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WATCH C-SPAN 2 NOW - going nuclear

Beaudreaux

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Well, folks, here we are.

The Democrats just filibustered Gorsuch and voted to not invoke cloture.

Right now -- 11:33 am April, 6th, 2017 -- the Senate is voting to "reconsider the vote on cloture" which is a vote to allow a new vote on cloture.

After this passes, McConnell will state that cloture votes for SCOTUS appointments need only a simple majority to invoke cloture - going nuclear.

After his statement, the Senate will vote again on cloture and it will only take 51 votes rather than 60.

A sad day for the US. But here we are.

https://www.c-span.org/networks/?channel=c-span-2
 
At this time, the vote to reconsider is not over, but there is already enough to pass the motion if no one changes their vote. I'm surprised that it's not a party line vote.

Then McConnell will make his "Point of Order" to go nuclear.
 
The only reason this is going on is because Democrats want revenge.
 
Vote to reconsider passed.

Senate Minority Leader Schumer just stood up and asked some "Parliamentary Inquiries" that were political hackery, then he made a motion to delay the reconsidered vote to invoke cloture. It's not expected to pass.

I didn't think the Democrats would stand quietly by, but I didn't expect this call for a desperation vote.
 
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The only reason this is going on is because Democrats want revenge.

That, and they were the ones that put us on this path in 2013 when Reid first nuked the filibuster for all Presidential appointments short of the SCOTUS.
 
McConnell just did it - based on November 21st, 2013 precedence. The chair ruled the motion out of order. Debate around the motion is going on under the guise of Parliamentary Inquiries. Schumer just made a motion to adjourn until 5:00pm today. They are voting now on the motion to adjourn which is a parliamentary trick to delay since a motion to adjourn takes precedence over ALL OTHER motions and brings everything to a halt until the vote to adjourn is completed.

If you're watching this, you're getting a cool lesson in parliamentary gamesmanship.

Update: Although still taking place, there are more than enough no votes for the motion to adjourn to fail.

I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
 
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Senator Orin Hatch is now presiding, and "called the question" to uphold the ruling of the chair that the motion of the Majority Leader was "out of order." There was a call for a vote, and it was agreed to. Now they are voting on whether to uphold the ruling of the chair or not. If this passes then the motion to nuke the filibuster will automatically fail, and if this vote fails, the motion to nuke the filibuster will be held in order. If it fails, then the Majority Leaser should restate his motion, and there should then be a call for the Yeas and Nays. If so, that should be the final vote to approve nuking the filibuster ---- unless Schumer has another trick up his sleeve.

I know this must seem as dry as liking a pool table to some of you, but for a Constitutionalist and government wonk like me, it's fascinating and damned intriguing.
 
The solution is easy. Just make the filibuster have to be an actual filibuster and not a lazy procedural thing. You gotta stand up and talk straight, Mr. Smith style. If Rand Paul can do a real filibuster than so can anyone else.

SCOTUS only needs a simple majority to confirm. So let the person wind down, being a windbag, and then vote.
 
The solution is easy. Just make the filibuster have to be an actual filibuster and not a lazy procedural thing. You gotta stand up and talk straight, Mr. Smith style. If Rand Paul can do a real filibuster than so can anyone else.

SCOTUS only needs a simple majority to confirm. So let the person wind down, being a windbag, and then vote.

I disagree. The purpose of the filibuster is to require the majority to respect and gain the assistance of the minority for important Senatorial actions by requiring a 3/5ths supermajority.

I agree with that reasoning, no matter which party is in power.
 
Nuclear option has JUST PASSED.

Cloture vote now taking place with the only requirement being a simple majority of 51 rather than 60.

Here we go...
 
I disagree. The purpose of the filibuster is to require the majority to respect and gain the assistance of the minority for important Senatorial actions by requiring a 3/5ths supermajority.

I agree with that reasoning, no matter which party is in power.

It's used to make things not work and is lazy.
 


So liberals, are you mad at Biden too? :lol:
 
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