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In reply to the discussion: Reid: McConnell Broke His Word, So Nuclear Option Is On The Table [View all]cascadiance
(19,537 posts)86. Reid should say either STOP the filibuster of the nominees to the DC Circuit court...
... or the filibuster rule changes will also include judicial nominees as well, that has had for some time four vacancies to be filled, and an existing narrow majority of Republican nominees on it now.
If the GOP doesn't approve Obama's justices to this court, it should be used as a pretext to also justify including judicial nominees in the newer filibuster rules. And note in this article the GOP trying to in effect use legislation to pack this court too, which goes beyond what even FDR did to try to pack the Supreme Court earlier too. Reid needs to respond to hardball with hardball of his own... Not holding my breath yet though!
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/nuclear-summer-filibuster-wars.php
...
The D.C. Circuit picks are expected to take longer as they have not faced hearings yet. But the wheels are already in motion. The Judiciary Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for the first of them, Patricia Ann Millett, on Wednesday.
Republicans argue that the three remaining vacancies on the influential court ought not to be filled at all, a notion that Democrats dismiss as ideologically driven and hypocritical. GOP leaders have telegraphed a mass filibuster of the three nominations by introducing legislation to reduce the number of active judges on the D.C. Circuit from 11 to eight, eliminating the three vacancies.
Meanwhile, the White House is doing heavy lifting on Milletts behalf. A letter signed by six former U.S. solicitors general (three from each party) vouches for Milletts confirmation, saying her qualifications and character make her ideally suited for a position on that distinguished Court. The signatories include conservative heavyweights Paul Clement, Kenneth Starr and Ted Olson the same lawyers who backed the confirmation of Sri Srinivasan before he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
If Republicans sustain their blockade of the nominees, Reid has threatened to strip away the filibuster for nominations with the so-called nuclear option, by which the majority can change the rules of the body with a bare 51-vote majority. Sources familiar with his thinking say that while the majority leader is fed up with Republican obstruction and is ready to move forward with the nuclear option, its not clear he has the votes yet. With 54 Democratic senators, he has little room to spare.
...
The D.C. Circuit picks are expected to take longer as they have not faced hearings yet. But the wheels are already in motion. The Judiciary Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for the first of them, Patricia Ann Millett, on Wednesday.
Republicans argue that the three remaining vacancies on the influential court ought not to be filled at all, a notion that Democrats dismiss as ideologically driven and hypocritical. GOP leaders have telegraphed a mass filibuster of the three nominations by introducing legislation to reduce the number of active judges on the D.C. Circuit from 11 to eight, eliminating the three vacancies.
Meanwhile, the White House is doing heavy lifting on Milletts behalf. A letter signed by six former U.S. solicitors general (three from each party) vouches for Milletts confirmation, saying her qualifications and character make her ideally suited for a position on that distinguished Court. The signatories include conservative heavyweights Paul Clement, Kenneth Starr and Ted Olson the same lawyers who backed the confirmation of Sri Srinivasan before he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate.
If Republicans sustain their blockade of the nominees, Reid has threatened to strip away the filibuster for nominations with the so-called nuclear option, by which the majority can change the rules of the body with a bare 51-vote majority. Sources familiar with his thinking say that while the majority leader is fed up with Republican obstruction and is ready to move forward with the nuclear option, its not clear he has the votes yet. With 54 Democratic senators, he has little room to spare.
...
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Hopefully we will see more than a sternly worded rebuke from Harry "Neville Chamberlain" Ried
corkhead
Jul 2013
#89
He's let me down time and time again. If he follows through, he might redeem himself. nt
silvershadow
Jul 2013
#40
"No majority leader wants written on his tombstone..." McConnell's veiled death threat
wordpix
Jul 2013
#83
how long do you think the filibuster will last if the republicans take over the senate?
0rganism
Jul 2013
#49
As Lucy said to Charlie Brown, "I promise, this time I mean it. Go ahead an kick the ball." nm
rhett o rick
Jul 2013
#7
Hahahaha, Harry is full of s--t, as usual. He won't do a damned thing to change the status quo.
kestrel91316
Jul 2013
#11
Judicial nominations will be excluded - change will be only for agency nominees. See excerpt below..
Tx4obama
Jul 2013
#17
Reid should say either STOP the filibuster of the nominees to the DC Circuit court...
cascadiance
Jul 2013
#86
I would say that most Democratic senators are complicit in lieu of spineless. They
rhett o rick
Jul 2013
#110
Reid will do nothing. If you believe he will ... I have this bridge ... nt
broadcaster75201
Jul 2013
#41
Harry, you have gone back on your word so many damned times it makes one's head spin.
rateyes
Jul 2013
#42
Come on! It's not on the table at all. It's just a publicity ploy with no substance at all.
Kablooie
Jul 2013
#56
Harry pull the pin and run like hell.......enough for the words lets see action
Historic NY
Jul 2013
#59
When you're in the meme of "people are doing stuff" you do stuff. And Harry Reid will do stuff.
truthisfreedom
Jul 2013
#70
shut up and push the button. the more you just talk about it, the less anyone believes you
yurbud
Jul 2013
#71
nothing will change with the repukes as long as they're owned by the likes of the Koch bros.
wordpix
Jul 2013
#76
Use your 51 votes, Harry, to adopt the same rules the GOP put in the Texas Senate:
Faryn Balyncd
Jul 2013
#77
Reminds me of Chamberlain waving Hitler's "peace treaty" in 1939 just before Nazis invaded Poland.
ErikJ
Jul 2013
#97
Pretty pathetic when it seems like the Minority leader is the one in charge
LiberalLovinLug
Jul 2013
#102