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[Ithil]

They have constructed their power base over the last ten years upon so many dirty tricks, loopholes, abuses and BS that if they ever lose their power they are going to experience the biggest fall possible.
They've made it so they have to rely on gerrymandering, voter suppression, and other BS to stay in office. It makes them very hard to get out of office, but it makes it a one way trip for most of them if they do.

I'm McConnell knows no party stays on top forever, no matter how much you stack the deck in your favour. Doing this may backfire on them in the future, and he knows it.

 

[zer0blivion]

Is "Trumper tantrum" a thing? I feel like it should be a thing.

 

[ahoyhoy]

Zero benefit to Dems to keep it if they already pulled that cord

It's bizarre such rules exist in the first place if they can easily be switched on and off with a simple majority vote.

 

[marrec]

The thing is, 60 votes to cloture isn't exactly unprecedented for SCOTUS nominees. BOTH of Obama's nominees had to clear the 60 vote hurdle before they were confirmed.

 

[TheOfficeMut]

There's no difference between this guy and a hard right crazy person. They will vote the same as each other 100% of the time. If you're not a swing vote like Kennedy, it doesn't really matter how far right he goes.

There are certainly better or worse nominees. He seems to be a better one and I'd hate to see a more right-wing be nominated.

 

[Blader]

Trump is fine with nuking the filibuster because any scenario where he isn't the president and the Republicans don't have a majority in the Senate doesn't occur to him. And that status quo may well persist for the next four years. But whether or not he is re-elected in 2020, the fact is Trump will not be in politics long enough, or frankly live long enough given age + diet + stress of the presidency, for this to ever really come back and bite him in the ass. There are plenty of younger Republicans in the Senate who will have to live with the consequences of this when the shoe is back on the other foot (which, btw, happened just eight years ago).

 

[Xe4]

They should call the fucking bluff, if only to see Republicans squirm. Best case scenario, the filibuster does not go through, worst case, it goes through and democrats undoubtedly take control of the executive and both legislatures after the next recession, only to not be obstructed at all by republicans.

 

[shem935]

Spineless dems won't pose a problem.

Schumer has already said they will Filibuster any nominee. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/senate-democrats-filibuster-supreme-court-pick-234368

 

[slit]

They won't have to anyway. The moderate Democrats will allow the confirmation to go through and then nobody will hold them accountable.

 

[ahoyhoy]

There's no difference between this guy and a hard right crazy person. They will vote the same as each other 100% of the time. If you're not a swing vote like Kennedy, it doesn't really matter how far right he goes.

Scalia's votes randomly went into "liberal" territory when the conservative position just so happened to flagrantly shit all over the Constitution.

Didn't happen much, but it did happen.

 

[onadesertedisland]

They won't have to anyway. The moderate Democrats will allow the confirmation to go through and then nobody will hold them accountable.

That's a bingo.

 

[Cosmo Clock 21]

Democrats literally have nothing to lose by calling their bluff because the GOP is in control. At least expose them for the partisan twats they are and make them own everything every step of the way.

Many senate Democrats are up for re-election in 2018. Will being obstructionist hurt their chances of winning again? Hard to tell.

 

[jviggy43]

Wish the dems had had that kind of attitude when Garland was picked.

 

[Jarmel]

It's bizarre such rules exist in the first place if they can easily be switched on and off with a simple majority vote.

It's absolutely stupid that something like that could be eliminated by a pure majority anyway.

 

[marrec]

Schumer has already said they will Filibuster any nominee. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/senate-democrats-filibuster-supreme-court-pick-234368

Again, this is normal.

It's important to remember that this is an effective filibuster, not an actual "Ted Cruz reading Cat in the Hat in a diaper" filibuster.

What Schumer is saying is that Gorsuch is going to need 60 votes to move through the Senate, the same standard that Obama's nominees had to meet.

Wish the dems had had that kind of attitude when Garland was picked.

It wouldn't have mattered as they didn't have a majority in the senate and the Judiciary Committee wouldn't even give him a hearing.

 

[Netherscourge]

Sorry for the uninformed question, but what is the future fall-out, so to speak of McConnell going this option? To be specific, the consequences benicillin spoke of.

All you would need is a simple majority to pass any legislation.

ANY legislation.

(Republicans have the majority at the moment.)

 

[Xe4]

They won't have to anyway. The moderate Democrats will allow the confirmation to go through and then nobody will hold them accountable.

The GOP needs, what, 8 democrats to break the filibuster? Not going to happen, tops they get 4.

 

[slit]

The GOP needs what, 8 democrats to break the filibuster? Not going to happen, tops they get 4.

There are already seven I could see flipping.

 

[ahoyhoy]

It's absolutely stupid that something like that could be eliminated by a pure majority anyway.

Yeah. It's like having a PSN trophy for beating a game on Hard Mode but you can just switch it to Easy for the entire game and just switch it back to Hard right before the ending credits.

 

[marrec]

All you would need is a simply majority to pass any legislation.

ANY legislation.

That is not the nuclear option.

This would be specifically for SCOTUS nominees.

 

[Exile20]

Too bad Obama didn't have balls like this.

To his defense, that is a trait in Dems.

While the repubs, don't give a fuck.

 

[BackLogJoe]

Can someone explain to me why this hurts the Republicans? So in two years, let's assume it looks like they won't retain control of the Senate, can't they just put the filibuster back in place before elections?

 

[Glass Shark]

Knowing his temperament, his version of "nuclear" may be literal.

 

[Jarmel]

The filibuster is getting nuked at some point anyway, it just matters whether it's this or some random other bill. The Republicans have made clear they have no interest in playing along.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

February 2017 - GOP eliminates filibuster on SCOTUS nominations
March 2017 - GOP eliminates filibuster on everything
December 2018 - GOP reinstates filibuster on everything

This is exactly what will happen. These fuckers are pure evil.

 

[onadesertedisland]

The GOP needs what, 8 democrats to break the filibuster? Not going to happen, tops they get 4.

Any they get should be blacklisted from committees or special positions in the party, if not escorted out.

 

[Kurdel]

Trump is behaving how the Republicans imagined Obama behaved, and the worst part is they are loving it.

This is bizzarro world.

 

[Ithil]

Can someone explain to me why this hurts the Republicans? So in two years, let's assume it looks like they won't retain control of the Senate, can't they just put the filibuster back in place before elections?

That's not how it works.

 

[slit]

Can someone explain to me why this hurts the Republicans? So in two years, let's assume it looks like they won't retain control of the Senate, can't they just put the filibuster back in place before elections?

Whoever is in control makes the rules so yes they could but the Democrats could just take it away again.

 

[marrec]

Can someone explain to me why this hurts the Republicans? So in two years, let's assume it looks like they won't retain control of the Senate, can't they just put the filibuster back in place before elections?

And because the precedent was set, the now in Majority Dems just remove it again.

 

[drspeedy]

Standing on the edge of the underworld
Looking at the abyss
And I'm hoping for some miracle
To breakout to escape from all this
Whispers in the air tell the tale
Of a life that's gone
Desolation, devastation
What a mess we made, when it all went wrong

Some say a comet will fall from the sky
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves
Followed by fault lines that cannot sit still
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dipshits

And some say the end is near
Some say we'll see Armageddon soon
I certainly hope we will
'cause I sure could use a vacation from this...

 

[Netherscourge]

That is not the nuclear option.

This would be specifically for SCOTUS nominees.

Yea, you're right. I'm thinking from an end-of-the-world mindset today.

 

[BackLogJoe]

That's not how it works. When it's gone, it's gone.

I believe it is how it works.

 

[onadesertedisland]

Trump is behaving how the Republicans imagined Obama behaved, and the worst part is they are loving it.

This is bizzarro world.

republicunts were worried that Democrats would do what they wanted to do, but couldn't. Now they can.

 

[Xe4]

There are already seven I could see flipping.

The only two I can think that will definitely allow the pick are Manchin and Heidtkamp, who are both in deeply red states. What are the 6 other possible flips?

 

[ElFly]

They have constructed their power base over the last ten years upon so many dirty tricks, loopholes, abuses and BS that if they ever lose their power they are going to experience the biggest fall possible.
They've made it so they have to rely on gerrymandering, voter suppression, and other BS to stay in office. It makes them very hard to get out of office, but it makes it a one way trip for most of them if they do.

I'm McConnell knows no party stays on top forever, no matter how much you stack the deck in your favour. Doing this may backfire on them in the future, and he knows it.

I expect the republicans to employ _every_ trick to remain in power, tho, even straight up making up voting results if necessary

just in mexico the pri was in power for 70 years, so, yeah, maybe no party stays on top forever but they can certainly be on top for a lifetime

 

[Metroidvania]

Can someone explain to me why this hurts the Republicans? So in two years, let's assume it looks like they won't retain control of the Senate, can't they just put the filibuster back in place before elections?

They can sure, but the 'risk'/precedent of the cat being (more) out of the bag is still there, if they do.

But as you say, how 'big' of a risk that is depends on the 2018 election results.

 

[Man Called Aerodynamics]

I say the Dems call the bluff.

Me too. What do they have to lose at this point. Republicans clearly have no intentions of playing fair or honoring norms. Democrats can either take the gloves off and join the fight on Republicans' terms, or they can keep getting stepped on forever.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

Trump is behaving how the Republicans imagined Obama behaved, and the worst part is they are loving it.

This is bizzarro world.

No, this is what white nationalism and neofascism looks like. Everything we've heard about "god king Obama" over the past 8 years has been pure projection.

 

[Jobbs]

What the hell does that mean?

It's something the dickless democrats should have done when they were in power.

In the senate, anyone can hold up anything for any reason by invoking the filibuster (delaying vote indefinitely). To proceed with the vote in such a case, you need 60 senators to vote for cloture. This is nearly impossible and for this reason almost nothing ever gets done. Obamacare, for example, was extremely compromised in order to reach 60 votes.

"Going nuclear" or "the nuclear option" is the way they've always referred to the idea of getting rid of this trick all together and allowing a simple 51 vote majority to pass things. Crazy idea, right?

 

[marrec]

I believe it is how it works.

You're correct, but again, there's nothing stopping Dems from just turning the switch off again. McConnell doesn't want to do this.

 

[Koomaster]

Honestly, I think they should confirm Gorsuch, and here is why.
We all know Trump is a petty, vindictive douche nozzle. My worry is, if the Democrats stall the confirmation, Trump has the ability to change the nomination to a complete right wing nutjob. Just to be a dick. And at that point you then risk the nuclear option there too, and now Drudge, Breibert or some other fucker is on the court. Instead of a guy that by all accounts is moderate-right-leaning.

This is very much; 'Well we should compromise now because it could be so much worse.' Which is about as cowardly as you can get when it comes to politics. That could apply to anything. Well we better not fight on this issue or that issue because he could turn around and make it ever worse. That is how you very much lose everything without even putting up a fight.

Plus if he puts a literal nutjob on the SC, that's going to alienate the actual sane/moderate republicans the party has. Can't actually be in power if you do things your base doesn't approve of.

 

[NYCmetsfan]

Couldn't they just reinstitue the filibuster if they screw up an election? Like, right before the Democrats take over.

No. Nuclear Options is a parliamentarian point of order that would say Cloture is unconstitutional.

I guess a new majority could but it back but for the same party to do it would require the same parliamentarian to make two different decisions

Its all do a glitch. They eliminated a rule in the 1800s that allowed people to end debate "provide to the previous question" so nobody could stop someone from holding up things. They eventually put in the cloture which is a 60 vote requirement to end debate. But someone can call a point of order (question the rules), they'd be overturned (do to precedent) and then appeal the ruling by a simple majority.

 

[JHoNNy1OoO]

Many senate Democrats are up for re-election in 2018. Will being obstructionist hurt their chances of winning again? Hard to tell.

You don't put up a fight for the SCOTUS, even less Democrats will come out and vote for your ass come 2018.

Lest we forget what happened to Dems in 2010 when they were too chicken shit to own Obamacare and pretend they had nothing to do with it.

 

[SURGEdude]

Opening this floodgate is bigger than anything he's done so far.

The context of doing this is unprecedented.

 

[marrec]

Me too. What do they have to lose at this point. Republicans clearly have no intentions of playing fair or honoring norms. Democrats can either take the gloves off and join the fight on Republicans' terms, or they can keep getting stepped on forever.

The best part is that this obstruction precedent was set by the Republicans so any charges of obstructionism can just be shrugged off. The voters showed that there is zero political fallout from it anyway.

Require 60 votes. Same thing that Sotomayor and Kagan had to get.

 

[LegendofJoe]

Honestly, I think they should confirm Gorsuch, and here is why.
We all know Trump is a petty, vindictive douche nozzle. My worry is, if the Democrats stall the confirmation, Trump has the ability to change the nomination to a complete right wing nutjob. Just to be a dick. And at that point you then risk the nuclear option there too, and now Drudge, Breibert or some other fucker is on the court. Instead of a guy that by all accounts is moderate-right-leaning.

This is my thinking. Save the filibuster and grandstanding for the true nut job that will surely be nominated should any other judge retire/pass away.

 

[SURGEdude]

Many senate Democrats are up for re-election in 2018. Will being obstructionist hurt their chances of winning again? Hard to tell.

Are you fucking kidding me? It didn't hurt republicans against a very popular president. It sure as hell wouldn't hurt democrats against a guy who only has 1/3rs of the country on his side, AKA the backwash.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

Some say a comet will fall from the sky
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves
Followed by fault lines that cannot sit still
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dipshits

And some say the end is near
Some say we'll see Armageddon soon
I certainly hope we will
'cause I sure could use a vacation from this...

Hey, you took the words right out of my (Maynard's) mouth!

I quoted that on the day Trump and the other down stream shit bags were elected into office.

 

[Xe4]

The best part is that this obstruction precedent was set by the Republicans so any charges of obstructionism can just be shrugged off. The voters showed that there is zero political fallout from it anyway.

Require 60 votes. Same thing that Sotomayor and Kagan had to get.

If the GOP put someone half reasonable (in the vein of Roberts or Kennedy), they could get 60 easily, but they want the next Scalia, which is going to be a major problem for democrats, as it should be.