tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post1848726362011288425..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Gang of 14, RIP (Still)Jonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-14049375138411723772011-12-07T13:56:24.519-06:002011-12-07T13:56:24.519-06:00Massspeal,
I hope it happens and I hope that'...Massspeal,<br /><br />I hope it happens and I hope that's the result. It seems like there is a lot of posturing that happens now because everyone knows the bills they pass aren't going anywhere (Ryan Plan?).<br /><br />Of course, there will still be divided governments. But, when one party is elected to the presidency and controls both houses, then it should be able enact it's agenda. And be held accountable for the results.swainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696058464538049417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-81913774721219228972011-12-07T13:44:28.626-06:002011-12-07T13:44:28.626-06:00Assuming the filibuster is drastically weakened or...Assuming the filibuster is drastically weakened or eliminated in the near future, wouldn't one of the advantages of that be that the majority party would be able to/forced to 1) enact its agenda, and 2) defend its agenda?massappealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17883213166005005577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-88463862333477758832011-12-07T00:56:42.126-06:002011-12-07T00:56:42.126-06:00Dilan,
Yeah, that's pretty much my view of it...Dilan,<br /><br />Yeah, that's pretty much my view of it. There's a chance that they'll wind up finding rules to retain the influence of individual Senators, and that's what I'd like, but the most likely outcome IMO is probably that it becomes House-like.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-16938611146465718592011-12-06T18:25:09.644-06:002011-12-06T18:25:09.644-06:00I think we are headed for a nuclear option on just...I think we are headed for a nuclear option on just about everything.<br /><br />And whatever you say about positive aspects of filibusters, they simply don't work if they become routine business, which means that they are not long for this world. One party or the other is going to reach the breaking point with something that they feel has to get through, and they will eliminate the filibuster. The other party will scream and holler, but the precedent will be set.Dilan Esperhttp://www.twitter.com/dilanespernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-17116406347282018382011-12-06T13:27:27.008-06:002011-12-06T13:27:27.008-06:00And it’s not just judges. All nominations and ever...And it’s not just judges. All nominations and every piece of legislation gets similar treatment. <br /><br />I assume a Republican president will get the same obstrucution. The US Senate has not only broken itself, it’s now broken the executive and judiciary branches as well.<br /><br />When and how will it change? I don’t know. I can’t believe these rules persisted into the 112th congress. <br /><br />I think the best and simplest rule changes would be to keep 60 vote cloture but revert to regular session if there is nobody holding the floor. If a Senator wants to filibuster make him filibuster. The problem now is that obstruction is the default. If Orin Hatch wants to block a nomination all he has to do is not vote to allow them to vote on it. That threshold is way, way too low.<br /><br />If Orin really wants to hold the floor and talk for 5 hours about the evils of Caitlin Halligan and how she should never be a federal judge, then he should be able to do that. And when he and his colleagues are done they should vote. <br /><br />If a filibuster required any kind of real conviction or sacrifice on the part of a senator it would happen much less often.swainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696058464538049417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-23038927352218848992011-12-06T13:10:46.573-06:002011-12-06T13:10:46.573-06:00"In other words, we're moving more and mo..."In other words, we're moving more and more rapidly towards a system in which appellate judges cannot be confirmed except in the rare case of a president happening to have a very large party majority in the Senate, something that happens rarely."<br /><br />I don't think this is right. Republican judges, I suspect, will continue to be confirmed in all circumstances.Tybalthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12609530001755953035noreply@blogger.com