Harry Reid Needs to Put Up or Shut Up on Filibuster Reform

File under "I wouldn't get my hopes up"; ThinkProgress' Ian Millhiser reports that Senate majority leader Harry Reid is talking filibuster reform again, after the last stab at it turned out to be a completely inadequate joke. In an interview with a public radio station, Reid threatened once again to bring democracy to the US Senate.

“All within the sound of my voice, including my Democratic senators and the Republican senators who I serve with, should understand that we as a body have the power on any given day to change the rules with a simple majority, and I will do that if necessary,” Reid said on Nevada Public Radio.

...“I’m a very patient man. Last Congress and this Congress, we had the opportunity to make some big changes. We made changes, but the time will tell whether they’re big enough. I’m going to wait and build a case,” Reid said. “If the Republicans in the Senate don’t start approving some judges and don’t start helping get some of these nominations done, then we’re going to have to take more action.”

 Yes, Harry Reid is a "very patient man." In fact, on the issue of Republican obstructionism, Harry Reid has been far too patient.

Dishonestly spinning poll numbers, Reid goes spineless on assault weapons

Talking Points Memo:

The Democratically-controlled U.S. Senate will not be a free-for-all of new gun regulations following the shooting at Sandy Hook, according to Majority Leader Harry Reid. Instead, Senators will focus on passing legislation that can move through the Republican-controlled House, Reid said.

That could spell doom for an assault weapons ban. Speaking on Nevada Week In Review, a news show on the PBS affiliate in Las Vegas, Reid said there’s no real chance of a new ban passing the House.

“Is it something that can pass the Senate? Maybe. Is it something that can pass the House? I doubt it,” he said in video of the program provided to TPM by Vegas PBS. “So I think there are things that we know we can do.”

The National Rifle Association has praised Reid in the past for his opposition to the assault weapons ban, as well as his support for other legislation favored by the gun lobby.

“We have to be fair. I was surprised with the poll results that came after this terrible situation that occurred at Sandy Hook. the numbers around the country — most people favor having the ability of people to carry guns,” he said. “So I think that the American people want us to be very cautious what we do. I think they want us to do things that are logical, smart, and make the country safer, not just be doing things that get a headline in a newspaper.”

The generic statement “carrying guns” and the specific statement “carrying assault weapons” are tow very different things. Two recent polls showed that 55% support a ban on assault weapons, so Reid is cherrypicking his statistics to cover his failure to represent majority opinion. Support for the right to bear arms is not the same as supporting the right to bear weapons of war — and Reid knows it. This is an incredibly dishonest lie of omission.

It doesn’t matter that an assault weapons ban wouldn’t pass the House, since who voted for or against it would be information voters would use to decide whether someone was worthy of reelection. And, since majority opinion is not pro-assault weapon, Reid’s merely protecting blood lobby tools from having to face voters armed with that info. Any other explanation he gives is bullshit.

You know, we were right on the verge of putting the worthless, spineless Bush-era Harry Reid behind us. I guess that sort of fecklessness never really goes away.

Stories to Watch: 7/30/12

According to Justice Antonin Scalia, women have no guaranteed right to legal abortion or contraception, because liberty.


Romney's doing a lot of damage trying to prove he's not a diplomatic lightweight. Seriously though, this is some profoundly racist stuff -- and completely divorced from reality.


Harry Reid is not a fan of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission -- specifically, an Obama nominee by the name of William Magwood. From the sound of things, Harry's on the right side of this one.


After Aurora massacre, opponents of gun control measures lose five points in polling. That's the good news. The bad news is that, at 47% pro-control and 46% anti-, it's basically tied.


It's official: bullshit media aids the GOP.


Politico finally figures out that voter ID laws are about stealing elections, not preventing that theft.


When it comes to providing Olympic coverage, NBC sucks.


Newt Gingrich reminds us all that he's an anti-Muslim nutjob.


Today's Second Amendment Hero.


Finally, Mitt Romney's having a real hard time finding someone who didn't get government help in building their business -- which was Obama's whole damned point.

Related articles

• Romney: Military option in Iran should not be ruled out
• Romney Olympics remark riles London mayor
• Obama gets ahead of Romney on Israel - Newsday

Stories to Watch: 7/17/12

Had to skip the roundup to pick up a bike wheel that was in the shop. I broke a spoke on it the other day, which sucks. Everything's good now, though. Now here's the news...


Steve Benen points out that Mitt Romney's reaction to the Bain outsourcing issue has been pretty much wrongheaded. Instead of denying he had anything to do with it, he should be defending the practice -- which is not indefensible within GOP ideology. At a certain point, he's not going to be able to run from the charge anymore. If this is any indication of the way the campaign is going to operate in the future, expect Team Romney to pick a lot of wrong hills to fight and die on.


Something that is indefensible are House Republican priorities for education.


Extreme rightwing nutjob Tony Perkins met with Mitt Romney about selecting a running mate. Rep. Allen West's name came up. Apparently, Perkins learned absolutely nothing from the Sarah Palin fiasco. As a liberal, I can't think of a better Romney VP pick than that lunatic. He makes Michele Bachmann seem levelheaded.


At this point, the only Republican who doesn't think Mitt Romney should release more tax returns is Mitt Romney.


One of my senators is a complete idiot and a ridiculous boob.


What makes Minnesota's Republican Party different from other states'? When they tried to cheat in elections, they got caught.


Mitt's campaign of lies continues by taking an Obama quote wildly out of context.


Rush Limbaugh's a clown.


Finally, Harry Reid talks post-election filibuster reform.

Related articles

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• Communist Republicans demand Mitt Romney release his taxes

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• McCain: Sarah Palin Was A "Better Candidate" Than Mitt Romney

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Stories to Watch: 3/14/12

The weather is unseasonable, I've got some brats, and I'm grilling. Now here's the news...


Dueling incompetences: Rick Santorum didn't get his paperwork in on time and it could've cost him delegates in Illinois before a single vote was cast. But never mind; Team Romney failed to challenge, so the race is now competitive.


You'd think Wisconsin Republicans would be doing the very least they could to piss off voters ahead of the recall elections -- but you'd be wrong.


Even roughly one third of Republicans think Rush Limbaugh should be canned.


Breitbart's clown show desperately struggles to remain relevant. And fails.


Harry Reid scores a win against judicial obstructionism.


If Santorum can stay in until April 24, he's got a big win coming.


Although, that'll be hard if Rick keeps being such an incredible asshole.


The all but deceased Keyston XL pipeline would be more trouble than it's worth.


Finally, House Republicans' word ain't worth shit.

Related articles

• BLOCKADE: The GOP's Unending Effort to Block Obama's Nominees (ynative77.wordpress.com)
• After Wisconsin Voters Revolt Against GOP Lawmakers, GOP Lawmakers Approve Amendment Preventing Recall Elections (thinkprogress.org)
• Remember to Pray to Limbaugh Five Times a Day (thedailybeast.com)
• Recall elections against four Wisconsin Republican state senators to go forward (dailykos.com)

Stories to Watch: 12/13/11

Still waiting for snow here. Things are getting desperate. Now here's the news...


Lowe's decision to pull their ads from All-American Muslim is quickly turning into a PR disaster. I have to admit some personal fascination with this story. Somewhere, some Lowe's suit or roomful of suits said, "Yup, this is a good idea!" Who could possibly have come to that conclusion? That's what fascinates me. Whenever I see a story about some crazy thing someone has done, I always want to ask them, "At what point did any of this seem like a good idea?" Not in a smart-alecky way, but because I really want to know -- what makes obviously lousy ideas seem rational?


Does a strong showing in Iowa polling mean that it's Ron Paul's turn to be the not-Romney? I kind of doubt it. Paul's made a huge effort to get votes in Iowa and I think it's paying off. According to ABC News, Paul's "ground game hasn’t gone unnoticed by Iowa’s Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who called Paul’s operation the best of any of the Republican candidates in the state." Outside Iowa, Gingrich's lead widens.


Donald Trump pulls out of moderating the all but dead Newsmax debate. In doing so, he manages to blame the GOP candidates and basically says they're afraid of him. What a massive ego.


Gallup polling indicates some trouble for Obama in swing states, but things are still pretty unpredictable right now. I think this is a pretty good, if brief, analysis.


Harry Reid hopes to head off GOP gamesmanship on a payroll tax-cut extension.


The National Transportation Safety Board calls for a national ban on the use of cell phones while driving. I'm waiting for some wingnut blogger to show how this is exactly like Nazi Germany.


James Murdoch knew phone hacking was going on.


Finally, Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS PAC is a bullshit factory. Try to act surprised.

Related articles

• Trump Steps Down As Moderator Of Ridiculed Debate (huffingtonpost.com)
• Paul Surges in Iowa (politicalwire.com)
• Poll: Newt Gingrich Continues to Lead GOP Field in Iowa (usnews.com)
• Simmons Buys Ads for 'All-American Muslim' (theroot.com)

Stories to Watch: 8/10/11

I had a cable guy come out and install a new box. Worked great for a bit, then the cable sputtered and died, cutting in and out with greater frequency until it finally went out altogether. I called the company and they told me it wasn't the new box, it's an area-wide outage. What are the odds? At least I get my internet through the phone company. Now here's the news...


Polling on the new "super-committee" on deficit reduction, CNN has good news, bad news, and (arguably) good news within the bad news. The good news is that 63% want to increase taxes on the wealthy, the bad news is that 57% want "major cuts in domestic spending." The good news within the bad news is that people obviously have no idea what domestic spending actually is. "Nearly two-thirds say no to major changes to Social Security and Medicare," we're told. So the good news within the bad news is that the deep cuts in domestic spending everyone wants are impossible -- which is good, because they would be stupid. Through the process of elimination, soak the rich it is.


Polling the same issue, Gallup finds that everyone wants compromise -- except the 'baggers.


Senate party leaders have announced their picks for the super-committee and one of Harry Reid's choices is characteristically idiotic. Fake dem Max Baucus will sit on the committee, making certain that conservatives have most of the votes on the Senate side. Was Joe Lieberman busy? Can't anybody here play this game? (For a differing opinion, check Steve Benen -- but I'm pretty sure liberals will wind up cursing Baucus before all is said and done).


The word of the day on Wall Stree is "Yikes!"


RNC head Reince Priebus says that the GOP's poll numbers are nosediving because people don't like Obama. No, really.


Finally, John Nichols calls BS on GOP triumphalism over the recall elections last night. You don't lose two senate seats to a recall and get to declare yourselves the winner. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin agrees.

Related articles

• Murray: All is on table in debt "super committee" (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Baucus added to debt super committee - msnbc.com (news.google.com)
• Awaiting Nancy Pelosi's picks for deficit committee (sfgate.com)
• Dow Jones Closes Down More Than 520 Points, Ninth Worst Point-Loss Ever (huffingtonpost.com)

Stories to Watch: 7/26/11

I skipped the roundup today because I finally figured out what was wrong with the sensors on my garage door opener. But it meant a couple of hours shut up in an extremely hot garage, where I'm pretty sure my brain got a little fried. It's a whole big, long, uninteresting story involving LED indicators and rewiring the garage. Along with a whole lot of abandoned spider webs. Bring on the lemonade. Now here's the news...


Palpable irony alert: Eric Cantor tells House Republicans to "quit whining" and vote on Boehner's debt limit plan. In related news, Wile E. Coyote calls on everyone to stop being such dicks to the Roadrunner.


Not that it matters any, Harry Reid declares Boehner's plan DOA in the Senate.


It's possible that, in his response to the president's televised remarks last night, John Boehner might've said something that was true. If he did, however, Steve Benen can't find it.


Michele Bachmann runs screaming from anything less than fawning media.


Once again, the world is left to wonder why Pat Buchanan has a job on TV at all, let alone MSNBC. He's just an awful, awful human being.


Lunatic Oregon Democratic Rep. David Wu will be a lunatic in the private sector from now on.


Say it with me; it's the GOP's debt that the GOP is freaking out over. Shout it from the rooftops. While you're at it, shout, "Austerity is for morons!"


After the president called on Americans to contact their members of congress, DC was bombarded with calls.


Finally, 30 of 54 economists polled by Reuters believe that the US will lose it's AAA rating. They also believe that "partisan wrangling" (i.e., GOP pigheadedness) in the debt limit fight has already harmed the economy.

Related articles

• GOP lawmaker: Boehner's debt bill lacks support (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Conservative revolt casts doubt on House GOP plan (ajc.com)
• Cantor still confident Boehner plan can pass - USA Today (news.google.com)
• Is The Boehner Plan DOA? (outsidethebeltway.com)

News Roundup for 7/25/11

Average voter watches debt limit fight


-Headline of the Day-
"Harry Reid Calls House Republicans' Bluff."

The debt limit follies go on and on as Harry Reid proposes a plan that gives Republicans everything they say they want and Republicans refuse it.

See, the GOP said they wanted $2.7 trillion in spending cuts, so they got that. They said they wanted it without tax increases, so they got that. What they didn't say was that they wanted Democrats to attack Medicare, to let them off the hook for the insanely unpopular plan Paul Ryan put together -- and they didn't get that, so no deal.

"Ah-ha!" says Harry. "I've got you now! Now we know your true purpose and you've been bargaining in bad faith and..." You know what? Nobody fucking cares anymore. That's what I'm sensing anyway. People see headlines like this and they translate it to "CONGRESS STILL DICKING AROUND." Maybe a week ago this would've amounted to something, but voters are suffering from stupid-fatigue. They just want it over and done with.

Give the GOP a final offer, say, "Take it or leave it," and let the chips lie. If they let the economy go belly-up, they can pay the price in November.

Fuck it already. (Matthew Yglesias)


-See, 'cause marriage is like that and stuff-
On Marcus Bachmann's "pray the gay away" "clinic":


Click to embiggen

Bah-dum-bump! (McClatchy)


-Bonus HotD-
"Time Travel Impossible, Say Scientists."

Well there's a bummer. Turns out the Vulcan Science Directorate was right after all. (Discovery News)

Debt Ceiling Deadline May be Sooner than August 2

However crazy you think House Republicans, take that and double it. You'll still fall short.

Politico:

Washington's frayed nerves showed through Monday amid tough talk on the right, a White House veto threat, canceled weekend passes and the top Senate Democrat likening default to a "very, very scary" outcome even for those "who believe government should be small enough to drown in a bathtub."

"What will it take," asked an agitated Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), "for my Republican colleagues to wake up to the fact that they're playing a game of political chicken with the entire global economy?"

News Roundup for 7/14/11

Infographic of the Reid-McConnell debt limit plan

-Headline of the day-
"Harry Reid And Mitch McConnell: 'Hybrid' Solution To Debt Standoff."

You know how I'm always saying that if you meet someone who's crazy halfway, the results are halfway crazy? Turns out that Harry Reid has decided to meet Mitch McConnell halfway and the results are predictable. The two have knocked together a plan to raise the debt ceiling and... Well, check it out for yourself.

According to the report, "The plan, which is being hatched by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), would ensure that over $1.5 trillion in cuts over ten years be passed into law. It would also grant President Obama the authority to extend the debt ceiling through the 2012 election season while requiring him to propose -- but allowing him to ultimately veto -- cuts beyond those initial $1.5 trillion."

OK, do what now? Each day, this thing gets more needlessly complicated. Did I mention the new panel? Yeah, "the deal would create a new 'deficit commission' comprised solely of lawmakers who would be tasked with finding additional savings in the budget. The commission's recommendations would be given automatic, amendment-free votes in both chambers of Congress." Because the Democrat-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House are in agreement so often, I guess. This will all pass sure as shootin', right?

Here's what you do; you sit Mitch and Boehner down in a room -- Cantor you lock in a steamer trunk -- and tell them that polling shows that the public is inclined to blame the GOP if the country goes into default. You tell them that you'll officially change the name of the Oval Office to the "Everything's Republican's Fault Room" and work 24/7 to see that the public's inclination doesn't change. White House press conferences will feature a pullstring toy and every time a reporter pulls the string, it'll say, "Everything's Republicans' fault!" Special editions of Jeopardy will be commissioned, where every answer is "What is something that's the Republicans' fault?" And Air Force One will fly back and forth of the nation, fitted with a mile-long banner reading... Well, you get the idea.

That ought to do the trick. (Huffington Post)


-Cartoon time with Mark Fiore-
Hey kids, Uncle Mark has a special cartoon he calls "Mourning in America." Yay!

Um, wait... Is that spelled right?


Click for animation

Yeah. I guess that's spelled right. (MarkFiore.com)


-Bonus HotD-
"Minnesota Governor Offers To End Shutdown, Reestablish Beer Supply."

Pray he succeeds or Minnesotan society will surely collapse. (Wonkette)

Stories to Watch: 7/13/11

Wisconsin Governor Walker spoke at Gateway Technical College yesterday, celebrating 100 years of technical education in Wisconsin. This despite the fact that the governor cut funding for such schools by 30% and eliminated the teacher's bargaining rights. As you can imagine, this did not go well.


Now here's the news...


Another thing that didn't go well for Walker yesterday was the kickoff to the recall season. You might've heard that Republicans had put up fake Democrats to force primaries. Those primaries were last night and not a single fake dem won. Of course, this little exercise in futility cost the taxpayers nearly half a million dollars -- but that's only because Republicans are so fiscally responsible.


Harry Reid actually endorses -- albeit weakly -- Mitch McConnell's crazy-assed plan to weasel out of political responsibility for raising the debt limit. Then again, if Reid did it to discredit McConnell's idea with the Republican base, then it's working.


Are Republicans justs tryng to find the best position in the debt limit negotiations? Jonathan Chait writes that "the evidence that's leaked out about internal Republican deliberations suggests the Republicans are not shrewdly trying to maximize their leverage. They're just barking mad." A must-read.


Unintended consequence of the government shutdown in Minnesota; because bars can't renew their liquor purchasing licenses, many are starting to run dry. According to the report, "others may soon run out of cigarettes." I foresee rioting.


Things are getting serious now. GOP Rep. Peter King wants an FBI probe into News Corp's possible hacking of the phones of 9/11 victims. When high-profile Republicans start to turn on Rubert Murdoch, things are definitely headed south for him.


Texas Governor Rick Perry's past associations with racist, neo-confederate, literally America-hating groups comes back to haunt him.


Finally, Mitch McConnell has definitely blinked.

Related articles

• GOP is ALLOWING PETTINESS OVERCOME PATRIOTISM (current.com)
• Mitch McConnell's new Blinky Gambit on Debt Ceiling (crooksandliars.com)
• When Will Rick Perry Announce? (politicalwire.com)
• 'Reverse ferret!' Can Rupert Murdoch limit tabloid scandal fallout? - Christian Science Monitor (news.google.com)

Stories to Watch: 3/28/11

Man, the mayoral race has got me stumped. I get to choose between liberal incumbent Dave Cieslewicz and liberal former incumbent Paul Soglin. I'm having a hard time caring who wins here, so I don't know who I'll vote for. I'd be happy enough with either. This strikes me as the sort of problem you want to have. Now here's the news...


The latest in government shutdown news, from Brian Beutler: "The parties have until April 8 to reach agreement, and the odds of a government shutdown are higher now than they've been since this process began." Harry Reid blames the impasse on freshman Republican Tea Party crazies.

***
Speaking of Tea Party crazies; a short-lived story on the wingnutosphere had Bill Ayers -- of "paling around with terr'ists!" fame -- admitting that he'd written Obama's Dreams from My Father. This had something lunatics had speculated on during the presidential campaign. This time, they had video to prove it!

And then people actually watched the video. Long story short, wingnuts are too stupid to get obvious sarcasm.

***
Here's a crazy idea: maybe revenues in states are so low because taxes have been cut to the bone.


Just when you thought the GOP's 2012 field couldn't get any crazier... Remember Judge Roy Moore? Yeah, he thinks he's got a shot at the White House.


People don't like like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.


Finally, President Obama will address the nation tonight on the subject of Libya.

Stories to Watch: 2/22/11

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will address the citizens of the state today. Will he recognize his world is crashing around him or will he continue to be Governor of the State of Denial? OK, not much suspense there. Still, if you're interested in what he has to say, check WisconsinEye at 6pm central. Or, like now. It's our version of C-SPAN. Now here's (the rest of) the news...


Muammar Gaddaffi's Libya is pretty much done. There's a rumor going around that Gaddaffi's committed suicide, but this strikes me as a ruse to get him to come out of hiding and declare himself gloriously and valiantly alive. Still, the guy's a nut and he's got the ego to fall for something like that, so it's not much of a stretch. We'll see how that turns out.


A group in Utah is trying to recall the 14 Wisconsin senators who've skipped out to deny Republicans a quorum. You read that right. Fuck you, Utah. Govern your own damned state. First they start converting people who died in the Holocaust, now they're trying to recall other states' senators. Hey Mormons, you aren't the most important people in the freakin' world.


Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels gives up on union-busting. First victory of many. Take that, Utah.


I'm guessing two or three people are disappointed to learn that John Thune's not running for president.


Harry Reid wants Nevada to outlaw the hookers. I'm guessing this is a bad move.


Finally, meet Sarah Palin, sockpuppet.

Stories to Watch: 1/27/11

Got out and blew off the walk and driveway today. There wasn't much, but I wasn't in the mood to deal with a shovel, so internal combustion it was. When I got inside though, I noticed I was out of breath (the snowblower's not power-assist) and it got me to wondering, was using it really any easier? Oh well, it didn't take as long, so I'll take it as a win. Now here's the news...


It's official, the Illinois Supreme Court puts Rahm Emanuel back on the Chicago mayoral ballot. Early voting begins Monday, so right under the wire.


Biden's communications secretary, Jay Carney, will replace Gibbs as press secretary.


Mike Pence rules out a prez run. Don't worry though, King of the Wingnuts Jim DeMint may take a whack at it.


Sarah Palin says says President Obama "needs to remember that, uh, what happened back then with the communist U.S.S.R. and their victory in that race to space." What happened? Sputnik cost so much money "that it resulted in the inevitable collapse of the Soviet Union." Looks like Sarah and Shelly Bachmann had the same history professor. They should ask for their money back. Also, don't miss a really painful metaphor involving donuts.


Mark Sanford and Evita are at it again. Henceforth, he's barred from using the phrase "sanctity of marriage" ever again.


It's stuff like this that leads me to conclude that Harry Reid is just awful.


Finally, the CBO chief reiterates what the right doesn't want to hear: the healthcare reform law will reduce the deficit.

Making the Impossible Impossibler

This is interesting. It turns out that Mitch McConnell can force a vote on healthcare reform repeal, but only by making what's already nearly impossible more impossible.

The Atlantic:

While the health care repeal that the House passed Wednesday has little chance of passage in the Senate, Republicans will probably succeed in eventually forcing a vote on the measure -- albeit with at least a 60-vote threshold.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who controls the Senate floor schedule, has said he will not bring the repeal up. But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pledged to force consideration of the bill.

[...]

Republican aides noted they can force a vote by offering the repeal as an amendment, or by using the Senate's Rule 14 process to bring the bill to the floor, then filing cloture on it. The easiest course for the GOP might be to try to force a vote on the repeal as an amendment to a bill that's likely to pass, such as an appropriations measure. Reid can block amendments to bills, but Republicans could then force a vote on a motion to suspend the rules to take up the amendment. They would need 67 votes to win such a vote. Any other course would require 60 votes. (The conservative Heritage Foundation has more onhow Republicans could arrange a vote).

Teabagger theater may get even more theatrical. Maybe now would be a nice time to give up on pipedreams and do something crazy -- like govern.

But we both know that's not going to happen.