Some Senators Could Be Arrested Tonight

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/07/15/some_senators_could_be_arrested_tonight.html


Some Senators Could Be Arrested Tonight


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "plans to use some procedural trickery Monday night -- and it could get some senators arrested," National Journal reports.

"In an effort to get all senators to the Senate chamber at 5:30 p.m., the Nevada Democrat is going to employ a rarely used procedure called a live quorum. Reid wants all the senators back to the Capitol to discuss potential rule changes to the filibuster... If it doesn't work, however, that's where things get dicey. The Senate can then direct the sergeant at arms to compel -- or even arrest--senators to bring them to the floor."

[PoliticAverse]

1. "The Sergeant at Arms is authorized to arrest and detain any person violating Senate rules

including the President of the United States."

https://www.senate.gov/reference/office/sergeant_at_arms.htm

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Reid is serious huh?

[Mr. David]

3. He talks the talk, but can't walk the walk.

Talk's cheap, Reid.

Do it.

Nuke 'em and let their $DIETY sort them out.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Hey, at least it will be worth the popcorn

[11 Bravo]

16. And then we better fucking PRAY that the Repukes never re-take the majority.

Because while I believe the Dems would utilize the rule change solely for the purpose of allowing the President to staff his executive team; I also believe that the Repugs will then use it to shove a ton of wingnut, lifetime judicial appointments right up our ass.
Be careful what you wish for.

[TheKentuckian]

32. You mean SOP? Can really be worried about a consequence that is in full swing?

Hell, it is already worse than that. We are cuckolded to the point that centrist to moderate left is far as we'll go. Hell, nowadays we are so beat down that we nominate TeaPubliKlans for everything too.

You can't surrender your way to victory too often, if ever. It is not a winning strategy.

[Sherman A1]

5. We will see

however, my expectations are low.

[Motown_Johnny]

6. CSPAN has Senate in closed session now (after 5:30)

I guessed the recessed at ~6:00 and then went into a closed session across the street.


http://www.c-span.org/Events/Senate-Meeting-on-Nuclear-Option-for-Voting-Rule-Changes/10737440428-13/

[Lancero]

7. Sad that it's come to this, really.

This move would be political suicide, and Republicans have pretty much left him no other choice.

[babylonsister]

9. Welcome to DU, and political suicide how? nt

[Lancero]

11. Depends on how Republicans decide to spin the event.

If this does happen, spin they will.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

24. the way it was for Scott Walker? No I don't think Reid will have to worry

It would actually be something to turn out the base for 2014. Something the Dems desparately need. You don't win midterms by winning moderates. Any political novice knows this.

[Tx4obama]

8. Good!

[1-Old-Man]

10. Harry said this morning that most Democrats would be there, so what does he care ...

If the Republicans don't wish to attend why would he compel them to?

[leeroysphitz]

15. To make the fuckers WATCH.

JK

Was it the pukes he was worried about?

[rhett o rick]

20. When Harry says "most Democrats" how many is that? 30? nm

[LaydeeBug]

12. Kick and rec on the thread title ALONE. nt

[idwiyo]

17. +1

[Sheldon Cooper]

13. Blah blah Harry Reid blah bl

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Egalitarian Thug]

14. Well, I hope I'm wrong.

But, I'll believe it when I see it.

[madinmaryland]

18. Good old Harry will end up keeping his powder dry.

[99Forever]

19. Oooooo ...

Scary Harry!





Maybe he can get that sergeant at arms to look for his spine while out with the search party "arresting senators."

[rhett o rick]

21. Harry will shortly get a call from the lobbyists from Booz-Allen explaining to him why he might

not want to do this.

[Nye Bevan]

22. I hope they don't resist, because that gives the cops an excuse to smack them around (nt)

[spanone]

23. the most elite of the worlds' clubs will never arrest another member...

thick as theives.....

[Scurrilous]

25. Kick

[Travis_0004]

27. Wouldn't the republicans just fillibuster any attempt to change the fillibuster rule?

[starroute]

29. They can't - it's 51 votes up or down

That's the whole point of the exercise.

[Travis_0004]

30. How?

As of today, the filibuster exist, so anything can be filibustered, including repealing the filibuster.

[starroute]

31. That's why it's called the Nuclear Option

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_option

In U.S. politics, the nuclear option, also called the constitutional option, is when the Presiding Officer of the United States Senate disregards a rule or precedent. This allows the Senate to end a filibuster by majority vote, even though the rules of the Senate specify that ending a filibuster requires the consent of 60 senators (out of 100) for legislation, 67 for amending a Senate rule. An opinion written by Vice President Richard Nixon in 1957 concluded that the U.S. Constitution grants the presiding officer the authority to override Senate rules in this way. (The U.S. vice president is also president of the Senate.) If a majority vote to uphold the presiding officer, his interpretation of the rules becomes a precedent. In practice, the issue rarely arises as presiding officers generally follow established precedent, as interpreted by the Senate's parliamentarian.

[liberal N proud]

28. Most of them should be arrested

Then the Representatives too.

[nakocal]

33. Quorum still needed for vote

Reid is doing this because even if he has all of the Democrats show up he need enough republicans to show up so there will be a Quorum which would allow him to call the vote.