Daily kos: Dems could reap benefit of nuked fillibuster

[BurtWorm]

As unblock says in another thread: Bring it on!

(I'm agnostic on the wisdom of provoking an end to judicial fillibusters, but I do see an advantage in daring the Republicans to do it with the knowledge that Dems only need a majority in the Senate to make them pay through the nose for their extremism.)

http://feeds.dailykos.com/dailykos/index?m=1420


Bush has been hovering in the 38-41 range. The Republican Congress is in the 30s. Democrats have opened up big leads in the generic congressional ballot. Republicans are reeling from investigations and indictments of all their top players. Republicans are going down hard in several key states, including Ohio and Missouri. And people are incrasingly dissatisfied with the direction of the country.

So really, given the tenuous hold on power of the Republican Party, do Republicans really want to ditch the filibuster? Because it won't be long before Democrats retake the White House and congress. And it sure will be nice to need just 51 votes to pass legislation and confirm nice, solid, liberal judges.

I say test the GOP. If we don't use the filibuster out of fear they'll pull the nuclear option, then there is no practical filibuster in existence anyway. Force them to pull the trigger. Let's see just how confident they are in their "permanent majority" status.

Because the way things are going for Republicans, it won't be long before Democrats reap the benefits.

[bryant69]

1. Yes

This situation can turn to our advantage if we use it to educate the American people about what the Bush Republicans are all about - Extremism, Extremism, Extremism.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[bowens43]

2. the nuclear option has nothing to do with passing legislation.

It is only relevant to judaical nominations.

[wtmusic]

6. not true

legislation is filibustered all the time.

[kentuck]

10. The Repubs want to convince people it is only about judges...

But if the precedent is set, then the Democrats should take advantage of it when they are returned to the majority. It's the game the Repubs are playing.

[wtmusic]

15. Exactly

And that is the quandary they find themselves in. That "up or down vote" mantra might show up in a future vote on ANWR, the war, or any number of other partisan issues in a Democrat-controlled congress.

[On the Road]

3. The Powder is Still Dry and Waiting to be Used

This is the time it can cause the biggest explosion.

[Kber]

4. Bravo

I tripple dog dare them to go nukuler!!

[kentuck]

5. Definitely something to consider...

But why would such a precedent only pertain to the selection of judges? Is this like a cafeteria - you can pick and choose what you wish to "nuke"? Why not a simple majority for healthcare reform? For repeal of taxcuts? etc?

[HereSince1628]

11. Good question, What other things can be targeted with nukes?

I hope the Dems fully appreciate this before they taunt the pukes into squeezing the pickle.

[tridim]

14. Is "squeezing the pickle" anything like

"Hiding the salami"?

[HereSince1628]

16. Hahahahah...I don't think so.

It's a term for the bomb release:

"I have selected the Kh-29T missile for this attack. It is, you would say “fire and forget,” da? When the “Pe-Er” range cue lights, squeeze the “pickle” and the Kh-29T does the rest!"

[tridim]

7. My only worry is the Nuclear/Diebold option

I'm talking about the full-on, screw what the polls say, Diebold-the-hell-out-of-America option. The tests of 2002 and 2004 were very successful and have gone completely unpunished.

[BurtWorm]

9. That is always something to consider.

[Jersey Devil]

8. But what brought the Bush numbers down to the 30s?

The war, Katrina, the Plame outing, gas prices, etc.

The theory you have stated from Kos changes the focus to the court and the actions of the Dems rather than the disasters of Bush. I think Rove would smile very broadly at such a mistake.

[BurtWorm]

13. In response. I point to your signature

This is a game of political hardball that could bean the brains out of the right wing if they're not careful. Or out of Dems if they're not. But if they don't take a risk, they'll never know.

[Walt Starr]

12. SPOT ON!

And the beauty is, when the Democrats regain a majority and hold the White House, they can rub whining Republican noses in the crap they left for themselves!