Democrats Plan Challenge to G.O.P.’s Filibuster Use (Personally, I'll believe it when I see it)

[Triana]

WASHINGTON — In a move that could bring to a head six months of smoldering tensions over a Republican blockade of certain presidential nominees, Senate Democrats are preparing to force confirmation votes on a series of President Obama’s most contentious appointments as early as this week.

If Republicans object, Democrats plan to threaten to use the impasse to change the Senate rules that allow the minority party wide latitude to stymie action.

Through the filibuster and other delaying tactics, Republicans have slowed the confirmation process as the president tries to install the team that will carry him through his second term. But Democrats and their majority leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, now say they have reached the point where they believe that the only way to break the logjam is to escalate the fight.

Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, one of the most outspoken members of his party in calling for new limits on the filibuster, said, “They’ve essentially said they are going to disable the executive branch if a minority of the Senate disagrees with or dislikes the president the people elect.” He added, “It’s come into a realm where it’s just unacceptable because if the executive branch can’t function, then the nation can’t respond to the big challenges it faces.”

MORE...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/us/politics/democrats-plan-challenge-to-gops-filibuster-use.html?_r=0

[Autumn]

1. I think we have been down this road before.

It came to an abrupt dead end.

[leeroysphitz]

3. Yeah, we have heard this story before. I hope it has a different ending this time but...

I'm not holding my breath.

[Richardo]

2. I think this article is from 2010 - no, 2012.

Reid. That's all ye need know.

[bowens43]

4. Where have I heard this before?

[on point]

5. Yeah right. More kick the can down the road to keep dems suckered

[Scuba]

6. Spin alert: "... six months ... blockade of certain presidential nominees ..." doesn't begin ...

... to describe Republican obstructionism.

If they hold true to the principles they've demonstrated in the past, look for the Democrats to fold like a cheap lawn chair.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Kudos To Merkley...

...he led the effort to change the filibuster rules in January that, regretfully, was rejected by a majority of Senate Democrats. I have doubts this effort will get much further but I welcome them "escalating the fight"...whatever that means. At least it's not a strongly worded letter...

[bobclark86]

8. Change ALL the RULES!

Because that will never come back to bite us in the ass if we ever end up in the minority again...

[EC]

9. It's only for cabinet appointees

it's not far enough. We know repubs will change it when they get the majority, so it's just Reid being namby pamby again. He won't even do this much I'll bet.