Thursday, November 21, 2013

Walker Can Dream About Appointing Federal Judges, Obama Finally Gets To Make Them

How funny is it that while Scott Walker and his outsize ego can only fantasize about making presidential judgeship appointments, the real President - - the one elected twice - - is finally freed from Republican filibuster misuse to fill judgeships vacant only because of anti-Obama, GOP ultra-partisanship.

Half of all Senate filibusters in US history have taken place since Obama took office in January, 2009.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Reid changed history while Obama applauded. How fitting.

What's playing out in Washington is history repeating itself mimicking the days when Jim Doyle and the Democrats controlled Wisconsin and the powerful public unions were the money machine was getting what they wanted with reckless abandon.

What happen in Wisconsin next?

While I had my doubts about Walkers chances for the nomination, the case for a Scott Walker style leader of the United States in Washington is strengthened every week.

When the role of Senate majority and the White House leadership are reversed, payback will be exercised with wrath and scorn.

Laurette McGovern said...

For Anon 5:42

Oh, no! Not that; anything but wrath and scorn!

Anonymous said...

Laurette,

Even you have to admit, Senator McGovernor would never have exercised this level of absence of decorum.

The Democratic party just changed 200 years of minority respect.

You mock this rather than condemn this deplorable action by Democrats???

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

The hollow part of that threat is that even when insane wingnut judges like Scalia and Thomas are nominated, they aren't filibustered.

Bork, as people with actual memories, was voted down, but not filibustered.

So the cries from the right are crocodile tears at best. If they really thought they would be able to use nominating judges to their benefit, they would have changed the rules in Bush's term.

So, yes, Reid changed history, and Obama approves because now he can fulfill his constitutional obligation to staff the executive branch. Republican hate the idea, of course, because it's much easier to portray the government as broken, when you've broken it.

Yes, Reid and Obama have made history, while the Republicans continue to be obstructionist and whiny. So while Walker, Cruz, and Paul all look for cameras to whine into, the Senate will be taking up the People's Business which had been brought to a standstill by vandals bent on seditious acts.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

Oh, no! Not that; anything but wrath and scorn!

and ponies. And Wolverines.

Joe R said...

Please, Anon, spare us your outrage. If the rights of the minority are so sacred, if the filibuster is so sacrosanct, if decorum is of such critical importance to the future of the Republic, why do the GOPers threaten to smite the Dems hip and thigh when (if?) they return to power? Will they restore the hallowed filibuster when (if?) they attain a majority? Hell, no.

Anonymous said...

"The hollow part of that threat is that even when insane wingnut judges like Scalia and Thomas are nominated, they aren't filibustered."

Well nobody will have to worry about filibustering again now, will they.

Poor Thomas Jefferson. Part of his legacy was torn out of the history books by dingy Harry. A nobody remembered for being a complete idiot.

Anonymous said...

@Zombie
"So, yes, Reid changed history, and Obama approves because now he can fulfill his constitutional obligation to staff the executive branch. Republican hate the idea, of course, because it's much easier to portray the government as broken, when you've broken it."

For over 200 years, 2000 elected United States Senators thought this was good government, for respect of opinions and actions of the minority. Everyone of them was wrong? Really?

You trivialize our country's deep and rich history of judicial appointments.

If exercising the nuclear option is acceptable with the radical left, there should be no "crocodile tears" shed when the radical right has their turn hiding in the shadows of power in Washington. Right?

Anyone want to bet RvW will be the first to fall?

Anonymous said...

"If they really thought they would be able to use nominating judges to their benefit, they would have changed the rules in Bush's term."

The nuclear option exercised had nothing to do with "their benefit".

It's all about protecting the truth in the Benghazi cover-up.

Changing 200 years of history to protect the queen was a grave political mistake.

"Graham tweeted : “Where are the #Benghazi survivors? I’m going to block every appointment in the US Senate until they are made available to Congress” and “We still need a joint Select Committee to investigate #Benghazi and get the truth about what happened before, during, and after the attack” - See more at: http://www.occupycorporatism.com/senator-graham-demands-a-new-investigation-into-benghazi/#sthash.r6HgAuvJ.dpuf"

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

yeah, the refrain "we've always done it this way" is a really effective argument.

When a five year old picks up a hammer and starts hammering all the furniture, dishes, and pets, that child should not be surprised when the hammer is taken away.

If we want to talk historical, lets look at the numbers: 165 filibusters of nominees in the history of the US. 82 of them during Obama's 1 1/2 terms. It's an unprecedented use of the filibuster just because the Republicans want to be dicks and obstruct the valid and proper functioning of government.

Sheesh, for people who whinge on and on about how government is awful and non-functional and government jobs aren't REAL jobs, they sure do love to get themselves a gubblemint job and keep it. Like our buddies Scott Walker and Paul Ryan who have never had a job that wasn't sucking at some political teat.

So, if the rightwing is so upset about the minor change to the Senate rules (and let's be clear; the Constitution gives full power to create and modify those rules to the Senate, there is nothing sacred about the filibuster. In fact, most forms or democratic governance don't use it) they can do two things. One would be to win a few elections in the Senate and bring the rule back. The other would be to shut the hell up and start acting like rational, reasonable legislators.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...


Poor Thomas Jefferson. Part of his legacy was torn out of the history books by dingy Harry. A nobody remembered for being a complete idiot.


and you accuse me of hyperbole, you poor anonymous wretch.

Jake formerly of the LP said...

You Baggers did it to yourself. If you didn't constantly abuse your minority position, and grind the appointment process to a halt, you wouldn't be in this spot today. Heck, if you guys weren't such arrogant goons, Elizabeth Warren would be the head of the CFPB, would probably never be in the Senate, and wouldn't have led a group that encouraged Reid to finally pull the trigger and stop your type in your tracks.

It's not like you dingbats wouldn't change the Senate rules if you ever got the chance again. We've seen how you roll in Wisconsin, and you're no different in DC. So, as you have told plenty of us here, "Win some elections and stop complaining!"

Now the American public has the spotlight shined on the antics you Baggers never wanted them to understand. Please run on your record of obstruction in 2014. WE DARE YOU.

In the words of the great Lou Reed "You're gonna reap, just what you sow."

Rev. paleotectonics said...

Anon 11/22/2013 9:10

Fail. The removal of the filibuster does not apply to policy or Supreme Court justices. Reading comprehension, it's what's for dinner.

Anon 11/23/2013 6:48

Fail. Until 1913 and the 17th amendment, Senators were appointed by state legislatures, a situation your crowd would love to have again. Civics, it's what's for dinner.

You trivialize our country's deep and rich history of judicial appointments
Perhaps historically there have been some fine judges, but we are talking Scalia, Alito, Rogers Brown, and other bloodthirsty hacks.

RvW will be the first to fall?"
How is that outreach to women going?

Rev. paleotectonics said...

Even you have to admit, Senator McGovernor would never have exercised this level of absence of decorum.

The Democratic party just changed 200 years of minority respect.

You mock this rather than condemn this deplorable action by Democrats???


Is that Grape? I've always been partial to Black Cherry, but they don't make it in the single serve packets.

Also, who is Senator McGovernor? I've heard of Prelate McSelectman, the famous legislator from West Hampshire.

Anonymous said...

"RvW will be the first to fall?"
How is that outreach to women going?"

Based the the latest polling data, much better than Obamacare.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

Even you have to admit, Senator McGovernor would never have exercised this level of absence of decorum.

The appalling thing about that comment, paleo, is that Nonnie there is mansplaining his superior understanding of Senator McGovern's concern for decorum to....one of the Senator's family.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

Based the the latest polling data, much better than Obamacare.

yeah, not so much. more FAIL.

keep dreaming of unskewed polls and President Romney.


Meanwhile, the historic renovation of America's 37th-in-the-world healthcare system continues to improve, doing better than Romney's version of it at a similar point in time. Imagine how much better it would be doing if Republican governors and legislatures weren't hampering it at every turn, making their citizens less healthy in order to score political points.

I am sure they appreciate you buying all the lies they tell you, though.

Anonymous said...

And that new redistribution of wealth system of heath care you tout is doing what exactly for the millions forced off healthcare by a Congress and President now willing to admit massive failure and that this failure needs to be suspended until after the yellow bellie Democrats get past November 2014?

How much money does the US taxpayers now own the insurance companies forced to stop selling insurance and offer policies in the exchanges that few can afford and almost nobody get can register for on a massive failure of a website?

Standby for that bad news bucko.

Zombie you need to jump ship on Obamacare. I respect your opinions, but this single issue is toxic to your normally understandably left (not that that's wrong or bad) opinions. The Titanic is sinking.

Boxer said...

Rowen: Reid and Senate Democrats Limit Filibuster to Legislation and SC Justice Appointments.

Right Wing Troll Chorus:
Benghazi!!!!
Thomas Jefferson Legacy Torn From History Books!!!
Obamacare!!!!
Benghazi Cover-up!!!
Senator McGovern Now Backs Tea Party for Its Superior Decorum!!!
Benghazi Body Pictures--Show Us!!!!
Obamacare Website Glitches!!!
Revenge enacted with Scorn! and Wrath! Revenge-Aggeddon!'!
Obamacare Fails!!!
Benghazi!!!!
Titanic Sinks (Again)!!!
Benghazi!!!Benghazi!!!Benghazi!!!!

Seriously, do you people ever read what you write? Do you ever stick to the subject?