GOP Completes Mass Filibuster Of Three Top Obama Judges

[flpoljunkie]

Source: Talkingpointsmemo

GOP Completes Mass Filibuster Of Three Top Obama Judges

SAHIL KAPUR – NOVEMBER 18, 2013, 6:15 PM EST

Senate Republicans on Monday sustained a filibuster of a third consecutive nominee to the second most powerful federal court, putting Democrats in a bind between surrendering on a high priority and threatening to reform the filibuster with the "nuclear option."

A procedural vote to advance the nomination of Robert Wilkins to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals received 53 votes (short of the 60 needed) and 38 votes against. It was the GOP's third filibuster in three weeks -- they also blocked Patricia Millett and Nina Pillard to the same court, without taking issue with any of their qualifications.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) saw the filibuster coming and attacked the Republican premise as "absurd on its face," noting that "my Republican colleagues were happy to confirm four [George W.] Bush nominees to this court" last decade. But, notably, he said nothing about a possible rules change, signaling he either doesn't have the votes or isn't ready to go there. Numerous Democrats are clamoring for filibuster reform, but Reid needs 50 votes (his caucus has 55 members) to modify the rules. He's expected to take the temperature for prospective filibuster reform on Tuesday at Democrats' weekly lunch meeting.

"We need to call out these filibusters for what they are: naked attempts to nullify the results of the last Presidential election -- to force us to govern as though President Obama hadn't won the 2012 election," Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said in a floor speech last week. "If Republicans continue to filibuster these highly qualified nominees for no reason other than to nullify the President's Constitutional authority, then senators not only have a right to change the filibuster rules -- senators have a duty to change the filibuster rules. We cannot turn our backs on the Constitution. We cannot abdicate our oath of office."

Republicans haven't flinched, daring Democrats to go nuclear and dismissing their threats as empty rhetoric. Their mass filibuster is supported by House Republicans, GOP attorneys general and conservative groups focused on having a conservative judiciary.

more...

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/gop-filibuster-robert-wilkins-dc-circuit-nuclear-option

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Pull the trigger, Harry!

[global1]

1. I Thought Reid Had An Agreement With McConnell Regarding Judicial Appointments.....

no filibusters. What happened? Time to go nuclear.

[sakabatou]

25. You can never trust them.

[fasttense]

27. It's Harry Reid's own fault.

If he had done something about the filibuster rules instead of letting Mitch McConnell talk him out of it. Then maybe we wouldn't be talking about not getting appointments out of the Senate.

Ever since the RepubliCONS started using the filibuster to obstruct all legislation, Reid has been promising to change the filibuster rules. He hasn't done it yet. I'm beginning to believe he likes it when he can't pass anything.

[SoCalMusicLover]

2. Is That A Pig I See Outside My Window?

And now it's time for our weekly...."Harry Threatens Nuclear Option"

[Major Hogwash]

3. Reid needs to adjourn the Senate this winter sometime after Thanksgiving before the end of the year.

And then President Obama can make some recess appointments.

Or, can the decision to adjourn be filibustered, too??

[FBaggins]

7. He can't.

Neither house can adjourn for more than three days without the other one concurring.

[Paulie]

10. Then do the opposite

Keep them in Washington and voting on the same nominations over and over for at least 37 times....

[okaawhatever]

4. On top of other needed filibuster reform, can't we force everyone to vote before a filibuster is

invoked? In this instance only 91 voted. While i'm sick of the filibuster in general, it seems this would be an easy patch to help some things along. I'm tired of certain senators voting "present" instead of actually voting. Additionally, before we go nuclear on the filibuster let's at least make them earn it, Get off your butts, out of your offices and if it's worth blocking do your job and earn it.

Bottom line is that court is currently 50/50 with dem/repub appointees. The repubs do not want to lose that.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Give the right wing morons no quarter

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[/font]

[bearssoapbox]

19. Until they glow!

[Blue_Tires]

21. +1

[Historic NY]

6. Isn't it time to shut down the Republican Party completely........

let it get nothing.

[Alhena]

8. Presidential politics favors us in coming decades

I accept there's the risk that the nuclear option can be used against us, but there's every reason to believe we'll have more democratic presidents than republican ones in coming decades.

Also, the Republicans likely to actually get elected now are the more moderate ones. We wont have a Ted Cruz to worry about as president, we're more likely to get someone who will nominate a more moderate conservative judge.

So nuke away.

[musiclawyer]

9. 2 things the stupid old school Dem Senators don't understand

1. The fear of being in the minority is nonsense because once we are in the minority the GOP will blow it up. It's not the 20th Century anymore. It's winner take all and the Dems have not been taking it all. Stupid

2. Blowing it up now greatly "increases" the chance of holding the Senate and taking the House because things will get done in the eyes of the shrinking but still important swing ( under informed) voter Look at California. Perfect example that the people who want a functioning and responsible government don't need the GOP. The GOP only gums up the machine

[annabanana]

22. If they get the majority they will "blow it up"

no matter what.... so what the hell

Go for it

[Tx4obama]

11. Kick n/t

[paleotn]

12. the holidays are coming up....

...sounds like some recess appointments are in order. Just make sure Reid officially closes the current session. Then dare the rethugs to do something about it. Let them publicize their incalcitrant obstructionism. Go ahead, knock yourselves out.

[Tx4obama]

13. Statement from President Obama

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2013

Statement by the President

I am deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans have once again refused to do their job and give well-qualified nominees to the federal bench the yes-or-no votes they deserve. The D.C. Circuit, considered the Nation’s second-highest court, has three vacancies. These are judgeships created by Congress. Chief Justice John Roberts and the Judicial Conference of the United States believe that these vacancies should be filled, not removed. And my constitutional duty as President is to nominate highly qualified individuals to fill these vacancies.

Patricia Millett, Nina Pillard, and Judge Robert Wilkins have all received the highest possible rating from the non-partisan American Bar Association. They have broad bipartisan support, and no one has questioned their merit. Yet Senate Republicans have blocked all three from receiving a yes-or-no vote. This obstruction is completely unprecedented. Four of my predecessor’s six nominees to the D.C. Circuit were confirmed. Four of my five nominees to this court have been obstructed. When it comes to judicial nominations, I am fulfilling my constitutional responsibility, but Congress is not. Instead, Senate Republicans are standing in the way of a fully-functioning judiciary that serves the American people.

The American people and our judicial system deserve better. A majority of the United States Senate supports these three extraordinary nominees, and it is time for simple yes-or-no votes without further obstruction or delay.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/11/18/statement-president

[Ash_F]

14. This is important. Republicans know it is important

Pretty much every ridiculously right-wing judgement you commonly read about in the news these days is handed down by a Bush 1, Bush 2 or Reagan judge. The Reagan and Bush 1 judges are rapidly retiring as well as some of Bush 2's.

Republicans know they are loosing their lock on the judicial system and they will do everything in their power to make it to 2016 with as many vacancies as possible. They are laying all their hopes on a Republican president.

Obama may get flak from the Democratic base for placating the right, as did Clinton, but their judicial nominees have been mostly sane and unbiased. This is why 2016 is so important.

[ffr]

15. Time has passed for negotiations and talk. Reid. Obama. Get it done!

Do what is necessary to protect the state of the union. We elected you. We're counting on you.

[lark]

16. Spinless Harry Reid and the spineless Senate Dems make me sick!

I can't believe what they will tolerate from the traitors, just simply astounded!! They won't stand up for anything or anyone because they might lose $1 in campaign contributions and can't have that!

[AAO]

17. The toitle broke his "promise" - time to set him up on top a of a fence post.

[RosettaStoned77]

18. Warren is absolutely correct.

[ffr]

26. Because she had kids and knows how to treat children.

Boom!

[Roland99]

20. "UP OR DOWN VOTE!" "UP OR DOWN VOTE!" "UP OR DOWN VOTE!"

[awoke_in_2003]

23. No one could have seen this coming. nt

[davidpdx]

24. This should have been done 11 months ago

We fucked ourselves by not following through on the promise to adopt the Merkley/Udall plan to reform the filibuster. Seven D senators were spineless twits in not committing to voting for the procedure. Among them were Mark Pryor, Carl Levin, Joe Donnelly, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein (I can't remember the other names without looking through my old posts).

Here is the Slate article from Jan 2013:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/01/03/merkley_udall_release_filibuster_reform_plan_claim_between_48_and_51_votes.html

[novano]

28. i can t trust them

[gopiscrap]

31. welcome to DU

[TBF]

29. Go get 'em Harry - enough is enough. nt

[SHRED]

30. and the Dems will rollover and take it like they always do

Excuse my cynicism but haven't we seen this movie before?

[SHRED]

32. I'm glad I was wrong!