1/25/2013

16 Responses to “Filibuster Reform Makes Liberals Mad”

1. Erick Erickson’s parting thought in the comments is well worth consideration.

   Harry Reid may be afraid that if Democrats lose the gun control fight they could lose the Senate as well. Which would hand the Republicans a pretty big stick just when turn-about was in the wind.

   Oil Can Harry may be a corrupt villain and a smarmy jackass, but he still knows enough to hedge his bets.

   ropelight (658857) — 1/25/2013 @ 8:28 am

   
   

2. i took it to mean he was afraid if Democrats win the gun control fight they could lose the Senate as well

   happyfeet (ce327d) — 1/25/2013 @ 8:30 am

   
   

3. 2. Second.

   gary gulrud (64d926) — 1/25/2013 @ 8:38 am

   
   

4. Regarding Harry Reid and the gun control battle, it brings to mind a formulation that Hunter S. Thompson once used to describe a difficult situation that some politicians found themselves in: “Losing would hurt pretty bad, but winning would be downright intolerable.” That may not be exactly how it went, but that was the general sentiment.

   JVW (4826a9) — 1/25/2013 @ 9:01 am

   
   

5. If Democrats win the gun control fight they’ll be too busy dealing with the Insurrection Act to worry about filibusters.

   ropelight (658857) — 1/25/2013 @ 9:02 am

   
   

6. If they thought the British taking DC in 1814 was bad, having the modern equivalent of The Green Mountain Men, or The Swamp Rats, descending upon DC would terrify their little souls.
   Plus, there is no Army of the Potomac to protect them.

   askeptic (b8ab92) — 1/25/2013 @ 10:39 am

   
   

7. https://patterico.com/2006/05/29/republicans-caving-on-judicial-nominees-thanks-to-gang-of-14-deal/

   It seems to me the unhappy liberals complaining today are largely making the same sorts of argument in the post I linked above.

   aphrael (efbf91) — 1/25/2013 @ 12:14 pm

   
   

8. I remember when the Democrats used the threat of filibusters to derail even Circuit Court nominees under Bush. When Republicans considered a “nuclear option” of getting rid of filibusters for judicial nominations only, to hear the Left squeal you would think we were going to burn the Capitol and poop on FDR’s grave.

   Now they are furious it isn’t being completely overturned by fiat (Reid envisioned a parliamentary ruling prohibiting filibuster on adoption of rules, and slipping it in that way).

   Estragon (3bc1a7) — 1/25/2013 @ 8:45 pm

   
   

9. Obama and his followers have no sense of the value of the institutions that they are destroying for short term gain, at best.

   The short term thinking of that incompetent pack is breathtaking to observe. One wonders what it takes for people to realize how willing Obama is to sacrifice so many others to his incompetence and ego.

   SPQR (768505) — 1/25/2013 @ 8:51 pm

   
   

10. That “incompetence and ego” just won a very important election, an event causing the Republican establishment to hyperventilate, while the Tea Party continues on as if nothing changed. Does anyone really think that the hyperventilation will produce significant change, i.e. change in their policies toward the demographics they have alienated? I doubt it, because basically change is not in the Conservatives’ DNA. Therefore, obstruction marches on along with continued deterioration of our nation whose dysfunctional government cannot get anything significant accomplished. Pretty gloomy, eh? Basically we need our two parties working together to produce compromise solutions, like the good old days. I’d like to be surprised and wrong!

    Perry (232770) — 1/26/2013 @ 4:50 am

    
    

11. Perry enjoys spleen-venting.

    JD (4fbbe6) — 1/26/2013 @ 6:01 am

    
    

12. … whose dysfunctional government cannot get anything significant accomplished. Pretty gloomy, eh? Basically we need our two parties working together to produce compromise solutions, like the good old days.

    Okay, that just cracked me up.

    JD (4fbbe6) — 1/26/2013 @ 6:14 am

    
    

13. I know, they get their stimulus, obamacare, Suttton/Dillinger passed, it’s just that nothing that really works, gets through

    narciso (3fec35) — 1/26/2013 @ 6:17 am

    
    

14. It’s not Democrats or Republicans who lose when the filibuster filibusters, it’s the right of a people just to debate an issue. I can’t see anyone defending secret holds in cowardly fashion.

    now it’s the Republicans looking to keep the filibuster but I remember Hillary when she was the majority complaining about the minority in the Senate treated like “plantation” folk.

    It serves no one to block debate of a bill that has 51 votes. No matter what side your’e on

    mister lou (2b7a25) — 1/26/2013 @ 1:41 pm

    
    

15. The filibuster protects the minority from the tyranny of the majority. Respect for the rights of minorities is one of the reasons republics endure and majority dominated democracies quickly devolve into dictatorships.

    ropelight (582db7) — 1/26/2013 @ 3:32 pm

    
    

16. while the Tea Party continues on as if nothing changed

    Me thinks the TEA Party is set to engage The Long War, and will continue to do so!
    As RR once said: You can accomplish almost anything in …. if you’re not concerned with who gets the credit.

    askeptic (2bb434) — 1/26/2013 @ 3:49 pm