Failure of filibuster reform puts Hagel confirmation at risk. Progressives say: "We told you so."

[Cali_Democrat]

Zachary Roth
2:40 PM on 02/14/2013

Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s choice for Defense Secretary, is at risk of not being confirmed, thanks to a potential Republican filibuster—just weeks after Senate Democrats backed down in their bid to make such filibusters far harder. That’s got progressive activists who pushed for reform telling Harry Reid and co.: ‘We told you so.”

Last month, a group of Democratic senators, backed by a coalition of leading progressive groups, tried to significantly scale back the use of the filibuster, which in recent years the GOP has abused to grind the Senate to a virtual halt. But Reid, who had once embraced the reforms, appeared to lose his nerve, instead forging a deal with Republicans on a much weaker set of changes.

Advocates of reform warned at the time that the pact didn’t go nearly far enough. And now they tell MSNBC.com that the showdown over Hagel proves they were right—and underlines why real reform is still needed.

“This is a perfect illustration of why we needed true filibuster reform,” Diana Kasdan, a lawyer at the Brennan Center, which backed the reform effort, told MSNBC.com. “This is exactly what we feared.”

http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/02/14/failure-of-filibuster-reform-puts-hagel-confirmation-at-risk/

[xxqqqzme]

1. “This is exactly what we feared.”

Less than 3 weeks later. How's that 'handshake deal' workin' out Harry?

[rhett o rick]

4. And how were we treated when we spoke out doubting Harry's abilities to deliver what

he promised. He claimed that last session McConnell "fooled" him. Well I guess Harry can be "fooled" twice.

I dont think Harry is a fool. I think this was all intentional and the Centrists among us love it.

[xxqqqzme]

11. I agree. One reason I wasn't surprised

when Feinstein went along w/ his 'deal'. I was when I saw Boxer's name though.

[angry citizen]

2. Thank Harry

You can thank Harry the enabler for that

[Bake]

3. But ... but ... Harry says there will be "serious consequences!"

Yeah, right.

Bake

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Stern talking to? Disapproving look? Exasperated sigh? Lengthy pout?

[Bake]

7. Perhaps - GASP - ALL OF THE ABOVE!

That oughta show 'em.



Bake

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Lol

[FirstLight]

5. AYFKM!?

These bastards are supposed to be WORKING for US...

I wish there was a way beyond elections and voting where the people could take these bastards by their shorts and hang them out to dry until they decide to DO their Fucking JOB!

Congress is proving itself to be inept once again...

[annabanana]

8. Really hate to say it, but,

[yurbud]

9. it is far more important that Senate Dems have an excuse not to enact progressive legislation

than that any one nominee actually gets confirmed.

They have to keep prop up the rotting corpse of the GOP to use it as shield.

[Aerows]

10. NOBODY

could have seen that coming