You could say that Reid just didn't have the votes to pass the talking filibuster---
but that would be bullshit. Harry made it clear he didn't WANT the talking filibuster and that insured that he didn't have the votes.
You could say that the Republicans surely won't risk being seen as obstructionists during the President's second term---but that would be bullshit. They don't CARE how they are perceived; they don't have to worry about winning elections as long as they are allowed to buy and steal them.
You could say that we may be in the minority in the future and we might want to use the GOP's tactics against them---but that woud be bullshit. The Democrats are just too damn "nice" to play smash-mouth politics.
Harry Reid should step down as leader for the good of the Democratic Party and the nation. THAT'S not bullshit.
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....and maintains the illusion of a controversy.
The theater might even result in more votes and donations if it appears that The People almost won something.
Imagine how droll Washington would be if all the Done Deals were simply announced as Done Deals at the beginning of every session.
What would FOX and MSNBC have to talk about 24/7 ?
Remember how exciting and dramatic the year long Public Option Kabuki was?
Now THAT was some great scripting!
For a while there, I actually believed we had a chance.
You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
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The deal Harry Reid got is actually a good one
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Under the agreement, the minority party will be able to offer two amendments on each bill, a major concession to Republicans. This change is made only as a standing order, not a rules change, and expires at the end of the term.
The new rules will also make it easier for the majority to appoint conferees once a bill has passed, but leaves in place the minority's ability to filibuster that motion once -- meaning that even after the Senate and House have passed a bill, the minority can still mount a filibuster one more time.
Reid won concessions on district court nominations as well. Under the old rules, after a filibuster had been beaten, 30 more hours were required to pass before a nominee could finally be confirmed. That delay threatened to tie the chamber in knots. The new rules will only allow two hours to pass after cloture is invoked before a nominee is confirmed.
The two leaders agreed that they will make some changes in how the Senate carries out filibusters under the existing rules, reminiscent of the handshake agreement last term, which quickly fell apart. First, senators who wish to object or threaten a filibuster must actually come to the floor to do so. And second, the two leaders will make sure that debate time post-cloture is actually used in debate. If senators seeking to slow down business simply put in quorum calls to delay action, the Senate will go live, force votes to produce a quorum, and otherwise work to make sure senators actually show up and debate.
The arrangement between Reid and McConnell means that the majority leader will not resort to his controversial threat, known as the "nuclear option," to change the rules via 51 votes on the first day of the congressional session. Reid may have been able to achieve greater reforms that way, but several members of his own party were uncomfortable with the precedent it would have set. And Reid himself, an institutionalist, wanted a bipartisan deal for the long-term health of the institution. Reid presented McConnell with two offers -- one bipartisan accord consisting of weaker reforms, and a stronger package Reid was willing to ram through on a partisan vote. McConnell chose the bipartisan route.
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Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/harry-reid-mitch-mcconnell-filibuster_n_2541356.html
