Democrats Incensed After GOP Blocks Obama Federal Court Nominee, Say Move Broke Informal Agreement

[Purveyor]

Democrats call for rule change and say move broke informal agreement between parties

Democrats threatened a major constitutional showdown over Senate filibuster rules on Tuesday after Republicans blocked a third successive woman nominated to sit on a federal appeals court.

Nina Pillard, a Georgetown law professor, would have been only the sixth woman in 120 years to serve on the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit, which is known as the second highest court in the land due to its key role in ruling on legal challenges against the US government.

However, Senate Republicans voted to block passage of legislation confirming her nomination, using rules that require a 60-vote majority to prevent a filibuster, or indefinite procedural delay.

Angry Democrats decried the move – the third involving a woman nominated to the court by president Obama – which they said broke an informal agreement between the parties that judicial confirmations should require only 51 of the 100 senators to vote in favour.

“I have seen more filibusters in a year than I have seen in 35 years. I think we are at the point where there will have to be a rules change,” said senator Patrick Leahy, Democratic chairman of the judiciary committee.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/12/democrats-incensed-after-gop-blocks-obama-federal-court-nominee/

[msongs]

1. dems have no right be incensed for something they themselves have allowed nt

[leftyohiolib]

2. gdamit i want to pull my hair out-wtf are u dumfuks making informal deals with satan

Democrats call for rule change and say move broke informal agreement between parties. you have only yourselves to blame. jeeeeeeeeeesus what a bunch of

[bigdarryl]

3. Wouldn't be going through this if Reed had did his job to get rid

Of that filibuster when he had the votes

[Scuba]

4. What kind of idiot would trust the Republicans?

[Dawson Leery]

5. +1

[Arkana]

6. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. STOP WITH THE INFORMAL AGREEMENTS.

THEY ARE NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER GOING TO HONOR THEM.

[russspeakeasy]

7. I'm sure they will stomp their feet and frown for the cameras.

[monmouth3]

8. And send a very stern letter. Yep, that oughta do it...n/t

[russspeakeasy]

9. Yup ! and that very stern letter will go in their permanent file..

[bemildred]

10. This has jack shit to do with the Constitution. It ssys nothing about the filibuster. nt

[blkmusclmachine]

11. HRC says we need more "unity" in DC.

[ancianita]

12. THAT'S IT. Harry gets his "go nuclear" ticket.

[TeamPooka]

13. their first mistake was believing Republicans. nt