What happened to the nuclear option?

[lala_rawraw]

In the Senate? If there was ever a time to use it, would now not be that time? Or I could just be cranky because my pooter died:(

[illinoisprogressive]

1. I ask myself the same thing this afternoon while watching this farce.

[jgraz]

2. Don't you need the veep to make it happen?

Last I heard, the machinations involved some sort of ruling by the VP as president of the Senate.

[Nutmegger]

3. If I remember correctly, the issue was with judicial appointments

The Cons complained that the filibuster essentially required that the nominees receive 60 votes instead of a simple majority. The Constitution doesn't explicitly require a super majority for nominations. That's the crux of the situation.

Also, in order to invoke the "nuclear option", the motion to change rules must be accepted by the President of the Senate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Option#A_change_to_Senate_rules

So short answer, I believe that this non-binding resolution can be filibustered legitimately and Dick Cheney would never accept the Dems' approval to change the rules.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. It's unethical

I'm for using every dirty trick for outmaneuvering the GOP, but I refuse to support eliminating the filibuster.

Furthermore, you need the VP to do it.

[Eugene]

5. It was a bad idea when the Repugs suggested it. It won't work now.

The nuclear option sounds sounds great as long as the other guys don't
take over and use it against you. Besides, the Senate is a body that
works by consensus, for better or worse.

The Democratic majority depends on Holy Joe Lieberman staying on side.
He and other Senate moderates formed the "Gang of 14" to defuse the
previous filibuster/nuclear option confrontation. Don't count on him
or Harry Reid to support a nuclear option.

[elocs]

6. Sure, the nuclear option is great, as long as you never lose control of the Senate.

Do it and it will come back to bite you in the ass and it will be said you did it first. Also, I would not get too strutting and all powerful about our 1 vote majority in the Senate. Pretty razor thin, especially depending upon the likes of Lieberman.