They blinked! Reid's hardball pays off on judicial nominees

[babylonsister]

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/14/10687689-reids-hardball-pays-off-on-judicial-nominees

Reid's hardball pays off on judicial nominees
By Steve Benen
-
Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:36 PM EDT


This week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) decided to put judicial nominations on the front-burner, much to the chagrin of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has made obstructionism one of his top priorities. Reid played some procedural hardball, and as of this afternoon, it's paid off.

To briefly recap, Reid wanted to move 17 stalled, non-controversial judicial nominees -- and said everything else, including action on the poorly-named "JOBS Act" -- would have to wait. If the Senate operated the way it used to, the confirmation votes on the nominees could be dealt with in an afternoon, and the chamber could move on. If Republicans wanted to obstruct, the chamber would get bogged down for several weeks.

The decision, Reid said, would be up to the GOP.

Today, the two Senate leaders struck a deal.

Democratic aides said senators would vote to confirm 12 federal district court nominees and two circuit court picks by May and move next to a vote on a bipartisan jobs bill that passed overwhelmingly last week by the House with White House support.

Both sides had plausible claims to victory. Dems are getting 14 confirmation votes, and are allowing progressive on a small-businesses bill that they generally like anyway. Republicans lowered the number of judges from 17 to 14, and moved the legislation ahead of the judicial nominees on the calendar.

The larger point, though, is that Reid was able to generate some progress by picking a fight. Had the Majority Leader not forced the issue on Monday, these 14 judges probably wouldn't be on track for confirmation anytime soon.

[JackintheGreen]

1. By May?!?

If it can be done in an afternoon, and they don't do anything but catfight anyway, why can't they do it, oh, I dunno, by the end of next week?

What a stupid victory. The GOP still get to put it off 6-10 weeks. WTF else are those idiots doing?

[Tx4obama]

6. No, they won't all be in May, some this week etc

UPDATE: Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell strike deal on judges

SNIP

Under the agreement, the Senate will consider seven district court nominees before the two-week Easter recess that begins April 2, aides said. Of the seven, the Senate will vote on three judges this week and four next week.

When the Senate returns from its break in mid-April, it would hold votes on three district court judges and one circuit court judge.

Finally, the chamber would vote on two district court judges and one circuit judge on May 7, the day senators return from a state work period.

SNIP

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74019.html

[JackintheGreen]

13. Thanks for the clarification

but I still see little reason to put off the last 6 for a month.

At least it's getting done.

[Dont call me Shirley]

2. OMG, Reid has grown a set!

[Carla in Sequim]

12. Shhh, don't say that

Sharron Angle will think she has magical powers:

[thucythucy]

3. So why didn't Reid do this three years ago?

Hardball is the only thing this crop of Republicans understands.

[annabanana]

9. Exactly my initial response . .Think of how much

could have been done this past 3 years.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

4. Too bad Reid doesn't play hardball more often

Like, every day.

[smaug]

5. Why is this taking until May?

Bluntly, brute force it. Schedule an immediate vote, and when reTHUGlicans whine, tell them to camp out in the Senate floor if they want to filibuster. Call for cloture of all present Senators every two hours.

That's hardball.

[Tx4obama]

7. See comment #6 n/t

[mistertrickster]

8. THAT'S how you deal with fascists. nt

[tsuki]

10. and he believed the lying GOP, why? nt

[ellisonz]

11. Give'em Hell Harry!

[99th_Monkey]

14. I think the GOP Presidential Primary Clown Show helped

to grow Reid some spine.

The more those idiot candidates destroy the GOP from within,
the less courage it takes for Dems to really act like Dems
again ... i.e. recover from the Dem's PTSD from 8 years of
being bashed and bullied by the Bush Crime Family.

[marble falls]

15. About freaking time.