Reid: GOP can avoid rules change if they confirm 7

[The Straight Story]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that Republicans must confirm at least seven presidential appointees they've been blocking if they want to avoid a controversial change in Senate rules as early as this week.

A compromise deal to confirm fewer than those seven will not suffice, Reid said only hours before a planned bipartisan gathering on the deeply divisive issue.

The Nevada Democrat again threatened to change Senate rules to allow simple-majority votes for presidential nominees other than judges. Despite virulent protests by Republicans, Reid called the move "a minor change, no big deal."

Republicans have often delayed or blocked presidential nominees by using their filibuster powers, which allow 41 senators to block actions in the 100-member chamber. Many senators cherish rules and traditions that give minority members far more power than anything enjoyed by minority-party members of the House.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/democratic-leader-heads-senate-rule-showdown

[Punkingal]

1. For Pete's sake....

Why doesn't he just do it? I will believe it when I see it happen. I don't have much faith in Harry.

[Dawgs]

2. Or, they can avoid rules change if they don't confirm 7. Reid has made many promises. n/t

[octoberlib]

3. Or the Republicans can confirm 7 to avoid rules changes

, then just go back to filibustering everything as usual. This makes Reid look so weak.