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Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
Technically, the "nuclear option" refers to a parliamentary procedure to bypass in-place Senate rules. It is not the outcome itself.
To change a Senate rule such as the 60-vote cloture rule requires 60 votes to go to a floor vote to change the rule. Therefore, even a rule change requires a 60-vote "filibuster-proof" majority.
What Republicans proposed during the George W Bush administration to break Democrats blocking his court nominations was to bypass cloture and use a point of order to declare the vote constitutional question, which then directs it to the Senate Parliamentarian to rule on. Since it's now a point of order, the Senate, by rule, it only needs a majority vote to approve the Parliamentarian's decision. It's this process that is the "nuclear option."
Senator McCain side-tracked this at the last minute with his "Gang of 14" compromise to lift the blocks on Bush's nominations.
Reid used the parliamentarian bypass to lift cloture on nominations short of the Supreme Court. McConnell cannot just declare it now applies to SCOTUS, he'd probably have to play the point of order trick again and get a simple majority floor vote to lift cloture on SCOTUS nominations, too.
-PJ
This caller is so right! He’s describing exactly what the Republicans have done—and suffered—for the last 20 years, and the new lease on life we’ve all been given by the election of President Trump.
The world’s greatest call! “Quit putting your tongue on the canker sore”. This guy was fantastic!
VP Pence deeply humbled to be a part of this administration: “President Trump in the promise keeping business.”
Flynn to Iran earlier at the WH Press briefing: Details aggression of Iran, calls out weak and ineffective Obama Iran policy. Then states:
“As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice.”
(pinching myself) This *is* winning!
I love our VP! So great to hear him on Rush’s show today.