Senate Democrats Poised to Block Filibusters of Presidential Picks

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NY Times

By JEREMY W. PETERS

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are on the verge of moving to eliminate the use of the filibuster against most presidential nominees, aides and senior party leaders said Wednesday, a move that would deprive Republicans of their ability to block President Obama’s picks for cabinet posts and the federal judiciary and further erode what little bipartisanship still exists in the Senate.

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, is poised to move forward on Thursday with a vote on what is known on Capitol Hill as the “nuclear option,” several Democrats said. Mr. Reid and the senators who have been the most vocal on stopping the Republican blockade of White House nominees are now confident they have the votes to make the change.

“We’re not bluffing,” said one senior aide who has spoken with Mr. Reid directly and expects a vote on Thursday, barring any unforeseen breakthrough on blocked judges.

The threat that Democrats could significantly limit how the filibuster can be used against nominees has rattled Republicans. Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican who has brokered last-minute deals that have averted a change to filibuster rules in the past, visited Mr. Reid in his office on Thursday but failed to strike a compromise.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/21/us/politics/senate-democrats-poised-to-block-filibusters-of-presidential-picks.html?partner=EXCITE&ei=5043&_r=0

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Win Mcnamee/Getty Images

Senator Harry Reid, in Washington on Tuesday, could schedule a vote before Friday, an aide has said.

[chillfactor]

1. Reid would not call for a vote unless he had the votes lined up....

and Biden could provide the tie-breaking vote if needed...

Hang in there Harry...do not back down!

[Lasher]

2. I'll believe it when I see it.

We've been through this before.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. Harry's caved too many times for me to get excited about this.

If he wants to do it, do it. What the fuck is he waiting for? If he's expecting the GOP to all of a sudden play nice, it ain't gonna happen. Like you said, I'll believe it when I see it. The Republicans don't believe him, I guarantee. All he does is bluff.

[dotymed]

7. This indicates it is another bluff...

"“We’re not bluffing,” said one senior aide who has spoken with Mr. Reid directly and expects a vote on Thursday, barring any unforeseen breakthrough on blocked judges."
If we could trust all Obama appointees (the judges seem fine) then this should've been done long ago.

When I look at the advisor's President Obama has had (especially his economic advisor's) I do worry that more corporatists may be on the horizon.
Yes, we have heard this same rhetoric many times.

[Cal33]

3. Dems. should do away with this type of filibuster practiced by the Repubs, even if these

latter should withdraw their filibuster of the judge nominees. They'll only do it again
at the next opportunity.

The possibility that the Repubs. might win the senate in 2014 should be of
no consideration. The present type of filibuster ruling is not only wrong, it
is also viciously stupid and must be done away with, regardless of who
should win the senate next year.

[Kablooie]

5. Sorry. I don't believe it will happen.

Either he will be a vote or two short or the Repubs will give some small inconsequential concession and the vote will be cancelled.

I hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.

[ReRe]

6. I was just wondering about this a few minutes ago...

... on another thread. Like a previous poster above said... I'll believe it when I see it.

[corkhead]

8. maybe it will be different this time

[Android3.14]

9. Uh-huh. Sure.

The faux filibuster is a device used to keep any political party from bringing actual change to the government. There was a time when a newly elected administration could actually move on promises.
Now our democracy is just an empty sled sliding across the ice.
Give 'em hell, Harry, or whatever.

[Scuba]

10. Uh huh.

[Jim Lane]

11. Reid does seem more serious this time.

Yes, believe it when I see it is an understandable reaction -- but I find myself unable to shake my optimism that it will happen.

Of course, I was optimistic in 1986, too, right up until the moment that ball went between Buckner's legs....

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

12. You've been bluffing for years!

Do it already!

[groundloop]

13. Only about 4 years too late, and very limited in scope.......

If it happens it's progress, but if Reid would have at least done away with the faux filibuster in 2009 we'd have avoided many of our problems we're facing now. I'm glad they're working to get some of the empty judge positions filled, but from what I read that's all that this move will apply to. Hell, at least make the GOPers get up and really filibuster if they feel so strongly about something.

[moondust]

14. Might as well do it

and go to work on filling court vacancies. Because that's what the "shut-it-all-down" Teapublicans will do if they ever get the chance.

[moxybug]

15. The problem

is that most of the judges being filibustered are probably to the right of st ronald of reagan. More corporately controlled stooges to continue the fascist agenda. Ultimately getting them confirmed will do more harm than good.

Until all us proles stand up and shake off the parasites that control our lives, this is nothing but political theater.

[eggplant]

16. Wait, what? n/t