Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

52-48

After years of threats to do 'something', Harry finally pulled the trigger.

Here's how it happened. First Democrats called for a simple-majority vote to move to reconsider the failed nomination of Patricia Millett, which passed 57-40. Then McConnell scrambled to head off the rules change by calling for a motion to adjourn the Senate until 5 p.m on Thursday. That vote failed, 46-54. Then Democrats moved to reconsider the Millett nomination, which had to be at a 60-vote threshold, and Republicans filibustered her again, 57-43.

At that point, Reid took the historic step of raising a point of order that when the Senate votes on cloture again, the threshold should be at a simple majority. Under standing rules, the presiding offer ruled that motion out of order. Reid then appealed the ruling, and a majority of senators (52 -- all Democrats) voted against upholding the filibuster. The vote was 48 to keep the filibuster, 52 to scrap it. That historic vote created a new precedent by which a simple majority may bypass cloture on nominations.

The presiding officer, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), made clear after the vote that the new precedent set does not apply to Supreme Court nominees.

McConnell then made an attempt to overturn the nuclear option vote, which failed 48-52.

Earlier this summer, during the previous filibuster fight that ended without a rules change, the Republican leader warned that if Reid ends the filibuster for nominations, he would end the filibuster for everything, including legislation, if he becomes majority leader.

It's about time, and if Mitch ever gets the chance to carry out his threat, I hope he follows through. The filibuster has been an anti-democratic tool all along. One senator, elected from one state, should not be able to block the will of the majority. (At least when a president vetoes a bill he was elected by a majority of the nation.)

It's too bad something couldn't have been done about life-time appointments of judges while they were at it.

[lithium]

It appears Dingy Harry smells defeat in his future. Once all of the companies start dropping people's health insurance due to Obama's boondoggle, the democrats will lose their majority during the mid-terms. This is the only hope to save America from a European socialist transformation.

[Ya-ta Boy]

According to Rachel, there are 390 judges appointed by Republicans and 390 appointed by Dems, with 93 vacancies. One of the constitutional powers of a president, any president, is to fill those vacancies that happen to occur during his administration. In the history of the Republic 168 presidential nominees have been filibustered, presidents #1-43 had 86 blocked; #44 has had 82. This has been government by minority nullification--the tyranny of the minority.

[actionjackson]

[Steelrails]

This site really needs gifs. Could have slapped up Billy Mays' mug on this thread.

[Titus]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Kuros]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Two things:

1. Wouldn't it be relatively easy for the Senate to go into session on Election Day '14 and return the Senate rules to the status quo ante? The Dems would have made their point that it is only the recent abuse of the filibuster that has been a problem.

2. In one of the articles I've read on this issue (but I forget which one), the point was asserted that the ending of the filibuster for nominations will create an atmosphere of instability, since 'everyone' expects the GOP to now end the filibuster for all legislation. If that happens, nothing will stop the GOP from privatizing Social Security in 20XX and the Dems restoring it two years later and the Dems returning to the income tax rates of Eisenhower in 20XX and the GOP abolishing all federal taxes two years after that.

[Fox]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Kuros]

The Senate already provides minoritarian protections. After all, each state receives two senators, no matter how few people live in that state. The Senate is the worst place to impose a supermajority requirement to debate on legislation (yes, a cloture vote can silence even debate).

[Titus]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Titus]