The 'nuclear option' has been averted

[Cory]

Oh, comeon Ken, we all know that something would have happened. There would be absolutely NO bipartisan cooperation, multiple senators have said that if the republican majority uses a majority vote to end debate, they would do everything in their power to "stick a wrench in things". It would not be good.

I'm interested in seeing where, specifically the democrats have changed the rules?

And you cannot pin this on the democrats, the filibuster is a valuable tool utilized by both parties. When the next democratic majority is in the senate, the republicans will happily filibuster when they feel it necessary.

I have to think the republicans were bluffing the entire time. The backlash would be enormous, and while I like to make fun of them, I have to think that at least some of them are smart enough to know that in a relatively short amount of time, they will be in the position of the democrats and need the filibuster themselves.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I feel the concept of the agreement, as Joe said, is the key at this point. Filibuster as you might, I would rather see something get done so the senate has something to work with, whether or not a decision or law is made by a republican or democrat majority.

[Bill Gold]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

nothing significant would have happened. The democrates called changing the fillabuster rules 'the nuclear option' for dramatic effect.

in reality, the democrates themselves have changed the fillabuster rules many times over the years, and the government did not melt down as a result

the democrates were only crying foul because it wasnt their finger on the 'nuclear button'

this time

Guh... Yes “the nuclear option” is a term used for dramatic effect, but this isn’t the only inflammatory term like this used in the history of American politics (i.e. partial-birth abortion, activist judges, etc.). Not to mention that your statement is actually incorrect, the term “nuclear option” was actually originally coined by the Republicans in this case (then they later renamed the plan the “constitutional option”).

The following is a very nice “cliff’s notes” version of the history of the filibuster in American Politics that I’m lifting from WikiPedia.

“In 1789, the First US Senate adopted rules allowing the Senate "to move the previous question," ending debate and proceeding to a vote. In 1806 this rule was eliminated, allowing the filibuster to become an option for delay and blocking of floor votes, since this left no mechanism for terminating debate. In 1917 a rule allowing for the cloture of debate (ending a filibuster) was adopted. From 1917 to 1949, the requirement for cloture was two-thirds of those voting. As civil rights loomed on the Senate agenda, this rule was revised in 1949 to allow cloture on any measure or motion by two-thirds of the entire Senate membership; in 1959 the threshold was restored to two-thirds of those voting. After a series of filibusters in the 1960s over civil rights legislation, the Senate in 1975 revised its cloture rule so that three-fifths of the Senate (usually 60 senators) could limit debate. Despite this rule, the filibuster or the threat of a filibuster remains an important tactic that allows a large minority to affect legislation.”

Obviously, the reduction in the number of votes needed to enact “cloture” wasn’t a purely political move with regards to civil rights. The two plans (removing the necessity for cloture, period… and lowering the number of necessary votes for cloture from 60 to 51) in this situation are purely politically motivated; attempting to force 7 exceptionally conservative Bush judicial nominations through the senate, which is a party line issue.

Your apparent disdain for the Democrats’ “crying foul” is saddening. It’s too bad that you feel no sympathy for a minority whose rights were/are being threatened. A minority with no rights is hardly a democracy, and this should never be the case no matter who the majority/minority is.

Getting back to my feelings on this “resolution,” I’m very disappointed in it. The Democrats, mainly the spineless Harry Reid, have collectively bent over and not even kept Owen or Brown from their inevitable confirmation. This was another lame showing my Senate Democrats, and I’m disappointed in many of my party’s senators.