Senate Poised For Talkathon Over Obama Nominees; Dems, GOP Refuse To Relent After Rule Change

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

The Senate began an around-the-clock talkathon Wednesday over some of President Barack Obama's nominees as embittered and outnumbered Republicans refused to let the Senate take a break given new, Democratic-driven curbs on the GOP's pow

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., threatened to hold the Senate in session through the night to deal with 11 nominations, most of them non-controversial. If Republicans refuse to give up their allotted debate time, the Senate could be in session continuously into Saturday _ or longer.

"If we have to work through Christmas, we're going to do that," Reid said, repeating what has become one of his regular holiday season refrains.

There was no immediate sign the GOP would relent after Democrats last month changed the Senate's filibuster procedures to prevent Republicans from blocking Obama's nominees by themselves.

"The Republicans are wanting to waste more of this body's time, this country's time," Reid said from the Senate floor as Senate aides carted in Listerine, fruit, chocolate and mints for what appeared to be a long night ahead. "We are here ... looking at each other, doing basically nothing as we have done for vast amounts of time because of the Republicans' obstructionism."F

Read more: http://www.newser.com/article/daaki67o0/senate-poised-for-talkathon-over-obama-nominees-dems-gop-refuse-to-relent-after-rule-change.html

[Iliyah]

1. GOPers really act like spoiled little tiny babies

[silvershadow]

3. Good. Let 'em talk. It makes them feel useful, and gives them something to do. So far,

all I have heard is pure theatrics. Mike Enzi sounds so humble and caring I almost expect him to put on pajamas and read me a story before he tucks me in. If there were any real point to it they would be up there railing.

[davidpdx]

4. Hold them there 24/7 until X-mas eve if need be

They can sleep in their offices.

[quakerboy]

6. Or past it

Ive worked on Xmas. I'd imagine a pretty good percent of low wage and/or younger US citizens have. I dont see how they are so much better than the rest of us.

And If they don't like it, they can bloody well unionize.

[quakerboy]

5. As it should be

I like the new spirit of contention in our house and senate. Bring these things up, have it out. Publicly. Openly.

[DallasNE]

7. Chamblis Tips GOP Hand

"Assuming we take the Senate in 2014, I think it will end in January 2015," Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said of Republicans' delays.

Translation: The Senate will bottle up all nominees in Committee and not report them out for a vote making delays a thing of the past.

[safeinOhio]

8. If we give the republicans more time to talk,

we will give them more chances to stick their foot in their mouths on camera.