The U.S. Senate went with the nuclear option of voting to eliminate the filibuster that Republicans have been using to block the White House’s judicial and executive nominees. Slate explains what it all means.

Talking Points Memo reports that Sen. John McCain predicted that the vote will hurt Democrats in the future:

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that Democrats would “pay a heavy, heavy price” for changing the Senate rules for judicial and executive nominees.

“They’re governed by the newer members… who have never been in a minority, who are primarily driving this issue,” McCain told reporters after the vote. “They succeeded and they will pay a very, very heavy price for it.”

McCain said moments later, though, that he did not believe it would be a major election issue. “I don’t think Americans understand it very well,” he said.

This article appears in Nov 21-27, 2013.

Getting hassled by The Man Mild-mannered reporter

8 replies on “Senate Goes Nuclear, McCain Frets About Damage to Democrats”

  1. I have to agree with the part that the Americans understand it very well. I really don’t think the liberals know what is going to happen. They need to do more research on some of these other countries like North Korea and China for starters. They should also do research on this single payer plan like they have in the UK and Canada. They may not think it is a big deal now but if they need something serious taken care of they will have to wait. I was always told when I get old enough to take care of myself and move out of my parents house that I could make my own choices. I should be able to choose what insurance, coverage, and doctor or doctors I want. I should also be able to keep what I earn from my hard work. This is not what is happening.

  2. This should have happened three years ago when it was blatantly obvious that the Republicans were going to do nothing more than stall anything and everything that might come up for a vote in the Senate.

  3. I think McCain is right. From a purely tactical viewpoint, this was an error for the Democrats, even if it was the result of understandable frustration.

  4. I doubt there are too many voters who are going to make their electoral decisions based on this issue. If Democrats are going to pay a price for this action it will only be if voters put them in the minority. Based on the actions of the Republican Party that is most likely not going to happen any time soon.

  5. Marty the pendulum will shift at some point to the right…..in fact it might already be happening based on our presidents 37% approval rating. Republicans will have the senate at some point and elephants have a long memory.

  6. Mark S — like most of the cowardly dems I’ve run into here in Baja Arizona, I believe you’ve got it backwards…

    I think the filibuster should be eliminated on ALL legislation in the Senate…

    The main result, the increasingly Democratic base will be even more motivated to Get Out and Vote — ’cause the alternative with a bat-crap crazy republican Congress is unthinkable… The Dems won’t have the filibuster to fall back on in extremis and will have to influence policy the old-fashioned way — vote in better legislators…

    and WTF have dems been able to pass (other than a REPUBLICAN ‘health care’ bill, more money for war and the sequester) thanks to the filibuster’s massive overuse by the obstructionist republicans…?

  7. This might bring more ‘democracy’ and less ‘tyranny’ to the senate.

    The prime focus of “parliamentary process” is to put in place, in a legislature, a
    set of fix/certain rules that will allow all members to speak their view…and at
    the same time allow the sense of the majority to prevail. And if we voters don’t
    like the outcome of our senate….we can always vote in new senators.

    A real problem for all us voters is to ask the question of why we allow minority parties
    to enjoy an unconstitutional power and control of our government (fed, state, local).
    Our job is to find a way to break this unholy/unconstitutional tyrannical bond we
    are under via the two minority parties. (Oh…and yes, the democrats and republicans
    are minority parties.)

    Thanks and Good Luck,

    Frank Henry
    “Full Voting Rights” Advocate
    fmhenry4@netzero.com

  8. Even if McCain is right, at least for a couple of years the senate can legislate. PS. Tell McCain that people won’t vote for an 80 year old.

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