LIVE: Senate about to implode? Reid about to use the nuclear option?

C-span 2

[ken5050]

All the action today appears to be in the Senate. They just finished voting on a motion to proceed to confirm one of Obama's nominees to the DC Court of Appeals, and it failed to get the necessary 60 votes to proceed. This is the 3rd nominee that the GOP has blocked, and Reid had threatened to go nuclear, to change the rules by a simple MAJORITY vote. Before that could happen, McConnell moved that the Senate adjourn until 5PM..a privileged motion which must be voted on. The roll call is underway.

[ken5050]

Also, it's noteworthy that "Leaky" Leahy is presiding...a job usually reserved for freshmen senators.

Stay tuned..

[ken5050]

Motion to adjourn just failed...they are moving to reconsider the Millet nomination

[MrB]

Reid must either think that the ‘rats will never lose the majority in the Senate, or the Presidency,

or, more likely, he believes that when the Reps have control of the Senate and the Presidency,

the ‘rats can get them to change the rule back “out of fairness”.

[Guenevere]

I’ll go look.....is Ted Cruz reacting to this.

[ken5050]

Actually, I think it means that Reid now expects to lose the Senate next year, so he'll try and push through as many of Obama's nominees as he can.

Look for McConnell to move to adjourn again..

[DoodleDawg]

OK say that we wake up in January 2016 with President Ted Cruz in the Oval Office. The Democrats then proceed to filibuster every judicial appointment President Cruz makes. Assuming we have a Republican majority leader in the Senate then what does he do about it?

[ken5050]

There were 3 abstentions....if anyone can finds out who didn’t vote..

[MestaMachine]

Got it on but nothing seems to be happening except everyone walking around and what are we waiting for now?

[cotton1706]

“Also, it’s noteworthy that “Leaky” Leahy is presiding...a job usually reserved for freshmen senators.”

Well, he’s the senate president pro tempore so it’s appropriate.

[Viennacon]

I dare you, Harry

[Jim from C-Town]

McConnell should remove the Republican caucus thereby eliminating a caucus and bringing the floor to a halt. He should refuse to play the game.

[pgkdan]

the ‘rats can get them to change the rule back “out of fairness”.

Bingo! And he's probably right!

[ken5050]

This is a vote to reconsider the failed motion to move to the vote on Millett. I believe it requires a simple majority..so it will pass..they will then move to the vote to take up the nomination, which requires 60 votes..it should fail again...then, before Reid can go nuclear, McConnell may move to adjourn again..this will get ugly very soon...

[MestaMachine]

Never mind. See that they are voting to advance millett’s nomination.

[ken5050]

Not so...

[Guenevere]

It's a recommitment vote....
Harry Reid wants to change the rules of the filibuster...(60 needed now, he wants 51).....the Republicans generally don't want to

[PLD]

You need to sit down and shut up you old fart..you had better worry about you seat as majority leader come November 2014..I think I despise REID as much as I do Obama..

[LostInBayport]

the ‘rats can get them to change the rule back “out of fairness”.

Sadly, that is not unlikely. There are always useful idiots like McCain, Graham, McConnell and Collins who will undo the nuclear option if the Republicans take the Senate as "gesture of good will and statesmanship going forward for the American people". The democrats will then take that gesture, sharpen it on a stone, and stab them in the forehead with it at the earliest opportunity. Then, McCain, Graham, McConnell and Collins will forgive them in a "gesture of good will and statesmanship going forward for the American people"...rinse and repeat.

That is, unless the above mentioned useful idiots are primaried out of office in 2014...

[onyx]

Did she say Murkowski was a yeah?

[MestaMachine]

reid had best be damn careful what he wishes for. Ugly works both ways.