Reid goes NUCLEAR!!!

[George II]

Last edited Thu Nov 21, 2013, 01:49 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: NY Times, C-Span

Landmark Senate Vote Limits Filibusters

By JEREMY W. PETERS

Published: November 21, 2013

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted on Thursday to eliminate the use of the filibuster against most presidential nominees, a move that will break the Republican blockade of President Obama’s picks to cabinet posts and the federal judiciary. The change is the most fundamental shift in the way the Senate functions in more than a generation.

The vote was one that members of both parties had threatened for the better part of a decade, but had always stopped short of carrying out. This time, with little left of the bipartisan spirit that helped seal compromises on filibuster rule changes in the past, there was no last-minute deal to be struck.

The vote was 52 to 48.

Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, set the change in motion on Thursday with a series of procedural steps.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/politics/reid-sets-in-motion-steps-to-limit-use-of-filibuster.html?hp&_r=0

---

Happening now on the floor of the Senate, Reid is proposing to change the Senate rules to approve Executive Branch nominations by a simple majority!

More to come, I'm sure...

[Iliyah]

1. Hell yea!

[ancianita]

2. Holy shit. He's really going to do it.

[mimi85]

3. Go Harry! nt

[rurallib]

4. YAAAAAAAAAY!

[ancianita]

5. McConnell is trying to scare the newb Democrats from voting for this, as if 400 clotures is nothing.

TRY NOT BREAKING YOUR SENATE TRADITION AGREEMENTS WITH THE LEADER, ASSHOLE!

[mountain grammy]

6. Shut the fuckers down, Harry! It's about time..

[dotymed]

7. Thank goodness.

Finally.

[durablend]

8. And on the 6 O'clock news....

"DEMOCRATS TAKING OVER THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY!!!! DESPERATE POWER GRAB!!!!! IMPEACH!!!!!!"

[heaven05]

9. bout time to see some fight

will this really help?

[wryter2000]

10. Please, let it be so

Give 'em hell, Harry!

[dlwickham]

11. about freaking time

[baldguy]

113. Amen!

[AtheistCrusader]

12. I honestly can't think of why this wasn't done a long time ago

but I guess he has his reasons. I just don't understand them.

[chillfactor]

32. Reid needed 51 votes...

he did not have them until now...too many bull-headed Democrats!

[AtheistCrusader]

35. Thanks, I did not know that. Who was the last conversion?

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

42. Feinstein, Boxer and Harkin...

...eom.

[PatrynXX]

75. we really didn't want to do it.

But ol Mitch kinda forced the issue. similar to the illegal Abortion bans around the country. Republicans like to provoke people and this happens. But we have no choice. Nothings getting done because of the Obstructionists. Which did NOT originate with Harry Reid who created this quasi rule during Bush. He did not abuse it. Republicans have done it at all times of the day.

[longship]

34. I think it's because they didn't have the votes.

Voting away the filibuster cuts both ways and there were enough Dems who would not do it that bringing to the floor would have failed. Preserving the existing filibuster rules would help the Democrats if there's a GOP president and GOP majority in the senate.

I know it doesn't make sense with the GOP's abuse of the filibuster, but there ya go.

[upaloopa]

49. That is such bull pucky

What assurances do we have the repubs would keep the filibuster if we did what they did?

[longship]

68. Nevertheless, that's why they have not pulled the trigger until now. nt

[rhett o rick]

103. How do you know that's the reason? I dont believe it's the reason. nm

[longship]

104. Because I can count. Harry Reid can, too.

There are a few -- all that were needed -- who did not want to reform filibuster. Feinstein, Boxer, and enough that they did not have a majority, until now. It took Reid pulling the caucus together by not going total nuclear that brought along Feinstein and the few others who were hold outs.

Still, they did not get Levin and two others.

If you don't have the votes you don't pull the trigger. It's simple as that.

You don't think that's the reason? Fine. I would be interested in reading what you think the reason was.

[rhett o rick]

102. Hoping that if the DEmocrats dont change the rules then maybe, just maybe the

fair minded Republicans would return the favor when they get in power is shear lunacy.

[YOHABLO]

120. We're not going to let that happen now are we?

"Preserving the existing filibuster rules would help the Democrats if there's a GOP president and GOP majority in the senate." We've got to do something to stop their obstruction.

[longship]

122. I agree totally and I support what Reid did.

But I was just responding with an explanation of why it took so long. If Reid doesn't have the votes, he cannot pull the trigger. That did not happen until this week. Apparently.

[Hosnon]

109. Senators have a deep respect for the Senate as an institution.

I'm sure Reid wanted to have no other option - wanted it to be clear in the history books that they didn't change the rules for politics, but to protect the Senate.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. Someone put some pepper in his soup.

Finally.

[beerandjesus]

14. Amazing how freely and easily McConnell lies.....

[ancianita]

17. RIGHT??

[beerandjesus]

20. I posted that about a minute and a half after tuning in....

...and I'd heard about three brazen lies already.

Nice to see Pat Leahy presiding!

[Orrex]

28. His meme throughout this has been that Dems are "breaking the rules to change the rules"

Asshat.

[George II]

57. Yeah, McConnell made it into an Affordable Care Act debate...what a clown!

[PFunk]

15. Umm, forgive my language but....

ABOUT FUCKING TIME!!!!

(should have done it months ago but better late than never)

[Scuba]

19. Not months, years.

[ancianita]

16. McConnell is arguing that Dems are living "for the moment" and are "utterly absurd."

He's blathering about 'advise and consent' as if there's some 'objective standard,' as if the Republicans have been 'very, very fair to this president,' 'take a time out, stop trying to jam us...how many times have we been threatened, my colleagues...we're not interested in having a gun put to our head any longer..."

FUCK YOU AND YOUR AGREEMENT BREAKING, ASSHOLE!

[Greybnk48]

18. FINALLY!!!!!

[redwitch]

21. YES!

[northoftheborder]

22. Claphands for Reid....he must have enough votes to change the rules....

....don't think he would have tried this.


Hope it works...

[november3rd]

23. The Minority Leader

McConnell had the weasels to stand there and complain that Republicans had "acted nothing but reasonably" and had approved 99% of the President's nominees!

I blame the media.

[barbtries]

43. me too.

i can't even listen to NPR anymore when they're talking politics.

[ancianita]

78. Right?? They're so lockstep with corporatist political talking points and betrayed their listeners.

[barbtries]

86. really, they've betrayed

the nation. i don't even get why really. i mean how do they sleep and all that. is greed that commonplace really?

[ancianita]

87. Their jobs are probably on the line. Bottom line for why most people sell out.

[barbtries]

88. i'm sure you're right.

in this lucky-to-have-a-job culture, people will do a lot and put up with a lot just to stay employed. i can't claim the high ground in that respect.

[ancianita]

92. Me, neither. This country needs radio that respects journalists' principled stands without

retaliation. I wish they'd bring back The Fairness Doctrine, at least, if big money's going to control media.

[Blue Owl]

24. Hey GOP obstructionists

GO. FUCK. YOURSELVES.

[SpankMe]

25. Repubs would have done the same, only sooner...

...if the Dems were being as obstructionist as the Repubs are now.

[GoneFishin]

46. Yep. And the media would have blathered on and on about the Democrat obstructionists. n/t

[nxylas]

50. Or even if they weren't

It seems as if the main thing stopping it from happening sooner is the fear by Democrats that it could be used against them if Republicans regained control of the Senate. As if the Republicans wouldn't just change the rule themselves if they thought it would be to their advantage.

[sufrommich]

26. Great news! nt

[packman]

27. And if it doesn't work today

bring it up the next 40 some days like the Repukes did in the House with trying to destroy Obamacare. I love hardball politics sometime.

[MynameisBlarney]

29. Pardon me for being cynical

But I seem to recall hearing this from Reid quite a few times and nothing happened.

[George II]

59. Well, this time it happened, finally!

[LuvNewcastle]

30. Please please please please DO IT!

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. Finally....

now we can get something done...

[Gothmog]

33. This good news

[beerandjesus]

36. The right-wingers are trying to adjourn till 5......

....they must need the time to go call their corporate owners and ask them what to do!

[maddogesq]

40. Stall attempt failed, 46 to 54.

They are now onto putting for the Millet nom.

Pass the popcorn...munch, munch.

http://www.c-span.org/Events/Senate-Debate-on-Judicial-Nominations-and-Filibuster-Rules-Changes/10737442773-1/

[Botany]

37. How many things have Mitch and the Republicans bottled up just to be a pain in the ass?

[ffr]

38. FLOOD GATES OF PROGRESS TO COME.

Open them up!

[AAO]

39. I'll believe it when it happens. I've been burned before by Sen. Reid.

But I'm crossing fingers and toes!

[Blus4u]

41. It is long overdue

Many threads on DU relate the disdain for Dems cowering to the bullying and not fighting back....

what is the old saying "THE BEST DEFENSE IS A STRONG OFFENSE"......it looks like maybe our case of dyslexia might be over!!

Peace

[brooklynite]

44. Republicans block the Millett nomination again...42 against cloture

This should be the last straw before the rules vote happens

tick, tick, tick

[Plucketeer]

45. What a FANTASTIC development!

9:05 AM and the Millett vote is 57 to 43 to Advance! Yee-Haw!

Kiss THAT Mr. Turtle!

[Sugarcoated]

47. I support this 100%!!!

It's a big step towards stopping Republican's from continuing to hurt the country and everyone in it!

[Half-Century Man]

48. DOO ITTTT

do it ,do it, do it, do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[valerief]

51. But...but...appointees take money out of corporations' mouths. nt

[GoCubsGo]

52. Ta da!!!!

Glad you finally woke up, Harry!

[BumRushDaShow]

53. NYT Link

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/politics/reid-sets-in-motion-steps-to-limit-use-of-filibuster.html?hp



FINALLY!!

[George II]

55. Thanks - I'll edit my original post. I wanted to get that out there right away! Great news!!

[chillfactor]

54. Done! vote 52-48

to change fillibuster rules for certain nominees

[Ganja Ninja]

56. Done! Halleluiah!

Thank You Senator Reid.

[rug]

58. Finally!

[lillypaddle]

60. YIPPEEEEE!

Just sent Senator Reid a note of thanks. Please do the same!

[George II]

61. SENATE SUSTAINS THE RULING OF THE CHAIR! It's DONE!

[TroglodyteScholar]

62. Eh, I'd say "tactical"nuclear

Only applies to non-SC noms.

[Hubert Flottz]

63. Harry you did the right thing...

I'm proud of you!

[rdharma]

64. Those who underestimate soft spoken Harry Reid.........

...... are in for a BIG surprise!

[elleng]

65. HE DID IT!

Time for a

[nolabear]

66. How nice to see some real aggression.

[TheDonkey]

67. YES!! Finally we can get some progress!!

Proud of Reid and the Democrats that finally stood up to the GOP's terrorism by abusing the filibuster out of a strategy to deny Obama any political victory. This is a huge blow to that horrible strategy. Now lets get these vacancies filled ASAP!

[grandpamike1]

69. At last

I love the fact that right wing, obstructionist Repubs heads will be exploding. Since Obama has become President, all they have done is stop everything by filibustering at every chance they have. Will this come back to bite the Dems in the future, maybe, but they were never going to do anything that would help this country anyhow, so, let's get all of the cabinet and judgeships filled immediately.

[RoccoR5955]

70. He finally grew a pair! n/t

[SHRED]

71. Can we now get a DC Circuit court that's less corporate?

Please.

[George II]

72. Millett is on the verge of her nomination being advanced, vote is 55-43

[sheshe2]

73. Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes!

Thank you Harry Reed and Senate Dems~

[The Second Stone]

74. I've waited a lifetime for a crack in the filibuster rules

and this is a wonderful start. Now if we can get it applied to all legislation.

[go west young man]

76. Finally some gutsiness.

It's about time.

[reflection]

77. About damned time.

I realize the shoe will be on the other foot some day, but damn, I'm still pissed at the Republicans for dragging the chamber down to a lower level. The filibuster had worth and a purpose, but these guys wielded it so incessantly and arbitrarily that the whole process became a joke. Reid had no choice, unless he wanted to squander Obama's second term. I support him on this wholeheartedly, but wish it hadn't come to this.

[Uncle Joe]

79. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, George II.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

80. Poor McTurtle

You abuse a process too long and it turns against you.

[Sunlei]

81. Half the nominees filibustered in the history of the United States were blocked by Republicans......

Half the nominees filibustered in the history of the United States were blocked by Republicans during the Obama administration; of 23 district court nominees filibustered in U.S. history, 20 were Obama's nominees; and even judges that have broad bipartisan support have had to wait nearly 100 days longer, on average, than President George W. Bush's nominees.

republicans owe 'the people' & President Obama a couple more years in office to make-up for all their obstruction.

[mc51tc]

82. k & r

Finally! about time! Work to be done!

[ancianita]

83. Now, 50% + 1 = Majority. Welcome to real world math, Senate!

[Kingofalldems]

84. For you freepers out there, Harry Reid went nucular.

[klook]

94. Mutations to ensue!

[Brigid]

85. "Fair to this President?"

Really, Turtle Man?

Anyway, Hooray!!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

90. YAY!!

and fuck you, Mitch McConnel, you insult to innocent turtles and tortoises everywhere.

[marble falls]

91. Too bad, so sad, but it was about freaking time. This is the Presidents time to leave even greater..

legacy. Now we owe it to him to at least give him the House. 2014 is more important than 2016.

[Major Hogwash]

93. 45 executive nominees were filibustered, besides all of those judge nominees!!!!

The executive nominees are the ones that head the departments that run the federal government.
So, in effect, the Rethuglicans in the Senate were shutting down the government by filibustering the people who were nominated to run those departments of the federal government.

The Rethuglicans in the Senate acted like WE Democrats were in the minority of the Senate.

They were wrong!!!

[grahamhgreen]

95. Another victory for Progressives & the party:)

[Fiendish Thingy]

96. Not fully nuclear

As it applies only to nominees- legislation can apparently still be filibustered

[Spitfire of ATJ]

97. And of COURSE there were hand-wringing Dems in this.

[LibGranny]

98. About damn TIME!

[Cha]

99. They fucking Begged for it! Boom.

thanks George II

[Solly Mack]

100. K&R

[mother earth]

101. Give 'em hell, Harry! And don't stop, the nation has been held hostage long enough.

K & R

[BigDemVoter]

105. I'm so pleased as this has been abused pretty much by Repigs ONLY

The only thing I'm nervous about is that those assholes may use it to their advantage the next time they get another loser like GWB in office.

Nonetheless, it's about damned time!!!

[Raffi Ella]

106. well God Damn.

Way to go Harry.

[wordpix]

107. atta boy, Harry, I knew you could do it

Better late than never. Of course, this does not prevent filibusters of legislation or SCOTUS nominees, but it's a start.

[beachbum bob]

108. guts coming late to the party

but with more wars to be fought in coming months with budget and debt limit raising...keep pressure on the GOP hacks.

standing tall against them is the ONLY way

[Surya Gayatri]

110. Hell hath no fury like the mild-mannered man from Searchlight, Nevada,

who, upon reaching his breaking point, nips into the Senate cloakroom, rips off his milquetoast disguise and re-emerges as SUPER LEADER, ready to battle to the death with the Evil Republican Empire.

[Incitatus]

111. Congrats, Reid.

On your balls dropping.

[blkmusclmachine]

112. About F/cking Time!!!

Slowpoke

[JEFF9K]

114. No need to worry about the nuclear fallout.

[neverforget]

115. Imagine my surprise that after waking up from working a graveyard shift, Reid actually

did what he threatened to do! No sternly worded letter but a nuke! About damn time!

[defacto7]

116. It's a good start.... and about time.

Keep it rolling...

[BootinUp]

117. Light em up! Harry!

[HurricaneWarning]

118. You go, Harry

I've never been so proud. With these Republicans nuclear was the only way to get something done!

[Android3.14]

119. Well I'll be dipped in santorum

I believe it.

[ucrdem]

121. Great news. Federal judiciary = 875 judgeships nationwide

including Supreme Court. Lifetime appoints too. Very good move.

http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/judicial.cfm

[nirvana555]

123. Its about f'in time!!! N/T

[awoke_in_2003]

124. this will bite us in the ass...

Should have made filibusters actual talking filibusters. Cruz did one for 30 something hours, and came out looking like a putz

[Arugula Latte]

125. Here you go, Republicans:

[tofuandbeer]

126. Let the good times roll...

[Lasher]

127. I didn't think he'd do it. I'm very happy to say I was wrong.

It's about time. Now let's see if Obama comes up with liberal nominees.

[SnakeEyes]

128. Love it but this concerns me

We are going to have to change it back if the Republicans manage to gain control of the Senate. Then we will have to hope they don't go nuclear too.

[fasttense]

129. That is such BS

Democrats have NEVER used the filibuster as viciously and extensively as RepubliCONS. Dems threatened to filibuster but then compromise. So, no they need not change it back. The RepubliCONS have gotten just about every single nominee they have ever really wanted. Look at Thomas, Scalia, Robert, Alito and Bolton, to name just a few.

[SnakeEyes]

133. Nobody said the Democrats did

Whether the Republicans nearly always get what they want or not, we all know they want MUCH more and would do so without a filibuster in place. Democrats will have to restore the old filibuster rules if the Republicans regain the House and hope they dont go nuclear.

[Festivito]

130. I feel that concern as well. The cheerleading squad seems to have every troll I've ever suspected.

Our democracy was never supposed to be bought out by a complete-sellout party. Now we're stuck there.

The filibuster was supposed to be for an individual that might have some knowledge about a candidate that should not be shared publicly, but needed to be discussed privately if at all. One person filibustering let it be known that something is awry.

Instead of a way of stopping an issue, now, it's a way of stopping a party and even stopping a presidency by a paid-for gang.

It seems we lost our Constitutional way some number of years ago.

I hope we enjoy today's run with a few of today's appointees.

[ucrdem]

131. I don't see a downside.

Senators Paul and Cruz will find another soap box, the Kochs will see to that. And blackballing is fine for frats but do we really need it in the US Senate?

[Festivito]

132. I don't know if I can help you any more with not being able to see it.

My second paragraph in my previous post should have answered your question.