Posted on 01/21/2018 4:35:18 PM PST by Jim Robinson
Senate Democrats took the dramatic step Thursday of eliminating filibusters for most nominations by presidents, a power play they said was necessary to fix a broken system but one that Republicans said will only rupture it further.
Democrats used a rare parliamentary move to change the rules so that federal judicial nominees and executive-office appointments can advance to confirmation votes by a simple majority of senators, rather than the 60-vote supermajority that has been the standard for nearly four decades.
The immediate rationale for the move was to allow the confirmation of three picks by President Obama to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — the most recent examples of what Democrats have long considered unreasonably partisan obstruction by Republicans.
In the long term, the rule change represents a substantial power shift in a chamber that for more than two centuries has prided itself on affording more rights to the minority party than any other legislative body in the world. Now, a president whose party holds the majority in the Senate is virtually assured of having his nominees approved, with far less opportunity for political obstruction.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
What’s good for the goose...
The 60 vote super majority gives the Senate too much power. It is time to end the practice.
There are enough checks and balances in the Constitution without this self-imposed rule by the Senate.
Seppuku by committee.
“...What’s good for the goose...”
Absolutely. IF the roles were reversed, the RATs would do it in a NY second.
McConnell won’t do it. He’s too frightened and it would assist President Trump.
All that is lacking in the GOP is intestinal fortitude.
McConnell = idiot.
Sad to say, Dingy Harry was gutsier that McYertle.
In our current climate, you can believe the dims would go nuclear were they in the majority.
Do you think that McConnell could have suspended the filibuster rule, last week? If so, why didn’t he do that? If he’s a bad leader, the republican senators should choose a different leader, next Jan.
Which three?
never mind...
Robert Wilkins , Patricia Millett and Nina Pillard
Wilkins a buddy of Jesse Jackson and also a guy who led a sit in at Harvard that Obamas was impressed with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.