Posted on 07/17/2013 5:25:00 AM PDT by bestintxas
Bowing to an ultimatum, Senate Republicans agreed Tuesday to drop objections to key Obama administration nominees, delivering a victory to Senate Democrats who said they will shelve — for now — their own plans to change the rules and curtail filibusters.
The last-minute deal, announced just before the Senate was slated to hold a critical test vote, still leaves Democrats able to employ the so-called “nuclear option” and change the filibuster rules later this year if they think Republicans are obstructing appointments unfairly.
Republicans said they got President Obama to withdraw two controversial nominees to the National Labor Relations Board, but the president won assurances that his new picks will be approved before the Senate leaves for its monthlong summer recess.
Both sides said escaping this week without a major blowup counts as a victory for a Senate that has been plagued by partisan gridlock for much of the past decade.
“I think there is a good feeling here in the Senate, the best feeling we’ve had in a real long time,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, said moments after meeting with his party colleagues to discuss the informal deal.
Late in the day, Mr. Obama reaped the first fruits of the cease-fire when the Senate confirmed Richard Cordray to be head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a powerful new board set up in the wake of the Wall Street collapse to monitor banks and other financial institutions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
McConnell caved and the Dhimms can still impose the 51 vote rule whenever Dirty Harry dictates.
The Dhimms got what they wanted—radical nominee approvals—and the Republicans got nothing, as usual.
With McConnell and Boehner as negotiators, it doesn’t matter whether the Republicans control the Senate and/or the House; they’ll always be losers.
Trouble? How? Did the rules passed while those two were on board get over-turned/tossed-out? Haven’t heard word one that’s happened.
All the GOP did was bend over (again) and take one for the DEMs, willingly. Hell, I’d bet they’ve begun to like it.
“I’m not a fan of McConnel, but what did you expect him to do after McCain and his traitors made the deal with Dirty Hairy? If you’re going to get mad, make sure you have the right target.”
Cruz’s first action would be to strip McCain and those like him of any leadership positions, Period.
How’s that?
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