It took a Dem to use the nuclear option.

[MoshMasterD]

LINKO

ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Thu Oct-06-11 07:59 PM
Original message
Reid triggers ‘nuclear option’ to change rules, prohibit filibusters
   
Source: The Hill

In a shocking development Thursday evening, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) triggered a rarely used procedural option informally called the “nuclear option” to change the Senate rules.

The Democratic leader had become fed up with Republican demands for votes on motions to suspend the rules after the Senate had voted to end a filibuster.

Reid said these motions, which do not need unanimous consent, amount to a second-round filibuster after the Senate has voted to move to final passage of a measure.

The surprise move stunned Republicans, who did not expect Reid to bring heavy artillery to what had been a humdrum knife fight over amendments to China currency legislation.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/186133-reid-triggers...

I remember a time when the DUchebags were bitching about the nuke option when republicans were gonna use it for judicial nominees.

But.....

global1 Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Thu Oct-06-11 08:02 PM
Response to Original message
3. Finally - Why Didn't They Do This Sooner .......   Updated at 9:57 PM
   
Think of all that could have gotten done.

Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Thu Oct-06-11 08:06 PM
Response to Original message
4. Good it's overdue
   
While the filibuster has been a useful tool used by an out of power party to prevent any excesses by the party in power, it's just gotten to the point that the Senate doesn't work at all

I don't think we can afford abolishing it forever. I do think the rules need to be changed so that its suspension is triggered whenever there is a national emergency or more than 30 bills being filibustered at a time.

The latter provision will keep both parties honest and using it as a last resort.

Only when republicans come to power.  Speaking of which.....

customerserviceguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Thu Oct-06-11 09:47 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Yep
   
Now that we've done it, don't be surprised in the slightest to see the Repukes do it when they get control of the Senate again, which could be as little as fifteen months away.

Ya think?!?

[franksolich]

Ya think?!?

Yeah.

[FiddyBeowulf]

I have not seen this on Drudge. I seem to remember the MSM wetting themselves over a GOP "threat" to do what Reid just did. 

[franksolich]

I have not seen this on Drudge. I seem to remember the MSM wetting themselves over a GOP "threat" to do what Reid just did. 

It's on Drudge now, in red letters.

[FiddyBeowulf]

It's on Drudge now, in red letters.

 
Could have sworn I checked twice before posting.

[BlueStateSaint]

Could have sworn I checked twice before posting.

I put it in BN about ten hours ago.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Not sure this directly ends filibustering, the way I read that, more of an end to something that Reid claims has the same effect after the chance to successfully filibuster has gone by.  Still, what goes around, comes around.

[RWKindaGuy]

Not sure this directly ends filibustering, the way I read that, more of an end to something that Reid claims has the same effect after the chance to successfully filibuster has gone by.  Still, what goes around, comes around.

Exactly right.  I've been reading the various threads at the DUmp concerning this, and they are all atwitter at the prospect of pushing through some judicial nominees using this new rule.  But as you say, what comes around, goes around.  I have no doubt that we will see a major gnashing of teeth once the new Republican led Congress does it to end Obamacare and other useless money wasting programs.

Thank you Mr. Reid for doing one incredibly dumb thing that will benefit the Republicans more than it will ever benefit you.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Senate Republicans vow they will retaliate for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) decision to unilaterally change the Senate’s rules Thursday without prior warning or negotiation.
 
Republican aides say their bosses will now be even more reluctant to allow the Senate to conduct routine business by unanimous consent, forcing Reid to gather 60 votes for even the most mundane matters.
 
“Reid fired a major salvo and it’s hard to imagine a return shot won’t be fired. Maybe over the weekend they’ll come up with something and try to make it less worse than it already is,” said a Senate GOP leadership aide. …
 
Triggering what has come to be known as the chamber’s “nuclear option,” Reid overturned Senate precedent that allowed Republicans to force votes to proceed to non-germane amendments. He did so by voting with 50 of his Democratic colleagues to overturn a ruling by the Senate parliamentarian.
 
The controversial procedural tactic hasn’t been used in years. In a chamber where it requires the consent of all 100 senators to dispense with the reading of a bill, changing the rules unilaterally is considered bad form.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/186365-gop-vows-retaliation-after-reid-uses-nuclear-option-to-change-senate-rules

Even worse for Democrats, the tactics Reid employed to change a Senate precedent could make it easier for Republicans to justify using similar procedures to force simple-majority votes on hugely contentious issues, such as repealing Democratic priorities like health care reform and Wall Street regulations, Senate experts on both sides of the aisle said Friday. …
 
For instance, if a senator tries to offer an amendment repealing the health care law to a bill – after a filibuster has been defeated – and it’s ruled out of order by the parliamentarian, the chamber could presumably vote by a simple majority to overturn that ruling. And the amendment could stay pending to the bill, which could be then be adopted by a vote in the full Senate.
 
And if there’s a Republican president and Republican Congress in 2013, the GOP could be in a position to run roughshod over the Senate minority.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=5E9FFBCF-F017-4CB7-8F63-D4AA55195399

suck it, turd balls

[jukin]

OH MY!!!

The retaliation form the republicans should be biblical.  IIRC, there are lots of unanimous consents (?) for passing mundane legislation that can be 'Held" by just one senator objecting. Looks like Reid is going to bring the democrat party down for 0bama. Not smart but he never really was just a devious liar.

Reid may not have only sealed roughshod of the next senate over the filibuster but given the Tea Party senators a reason to grind the senate to a halt until then.