Reid gives GOP 36 hours to negotiate filibuster reform-OR-he will move forward with nuclear option

[kpete]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is giving Republican colleagues 36 hours to agree to a deal on filibuster reform or he will move forward with the nuclear option.

“I hope in the next 24, 36 hours we can get something we agree on. If not, we’re going to move forward on what I think needs to be done,” Reid told reporters.

Reid’s trump card in negotiations with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is the threat he will change Senate rules with a simple majority vote, a tactic known as the nuclear option. This maneuver would allow Reid to change the Senate rules with a simple majority vote, something that has never been done, according to parliamentary experts.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/278591-reid-to-goip-36-hours-for-filibuster-deal-or-nuclear-option
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/01/22/1181243/-Reid-gives-GOP-36-hours-to-negotiate-filibuster-nbsp-reform

[Hekate]

1. Give 'em Hell, Harry

Move on it while they're still reeling.

[madokie]

2. Get'm Harry

don't let the bastards up for air. They've been screwing the rest of us (99%) for a long time now and I for one am getting pretty damn tired of it.

[wake.up.america]

26. Go for the three count. Time we stop pleading with the bad guys for common sense and fairness.

[backscatter712]

3. Nice! I told you that Reid was keeping that gun loaded. n/t

[russspeakeasy]

48. Hope I am wrong, but I don't think it's gonna happen.

[trof]

4. FIRE THE NUKES!

Eff 'em!

[sheshe2]

5. Yes!

Let's Move.....forward!

[longship]

6. He's caving! He's caving!!!!!

Everybody run around like our hair is on fire!!!!!


Sorry. Calm down everybody. We need to trust Harry Reid. He's got this. If I am wrong, I will gladly eat a suitable serving of crow.

But please. You only get to criticize the Senate Leader after the fact. Before the fact does nothing but set your hair on fire.

If you disagree, I suspect that you know the Senate phone numbers. Tell them; not DU.

You know what to do.

Call the Senators and tell them what you think, with passion, but politely.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. He has acted tough so many times before...

if he fixes this, though, then just pass the crow my way.

[longship]

24. Let's just see what happens first.

Then, which ever way it works out there will be no crow on the menu for anybody.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Way past time to issue this ultimatum. I like it. nt

[bluestate10]

8. Hooray!!! Either they become patriots, or they take a smoking hot poker where the sun

doesn't shine. I am tired of those anti-american, stalling bastards.

[pediatricmedic]

9. Would this be a good thing if the Repubs gained a simple majority?

Looking at the 97th Congress and on, their is a lot of swapping on who has the majority.

This might be a two edged sword that can cut both ways.

[rhett o rick]

10. Not using it when we can does not guarantee that they wont use it. In fact I would assume they

will use it whether we do or not.

[Liberalynn]

13. Agreed

The PUKES will use whatever slimely tactics they want to should they regain the majority which I hope they never do, no matter what our side votes to do about the fillibuster now.

[theKed]

11. The "nuclear option"

isn't removing the filibuster. the "nuclear option", in this case, is pushing forward with filibuster reform - whatever shape that might take - regardless of the republican desires otherwise. He's giving them a chance to save face and be part of the solution...they have 36 hours to choose that option. After that, the democrats do what they want to, to reform the filibuster - anything from requiring people to do an actual filibuster to removing the option entirely.

The only danger is in setting precedent. If we remove the option, there's no reason a republican senate couldn't reinstate it if they get 51 seats. Or change it any way they want, once they have a majority.

[NYC Liberal]

15. Fine by me. If we're in the minority then we shouldn't be

able to do what they do either.

[kestrel91316]

28. We just change the rules back between the election and the swearing in.

Then THEY are the ones to look like asses if they put it back.

[BlueStreak]

30. No. The Constitution says the rules can only be set the first day of the new Congress.

with a simple majority vote. I believe it takes a 67-vote supermajority to change rules at any other time.

[kestrel91316]

33. Oh. Learn something new every day.

[Blue Idaho]

12. The legislative process was never intended to be held hostage to endless and countless filibusters.

Regardless of the party employing the tactic.

[stultusporcos]

14. Anything short of the Merkley Plan = Continued GOP Obstruction and everybody knows it

[BlueStreak]

31. Exactly. Why negotiate. The GOP won't vote for it anyway.

It will have to pass entirely with Dem votes, so why not just pass the plan that we think is necessary to reduce the GOP abuses?

Or at minimum, Reid should make it clear there will be no concessions unless McConnell can guarantee a strong bipartisan vote in favor of the changes. This idea of negotiating with Republicans and then letting then not support the compromise is BS.

[NYC Liberal]

16. I think Reid knows they won't agree...or it'd be done already.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

50. One month from today...First spring training game against Atlanta !!

Go Yankees !

[rocktivity]

17. I'll ask him what I asked Obama about the fiscal cliff

WHY deal? Just do it.


rocktivity

[Demo_Chris]

19. Harry Reid is one of the men who convinced me to become a Democrat

I used to be a Republican and hardcore Limbaugh conservative. I am not ashamed, I was young and ignorant. Anyway...

I used to live in Reno, Nevada. There was a local conservative talk show host on in the afternoons (Rusty Humphries). Anyway, he went on vacation and offered Harry Reid the chance to host his show. I had to tune in for that, I mean this was going to finally be the TRUE CONSERVATIVE PATRIOT'S chance to demand some answers from that ignorant commie Harry Reid. And bear in mind, for conservatives in Nevada, Harry Reid is one rung below Lucifer on the evil scale.

So Harry Reid takes over the show. Every day. Three hours a day. Unscreened and unscripted calls. He was so freaking smart he blew my mind. He blew everyone's mind. At that time I didn't agree with him, but he damn sure offered something to think about. He EARNED my respect -- and remember I was a hardcore dittohead.

So then came the next incident.

I was and am something of an astronomy buff. I heard through the grapevine that NASA was killing funding for the Hubble. So I wrote to both my Senators (one Republican, and one that damn commie Harry Reid).

I got a letter from Harry Reid a week later -- or from a staffer anyway. It was quite short. He said that Reid went to Nasa, and Nasa was reversing their position and would continue to fund the Hubble. And they did. Wrote a letter, got results, boom.

My GOP Senator, my guy, he wrote back as well. He wrote me back a YEAR later. He never mentioned my question, he simply thanked me for my interest in government, warned me about the menace of liberalism, and asked me for money. What a worthless tool.

Anyway, ever since I have been a Harry Reid supporter.

[tblue37]

20. Welcome to DU--and a belated welcome to the "light" side from the

dark side.

I hope that since your conversion you have been working to help your still conservative friends and family to see the light. They won't listen to "commies" they don't know, but someone like you might have at least some chance of getting through to them.

[think]

27. Great post. Thanks for sharing. /nt

[kestrel91316]

29. My dad's family hails from Ely but all my cousins are in Reno.

Half are hardcore conservatives, and the others are hardcore liberals. go figure.

My dad was military but he was liberal. And he came from Baker, out in Snake Valley by GBNP.

[grantcart]

42. Great Post. You should make it an OP.

[mountain grammy]

46. Good post, give me hope for my dittohead friends.

[lpbk2713]

21. We've taken enough of their shit.

Time for Harry to say my way or the highway.

WTG Harry.

[Matariki]

22. "I hope in the next 24, 36 hours we can get something we agree on"

isn't quite as hard-line as "giving them 36 hours". But we'll see. Hoping for the best...

[Marr]

23. I'll believe it when I see it.

I don't have a lot of faith in Captain Castrato.

[nyquil_man]

25. You're dealing with the Mafia, Harry.

Gotta bust their chops.

[putitinD]

32. just nuke em

[ellisonz]

34. If it was good enough for Jefferson Smith...

It's good enough for this Senate.

[Zambero]

35. Turtle Soup

Order up!

[libtodeath]

36. I hope the repukes choke on what they have bought themselfs

[Texin]

37. I think it should be done, but Dems better be willing to face the consequences.

I'm sick of the repukes bullshit too. More than sick of their obstructionism. But the things that are happening in some of the states with gerrymandering congressional districts to ensure permanent (at least until the 2020 Census anyway) repuke rule, and then beginning their efforts to change the Electoral College by using the gerrymandered-won seats to allocate EC outcome based on the number number of seats held by the respective parties, has ominous implications for Democrats going forward. If the repukes regain the WH in 2016 (which statistically is likely even without the vote rigging going on in the states), the Dems would then face the same set of consequences that they are trying (justifiably) to do with filibuster reform. They won't be able to successfully block senate action through the filibuster process in future and the resulting outcome won't be pretty.

That said, they should proceed. But what goes around comes around.

[former9thward]

38. Why is Reid waiting?

If he has the votes then "for what needs to be done" then take the vote and be done with it.

[DallasNE]

39. The "One Amendment" Proposal Is Idiotic

Because that one amendment would be a poison pill that would effectively kill the legislation and could make matters even worse.

I have yet to hear an argument against the talking filibuster -- just general opposition against any kind of reform. Congress only works about 120 days a year so the not-in-session time is a form of filibuster because nothing gets done.

Don't underestimate the ability of the Senate to make a worse mess of things -- even worse than what already exists. While our Founding Fathers wanted the Senate to be the more deliberative body they left it up to the bodies to set their own rules. The filibuster rule is relatively new to the Senate as they operated for years without it. My guess is that the issue of slavery is what lead the Senate to adopt this rule but it still didn't stop the secessionist movement. It has never led to the greater good -- only evil, so who needs it. If it is to be kept at all at least make it be a talking filibuster.

[spanone]

40. k&r...

[grantcart]

41. What have they done with Harry Reid and who is this guy doing the stand in?

He is doing great as a stand in. Hope Harry is alright!

[Pennsy1638]

43. Finally in four years

This is the first time in four years I have heard those two words spoken. Why haven't the democrats touch or used that in such a long tim.

[annabanana]

44. How many hours are left now?. . .n/t

[srican69]

45. not hopeful .

[mountain grammy]

47. Nuke em, Harry. I have hope.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

49. Fuck em Harry.....Nuke !!

[earthside]

51. It sounds like McConnell is doing the nuking.

Filibuster Reform: Senators Reportedly Close To Deal On Modest Limits
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/filibuster-reform_n_2538309.html

Let's face it, if the Repuglicans can continue to demand 60 votes for anything to be brought to the Senate floor for a vote, then they have won -- BIG TIME.

We all know that if the Repuglicans had gained a majority in last November's election, they would probably have eliminated the filibuster entirely and Pres. Obama would have had to become 'President Veto'.

I hope this is some kind of Reid head fake, because otherwise, really, what is the point of a Democratic majority in the Senate?

[Blue4Texas]

52. Yay! That was nice of him

[catbyte]

53. I hope Reid doesn't cave. I've been bombarding Carl Levin's office cuz I don't trust him on this

He's usually really good, but not about the filibuster. Stabenow is much more in synch on this.

[grahamhgreen]

54. Is there any doubt that they would do it?