Republicans Cave: Seven Top Government Jobs Will Be Filled

[appleannie1]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) office confirms to ThinkProgress that a deal has been reached to avert the so-called “nuclear option” on what appear to be very favorable terms to Democrats. In a nearly unconditional surrender to Senate Democrats, a core group of Senate Republicans agreed to a deal that will confirm most of the nominees currently subject to Republican filibusters, and replace two nominees to a key labor agency. While the identity of those new nominees are, as yet, unknown, two Democratic Senate sources tell ThinkProgress that the new nominees to the National Labor Relations Board can be “any two we want,” so long as it is not the two people currently serving on the NLRB via recess appointments.
In return for a virtually complete capitulation to Democratic demands, Republicans get to postpone the question of whether filibusters can still exist for executive branch nominees. Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) rejected an offer from Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to confirm the pending nominees if Reid agreed to take the nuclear option off the table, so Reid retains the option of changing the Senate Rules in the future if Republicans obstruct future nominees. Senate Republicans will also get to make the rhetorical point that they prevented two NLRB nominees whose recess appointments were called into question by a pair of court decisions handed down by five Republican judges from being confirmed to their seats on that agency.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/07/16/2307731/republicans-cave-seven-top-government-jobs-will-be-filled/

[bowens43]

1. I knew Harry would wimp out....

in 2015 is Republicans control the senate the nuclear option will be the first thing they do....

[dsc]

2. He said, over and over again, that the 7 nominees was what he wanted

if the got them, and he basically did, he would back off. It isn't his fault you didn't listen.

[matthews]

10. And it isn't we plebs fault that Harry always aims low and shoots lower. nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. Actually ...

to get what you want without blowing up the Senate was a shrewd move.

I know, of late, DU doesn't do the strategic thing; but, hey!

[RiverNoord]

27. Although I believe that the filibuster

is an utterly flawed procedural tool of obstruction in a system that already has a bicameral legislature and a president with veto power, I agree entirely with your assessment.

[onenote]

29. So we should do it for them?

I suspect that Harry did exactly what the majority of his caucus wanted him to do.

[1StrongBlackMan]

30. Yep ...

But DU (these days) is more about typing "what I would'a done, if'n I had been there" from the comfort of their lounge chair; rather than, from actual real life.

[Myrina]

3. McConnell's done the bait n switch on Harry before ...

... I won't believe this until those folks are collecting their paychecks.

[denverbill]

4. Yes, well, unfortunately, that does nothing for judicial nominees and/or legislation.

Cordray is a big win. I really didn't think the pukies and/or DLC Democrats would allow him in, and I'm glad to see that.

The filibuster needs to go back to what it was prior to the 1970's. Talking filibusters ONLY. It's ridiculous that the minority party can hold up nominees, judges, and all legislation by just a no vote on cloture. It didn't work that way for the first 150+ years of the Senate and shouldn't work that way now.

[polichick]

5. Agreed - almost seems like our team is happy with crumbs.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. It's quite special to hear those two words for a change: "Republicans cave"

They must have really believed that Reid was (finally) prepared to pull the nuclear trigger on the filibuster (instead of just asking the Republicans to pull his finger).

[cvoogt]

7. Repubs like caves; reminds them of home

/nt

[KansDem]

15. Republicans Cave

[stevenleser]

22. They belong in this cave

aka pendejo cave

http://www.angelfire.com/indie/anna_jones1/pendejo.html

If you don't know the meaning of the word pendejo look it up or ask your favorite spanish speaking person

[Hubert Flottz]

8. Harry is a spineless SUCKER.

I'll bet chinless Mitch is grinning ear to ear right now. Gridlock is safe with Harry running the show.

[Android3.14]

9. Well, I suppose

Filling 7 positions out of the umpteen thousand with which they have hamstrung Reid is caving to the Democrats, if you also called McDonalds serving ketchup with their meals as caving to the vegetarian lifestyle.

[penndragon69]

11. Turtle man just Bitch slapped

Harry Reid.....AGAIN.

Give the fugs a week and it will be
back to obstruction as usual.

[Generic Brad]

19. On the contrary - McConnell was the one bitch slapped

McCain ran an end around and totally undermined McConnell today. McCain cut a deal with Reid and left McConnell out of the loop. This is a major embarrassment and blow to the Senate Minority Leader. He lost control of his Republicans.

[ancianita]

12. NO DEALS, GODAMMIT! THEY ALWAYS GIVE A LITTLE NOW TO TAKE A LOT LATER!

[watoos]

13. Kinda funny to me

If you call Republicans caving on allowing up or down votes only for cabinet appointments. Judicial appointments and Bills are business as usual. Should have gone nuclear Harry, if Repubs ever gain the majority that will be their 1st item of business.

[on point]

14. Actually Harry caves. He should have insisted on nuclear option for all Senate business. Spineless..

[Rain Mcloud]

16. Is it just me,or does Reid you of a neurotic chihuahuah?

A leader would sucker them in and then drop the nuke just for entertainment value.
Atta Boy,Luther:
[link:

|

[GoneFishin]

17. I don't believe we will get satisfaction. Harry will screw up even this half-assed, milquetoast

victory somehow.

[Major Hogwash]

20. Does anyone have the vote breakdowns?

Now that we have won, I want to see who didn't go along with President Obama's choices.

[mn9driver]

21. When will people figure it out?

Reid will NEVER remove the GOP's ability to obstruct progressive nominees and legislation. Never. No matter how bad it gets. No matter what he says.

The Senate leadership serves the constituency that finances them; not the one that votes for them.

[Rowdyboy]

23. Just like Cordray....

Oh wait....nevermind.....

[BlueManFan]

24. The Term "Nuclear Option" Is An Affront 200,000 Dead Japanese Civilians

Tweaking the antiquated rules of a paternalistic old white man's club is not the same thing as killing 200,000 Japanese (immediately) and hundreds of thousands more from radiation sickness. Shove your "nuclear option!!!! As Americans we walk around with a perpetual war hardon: War On Crime, War on Drugs, War on Terra, War On Women, War on Poverty. You get the idea. While the rich old white guys bitch and moan about having to adhere to the ever-vaunted "founding fathers'" intentions about the notion of a filibuster, the business of the nation remains undone. People are dying by the thousands for lack of health insurance and thus access to adequate medical care, random and senseless gun violence, rampant cancer due to environmental laxity, and hundreds of other day to day political decisions that kill us in hordes. I'm sickened by what we become and I barely recognize this festering shithole that politics has become.

[mountain grammy]

25. +1000

Dead on!

[BlueManFan]

26. If I'd Used "Cesspool" Instead of "Shithole"

I Would Have Made it Without One Word of Profanity. Trying to gain credibility without swearing even though those mother....I Mean vicious......Republicans Drive Me To Drink.

[red dog 1]

28. Bring back the talking filibuster!

It was good enough for the first 150 years of our nation; and it should not have ever been messed with.....I'm no fan of Harry Reid; but I think he did well this time, notwithstanding the help he got from McCain.