Democrats watch in awe as McConnell filibusters himself

[Playinghardball]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced legislation to raise the debt ceiling on Thursday, apparently with the intent of showing that even Democrats would not support such a bill.

However, McConnell’s plan backfired after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) called for a vote on the legislation, which would have given the president the authority to raise the federal debt ceiling on his own. The top Senate Republican was forced to filibuster his own bill.

“What we have here is a case of Republicans here in the Senate once again not taking ‘yes’ for an answer,” Reid said, after McConnell announced his filibuster. “This morning the Republican leader asked consent to have a vote on this proposal, just now I told everyone we were willing to have that vote — up or down vote. Now the Republican leader objects to his own idea. So I guess we have a filibuster of his own bill, so I object.”

Apparently aware the incident would bring media attention, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) expressed astonishment at McConnell’s legislative antics.

Raw Story (http://s.tt/1w8Ry)

[Blue Owl]

1. Two wrongs make a rightwing freakshow

n/t

[surrealAmerican]

2. That sounds naughty ...

... and, indeed, it is naughty.

If he's so willing to play games with the senate, does that mean he doesn't think we have problems to solve?

[liberal N proud]

3. You have to love it when the Democrats outsmart the evil ones.

[madinmaryland]

4. Doesn't doing that cause blindness and grows hair on your palms??