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June 24, 2008

Senate Democrats are thinking about the nuclear option?

Remember a few years ago when Republicans controlled the U.S. Senate? They complained endlessly about Democrats using filibusters -- or the threat of them -- to block legislation and votes on judicial nominees. They threatened to invoke the "nuclear option" which effectively would have prevented filibusters in many cases.

Oh, how the times have changed. Republicans who hated filibusters a few years ago love them now. They've even set the record for using them. And now Democrats might be thinking about invoking their own nuclear option. With a strong possibility of a Democratic president next year and an expanded majority in the Senate, they don't want the GOP gumming up the works.

At least that's what Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., indicated in an interview with The Young Turks, a lefty online political commentary group.

Cenk Uygur (host): So, the Democratic Senators are considering a nuclear option in that scenario?
Pete DeFazio: I believe they are, but I'm not privy to the highest councils over there.

It was a terrible idea when Republicans proposed it, and it's a terrible idea now. I hope DeFazio is getting bad information.

Meanwhile, the whole interview is pretty interesting. The host takes Democrats to task for accomplishing so little with majorities in both chambers of Congress. He hypothesizes that they cave to the Republicans on so many issues out of sheer political calculation. I think he gives them too much credit.

Voters should rightly ask what's substantively different between Democrats and Republicans controlling Congress. That doesn't argue for electing Republicans in November, but it does make me long for viable third and even fourth parties.

The filibuster comments start around the 5 minute mark. Transcript here.

Comments

# 1

[June 24, 2008 3:55 PM]

Jim

"That doesn't argue for electing Republicans in November"

No, we had NO idea that you oppose Republicans and lean toward socialist politics. Who in their right (no pun) mind would read the Young Turks anyway? I think this blog is head and shoulders above anything discussed:

http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/

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