Senate Nuclear Option And Senate "Gangs" UPDATE: McCain Freelancing A Deal?

So the Senate had their big joint caucus meeting last night behind closed doors. Gee, if only there was a forum where Senators could get together and debate, maybe in public even. We could call it, The Senate or something.

Anyway, they didn't come to any agreements so we're on the edge of Harry Reid going nuclear.

Reid reiterated Monday morning that he could trigger the so-called nuclear option as early as Tuesday if Republicans do not agree to give up-or-down votes to seven of President Obama’s pending nominees.

By going nuclear, Reid would change the Senate’s rules to allow the nominees to be confirmed with a simple-majority vote. The rule change would prevent the minority from filibustering nominations, which requires the majority to win 60 votes to get a nominee confirmed.

Personally, I don't care if Reid pulls the trigger. In fact I kind of hope he does. The filibuster is not ordained by God nor is required by the Constitution. The republic shall endure without it.

And let's face it, the Republicans aren't going to have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate anytime soon. If you want to dismantle major programs, it's going to be a lot easier to get 50 or 51 votes than 60 ever will be. Sure it will be easier for Democrats to make mischief and put them back in or worse. But honestly, a federal government that alternates between growth and repeal of programs is a lot better than one that grows and...grows.

Of course that presumes Republicans would dismantle major programs if they had the chance. That ties into this filibuster fight because it's important to remember that back in 2005 the GOP was going to "go nuclear" over George W. Bush judicial nominations. You may recall that a group of idiot Republicans, led of course by John McCain. created the Gang of 14 which sold out the GOP majority and forced Bush to abandon some of his most conservative judicial nominees.

Note there are no "maverick" Democrats stepping up to undercut Reid and Obama. That kind of cowardly "bipartisanship" is for suckers, er, Republicans.

I realize that there are wider implications but I honestly am enjoying seeing the sellout Republicans who want to "work with the Democrats" (Hi Marco Rubio!) get slapped in the face by their Democrat "friends". Sadly, I doubt they'll actually learn that they can't trust Democrats. Hopefully Republican voters will realize that sending people "to DC to get things done" means sending people willing to cave to the Democratic line. Chose wisely.

The Senate convenes at 10am Eastern today. We'll see what happens then.

Added: Two word to keep in mind when Democrats say it's terrible, horrible and unprecedented to filibuster executive nominations....John Bolton.

UPDATE: There's always a Republican willing to sellout and it's usually John McCain.

The GOP needs to come to terms with the fact it nominated a Democrat in 2008.

Via @JayCost

posted by DrewM. at 09:44 AM

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