OK, so here’s the big appointment/filibuster deal.
Republicans break the filibusters on nominees, who get an up or down
vote to the cabinet posts. Two recess-nominated appointees would be
replaced with new nominees who will be confirmed. In the end, seven
nominations by the president are a sure bet for confirmation.
That might seem like a pretty good deal, but consider: the President and Democrats get seven filibuster-free nomination votes — after which Republicans get to keep filibustering everything pretty much forever. The filibuster will not be reformed and government remains broken and unresponsive during a period of weak economic recovery. Democracy merely makes a visit to the US Senate, after which she’s thrown out on her ass again. Then it’s back to minority-rule business as usual.
This is a lousy deal and any Democrat who tells you they’re happy with it is either lying or a dope.
Maybe it is the best that could be done. If so, the best falls far, far short of enough.
[photo via Wikimedia Commons]
That might seem like a pretty good deal, but consider: the President and Democrats get seven filibuster-free nomination votes — after which Republicans get to keep filibustering everything pretty much forever. The filibuster will not be reformed and government remains broken and unresponsive during a period of weak economic recovery. Democracy merely makes a visit to the US Senate, after which she’s thrown out on her ass again. Then it’s back to minority-rule business as usual.
This is a lousy deal and any Democrat who tells you they’re happy with it is either lying or a dope.
Maybe it is the best that could be done. If so, the best falls far, far short of enough.
[photo via Wikimedia Commons]
