FLASHBACK: Sens. Obama, Clinton, Kerry, Biden, Dodd, Feinstein, Schumer, Baucus and Reid, Arguing Against Nuclear Option in 2005 (Video)



It's amazing the comments the Dems made when the Repubs considered this in 2005. Yet, those still in the Senate voted against EXACTLY what they cursed.

Do as WE say not as WE do......it's their mantra!! I'd like to see ANY of Barry's supporters support this....just try you Two faced pricks. 🐴

The Dems will do ANYTHING to get what they want, even if it involves shredding the Constitution a little. They're doing it for your own good after all. It doesn't matter if the majority of the voting people are against it. The Dems know whats best for you.

Both parties are the same. I've been saying that for years in here but to do so makes me a liberal in this echo chamber. Calling both scum is starting to become a little more accepted as of late.

The R's threatened it and the dems backed down. The D's have threatened it for years but the Rs didn't back down. Thus, the dems had to do what they threatened (it never should have been threatened by either party because if the other side calls your bluff you sort of have to do it.)

The Senate has always been considered the deliberate side of Congress. There are gentlemens agreements on certain things and thus even the threat of some things (like the run of the mill filibuster) was good enough to get the job done. Things have changed. There is no civility or gentlemens agreements. You are either good or evil. The Senate isn't the Senate of the past, and the folks in here celebrate that. Comprimise is bad when you are dealing with the Devil.

This was all about Presidential appointees. Specifically to the courts. If you are bored check out the number of days it took to get other Presidents appointees approved, and the number of open chairs. It has risen a bit for the last few Prez but it is exponential for this one. Then pay attention to what Grassley was trying to do to the DC circuit (hint stack the court by reducing the number of seats on it while The Big O is in office......dispicable.

We (inculuding I) may not like the Big O and may not want him to get his folks on the courts...... but that is no different than ever. The Prez gets to do so. The Senate is a balance to buffer crazy appointments but they have decided with this Prez to just take his authority to place judges away entirely. None of these judges (or very few) are being torpedoed by anything they did or think. They are being torpedoed simply because it is Obama. And make no mistake if we (hopefully) get an R in the Presidency the D's will now turn around and do the same thing. It's a catch 22 that the Rs seem to recognize on the nuke option but miss on the appointments themselves.

Both sides have convienient memory and recognitinon of such things. And both bait each other in to things for political purposes. In many ways the Rs won this because the only true outcome likely is the Prez will get the placements he should but the partisan hacks can scream about the unfairness and the constitution and the dictator etc.

Things are different now. Both sides are playing from the bottom of the deck..... well not really because ultimately they both are playing by the rules. The rules say the Ds can change this particular rule if they so chose (the majority) The Rs are trying to make it impossible for THIS Prez to place judges (changing the rules), and the D's are making that more difficult (changing the rules).

No one is breaking or shredding the Constitution here or they could take it to court and win (since they are still stacked R particularly in DC where it matters). I'm always amused by those chimp screachings because those are the issues easily remedied. I hear it all the time then watch court cases not even rise to a level of importance because the screaching is so far off base.

When the roles are reversed both will lament things and cry about it while not admitting or recognizing their part.

It was a dumb move by the Ds that will haunt them and the nice well meaning Rs are just getting picked on LOL.....

True, the Republicans will benefit after the 2014 elections when they're made majorities in both Houses (yawn)... so, TW, what happens to all the legislation passed by Obama's newly appointed liberal judges? How is their garbage reversed?

I don't have a solution for that but the same can be said when an R is in office. I don't like it but that is the way it is. Maybe we need a constitutional amendment saying judges can only be placed when an R is in the Whitehouse? That is the absurdity of the whole situation.

We can't just decide when the other guy gets elected (the one we don't like) that he should be stripped of power but when ours does get elected those powers whould be restored. It used to be both sides recognized this.

When Reagan was in office they were pushing hard for the line item veto. I don't hear the same folks pushing for this when Clinton or Obama is in.

Now I hear folks screaming about executive orders. I didn't hear that previously (not as loud) and that could be because there have been so mmany used. But it's an action/reaction circle. Those same voices would likely be silent if Cruz gets elected Prez. If he could issue an executive order killing Ocare he would. Romney said he would.

It's all about what we like and dislike but no one view gets their way inthis country. It sucks because no one is ever 100% happy. Some folks don't accept this though.



Succeed. Start your own country (not you blood). See how well you govern in an non comprimise society. Unfortunately we see how this works (mid east etc)

The only thing I'm concerned about is unopposed legislation from the bench. We have enough bad laws passed legitimately by our "representatives".

I don't like it either but what do you suggest. Never appoint anothr judge from either parties Prez? Because if it is from just one party you have an issue there and prolly need to seek a different remedy.

Just looking at pure numbers forgetting partisan politics, playing hardball at this point likely made they problem you are trying to avoid much worse. The flood gates have just been open because there was a refusal to let a few cups of water out.

I love it when you give your skimpy posts further thought & flesh them out... no, no, I actually do. I do it myself. Kinda like finding a missed churro in my shoes on 3 Kings' Day when I see your suddenly expanded post- note, I said post not member.

Good points, TW, but you can't have bad judges passing bad legislation. I know, I know who's to judge what's bad?
Well, the proof is in the eating. I think we're now enjoying the end result of decades of bad policy.

It's just that I type to fast (that is why it is often sloppy) and treat it as a verbal conversation (which it isn't).

We need to find a solution to legislating from the bench. Both conservative and liberal judges do it, it just is a different flavor.

I don't know what to do however, other than work on getting folks that think like me elected. But the Republicans strategy at this point concerns me. It may result with less conservative folks ellected to national positions. Then we are really effed.

I'm guessing this is part of a planned Dem strategy. Kick sand in the Repubs eyes. They get all pizzy and block everything. Dems paint them as obstructionists during next ection and hope to pick up a few seats.

Just a thought.

I actually see it the other way as well. Unfortunately it may very well be what they both planned and they are both happy as clams bitchin about the other.

I see your point. Either opinion is a safe bet.

The main difference between the parties is that while the republicans have threatened ur, the democrats have actually done it. They continue to undermine the original system. If its not by redistricting for voters they flat out just ignore the way this country was set upon to make sure even the minority get a voice. Good job democrats, way to continue us down the slippery slope of a totalitarian government. And we wonder why our alludes in the rest if the world want less and less to sign us....

Nice first post. But, it's a bit naive to think that either party could get us to the point we are at without help from the other side.