A few weeks ago, Republicans in the
Senate, aided by the media, got people to buy into the idea that Democrats
interested in reforming the filibuster rule to ease the unprecedented
obstruction of the last Congress were playing with fire. That failing to honor
the rights of the minority party would blowback in the Democrats’ faces when
they inevitably lost control of Congress’s upper chamber. The spook campaign
worked. Instead of passing muscular rules that would have still provided for
minority rights, but not at the expense of critical decisions, from Cabinet
appointments to bringing legislation to the floor in a timely manner, Senator
Reid took his slice of the loaf and a handshake deal, that pinky swear, Republicans would not continue their lockstep opposition
to anything and everything in the Senate.
Cut to yesterday and the first ever
filibuster threat of any Cabinet member in the history of our country. That
Republicans show no similar fear of precedent or blowback is unsurprising. Democrats,
being the good government types they are, always
back down and never take revenge. Yesterday’s
decision by the GOP to force a cloture vote on Chuck Hagel (a Republican, no
less) did set one precedent –it showed that if they ever do get the majority
back, they will be as unafraid to change the rules to ensure Democrats cannot pull
these types of shenanigans as Democrats are willing to do just the opposite.
Ever thus.
Good and awesome post.
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