Posted on 01/22/2013 2:41:23 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Reid to Senate Republicans: Filibuster deal in 36 hours or face nuclear option By Alexander Bolton - 01/22/13 03:29 PM ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is giving Republican colleagues 36 hours to agree to a deal on filibuster reform or he will move forward with the nuclear option.
“I hope in the next 24, 36 hours we can get something we agree on. If not, we’re going to move forward on what I think needs to be done,” Reid told reporters.
Reid’s trump card in negotiations with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is the threat he will change Senate rules with a simple majority vote, a tactic known as the nuclear option. This maneuver would allow Reid to change the Senate rules with a simple majority vote, something that has never been done, according to parliamentary experts.
Critics call it the nuclear option but proponents, such as Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) say it is more accurate to describe it as the “Constitutional option” because the Constitution empowers each chamber to set its own rules.
Reid predicted the Democratic caucus would support him in reforming the Senate’s filibuster rule unilaterally.
If he did so, he would likely implement a relatively modest change, such as eliminating the filibuster on motions to proceed to new business.
Reid said talks with McConnell are not close to a resolution.
“We’re making progress. Not done yet, we got a long way to go,” he told reporters while walking into the Senate chamber.
A senator briefed on the talks said it appears McConnell will have trouble rounding up enough Republican votes to support any deal he forges with Reid. Changing the rules under regular order requires 67 votes. Reforming Senate procedures through a standing order would need 60 votes.
A Democratic aide said McConnell could have difficulty mustering 12 Republicans to vote to change the standing rules under regular order.
It would be great to have Tim Scott do a “Mr Smith goes to washington” fight for minority rights against this.
I abhor identity politics but that theater would bring me a guilty pleasure. And maximize the damage to the Dems... and explode some media heads LOL!
He needs to make this statement publicly.
Fine. Let Dingy Harry be the one to blow it up! He can’t be bothered to pass a budget in four years, but he’s fine with mucking with the economy in this manner? I hope the Republicans proclaim that loudly to whoever will listen.
As someone said in a prior post, "If only we had a House majority...Oh wait, we do!"
Well no matter, because the House Repubs now consider themselves to be the minority party according to no less that Paul Ryan, and the House Repukes will not submit anything to the Senate that is not prior approved by demoRAT Dingy Harry Reid.
If ball-less Boner even considered holding up funding for the Senate or to not consider any Senate bills passed under the nuclear option, I would give Boner 24 hours max, before he would surrrender lock, stock & barrel to the RAT bastard socialist demoRATs & Dingy Harry Reid.
Man, that is one hungry mama
The Gang of 14 signed an agreement, pertaining to the 109th Congress only, whereby the seven Senate Democrats would no longer vote along with their party on filibustering judicial nominees (except in “extraordinary circumstances,” as defined by each individual senator), and in turn the seven Senate Republicans would break with Bill Frist and the Republican leadership on voting for the “nuclear option.” As the Republicans held a five-vote Senate majority (55-45) in the 109th Congress, the agreement of these Senators in practical terms prevented the Republicans from winning a simple majority to uphold a change in the interpretation of Senate rules, and prevented the Democrats from mustering the 41 votes necessary to sustain a filibuster. While thwarting the goals of their respective party leaderships,[2] the group members were hailed as moderates who put aside severe partisanship to do what was best for the Senate. At the same time, some of the Republican members of the Gang of 14 faced political firestorms from the conservative base due to their participation in this agreement.
(unreliable wikipedia)
If I am not mistaken, some "extraordinary circumstances" occurred in fairly short order and the Democrat Senators mounted several filibusters during the remainder of the 109th Congress. None impacted judicial appointments, however.
Boehner promised the new House that he would no longer negotiate directly with Obama, and that he would revert back to regular order in the Congress. What would be the first sign that Boehner is folding on that statement, too?
Boehner is laying a marker on Reid's threat to use the nuclear option, which we all know is a dagger in the backs of Republicans who pulled back after making similar threats over judicial filibusters by Democrats.
Are you now willing to bet your FR reputation that Boehner will hold firm on this? Are you that sure of his track record?
-PJ
???
What are you on?
It's not you, it's the idea of still sticking up for Boehner. I'm through with defending Republicans words when there is no recent track record of following through with those words. I'm now in countdown mode for how long it takes Boehner to back away from his words once they calm the passions of the hour (I'm even backing away from days now, the surrender is so quick).
To answer your specific question, 2oz Skyy Vodka and 1/2oz Martini vermouth, times about 3 by now.
-PJ
lol, I kinda figured that.
No, I’m not sticking up for Boehner. Another poster suggested that Boehner should state that anything that comes from the senate as a result of new filibuster rules would be DOA. I posted the link where Boehner did indeed make such a promise back in November. I hope he sticks to it. We’ll see.
I thought this was all sounding too familiar. I had to check post dates and such just to make sure I wasn’t out of my tree. That has happened a lot lately in the political realm - same threats are coming more frequently and Obama can’t help but continue to poke the bear on a myriad of his pet issues.
I guess we can thank the 17th Amendment for that.
“Unfortunately, America’s got a very short attention span and memory.”
Yes. Plus the 51% who voted for Obama could care less about the rules of the Senate.
The “Free Stuff!” crowd only cares about their free stuff. (I’m still in a mild state of disbelief over Nov 6th. It’s slowly sinking-in. At least I’m down from ‘the ledge’, now.)
I still remember the wall to wall media outrage when the Republicans considered this. What a difference in reporting.
I so want to go thru the screen and slap that ugly wig off her smug mug...
The little tyrant speaks!
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