Reid: McConnell Broke His Word On Filibuster, So The Nuclear Option Is On The Table

[deminks]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/reid-mcconnell-filibuster-nuclear-option.php

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) launched a barn-burner of a speech Thursday on the Senate floor, excoriating Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for continued obstruction when it comes to presidential nominees.

“Senator McConnell broke his word,” Reid said. “The Republican leader has failed to live up to his commitments. He’s failed to do what he said he would do — move nominations by regular order except in extraordinary circumstances. I refuse to unilaterally surrender my right to respond to this breach of faith.”

The remarks were Reid’s first in weeks on the issue of nominations and Senate gridlock, a brewing fight that he sidelined last month in order to pass immigration reform through the Senate. McConnell has been regularly arguing for weeks that Reid is breaking his word by threatening to change the rules with the nuclear option after he agreed not to upon passage of the modest rules changes in January which preserved the filibuster.

(end snip)

The one and only time I hope I will every say, Nuke "em".

[Mr. David]

1. No, no, Reid. Not on the Table. Nuke it.

It's time for the Republicans to sit in the corner and watch them lose their seats in the 2014 elections and beyond.

[sharp_stick]

2. Reid has cried wolf on this subject

so often I don't think I'm the only one who's going to say. I'll believe it when he actually does something rather than blather about it and then drop it without a whimper.

[Wounded Bear]

5. This goes for Senate Democrats, too.....

Many of them have been far from supportive of any change.

Wa-a-a-a-a-ay past time for it.

[fadedrose]

3. Long overdue...

[bunnies]

4. Wake me when it happens.

[JustAnotherGen]

7. +1

[Aerows]

16. Good night

Rip Van Winkle LOL

[AtomicKitten]

6. The turtle promises not to jerk the football away at the last minute.

.... again.

[winter is coming]

8. Yeah, sure, you betcha.

I'll believe it when it happens.

[hobbit709]

9. I'll believe it when he actually does it.

I've heard this before.

[cilla4progress]

10. Sh-yeah

will believe it when i see it

[hedda_foil]

11. To which, McConnell threatens the death of the Senate.

snip...

"Senate Democrats are getting ready to do permanent damage to this body,” McConnell warned, and made a morbid reference regarding Reid. “No majority leader wants written on his tombstone that he presided over the end of the Senate.”

Not that he doesn't plan to kill the filibuster as soon as his party regains the majority. It's just that he intends to blame Reid when he does it. But then, he would do so in any case.

[Andy823]

22. Ironic

Because we all know what would happen if republicans took over. Does anyone really think that McConnell wouldn't change the rules so democrats had to sit on the sidelines because the republicans would end the filibuster on their first day in charge!

Harry just needs to shut up and do it, use the nuke option and stop all the boy who cried wolf crap!

[burnodo]

12. Save it, Harry

Your record on this topic is not good

[Berlum]

13. Republican fail has set America's barns on fire: no freaking farm bill

...in addition to everything else.

Republicans have failed America in every single respect, with pronounced lack of integrity.

[byeya]

14. Waiting, no longer hoping

[Aerows]

15. Oh FFS

This is the *first* time I've heard this from Harry Reid. He'd *never* claim to reform the filibuster rules and then do abso-fucking-lutely nothing! Not Harry Reid! (as if that is even needed at this point)

[GoneFishin]

17. Ppffff.

[avebury]

18. Reid has not learned

that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

McConnell's actions were totally predictable and Reid was naive to say the least.

[brooklynite]

19. Spoke to my contacts at DSCC...

...and said that. if they're serious, they need to line of the votes now, rather than wait and see what happens.

[hughee99]

20. "Wolf! Wolf!" Sorry Harry I don't believe you anymore. n/t

[1-Old-Man]

21. If Harry is sounding even a little like a Democrat it means his donations are down.

[Blue Idaho]

23. Too little too late.

Harry is judging himself by his intentions while the rest of us are judging him by his actions.

When it comes to fillibuster reform - Harry has proved himself to be an empty suit.

[Sheepshank]

24. A continuing and clear pattern...it's taken me a long time to recognize

A policy or law than needs addressing. Seeming threats or compromise seems to have been employed by the Republicans. DU comes unglued at the spineless Harry Reid, or Barack Obama.

Republicans cannot keep their word and break their word completely nullifying the original agreements. And by their own doing they not only lose credibility with their own constituency, but they bring back the law or policy that was originally being addressed...and they lose. Taxes, DOMA, ACA, marriage equality, immigration, debt ceiling, debt ceiling again, medicare and very likely filibuster rules...when are they going to learn?