
DO SO AGREE GO NUCLEAR! Bush erred by NOT removing EVERY crooked Judge that "unusually good Liar" placed on the bench. The stench from the bench is unbearable. The unjust Judges who mandate Death in a mannor that American Courts
would NOT ever allow for a convicted mass murderer is clear
evidence we need Judges who honor th eRule of Law and do not seek to create new "fundamental "rights like that granted an adulterous and wicked Liar who pretends he loves and is married to Terri -while humping and jumpin with another at risk woman these past ten years.
And let that old coot Byrd pee in his pants.
Pretty please with sugar and a W-53 warhead on top.
If they are blocked from filibustering judicial nominees, the Democrats are threatening to filibuster everything else. Deny cloture to every single bill that comes up.
We should be so lucky.
ok now what happens if we go nuclear. Does this mean that it stays nuclear indefinitely or is there a time limit? I mean lets say Dems retake the senate in 2-6 years will we be ramrodded here or what?
The DemonRATs, should they ever retake control, will ramrod us no matter what happens now.
For sure.
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