Trent Lott, 'Nuclear Option' Coiner, Says Idea Was A Mistake

[DonViejo]

CATHERINE THOMPSON – NOVEMBER 22, 2013, 7:50 AM EST

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS), who is considered the man who coined the term "nuclear option," said shortly after the Senate voted Thursday to eliminate the filibuster that the idea was a "mistake."

“It was mistake when we were talking about doing it,” Lott told CNN after the vote. “I still believe the Senate is a unique institution and the rules – no matter how cumbersome and difficult – are better than just making it another House of Representatives.”

Lott conceived of a plan to allow judicial appointments to pass with a simple majority, rather than the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster, during the George W. Bush administration. At that time, Democrats were the minority party blocking the President's nominees from confirmation.

The former Republican leader told CNN that he prefers to call the plan the "constitutional option" now, and warned that invoking it could have unforeseen consequences for Senate Democrats.

full article:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trent-lott-nuclear-option-coiner-says-idea-was-a-mistake

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GOP Concern trolls are abounding today!

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. Yes they are,

and it's funny how I've heard no one in media mention the fact that Democrats had already allowed about 195 out of 205 Bush appointments through. Republicons today are blocking everything.

Despite what the "librul media" is saying today, it's NOT the same situation.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Republicans are beginning to learn

that when you abuse your toys, they can (and should) be taken away from them. I don't have a problem with the filibuster per se but it has gone from being a minority instrument to slow down the occasional objectionable legislation and/or nominee to a passive veto tool solely used to obstruct government from functioning like it's supposed to. What's especially disturbing is that Republicans actually had no substantive criticisms of the nominees that President Obama put forward and there was no legitimate problem with confirming more nominees but they were still preventing votes to be held.

[lostincalifornia]

3. bull. If you look at the right leaning judges that have been appointed by republicans

throughout the years with Democrats who did not block them, this has absolutely no unforeseen consequence for Democrats. In general Democrats were already allowing republicans appointees to go through, so if the republicans take control of the senate, nothing will change in that regard

What it will do is give a chance for the Democrats a chance to have some influence

[tavernier]

4. Is that old gas bag still around?

I thought he died of hair spray inhalation years ago.