It looks like Senate majority leader Harry Reid brought a bazooka to a slap fight because the minority Republicans want to hold unpleasant votes on Obama's job bill. From the Hill: "Reid's nuclear option changes rules, ends repeat filibusters"
In a shocking development Thursday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) triggered a rarely used procedural option informally called the “nuclear option” to change the Senate rules.Well, it sucks to be the minority party:
Though it's been the standing practice of the Senate to allow such motions by the minority, tonight Reid broke with precedent and ruled McConnell's motion out of order, and was ultimately backed up by Democrats."Should" the GOP retake the Senate? Ha-ha! Remember Dems: no complaining in 2013.
So, the end result is that by a simple majority vote, Reid was able to effectively rewrite Senate rules making it even harder than it already is for the minority party to force votes on any amendments. Should Republicans retake the Senate next year, it's something that could come back to haunt Democrats in a major way.
Extra - Legal Insurrection: "Mark this day in the annals of Senate nuclear warfare."
3 comments:
Yes, it is a shocking, indefensible move by Reid. The Republicans must be shocked by the shocking shockingness.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/conservatives-hope-to-use-tactic-they-decried-to-repeal-obamacare.php
I liked this part: "Public polling of the health care law is decidedly mixed, but not withstanding the impressive signature total, there isn't anything close to broad support for total repeal of the law."
A ringing endorsement!
What's saddening is that the GOP sees this as an opportunity to elevate the pissing-match animosity, instead of jumping at the chance to show some real leadership as the Dems forfeit their power. The Republicans don't actually want to get anything done; they just want to "win." And that they will do, thanks to the Democrats' ineptitude, but no one will be better off for it. At the least Democrats _aspire_ to do something once given the wheel, even if they lack the political skill or intelligence to effect positive change.
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