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You are here: Home / A nuclear era but I have no fear

A nuclear era but I have no fear

by DougJ|  November 21, 201310:27 pm| 128 Comments

This post is in: DC Press Corpse, Riveted By The Sociological Significance Of It All

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I was getting a little concerned by the lack of Village caterwauling about the the assassination of the filibuster by the coward Harry Reid. To paraphrase George Costanza, if every instinct they have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right. Thus I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw this over at the Bezos Post:

Screen Shot 2013-11-21 at 10.23.42 PM

I’d feel better if Bobo came back from vacay to wax Burkean — more in sorrow than in anger — about this, but this is a good start at least.

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Previous Post: « Open Thread: Today’s Senate Nuke-ening
Next Post: 99 green balloons »

Reader Interactions

128Comments

  1. 1.

    Mike E

    November 21, 2013 at 10:30 pm

    This is the reason why we can’t have nice things.

  2. 2.

    Michael Bersin

    November 21, 2013 at 10:31 pm

    …the assassination of the filibuster by the coward Harry Reid…

    Win!

    Sen. Claire McCaskill, on filibuster reform (January 2011).

  3. 3.

    liberal

    November 21, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    Lol. Now I can put this politics shit down, read my sci fi novel, then go to sleep.

  4. 4.

    srv

    November 21, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    Harry Reid has destroyed our the Founder’s nation and has brought us the tyranny of rule by the mob majority.

    We have to take our country back.

  5. 5.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 21, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    Oh, Ruth Marcus is outraged.

    There goes my Schadenfreude meter, again.

    As for the Dick Whisperer, Satan will need to build new subbasements in Hell to facilitate Villager scum like him.

  6. 6.

    rikyrah

    November 21, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    Whiny Ass Titty Babies – the entire lot of them.

    Go Harry Go!!

  7. 7.

    eemom

    November 21, 2013 at 10:34 pm

    Milbank belongs in a fucking zoo. And so do they all, now that I think of it.

    If the animals in Woodley Park and the press corpse switched places, this town would suck infinitely less.

  8. 8.

    ronin122

    November 21, 2013 at 10:34 pm

    So the dickwhisperer strikes again?

  9. 9.

    Mullah DougJ

    November 21, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    @eemom:

    Wouldn’t work
there’s some things animals just won’t do.

  10. 10.

    the Conster

    November 21, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    It’s like watching the dinosaurs after the meteor hit. The Harry fucking Reid meteor.

  11. 11.

    Keith P

    November 21, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    I guess we’ll have Harry Reid to blame when the GOP starts nominating Federalist Society members to the nation’s courts. Curses!

  12. 12.

    Hill Dweller

    November 21, 2013 at 10:39 pm

    Did these assholes ever say a word about the Republicans’ obstructionism/nihilism?

  13. 13.

    PsiFighter37

    November 21, 2013 at 10:42 pm

    Wingnut tears combined with Villagers wailing and clutching their pearls is like a liberal blogger’s wet dream. I am loving it.

  14. 14.

    srv

    November 21, 2013 at 10:42 pm

    “In my view this is the most important and most dangerous restructuring of Senate rules since Thomas Jefferson wrote them at the beginning of our country,” Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee says
    …
    Questioned repeatedly in the press conference, McConnell wouldn’t show his hand. “I don’t think this is a time to be talking about reprisal. I think it’s a time to be sad about what’s been done to the United States Senate. The greatest deliberative body in the world,” he said..

    The communists have overthrown The Constitutional Republic without firing a shot.

  15. 15.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 21, 2013 at 10:43 pm

    @Hill Dweller:

    Did these assholes serious gentlemen of the press ever say a word about the Republicans’ obstructionism/nihilism principled opposition?

    Translated into Broderese for you. You’re welcome!

  16. 16.

    ? Martin

    November 21, 2013 at 10:44 pm

    I’m very disappointed that the invocation of the nuclear didn’t reduce the villagers to mere shadows on the Key Bridge.

  17. 17.

    catclub

    November 21, 2013 at 10:44 pm

    Even worse, huh? These are people who have ignored record high unemployment for the past 5 years.

  18. 18.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 21, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    @catclub:

    It wasn’t guys like Lamar! Alexander who were unemployed, so there’s really no problem with that at all.

  19. 19.

    Mike E

    November 21, 2013 at 10:46 pm

    Rachel Maddow pointed out the asshole Repubs (redundant, I know) couldn’t allow 3 appointments, so now they’ll get rolled for 93. Heh.

  20. 20.

    Mike in NC

    November 21, 2013 at 10:50 pm

    Who’ll think of the delicate fee-fees of Dana Milwank? Not to mention JRub and Chuck Kabbagehead.

  21. 21.

    jl

    November 21, 2013 at 10:51 pm

    As I said in previous thread, I don’t like this approach to filibuster reform. I think there should be some form or weak filibuster.

    On other hand, after Grassley gave the game away, and basically said ‘aint it awful what the Dems did, that is so ruthless, but you want ruthless, get a load of we GOPers will do when we win”

    OK fine. After that, I thought maybe if the GOP has promised more nukes when they get power, maybe Reid should just change the rules so that the Senate makes the House look like a Sunday picnic, and ram through every damned appointment Obama wants for anything, go on a showdown, threatdown nuke-athon standoff fest with the House and get every scrap you can to win the damn midterms.

    I dunno. What Grassley said made me so pissed, and shows what a-holes the whole GOP have turned into, just go Medieval on them. Just because….

  22. 22.

    Kay

    November 21, 2013 at 10:51 pm

    I think peoples eyes glaze over when they hear the word “filibuster.” “Filibuster reform” is even worse.

  23. 23.

    Mike E

    November 21, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    @jl: Noticed, your concern, has been.

  24. 24.

    Poopyman

    November 21, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    The “Editorial Board” at the WaPo haz a sad:

    Both parties have been guilty of delaying and blocking qualified judicial nominees of presidents from the opposing side, particularly for this important appeals court. We believe a filibuster should be rarely invoked. But now that it is not an option, the result is likely to be that the partisanship of Congress will seep increasingly into the judiciary, as presidents feel no obligation to search for balance or moderation in their nominations. As Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) warned before Thursday’s vote, “When we have the majority, when we have a Republican president, we put more people like Scalia on the court.”

  25. 25.

    taylormattd

    November 21, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    LOL!

    Omg, that’s the perfect screenshot.

    The “Marcus: Democrats went to far” kills me.

  26. 26.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 21, 2013 at 10:53 pm

    The filibuster has been perverted from what it once was (a public demonstration protesting some piece of legislation) into a means of sabotaging every move the chief executive makes, because he’s first, a Democrat, and second, blah.

  27. 27.

    Redshirt

    November 21, 2013 at 10:53 pm

    I can’t wait to hear how shocking Cohen finds this!

  28. 28.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 21, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    @Poopyman:

    Fred Hiatt’s head needs to be displayed on a pike on the Mall. As soon as possible.

  29. 29.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 21, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    @Redshirt:

    Well, it’s offensive to people with conventional views, obviously.

  30. 30.

    taylormattd

    November 21, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    @Redshirt: “Conventional Americans will gag on this latest move by the Democrats”

  31. 31.

    taylormattd

    November 21, 2013 at 10:55 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: Damn you.

  32. 32.

    Violet

    November 21, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    Republicans are free to campaign on reinstating the filibuster and then doing so if they regain a majority. I think that would be an excellent idea for them.

  33. 33.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    November 21, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    The Gray Lady comes through:

    Democracy Returns to the Senate

    [Republicans] tried to nullify entire federal agencies by denying them leaders. They abused Senate rules past the point of tolerance or responsibility. And so they were left enraged and threatening revenge on Thursday when a majority did the only logical thing and stripped away their power to block the president’s nominees.

    If Bill Keller had anything to say about it he’d be Marcusing up the place to be sure, but fortunately he’s not on the editorial board.

  34. 34.

    jl

    November 21, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    @Mike E:

    Obviously I am conflicted. But winning more Democrat Senate seats will be a better solution than any filibuster reform, of any kind, and the dreary topic can fade back into the obscurity that it had for awhile.

  35. 35.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 21, 2013 at 10:59 pm

    @taylormattd:

    Hey, you worked gag into it. You’re more authentic!

  36. 36.

    Mike in NC

    November 21, 2013 at 11:01 pm

    So can we conclude that Dancin’ Dave Gregory will have McCain, Grassley, Paul, Cruz, McConnell and Graham as his only guests on Sunday?

  37. 37.

    scav

    November 21, 2013 at 11:02 pm

    aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh The nuclear pea in the floofy repub feather bed. Do. Show us your owies and bruises dears. A bit more to the left for the cameras. yesssssss. They’ll love you in the advertising stock shots.

  38. 38.

    Anya

    November 21, 2013 at 11:02 pm

    Village caterwauling about the the assassination of the filibuster by the coward Harry Reid.

    Total win! Also, too, Dana Milbank is a tool.

  39. 39.

    taylormattd

    November 21, 2013 at 11:02 pm

    @Mike in NC: So many delicious tears.

  40. 40.

    Violet

    November 21, 2013 at 11:03 pm

    @Mike in NC: Not only guests. “Exclusive guests.”

  41. 41.

    Jose Arcadio BuendĂ­a

    November 21, 2013 at 11:04 pm

    @Mike in NC: Cabbage head! KITH!

  42. 42.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    November 21, 2013 at 11:04 pm

    @Mike in NC: And Mourning Joe will have Mark Halperin announcing that this is great news for the Republicans.

  43. 43.

    jl

    November 21, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    @Violet: Maybe Gregory will let them talk nonstop, to make up for their awful unfair treatment in the Senate, where they are gagged and oppressed.

    But, what a minute, how would anyone tell? Maybe Gregory should announce the new policy is the same as the old policy, except different.

  44. 44.

    Cacti

    November 21, 2013 at 11:08 pm

    The filibuster was given to us by the founding fathers!

    Year of first senate filibuster: 1837

    Death of the last founding father: June 28, 1836

  45. 45.

    Kay

    November 21, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    @Poopyman:

    “When we have the majority, when we have a Republican president, we put more people like Scalia on the court.”

    As opposed to the moderates like Roberts and Alito. The problem with the threat is, it’s empty. No one thinks Roberts is a moderate. No one. We’re well past the “balls and strikes” bullshit and the fawning biographical sketches.

    He has an actual record. He kicked off the year by gutting the voting rights act, an agenda he has been pursuing since Reagan. He did that despite watching state after state restrict voting rights.

  46. 46.

    Mike E

    November 21, 2013 at 11:10 pm

    TDS: I might as well eat a hummingbird with a single crouton and a soupcon of craisin.

  47. 47.

    Violet

    November 21, 2013 at 11:11 pm

    @Cacti: Considering that according to teabaggers the founding fathers gave us Jesus riding a dinosaur, I’m not sure dates have much relevance to them.

  48. 48.

    amk

    November 21, 2013 at 11:12 pm

    @Bill E Pilgrim: Finally, some truth speaking from the gray lady.

  49. 49.

    beltane

    November 21, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    @Hill Dweller: Of course. They said both sides did it. In order to be a member of the Village in good standing one must take a blood oath to never criticize a Republican without equally implicating a Democrat.

    The best thing that could happen to this country would be for the entire beltway media establishment to be put on a luxury cruise ship for the remainder of their natural lives. They could have their vapid little cocktail party scene on the high seas for all eternity without causing harm to any other living thing.

  50. 50.

    Mike E

    November 21, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    @jl: Meh, fuck that shit. I’m more concerned about the dearth of 16+lb turkeys!

  51. 51.

    Cacti

    November 21, 2013 at 11:15 pm

    @Kay:

    As opposed to the moderates like Roberts and Alito. The problem with the threat is, it’s empty. No one thinks Roberts is a moderate. No one. We’re well past the “balls and strikes” bullshit and the fawning biographical sketches.

    As Elon mentioned on the twitters, Republicans are threatening to act like arseholes?

    Short of proposing a bill to re-legalize slavery, how could they be any bigger pricks than they have been?

  52. 52.

    Aji

    November 21, 2013 at 11:17 pm

    @Kay:

    He did that despite watching for the express purpose of helping state after state restrict voting rights.

    FTFY.

  53. 53.

    kc

    November 21, 2013 at 11:18 pm

    I have a dumb question. Please don’t yell at me.

    Does Reid’s move eliminate actual filibusters, or just the current practice of holding up nominations by threatening to filibuster, or whatever that thing is they do that doesn’t involve actually getting up and speaking?

  54. 54.

    Belafon

    November 21, 2013 at 11:18 pm

    @Bill E Pilgrim: Gonna tattoo this inside the eyelids of everyone that calls themselves a Democrat:

    From now on, voters will have to understand that presidents are likely to get their way on nominations if their party controls the Senate.

  55. 55.

    Suffern ACE

    November 21, 2013 at 11:19 pm

    @Kay: yep. But he’s like Scalia, only much younger and will be on the bench for 30 more years. See how that filibuster has saved us from that.

  56. 56.

    beltane

    November 21, 2013 at 11:20 pm

    @Kay: What they will do is appoint some very young, manifestly unqualified Regents University graduates ( or drop-outs) to the federal bench. The ethics scandals surrounding these people will ensure that the GOP will never be able to rid itself of the aroma of a backed-up septic tank in July.

  57. 57.

    Belafon

    November 21, 2013 at 11:21 pm

    @kc: The way I understand it, they reduced the ability to end a filibuster from 60 votes to a simple majority.

  58. 58.

    ? Martin

    November 21, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    @kc:

    Does Reid’s move eliminate actual filibusters, or just the current practice of holding up nominations by threatening to filibuster, or whatever that thing is they do that doesn’t involve actually getting up and speaking?

    It eliminates the ability to filibuster executive appointments (like the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) and judges with the exception of SCOTUS. SCOTUS have not been subject to filibusters due to a longstanding gentleman’s agreement, which is probably out the window now. But it’s not like the filibuster ever helped Dems keep guys like Scalia off the court in the past.

    But there’s no change to the filibuster rules for legislation. Yet.

  59. 59.

    Origuy

    November 21, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    @Cacti:

    The filibuster was given to us by the founding fathers!

    Yes, the ones that Michele Bachmann said fought tirelessly against slavery.

  60. 60.

    Cacti

    November 21, 2013 at 11:23 pm

    @Suffern ACE:

    yep. But he’s like Scalia, only much younger and will be on the bench for 30 more years. See how that filibuster has saved us from that.

    If not for the filibuster, we might have gotten a real pair of wingnuts on the SCOTUS.

    Shit, even Rehnquist wasn’t on board with “unlimited corporate cash” = protected speech under the First Amendment.

  61. 61.

    mdblanche

    November 21, 2013 at 11:23 pm

    @Mike in NC: Milbank and Marcus can use comity to come to an agreement with their Republican colleagues that whatever the Democrats do is wrong; why can’t Senate Democrats do the same?

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    The filibuster has been perverted from what it once was (a public demonstration protesting some piece of civil rights legislation) into a means of sabotaging every move the chief executive makes, because he’s first, a Democrat, and second, blah.

    Fixed.

  62. 62.

    hitchhiker

    November 21, 2013 at 11:24 pm

    @Kay:

    I think peoples eyes glaze over when they hear the word “filibuster.” “Filibuster reform” is even worse.

    Me too. We should all just keep making them explain exactly why they’re so mad. They look truly crazy when they start trying to explain the details.

    And, normal people might be surprised to learn that it’s because they think they shouldn’t have to actually vote. That’s what this is about. Senate Republicans don’t think they should have to vote if they don’t want to.

    It’s amazing when you think about it.

  63. 63.

    beltane

    November 21, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    @Cacti: They might decide to invade some random country, potentially causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians, just for a little entertainment value. Oh wait…

  64. 64.

    David in NY

    November 21, 2013 at 11:26 pm

    @Belafon: @kc: Yes. I gather for example that on the Millett appointment they voted today, 50 something to 40 something, to cut off debate and tomorrow will hold the vote whether or not to confirm.

  65. 65.

    Anya

    November 21, 2013 at 11:26 pm

    If they’re so serious they should do an actual filibuster.

  66. 66.

    Aji

    November 21, 2013 at 11:28 pm

    @Anya: What? Actual effort? You want they should break out in hives or something?

  67. 67.

    kc

    November 21, 2013 at 11:28 pm

    @Belafon:

    Thank you. The reporting has left me confused.

  68. 68.

    Mike E

    November 21, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    @Belafon: But the actual talking filibuster remains in effect, and will be there when senators must stand astride the Road of Progress and yell, “Stop!”

  69. 69.

    Splitting Image

    November 21, 2013 at 11:31 pm

    The scale of the problem in the two situations is obviously completely different, but it strikes me that Harry Reid did to the GOP senators what the Toronto City Council did to Rob Ford – for much the same reasons – and the local concern trolls here reacted in much the same way as the Villagers.

    (“Won’t someone please think of the comity?”)

  70. 70.

    Baud

    November 21, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    @kc:

    The reporting has left me confused.

    It’s difficult to see how that’s possible.

  71. 71.

    mai naem

    November 21, 2013 at 11:34 pm

    I saw Ruth Marcus on with Mona Charen on CSPAN a few years ago. It was one of those left/right discussions. Charen was ripping Marcus a new one with her alligator smile and Marcus was just sweetly pulling the let’s get together. kumbaya krap. Ugh.

  72. 72.

    catclub

    November 21, 2013 at 11:34 pm

    @hitchhiker: “Senate Republicans don’t think they should have to vote if they don’t want to.”

    Haven’t they seen “A Man for All Seasons”? Silence implies consent. Unless the senate votes to oppose a nomination, it consents to it.

  73. 73.

    kc

    November 21, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    @kc:

    The reporting, and my cluelessness. I think I used to know this stuff.

  74. 74.

    Redshift

    November 21, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    @jl: I’m having a hard time to see what there is to be conflicted about. I wish modern Republicans weren’t nihilist obstructionists with no interest in governing so this wasn’t necessary, but since they’re not, I’m not at all conflicted.

    Electing a supermajority of Democrats would obviously be a good thing, but it’s not a “better” solution any more than getting a supermajority of votes is “better” than trying to abolish voter-suppression laws.

  75. 75.

    kc

    November 21, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    @Mike E:

    I keep hearing “end the filibuster!” I guess that’s easier than giving people the boring details . . .

  76. 76.

    handy

    November 21, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    London is burning, I live by the river.

    Oh, lookie here:

    Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
    “They have gotten away with obstructing by exploiting the filibuster and denying Justice Owen a direct vote. Now, unfortunately, we must take action to ensure President Bush’s nominees are getting the up-or-down vote they deserve.” (4/21/05 statement)

    Sen. Orrin Hatch
    “…I think we should bind both Democrats and Republicans that presidential nominees for the judiciary deserve an up-and-down vote once they reach the floor…” (Orrin Hatch discusses debate in Senate…, NPR, 5/19/05)

    Sen. Jon Kyl
    “All we seek is a return to 214 years of tradition in allowing presidential nominees the courtesy of an up-or-down vote.” (Kyl Calls for `Up or Down’ Vote on Judicial Nominees,’ Capitol Hill Press Releases, 5/18/05)

    Sen. Rick Santorum
    “The time has come for the Senate to reestablish that tradition, to end these destructive judicial filibusters and to give all judicial nominees the up-or-down vote they deserve.” (Should the Senate end Filibusters When Considering Judicial Appointments, Duluth News Tribune, 4/25/05)

    Sen. Trent Lott
    “…I felt they deserved up-or-down votes. It was not a popular action with my colleagues, but I didn’t think it was right to filibuster judicial nominees then. And it’s not right now.” (Lott Sets the Record Straight on Judicial Confirmation Issue, 4/26/05)

    Sen. John Cornyn
    “And we need to get a fresh start. And that means, I believe, an up-or-down vote for all presidents’ nominees whether they be Republican or Democrat.” (U.S. Senator John Cornyn Holds a News Conference on Judicial Nominees, CQ Transcriptions, 5/9/05)

    Sen. Mitch McConnell
    “Let’s get back to the way the Senate operated for over 200 years, up or down votes on the president’s nominee, no matter who the president is, no matter who’s in control of the Senate. That’s the way we need to operate.” (Senators Durbin & McConnell Discuss Issues Facing the Senate, CNN, 5/22/05)

    Sen. Jeff Sessions
    “This past election in large part hinged, as George Allen said, on a debate over the judiciary and whether or not obstruction was justified. I think the American people sent a clear message and I believe it’s time for this Senate to make sure that judges get an up-or-down vote.” (U.S. Sen. Allen & Other Senate Republicans Hold a Media Availability on the Possibility of a Democrat Filibuster, CQ Transcriptions, 3/15/05)

    Sen. Richard Burr
    “But denying these patriotic Americans, of both parties, who seek to serve this country an up-or-down vote is simply not fair, and it certainly was not the intention of our Founding Fathers when they designed and created this very institution.” (Sen. Burr Speaks Out on Judicial Nominations, 4/20/05)

    Sen. Sam Brownback
    “All of the president’s nominees-both now and in the future-deserve a fair up or down vote, regardless of whether some members of the Senate feel they can be filibustered based on whatever they define to be extraordinary circumstances.” (Sen. Brownback Issues Statement on Judicial Nominees, 5/24/05)

    Sen. John Thune
    “However, I still believe that all judicial nominees with majority support deserve the fairness of an up or down vote on the Senate floor… Something is broken when you can’t get a fair up or down vote, not because of qualifications or character, but because of politics.” (Senators Find Good in Filibuster Agreement, AP, 5/24/05)

    Sen. George Allen
    “They want Senators to do their jobs and hold a straight up-or-down vote on nominees based on their qualifications, not the baseless negative rhetoric of the left…In summation, Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, and all of the President’s nominees, deserve a fair up-or-down vote.” (U.S. Senator George Allen Deliver Remarks on the Senate Floor on Judicial Nominations, CQ Transcriptions, 5/18/05)

    Sen. Chuck Hagel
    “I am disappointed that the agreement reached by 14 senators does not guarantee up-or-down votes on all of the president’s nominees…That is a basic principle that should have anchored any agreement.” (Hagel Calls Senators’ Pact Inadequate, Omaha World-Herald, 5/25/05)

    Sen. Pete Domenici
    “Since the day I came to the U.S. Senate in 1973, I have believed strongly that every nominee deserves an up or down vote. That is why over all these years, I have never once voted to filibuster any nominee, even the ones that I ended up opposing. I am truly saddened that the Senate has reached this point. We should resume our long-standing tradition of giving judicial nominees who reach the floor an up or down vote.” (Sen. Domenici Laments Continued Judicial Filibusters, 5/19/05)

    Sen. Charles Grassley
    “The current obstruction led by Senate Democratic leaders threatens that balance. Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown deserve an up or down vote. It’s high time to make sure all judges receive a fair up or down vote on the Senate floor.” (Grassley: Give Judges a Fair Up or Down Vote, CQ, 5/23/05)

    Sen. Wayne Allard
    “I’d made my position clear. I wanted to have an up- or-down vote on the judges.” (Freshman Salazar Stands with his Seniors, The Denver Post, 5/24/05)

    Sens. Larry Craig and Mike Crapo
    “We are pleased that three of the President’s judicial nominees will receive fair up-or-down votes – it is about time. However, we continue to stress that the Constitution requires the Senate to hold up-or-down votes on all nominees. We will continue to work to ensure that is the case.” (Craig, Crapo React to Judicial Nominees Deal, 5/25/05)

    Sen. Ted Stevens
    “I may not have always agreed with a judicial nominee pick, but I’ve never voted against cloture on a judicial nomination. There have been some petitions. And I’ve always agreed that we should allow an up-or-down vote on judicial nominations on the Senate floor. These nominees deserve our vote.” (Press Conference on Judges, Federal News Service, 5/19/05)

    Sen. Jim DeMint
    “My goal is to confirm highly qualified judges by ensuring timely up-or-down votes for all nominees… Every nominee, no matter if the President is Democrat or Republican, deserves an up-or-down vote,” (Sens. DeMint, Freshman GOP Call for end to Judicial Filibusters, 4/20/05)

    Sen. Elizabeth Dole
    “I think that it’s very important that we reinstate the tradition, the Senate tradition, of 220 years, throughout the entire history of the United States. We’ve had a system that worked, that, when a nominee on the floor has a clear majority of the senators in favor, that they’re going to get that up-or-down vote.” (Interview with Senator Elizabeth Dole, The Big Story with John Gibson, 4/21/05)

  77. 77.

    Suffern ACE

    November 21, 2013 at 11:40 pm

    I thought the great judicial hope was Roy Moore. Nameless federalist society wusses aren’t scary. Threaten us with Roy Moore so we know you’re serious about destroying us through the courts. And whatshisname Phoenix Sherriff for DoJ.

  78. 78.

    David Koch

    November 21, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine

  79. 79.

    Suffern ACE

    November 21, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    @handy: yes, but in 2005 they thought they’d never lose an election again.

  80. 80.

    amk

    November 21, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    @handy: Great collection of rethug hypocrisy.

  81. 81.

    handy

    November 21, 2013 at 11:43 pm

    @amk:

    This is why today was a good day.

  82. 82.

    jonas

    November 21, 2013 at 11:44 pm

    This is pissing off so many of the right people, especially the Villagers. FSM bless Harry Reid!

  83. 83.

    jonas

    November 21, 2013 at 11:47 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    So can we conclude that Dancin’ Dave Gregory will have McCain, Grassley, Paul, Cruz, McConnell and Graham as his only guests on Sunday?

    Oh, don’t be ridiculous! He’ll have Carl Levin or Mark Pryor on for balance.

  84. 84.

    Cacti

    November 21, 2013 at 11:47 pm

    @jonas:

    This is pissing off so many of the right people, especially the Villagers. FSM bless Harry Reid!

    And all they can do is sputter.

    The filibuster is inside baseball stuff for political nerds. Your average Joe or Jill isn’t going to give two shits about it.

  85. 85.

    Bobby Thomson

    November 21, 2013 at 11:48 pm

    @jl: That’s Democratic Senate seats. But I think you knew that.

  86. 86.

    danielx

    November 21, 2013 at 11:51 pm

    I’d feel better if Bobo came back from vacay to wax Burkean — more in sorrow than in anger — about this, but this is a good start at least.

    Let’s not lose hope, it’s a fairly safe bet that Brooks will be on one (or more) of the talking head shows on Sunday morning. He won’t be able to resist.

  87. 87.

    Thoughtcrime

    November 21, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    @scav:

    Shows us on the doll where the bad man nuked you.

  88. 88.

    jonas

    November 22, 2013 at 12:00 am

    @Cacti: Pretty much. 95% of the public has no clue/no care what the filibuster is. On the other hand, they may start noticing that stuff seems to be getting done in Congress for some bizarre reason.

  89. 89.

    mdblanche

    November 22, 2013 at 12:13 am

    Whenever people complain that the Democrats have a lousy messaging strategy, this post is what I’m going to link to. This day was much too long in coming and made necessary by the unilateral and unprecedented abuse of the filibuster by Republicans, and this is the response of the alleged liberals in the media. I don’t know which theory about why they act this way is correct, but it doesn’t matter. The media have made it their mission to tear down Democrats and build up Republicans. Their actions are not neutral, not even in a faux balance sense. It’s been dialed up to eleven as the Republicans have dialed themselves up to eleven, but from the Clinton impeachment to the 2000 election to the Iraq War, their mission is nothing new. Democrats cannot get their messaging into the media like Republicans can because the media will not let them: it would go against their mission.

  90. 90.

    xian

    November 22, 2013 at 12:21 am

    @Poopyman: good luck, Grassley, winning those elections.

  91. 91.

    Pamoya

    November 22, 2013 at 12:24 am

    Dear Flying Spaghetti Monster, my next wish is for more women on the 8th circuit.

  92. 92.

    Elizabelle

    November 22, 2013 at 12:34 am

    @beltane:

    The best thing that could happen to this country would be for the entire beltway media establishment to be put on a luxury cruise ship for the remainder of their natural lives. They could have their vapid little cocktail party scene on the high seas for all eternity without causing harm to any other living thing.

    I saw a Twilight Zone about that very scenario.

    It was about older people past their prime, but same difference.

  93. 93.

    Mike E

    November 22, 2013 at 12:35 am

    @Pamoya: I will be boiling pasta and burning incense for this to become so.

  94. 94.

    fuckwit

    November 22, 2013 at 12:40 am

    @Cacti: Quite the contrary, Joe and Jill are both probably smiling broadly, as they are often wont to do:
    http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2013/01/21/pol_0121_joebidendance_480x360.jpg

    As for the media, there are no words in the English language to convey the level of FUCK YOU I feel towards them. There really are no words. Fuck the fucking media. I hate the fucking media, almost more than I hate the Rethugs. Wait, no that’s not right. The Kochs, Monsanto, Chevron, the NRA– truly there are institutions way more worthy of an emotion as strong as hate.The cowardly, simpering, obsequious media merely dote on those truly hate-worthy motherfuckers. I guess contempt, disgust, might be better suited feelings about the media.

  95. 95.

    David Koch

    November 22, 2013 at 12:44 am

    My favorite is when Harry Reid became Majority Leader he called Bush “a loser”. This infuriated Broder, who proceed to call for Reid’s resignation.

    HA!

  96. 96.

    Mike E

    November 22, 2013 at 12:50 am

    @David Koch: Harry Reid once shot a man down the filibuster in Reno just to watch him it die.

  97. 97.

    mclaren

    November 22, 2013 at 12:54 am

    Dana Milbank’s tweet is great news. The more the inside-the-beltway villager pundits hate what the Democrats do and claim it’s making everything in Washington worse, the more the Democrats need to do it.

    Remember the villagers’ reaction to what Clinton did for the middle class and the economy? They went berserk with hatred, foaming and frothing that “This is OUR town, this is not his town!” and they fellated the thugs who impeached him.

    We need much more of this. I want to see Dana Milbank have a severe embolic infarct over what Obama and the Democrats in congress are doing. Then we’ll be on the right track.

  98. 98.

    Joseph Nobles

    November 22, 2013 at 1:06 am

    Now the Senate will be just as dysfunctional (as the House).

    Oh, so a vast improvement over before. Thanks, Dana!

  99. 99.

    David Koch

    November 22, 2013 at 1:15 am

    @? Martin:

    SCOTUS have not been subject to filibusters due to a longstanding gentleman’s agreement

    In the 237 history of the United States only one SCOTUS nominee has ever been filibustered and that was done by….. wait for it.. the repuks in 1968 when they filibustered Abe Fortas.

  100. 100.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 22, 2013 at 1:16 am

    @jl: Why shouldn’t the Senate function by majority rule? The Republicans were using the filibuster to require a supermajority on everything. This rule change is actually a minor change that will simply allow judges and administration officials to be appointed. You know what I think, fuck the GOP senators; they didn’t know how to play with their toy and there access to was limited.

  101. 101.

    Elizabelle

    November 22, 2013 at 1:18 am

    Milbank’s actual column is more nuanced. He agrees the Republicans have abused the filibuster.

    Democrats were fully justified in stripping Republicans of their right to filibuster President Obama’s nominees — yet they will come to deeply regret what they have done.

    Certainly, Republicans have abused the dilatory tactics that Senate minorities have, for centuries, used with greater responsibility; they seem intent on bringing government to a halt. And the Senate in 2013 is hardly a healthy institution.

    … Reid was right that Republican obstruction has been intolerable; half of the 168 filibusters of executive and judicial nominations in the nation’s history, he noted, have come during the Obama presidency.

    But Reid’s remedy — calling a simple-majority vote to undo more than two centuries of custom — has created a situation in which the minority leader, Mitch McConnell (Ky.), is expected to use the minority’s remaining powers to gum up the works, and to get revenge when Republicans regain the majority.

    FFS. Isn’t McConnell already doing that? Reid did not make McConnell and his party act as they are doing. Republicans could put the interest of the American people first. They choose not to. Theirs is the power grab.

    And Grassley is an awful, awful man.

  102. 102.

    Elizabelle

    November 22, 2013 at 1:21 am

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    That’s just it, too. Taking something away from toddlers, which they have proved they cannot be trusted with.

  103. 103.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 22, 2013 at 1:23 am

    @David Koch: People often bring up Bork when talking about the filibuster, but he got his upperdown vote and the result was down.

  104. 104.

    David Koch

    November 22, 2013 at 1:28 am

    Hugs people, hugs

  105. 105.

    FlipYrWhig

    November 22, 2013 at 1:29 am

    @Elizabelle: Iowa progressives should have nuked Grassley’s mealy ass in 2010 for his healthcare sabotage. Tremendous lost opportunity.

  106. 106.

    David Koch

    November 22, 2013 at 1:31 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Right, Not only that, when Reagan appointed Bork to the DC Circuit in 1982, the Dems didn’t filibuster. Same thing when Scalia and Thomas and Roberts were appointed to the DC bench. The Dems never blocked their appointments, and in Bork’s case, even though everyone knew Bork was nutz if only from the Saturday Night Massacre.

  107. 107.

    RandomMonster

    November 22, 2013 at 1:34 am

    Up or down vote, bitches!

  108. 108.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 22, 2013 at 1:36 am

    @David Koch: The old rules were that if a person was qualified, they didn’t get filibustered. The Dems have abided by that rule. The GOP has not.

  109. 109.

    Suffern ACE

    November 22, 2013 at 1:36 am

    @Elizabelle: So what are we supposed to do, Dana? Our major polticial institutions aren’t working at all and won’t work until the Republicans win control of the House, Senate, Courts and the Presidency? Yes, we will regret the day that Republicans win all those again. But then we will be regretting a lot of things when that happens.

  110. 110.

    Citizen_X

    November 22, 2013 at 1:38 am

    @Poopyman:

    As Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) warned before Thursday’s vote, “When we have the majority, when we have a Republican president, we put more people like Scalia on the court.”

    Putting people like Scalia on the Supreme Court? Oh gosh, that would be terrible!

    Wait: how did he get there, again?

  111. 111.

    Suffern ACE

    November 22, 2013 at 1:40 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: The Democrats have responded very weakly to attacks on Democrats. Criminies. Didn’t Clinton need to nominate two different attorneys general before he got Reno through and two Surgeons General before he finally got one that was acceptable for a vote. And that was when the Dems were still in control of the legislature.

  112. 112.

    Suffern ACE

    November 22, 2013 at 1:43 am

    @Citizen_X: At least he admits that Scalia is a nutcase. But they’ll give us more of them because?

    The best thing Liberals can do right now is proclaim that Scalia is what they have in mind as the ideal justice. Maybe Rachel Maddow can offer to spend a week writing him love letters and blowing him kisses on the air.

  113. 113.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 22, 2013 at 1:46 am

    @Suffern ACE: One of the downsides to not being an authoritarian party is that one must accept differences of opinion. Sometimes those differences cause problems, but it is better than the alternative.

  114. 114.

    danielx

    November 22, 2013 at 1:54 am

    @Suffern ACE:

    Yes, we will regret the day that Republicans win all those again.

    That presumes that Republicans ever win a presidential election again, which is questionable. I’ve been thinking for a while now that anyone who can get through the Republican primary circus is unelectable in a general election.

  115. 115.

    Bjacques

    November 22, 2013 at 2:19 am

    For bonus lulz, if the Senate flips next Movember, the Dems should reinstate the mom filibuster. “You all gave us so much grief for taking it away. FINE! We’ll put it back!”

  116. 116.

    JWR

    November 22, 2013 at 2:20 am

    @handy: Thank you so much for the list. Great for ice-breakers at parties!

    @danielx: For the foreseeable future, I suspect you’re right. But who knows? America ‘elected’ George Bush. Twice! But today, I am happy.

  117. 117.

    pseudonymous in nc

    November 22, 2013 at 2:28 am

    the result is likely to be that the partisanship of Congress will seep increasingly into the judiciary

    coughScaliacoughThomas

    In FredHiattWorld, there’s a grandfather clause if you’re already a partisan wingnut judge.

  118. 118.

    David Koch

    November 22, 2013 at 3:13 am

    Something really sick about the beltway media.

    The Times is butthurt:

    News Analysis

    Partisan Fever in Senate Likely to Rise
    By JONATHAN WEISMAN

    Republicans will no doubt try to exact revenge against the Democrats who humiliated them with the strong-arm move to limit filibusters.

    Likely to rise? Strong arm? Humiliated?

    Really?? Really, NYT?? Really??

    The strong arm tactics were the one the republicans used to mount unprecedented number of filibusters. Oh, but of course, IOKIYAR

  119. 119.

    Elizabelle

    November 22, 2013 at 4:03 am

    FWIW, nonscientific WaPost poll next to Milbank’s “Power Grab” column:

    Do you agree with Senate Democrats’ decision to strike down filibuster rules for most presidential nominations?

    yes, 67%

    no, 33%

    Noes are presumably the reliable 27%, Villagers, NPR totebaggers, people with nostalgia for the good old days, Senate scholars, people who don’t see too good and hit the wrong box.

    Please note this polling result would have passed a filibuster.

    (3913 responses total)

  120. 120.

    amk

    November 22, 2013 at 4:48 am

    @Elizabelle: And these bw & gop assholes accuse Obama being out of touch with the voters.

  121. 121.

    Cervantes

    November 22, 2013 at 6:07 am

    @Kay: Well, then how about “Filibuster Reform Commission report”?

  122. 122.

    Matt McIrvin

    November 22, 2013 at 6:47 am

    @jl:

    On other hand, after Grassley gave the game away, and basically said ‘aint it awful what the Dems did, that is so ruthless, but you want ruthless, get a load of we GOPers will do when we win”

    “Well, my little pretty, I can cause accidents TOO!”

  123. 123.

    kindness

    November 22, 2013 at 7:04 am

    My gloat is swimming in a sea of tears from Serious Village Elders.

    So sweet.

  124. 124.

    Lurking Canadian

    November 22, 2013 at 7:51 am

    @Citizen_X: seriously! What the hell kind of weak-ass threat is that? “If you do this, we’ll retaliate by continuing to do exactly what we’ve been doing! Then you’ll be sorry!”

  125. 125.

    dww44

    November 22, 2013 at 9:14 am

    @Elizabelle: Over the last few days the problem with the media is that their headlines are NOT NUANCED and pretty much fall in line with the GOP messaging. That’s been our problem for at least a couple of decades. There was the article at the Times a couple of days ago and now Milbank’s. It’s why countering media messaging on Obamacare is so important. Democratic and progressive groups ought to be bombarding all the media outlets for a space to get the truth out. It shouldn’t be Obama just on his own. It won’t succeed if they are only on MSNBC and liberal blogs.

    If ever an objective and fair-minded person needed to be convinced who it is that controls the media, the hue and cry about the failed roll out of Obamacare proves it once and for all. 2 nights ago the lead story on the CBS Evening News was Obama’s historically low poll ratings. It is indeed ironic that that very network’s broadcasting from November 1963 has become the most iconic. How truly low they’ve fallen. Fox wannabe’s, all of them.

  126. 126.

    GRANDPA john

    November 22, 2013 at 9:30 am

    @handy: So when can we expect to see this front paged at NYT or WP and how soon will it be the lead story on,
    CBS,NBC ABC and CNN evening news shows

  127. 127.

    Tomolitics

    November 22, 2013 at 9:51 am

    @Poopyman: Respomse to Grassley, et al; Scalia, Thomas, Alito are on the fucking court. Dems rarely use the filibuster for appointments so eliminating it (tho not for Supremes) is really just a rebalancing in response to unprecedented GOPer obstruction. All the talk about power grab & overreach, as well as playing into McConnel’s hands, is delusional.

  128. 128.

    Elizabelle

    November 22, 2013 at 11:13 am

    @dww44:

    word

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