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Senator Harry Reid appears set to go nuclear — before Thanksgiving.
With Senate Republicans blocking a third Obama nomination to the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, a senior Senate Democratic leadership aide tells me Reid is now all but certain to move to change the Senate rules by simple majority — doing away with the filibuster on executive and judicial nominations, with the exception of the Supreme Court – as early as this week.
...But now, Dems have already agreed not to change the rules once, and the filibustering continues, even though Republicans admitted when the last deal was reached that they were wrong to block Obama from staffing the government. And now, the GOP position is not grounded in an objection to Obama’s nominees or to the function of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals; it’s grounded in the argument that Obama should not have the power to fill these vacancies on the court at all. As Jonathan Chait argues, Republicans may not have even thought through the full implications of the position they’ve adopted. But Dems have, and taking it to its logical conclusion, they believe Republicans have presented them with a simple choice: Either they change the rules, or they accept those limits on Obama’s power. And that really leaves only one option.
Harry Reid is set to go nuclear
I'm not sure either that Republicans have thought this through. Can someone explain why they're being so intransigent?
In the linked article, Chaich argues that both sides are guilt of "hypocritically flip-flopping on the procedural question" but then says that the Republicans' attempts to diminish the President's appointment influence are a "constitutional affront."
Senate Republicans: All Obama Judges Are Bad -- Daily Intelligencer
What is the benefit to Republicans of Reid's exercising the "nuclear option"? I just don't see it...or how this playing of politics benefits "We, the people."
With Senate Republicans blocking a third Obama nomination to the powerful D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, a senior Senate Democratic leadership aide tells me Reid is now all but certain to move to change the Senate rules by simple majority — doing away with the filibuster on executive and judicial nominations, with the exception of the Supreme Court – as early as this week.
...But now, Dems have already agreed not to change the rules once, and the filibustering continues, even though Republicans admitted when the last deal was reached that they were wrong to block Obama from staffing the government. And now, the GOP position is not grounded in an objection to Obama’s nominees or to the function of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals; it’s grounded in the argument that Obama should not have the power to fill these vacancies on the court at all. As Jonathan Chait argues, Republicans may not have even thought through the full implications of the position they’ve adopted. But Dems have, and taking it to its logical conclusion, they believe Republicans have presented them with a simple choice: Either they change the rules, or they accept those limits on Obama’s power. And that really leaves only one option.
Harry Reid is set to go nuclear
I'm not sure either that Republicans have thought this through. Can someone explain why they're being so intransigent?
In the linked article, Chaich argues that both sides are guilt of "hypocritically flip-flopping on the procedural question" but then says that the Republicans' attempts to diminish the President's appointment influence are a "constitutional affront."
Senate Republicans: All Obama Judges Are Bad -- Daily Intelligencer
What is the benefit to Republicans of Reid's exercising the "nuclear option"? I just don't see it...or how this playing of politics benefits "We, the people."