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Fri Feb 05, 2010 at 17:52:37 PM EST
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In the real world (that is outside the LaLaLand of the Senate), this would be called what it is. But not in the Senate. We citizens have gown too accustomed to it. And as a consequence, there have been increasing efforts to bring government to a standstill. It happened in the case of the new TSA nomination. The Senate republicans would not "allow" a vote on the President's nominee. And TSA was without its leader when the "Shoe Bomber" attempted to take down a plane. It happened also when Ben Nelson demanded special treatment or he'll kill health care reform. It went over so poorly, Ben Nelson tried after the fact to kill his own perverse amendment. Mary Landrieu demanded special treatment for LA, or else. Blanche Lincoln's contortions, rationalizations, and obstructionism were designed to give her singualar authority over health care (and a lot more). (Did you know she wrote her constituents suggesting she stood up to the President?" Now we see that the Senate "can vote on no more Obama nominations." Not one. The Imperial Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) has so decreed. 70 nominations have ground to a halt. It has come to this.
Sen. Richard Shelby's (R-Ala.) decision to place a "blanket hold" on all presidential nominations until a pair of billion-dollar earmarks for his home state are fast-tracked has reignited the debate over the parliamentary tactics being deployed by the Republican Party. It also has thrust into the spotlight the clout that major defense contractors often yield on the political process.
Read more here. |
| KathyinBlacksburg :: A Blanket Hold on All Nominations |
| Here's the question: When will the Senate put an end to this? Why don't they? Ah! There is the rub. They do not because each and every one thinks he or she might want to do likewise and blackmail the entire Senate, you know, bring it to a grinding halt.
Wanted: Some good Senators to create the momentum to end this practice. There is no Constitutional right for Shelby to grind all nominations (and hypothetically, everything) to a halt.
Harry Reid should use the power he has to put a de-facto end to the nonsense. Show you have the moxie, Senator. I call upon you to show you care more about the business of the people than this obstruction without end. Announce to the country what Richard Shelby has done. Tell the people that the law does not protect such manipulation. Let Shelby twist in the sunlight of public scrutiny. Push the footage everywhere. Let the voters see the Republicans' obstruction (and worse) right before their eyes. And see GOP favorability ratings sink even further. The GOP has only two words to its "credit": "No" and nothing. Reid should stop hiding under the cloak of a supposedly required "supermajority." Richard Shelby should be ejected from the Senate. So too should any other Senator who demands payment, or else. What can you do? Write your Senator. Demand an end to the obstruction by either party. Tell Your Senator to hold hearings on Shelby's stunt. Use him as an example. Bring this unsavory unitary Senator "rule" to an end.
PS As for health care. It has passed both houses. Reconciliation is not only the right process to use to wrap it up, it is the process historically used. |
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