President Barack Obama says he supports move by Senate Democrats to make it harder for Republicans to block his nominees.
Obama spoke shortly after the Senate voted 52-48 to weaken the power of the filibuster. The rule change will make it harder for minority Republicans to block confirmation of the president’s nominees for judges and other top posts.
Obama says the “unprecedented pattern of obstruction” in Congress has left Americans more frustrated with Washington than ever. He said the pattern “isn’t normal” and isn’t based on substantive differences over his nominees.
The president says that as a former senator, he values the chamber’s powers. But he says some rules are now being used as a tool to “grind business to a halt.”
(AP)
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4 Responses
1. Dumb move politically, since the House is Republican and the polls suggest 2014 won’t be a good year for the Democrats. The Democrats are risking a tremendous amount by declaring open warfare in Washington – something alalagous to betting the farm in poker with a only a pair of deuces.
2. By changing the rules so radically, one can be assured that in on Jan. 20, 2017 we have a Republican president and even the slightest Republican majority in both house, the Republicans can create new judgeships, fill them with conservatives, and disregard the liberal precdents to “correct” the court’s 60 year left-wing tilt on such matters as abortion, gay rights, and probably a lot more.
This no good rosha ferd chaleriya has had 99% of his appointees approved. What’s he complaining about?!?!
In 2005, Then-Sen. Barack Obama Called For His Colleagues Considering The Nuclear Option To Think About “Protecting Free And Democratic Debate.” SEN. BARACK OBAMA: “Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to think about the implications of what has been called the nuclear option and what effect that might have on this Chamber and on this country. I urge all of us to think not just about winning every debate but about protecting free and democratic debate.” (Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), Floor Remarks, Washington, DC, 4/13/05)
Obama: “If They Choose To Change The Rules And Put An End To Democratic Debate, Then The Fighting, The Bitterness, And The Gridlock Will Only Get Worse.” SEN. BARACK OBAMA: “The American people want less partisanship in this town, but everyone in this chamber knows that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster, if they choose to change the rules and put an end to democratic debate, then the fighting, the bitterness, and the gridlock will only get worse.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Floor Remarks, Washington, D.C., 4/13/05)
Obama: “It Certainly Is Not What The Patriots Who Founded This Democracy Had In Mind. We Owe The People Who Sent Us Here More Than That.” SEN. BARACK OBAMA: “Right now we are faced with rising gas prices, skyrocketing tuition costs, a record number of uninsured Americans, and some of the most serious national security threats we have ever had, while our bravest young men and women are risking their lives halfway around the world to keep us safe. These are challenges we all want to meet and problems we all want to solve, even if we do not always agree on how to do it. But if the right of free and open debate is taken away from the minority party and the millions of Americans who ask us to be their voice, I fear the partisan atmosphere in Washington will be poisoned to the point where no one will be able to agree on anything. That does not serve anybody’s best interest, and it certainly is not what the patriots who founded this democracy had in mind. We owe the people who sent us here more than that. We owe them much more.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Floor Remarks, Washington, D.C., 4/13/05)
And McConnell supported changing the filibuster rules in 2005.