No Filibuster Reform

Getting Richard Cordray confirmed as the head of the Consumer Financial Protect Bureau is a big fucking deal, but I am still unsatisfied.

10 Comments

joe from Lowell on July 16, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Just getting these 5+2 nominations approved, and nothing else, would be unsatisfying.

We’ll have to see how the now-credible (or why would the GOP have caved?) threat of a filibuster rules change affects their future behavior. If wanting to avoid a rules change causes them to rein in their filibuster abuse on executive branch nominees in general, that will make this a big deal. If they can be similarly threatened on judicial nominees and legislation, it will be a huge deal.

They’re going to want to avoid the nuclear option, and also a change in rules at the beginning of the ’05 Senate session. We’ll see what that means in practice.

Bazooka Joe on July 16, 2013 at 2:13 pm

What’s the point of being so whiny and cynical when you know the minority always ends up caving in these little senate feuds? I’m just bummed they didn’t come up with some sort of Gang of X this time, they seem to get a real morale boost whenever they do that. Keeps ’em happy.

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/5/17/151153/654

Two months ago. Partial nailed it. They in fact formed the gang, the Friends of Johnny Mac. He and Levin will be outed as the chief conspirators in this last second runaround of both parties’ leadership. And 45 senators from both parties heave sighs of relief.

What a bunch of frauds these Republicans are. And what a bunch of frauds your commenters are who kept whining that the Democrats are the idiot wusses who something, something, Charlie Brown, dur hur.

cruzy on July 16, 2013 at 2:28 pm

Well, if this worked so well this time, there’s no reason they can’t trot out the threat next time, and the time after that.

And then, if the dems lose the senate, and the GOP goes nuclear, it’s all on the GOP; the dems don’t have to listen to endless pundits prattling on about how they “changed tradition” or some such nonsense.

We’ll know if this plays out well when the next battle occurs. If the dems can successfully threaten this again, and get what they want, then what meaning does the filibuster really have?

joe from Lowell on July 16, 2013 at 2:33 pm

Unless Reid is prepared to do this every single time.

It will have the meaning that the majority gives it. There is still a majority of the Senate who want the cloture rules to be the way they are. Some of them were so upset with the GOP’s obstruction that they were willing to bite the bullet and get rid of them if the Republicans made them, but that’s not their first choice.

I think we go back to the way things were before the Republican Calivinball of 2009, with filibusters of nominees being an occasional occurrence.

GaBuck on July 16, 2013 at 2:31 pm

Republicans blinked today. I wonder if they are starting to get a little tired of McConnell?

TarheelDem on July 16, 2013 at 2:33 pm

That’s a very interesting vote split. Makes one wonder how the Senate would work if on those Republicans who voted Yes were majority leader instead of McConnell.

The Voice In The Wilderness on July 16, 2013 at 4:57 pm

Couldn’t make out a pattern. I thought it was South – Nay, West – Yea, but that doesn’t seem true either.

What pattern do you see?
- TarheelDem on July 16, 2013 at 5:07 pm
  
  My first glance saw Tea Party, neo-confederates, and McConnell (am I redundant here?) voting against. But I bet there were some bankers’ friends in there as well.