So far in this discussion Stakelberg hasn't said much that I can't support, with one exception - Rand Paul's filibuster. There is a place for filibusters of nominations, but it has been utterly abused and now the Republicans are reaping what they sowed with their abhorrent, childish behavior.

Yeah I'd agree with you there on the merits of both Paul's filibuster and his policy position.

You guys forgot that the normal way around filibustered executive appointments was recess appointments until the Supreme Court rejected Obama's last recess appointments because the Republicans in the Senate claimed that having a few of them show up and sit around in an empty chamber meant that there was never a recess. Something that even the Democrats didn't do to Republican presidents.

The Republicans are holding out judicial appointments in hopes that they can eventually fill the slots with Republican judges.

Can the current no-compromise mindset in DC (and the whole US) really only be blamed on one party?

@Puddle,

"Nothing about the filibuster was declared unconstitutional, it has no basis in the constitution and is essentially just a parliamentary rule, which is to say it just determines the rules by which the Senate conducts it's business, most of which is determined by the Senate themselves rather than the constitution."

That's not true. In order to change the Senate rules on a majority (instead of the usually required 60), the presiding officer has to cite the US Constitution and rule that it requires his decision to allow debate to end. In effect, he has to say that the filibuster violates the Constitution, and then the Senate has to vote its agreement with this judgment. That's how the nuclear option works, as I understand it.

Khitan General: My fear is that my sons will never understand me... Hao! Dai ye! We won again! [Cheers] This is good. But what is best in life?
Khitan Warrior: The open steppe, a fleet horse, falcons at your wrist, and the wind in your hair.
Khitan General: Wrong! Conan, what is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!
Khitan General: This is good.

oops. wrong thread again.

@semck: the way they did it this time is that after the presiding officer ruled the motion to change the rules (which got 52 votes) defeated,, Reid appealed the ruling and that vote was successful. So the presiding officer in this case only had to rule on Senate rules.

I see SF, thank you. That's good to hear.

So... looks like this bullshit is over, eh?