Turns out Harry Reid knows the only way to deal with bullies is to fight back. Not only did he refuse to compromise with Republicans who threatened to default on the nation’s debt if they didn’t get their way. He’s now led the Democrats to eliminate filibusters for most presidential nominations. The rule change (accomplished by a 51-vote majority vote today) means that federal judge nominees and executive-office appointments can now be confirmed by a simple majority of senators, rather than the 60-vote super-majority that has been required for more than two centuries. (The rule change doesnt apply to Supreme Court nominees.) Republicans brought on this rule change by abusing the process – refusing to confirm almost every judge Obama has nominated, including his last four nominees to the all-important District of Columbia Circuit, on pure political grounds rather than on merit. Republican extremism can not be allowed to destroy our democracy. Today, Reid and the Democrats struck back.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:01:23 +0000