General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFor the record, I STILL do not support the "Nuclear Option".
I know it can, and probably will, BITE DEMOCRATS ON THE A** in the not-too-distant future.
However, I prefer that the filibusters be used sparingly.
What I would support is if the g*ddamn "liberally-biased media" would show all the Repugs during Bush43's term demanding that the "Nuclear Option" was allowed to be put into play, instead of focusing on the "hypocritical liberal Democrats" who now did this.
Also, I would support the "l.b.m." pointing out how many times the filibuster has been put into play since 1/20/2009 vs 1/20/2001-1/19/2009.
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)to offset Bush II's appointments.
Strike while the iron is hot!
Tarheel_Dem
(31,235 posts)wish there had been another way to do it, but Sen. Mitch McChinless wasn't a man of his word.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)I was against the "Nuclear Option" back when it was first put on the table, under Bush43.
I knew it would be used against whomever was in power at the time.
That being said, it would be nice if Obama would act (on occasion) like the dictator that the Repugs/'baggers claim he is.
a kennedy
(29,673 posts)ugh.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,235 posts)StarrGazerr
(60 posts)I love it when the Republicans try to claim that Harry Reid is "violating the Constitution" by restoring the Senate to the rules that the Constitution provides. I honestly don't think most Right Wingers even know that there is nothing in the Constitution about filibusters. The Constitution provides that each House of Congress shall decide matters by a majority vote, except for those specific enumerated issues where a higher majority is required, such as the approval of Constitutional Amendments, which requires a two thirds vote. The filibuster rule may well be unconstitutional itself (and having studied the Constitution for the last 40 years, I believe that is the case), and removing it does not "violate" the Constitution; rather, it restores it.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)and many of the 7 repugs who showed some intelligence (if not all, I don't have the #s in front of me) to block the "nuclear option" were removed by voters.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)backscatter712
(26,355 posts)If the GOP got control of the Senate, they would have certainly nuked the filibuster. We got there first, and because of that, we get to push close to a hundred judges into the federal courts, and a bunch of new executive branch appointees.
Totally worth it.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)They would have changed the rule 10 seconds after taking a majority in the Senate.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)do the "nuclear option" under Bush43?
I didn't forget.
I was against it then.
And I don't believe for one moment that the "liberally-biased media" will let the Republican party die the slow, painful death it deserves for its obstructionism. When it comes to Republicans, the "l.b.m." sure likes to be Dr. Frankenstein in reanimating the Republican corpses.
Watch ... that coke snorting Florida Republican will likely be touted as a candidate for the 2020 Presidential election, with the "liberally-biased media's" blessing, because "he sought treatment". I remember that one of the first things I saw on the "liberally-biased media" web pages, and one of the first things I HEARD from the "liberally-biased media's" news stories concerning the passing of Ted Kennedy was ... CHAPPAQUIDDICK.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)Now Dem leadership is cleaning up and burying the bloated GOP carcass.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)We get to install some judges. We have stood around scratching our asses long enough.
They would have done the same thing, had they had the opportunity.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)Because we need to hold Dem majority in 2014. 2016 senate race is more favorable to Dems.
spanone
(135,844 posts)if you're relying on the media, good luck.
zbdent
(35,392 posts)I'll take back all my sarcastic and irony-laden references to the liberal bias in the media.
BTW - that was sarcasm.
I'm not relying on the media to do anything really helpful to Dems.
FarPoint
(12,409 posts)The GOP obstructionist gave us MRSA. The filibuster was needed to cure our asses.
Blue Idaho
(5,049 posts)Its a representative Democracy. If Republicans take the White House and the Senate they have the constitutional right to follow through on the commitments they made during the election - and so do the Democrats when they hold a majority. Then let the people judge if those policies and those appointees are making America better or worse. If worse - vote them out of office, change the appointees, and the policies. Simple.
Whenever a small group of well intentioned powerful people believe they know better than the general citizenry - and act to thwart the will of the people - then tyranny replaces democracy.
Skittles
(153,169 posts)F*** THEM
otohara
(24,135 posts)but it is and I'm all for this vote today.
We'll just have to work harder to keep Dems in the Senate - which I don't think will be too hard
to do considering the GOP is bat-shit crazy hateful