Republicans back off threat to shut down government to undermine civilian control of the military

[niyad]

Republicans back off threat to shut down government to undermine civilian control of the military


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BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: (L to R) President-elect Donald Trump welcomes retired United States Marine Corps general James Mattis as they pose for a photo before their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, November 19, 2016 in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Recently retired Marine Corp General James "Mad Dog" Mattis, with Donald Trump



Despite what you might read in the Beltway press, let’s be crystal clear about this: The Republicans blinked. On Tuesday, congressional Republicans began threatening to shut down the federal government if Democrats didn’t buckle under and allow them to ram through Donald Trump’s nomination of retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as secretary of defense. On Wednesday, though, the GOP backed down, meaning Mattis’ appointment won’t sail through the way they wanted—and that the government’s doors will stay open.

But much of the D.C. media that covers this kind of thing has had a hard time grasping how, precisely, events have played out, so here’s a timeline:
Last Thursday, Trump said he’d tap Mattis as his defense secretary. But there’s a big problem with this proposal: A 70-year-old federal law forbids anyone who has served on active duty in the armed forces in the last seven years from holding a senior defense post. Mattis only retired three years ago, so he's not eligible.
This longstanding law exists to preserve the doctrine of civilian control over the military, a bedrock principle of democracy: Only elected officials, not generals, should make decisions about how to use our armed forces, and that means keeping a healthy separation between active duty service and civilian life. So for Mattis to serve as secretary, both houses of Congress would have to pass a special amendment to that law.
Republicans, of course, are only too willing to undermine civilian control of the military, but Democrats are not. The same day Trump rolled out his Mattis pick, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced that she’d filibuster any effort to pass a special amendment for Mattis.
That means Republicans would need 60 votes in the Senate in order for Trump’s nomination to succeed, but they’ll only hold 52 Senate seats next year, so they’d need the support of at least eight Democrats, assuming the GOP sticks together. (Note: While cabinet nominations cannot be filibustered and thus only require 50 votes, the special amendment Mattis would need can indeed be filibustered.)
This week, congressional Republicans then prepared to throw one of their patented—and dangerous—tantrums, saying they’d attach this special Mattis amendment to a must-pass spending bill that would keep the federal government operating past Friday. In other words, if they didn't get their way on Mattis, they’d shut down the government.
Democrats told Republicans to get fucked.

In response, on Tuesday night, Republicans caved.

. . .

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/7/1608408/-Republicans-back-off-threat-to-shut-down-government-to-undermine-civilian-control-of-the-military?detail=email&link_id=7&can_id=dbb0d69c584cc3d0a04f63b55f76c85f&source=email-today-show-interview-with-trump-proves-we-elected-the-single-most-fragile-ego-in-american-history-3&email_referrer=today-show-interview-with-trump-proves-we-elected-the-single-most-fragile-ego-in-american-history-3&email_subject=today-show-interview-with-trump-proves-we-elected-the-single-most-fragile-ego-in-american-history

[MADem]

1. The GOP knows they picked a turkey. nt

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Watch for the Twitter Genius to light up the Media.

Thank You Harry Reid and The Bernie. Yes!!!

[Ohioblue22]

4. It was New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand who threatened to

Filibuster you should be thanking her

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Okay,

thankfully someone grew a pair. Harry is still Circus Ring Master for us Dems. He has to lay the the Paper Work and Place any challenges in the record. Anyway,Kirsten deserves a "way to go award".

[Skittles]

10. male body parts are not needed for courage

[Wellstone ruled]

12. The Lady has brass fists to pound

sand.

[Skittles]

13. please, retire these sexist expressions

don't tell me they don't matter

[Wellstone ruled]

15. Sorry

[WhiteTara]

3. Thank you Nancy Pelosi

[Ohioblue22]

5. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is the one you should be thanking

[WhiteTara]

7. Yes, Gillibrand first and foremost but

Nancy is corralling the House on this too.

[flamingdem]

8. Knock 'em down dems

Rockem' Sockem' robots against every dirty maneuver possible.

[mbusby]

9. Waiting for Drumpf to use his "locker room" language...

...in a tweet concerning one of the women in congress who oppose him. Come on, make my day...

[TeamPooka]

11. Obstruct everything. Fight everything. Winning is possible. this proves it.

[niyad]

18. a hearty dose of the pukes' own medicine-- should make for interesting times.

[TeamPooka]

19. Democrats need to start fighting Republicans the way Republicans fight Democrats.

[niyad]

20. that is something I really want to see.

[TeamPooka]

21. It can be done but Democrats would have to do something our elected officials tell us we can't do:

Primary elected officials who don't do it.
The Tea Party did that to the GOP and look where they are now.
They have a House and Senate full of representatives scared as shit of being primaried them so they jump through hoops to please their base.

[Skittles]

14. that fucking Donald fishface

[Raster]

16. aka The Obnoxious Orange Anus

[niyad]

17. persimmon pussygrabber

apricot asshole