Looks like the Senate has gone nuclear

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Sunburn74

Diamond Member
Oct 5, 2009
5,076
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Democrats should be working to eliminate the legislative filibuster, not bringing back SCOTUS one.
When Democrats pass legislation, it expands popular entitlements, which are almost impossible to roll back, even without a filibuster. Case in point, Obamacare. GOP can't even get a bill out of the House to repeal it, so removing Senate filibuster is not much help.
When Republicans pass legislation, it is extremely unpopular stuff like tax cuts for the rich and letting ISP's sell your browsing data, which is politically easy to undo without a filibuster.
This is why McConnell is trying desperately to say that this is only about SCOTUS and not legislation. But Democrats aren't going to let this slide. Passing universal single payer is as important for Democrats as putting justices on SCOTUS is for the Republicans, so they will apply same threshold to it. 50+1 votes.

This. Medicare for all passed with a 50+1 vote is GOPs worst fear and is absolutely coming next election cycle.
 
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Nov 30, 2006
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Yes, Dems filibustered radical right nominees & also had the integrity to make moderate nominations of their own that were more likely to win Repub approval. That doesn't work any more. Repubs are desperate to lock down minority rule with the Court, Gerrymandering & voter suppression.
You're a complete and shameless hack...revise history much?
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,152
55,686
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Not true. Dems abused the crap out of the filibuster when they had the chance...9 appointments alone in 2003 were filibustered. Republicans filibustered only 5 appointments over several years before the Dems went nuclear. Don't revise history here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush_judicial_appointment_controversies

And when Democrats thought they had a lock on the presidential election and a possible Senate majority, they were already talking about going nuclear on SCOTUS picks two weeks before the election.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/harry-reid-if-gop-blocks-scotus-in-2017-dems-should-go-nuclear-again

'Abused the crap out of it', huh? Talk about revisionist history. Republicans have abused it at a rate many times greater than democrats and this is not in dispute by any objective person. Also, it is incredibly ironic that you would bring up the GWB judicial appointment controversy considering the Republicans' egregious violation of that agreement is what pushed the Democrats to nuke the appointment filibuster to begin with.

Do me a favor and count the number of filibusters by the Democrats during GWB's tenure when Republicans controlled the White House and Senate and compare it to the number of filibusters by Republicans when Democrats controlled the White House and Senate. Seriously, I dare you to post that information as it will show what a complete lie trying to compare the two parties in this respect is.

I'm glad the nomination filibuster is gone. Next stop: the legislative filibuster. If I were the Democrats I would nuke that at the first convenient opportunity as well. No more catering to supermajority requirements for general legislation.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
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You're a complete and shameless hack...revise history much?

Click on the names of the refused GWB nominees in your own link from post #31. Recall that Dems had confirmed nearly 200 other Bush nominees in the process. Recall what had gone before, as well-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton_judicial_appointment_controversies

You might also want to recall that the only thing Repubs found objectionable about Garland was that Obama nominated him, not to mention their astounding hypocrisy-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/merrick-garland-neil-gorsuch-scotus_us_58e554e9e4b06a4cb30ee0c3
 
Feb 4, 2009
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I remember a video where Mitch McConnell essentially said Obama doesn't have the guts to nominate a good judge like Garland before Obama nominated Garland.
Can someone with time find it?
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,152
55,686
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DSF and facts good luck guys!

Remember though, both parties are the same! If this chart were updated past 2012 the disparity would likely go from Republicans using it about 40% more to about 50-60% more.

senate_cloture_votes_chart.jpg
 

thraashman

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
11,112
1,587
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Remember though, both parties are the same! If this chart were updated past 2012 the disparity would likely go from Republicans using it about 40% more to about 50-60% more.

senate_cloture_votes_chart.jpg
If you look at the numbers, one third of all filibusters in the history of this nation through 2016 were done by Republicans in Obama's first 6 years. That number is insane as is anyone willing to support republicans anymore.
 
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fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,152
55,686
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He has facts. His.

I'm waiting for the 'I was only referring to filibusters of people named Phil on odd-numbered Thursdays, where it is equal. I have no idea why you would think I meant all filibusters. Once again you guys have totally misrepresented me because you're horrible liars.'
 
Jul 9, 2009
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The politics of this is now moot. Gorsuch is in and now in and this is how both sides will act in the future.
With this single accomplishment of getting Gorsuch on the USSC, President Trump has made all his supporters satisfied. Everything else he's done and is doing is just gravy.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
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With this single accomplishment of getting Gorsuch on the USSC, President Trump has made all his supporters satisfied. Everything else he's done and is doing is just gravy.

Chuck Schumer didn't help with his interview with Maddow when he agreed with her that Dems should oppose all of Trumps SCOTUS picks for the duration of Trump's tenure. At that point the Reps were told that the Nuke was the only practical way the vacant seat would be filled and lets face it there is no such thing as a candidate acceptable to both sides.

It is what it is.
 
Nov 30, 2006
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Remember though, both parties are the same! If this chart were updated past 2012 the disparity would likely go from Republicans using it about 40% more to about 50-60% more.

senate_cloture_votes_chart.jpg
I see retaliation for 8 long years of unprecedented Democratic obstruction using the filibuster AND vote delay tactics which resulted in much, much longer confirmation times than under Clinton. To focus solely on filibusters as the only measurement of obstructionism is misleading and dishonest. In Bush's 5th year his appellate court nominees were taking an average of nearly 3 years to get approved!!! The reality here is that it was Democrats who started the new norm of judicial obstructionism during the Bush presidency, and Republicans didn't forget. That said, ultimately Obama won in the end with confirmation percentages exceeding both Bush and Clinton...so you really have nothing to bitch about especially when Democrats started all this obstructionist horseshit in the first place.

You guys are like the bully who cries like a little baby when his longtime victim can take no more of his bullshit and finally fights back in like kind when he gets the chance. But ohhh....he hit me harder....waaah!

Tables-for-FixGov-Wheeler-Post1230Page4revised2.jpg
 
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fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,152
55,686
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I see retaliation for 8 long years of unprecedented Democratic obstruction using the filibuster AND vote delay tactics that resulted in much longer confirmation times than under Clinton. To focus solely on filibusters as the only measurement of obstructionism is misleading and dishonest. In Bush's 5th year his appellate court nominees were taking an average of nearly 3 years to get approved!!! The reality here is that it was Democrats who started the new norm of judicial obstructionism under Bush, and that Republicans learned from the best. That said, ultimately Obama won in the end with confirmation percentages exceeding both Bush and Clinton...so you really have nothing to bitch about especially when Democrats started all this obstructionist horseshit in the first place. You guys are like the bully who cries like a little baby when his longtime victim can take no more of his bullshit and finally fights back in like kind when he gets a chance. But ohhh....he hit me harder....waaah!

Lol, speaking of misleading and dishonest, let's talk about the highlighted section. From the exact report you pulled that chart from:

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixg...minations-and-confirmations-fact-and-fiction/
Comparing processing times for Bush and Obama circuit judges is not profitable at the end of five years because, in 2005, following the 2005 Senate agreement to process most Bush circuit nominees, the Senate confirmed some nominees whom Bush first submitted in 2001 or 2003, producing much higher wait times than for all eight years of the Bush administration (as Table 11’s star note explains).

The article you cited explicitly told you that the comparison you just tried to make was wrong but you did it anyway. Either you didn't read the article and just pulled the first thing that you thought supported your point (most likely) or you're yet again proving yourself to be a liar. All that aside, nice attempt to shift the goalposts from 'DEMOCRATS ABUSED THE FILIBUSTER!' to something else once you realized the facts didn't support your bullshit.
 

thraashman

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
11,112
1,587
126
He has facts. His.
#AlternativeFacts

If you're capable of adding something reasonably intelligent to these discussions...do it. Otherwise you give every appearance that you're a complete idiot who's too stupid to figure it out.
I think you should take your own advice. Offering falsehood after falsehood adds nothing intelligent. And therefore nobody wants to attempt to engage you in intelligent discussion when you're just gonna continue to lie.
 
Nov 30, 2006
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Lol, speaking of misleading and dishonest, let's talk about the highlighted section. From the exact report you pulled that chart from:

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixg...minations-and-confirmations-fact-and-fiction/


The article you cited explicitly told you that the comparison you just tried to make was wrong but you did it anyway. Either you didn't read the article and just pulled the first thing that you thought supported your point (most likely) or you're yet again proving yourself to be a liar. All that aside, nice attempt to shift the goalposts from 'DEMOCRATS ABUSED THE FILIBUSTER!' to something else once you realized the facts didn't support your bullshit.
Did Democrats obstruct those nominations or not? Did you not see that ALL the other metrics indicated significant vote delay increases as well...or did you conveniently chose to ignore those facts as well because they don't fit your narrative?
 
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fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,152
55,686
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Did Democrats obstruct those nominations or not? Did you not see that ALL the other metrics indicated significant vote delay increases as well...or did you conveniently chose to ignore that because it does fit your narrative?

Nope, I simply read the whole article, which showed that even though Obama had a friendly Senate for the entirety of his administration up to that point he still faced greater obstruction than Bush had, despite the fact that Bush only had a friendly Senate for about half up to that point.

In addition you have made numerous false or deeply misleading statements about the contents of the article. For example you mentioned long wait times for Bush's appellate judges despite the article explicitly telling you that was misleading and ignored the fact that from the same article (in a not misleading way) Obama's district nominees were waiting much longer again, despite a friendly Senate. Confirmation rate alone ignores the blue slip procedure that Republicans abused for years which prevented people from even being nominated. This also conveniently went unsaid.

Your entire deceptive depiction of the article and your omission of the source implies to me that you knew you were being dishonest but didn't want to make it too easy for people to figure out. I encourage anyone who wonders if what you linked was accurate or appropriate to read it themselves and come to their own conclusion. Alternatively they could also look up more recent figures. Clearly though you can't be trusted to portray things honestly.
 
Nov 30, 2006
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Nope, I simply read the whole article, which showed that even though Obama had a friendly Senate for the entirety of his administration up to that point he still faced greater obstruction than Bush had, despite the fact that Bush only had a friendly Senate for about half up to that point.

In addition you have made numerous false or deeply misleading statements about the contents of the article. For example you mentioned long wait times for Bush's appellate judges despite the article explicitly telling you that was misleading and ignored the fact that from the same article (in a not misleading way) Obama's district nominees were waiting much longer again, despite a friendly Senate. Confirmation rate alone ignores the blue slip procedure that Republicans abused for years which prevented people from even being nominated. This also conveniently went unsaid.

Your entire deceptive depiction of the article and your omission of the source implies to me that you knew you were being dishonest but didn't want to make it too easy for people to figure out. I encourage anyone who wonders if what you linked was accurate or appropriate to read it themselves and come to their own conclusion. Alternatively they could also look up more recent figures. Clearly though you can't be trusted to portray things honestly.
And I told you why that happened ffs....because Democrats starting abusing the system and greatly expanded the usage of these bullshit obstruction tactics in the first place! Democrats greatly obstructed judicial appointments under Bush using the filibuster AND vote delay tactics when compared to the previous norm. It pissed off Republicans and explains their escalation of these tactics under Obama. This is the reality here no matter how you try to twist it.

http://www.factcheck.org/2013/06/obamas-judicial-juggling/

comparison_judicial_court.png


http://www.scholarsstrategynetwork....us-senate-confirmations-judges-federal-courts
 
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fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,152
55,686
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And I told you why that happened ffs....because of Democrats starting this bullshit in the first place! Democrats greatly obstructed judicial appointments under Bush using the filibuster and vote delay tactics when compared to the previous norm. It pissed off Republicans and explains their escalation of these tactics under Obama. This is the reality here no matter how you try to twist it.

http://www.factcheck.org/2013/06/obamas-judicial-juggling/

comparison_judicial_court.png

You're still trying to shift the goalposts from mean days to confirmation from use of the filibuster, which is used to deny nominees entirely. They are two totally different things. You're also ignoring the composition of the Senate and the fact that the reason for Democrats going nuclear on judicial nominations was explicitly due to the Republicans egregiously violating an agreement both sides worked out to stop judicial filibusters. If you actually go and look at the percentage of time one party required a supermajority vs. the other the numbers are crystal clear. While no party is entirely innocent, the Republicans are considerably more guilty than the Democrats. I don't know why it's so hard for you to admit to Republicans behaving badly just because they're on your political sports team.

You aren't fooling anyone although I think at this point the person you're primarily trying to convince is yourself.
 
Nov 30, 2006
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You're still trying to shift the goalposts from mean days to confirmation from use of the filibuster, which is used to deny nominees entirely. They are two totally different things. You're also ignoring the composition of the Senate and the fact that the reason for Democrats going nuclear on judicial nominations was explicitly due to the Republicans egregiously violating an agreement both sides worked out to stop judicial filibusters. If you actually go and look at the percentage of time one party required a supermajority vs. the other the numbers are crystal clear. While no party is entirely innocent, the Republicans are considerably more guilty than the Democrats. I don't know why it's so hard for you to admit to Republicans behaving badly just because they're on your political sports team.

You aren't fooling anyone although I think at this point the person you're primarily trying to convince is yourself.
I'm talking about obstructionism and why it escalated so much. Yes, I understand why you want to ignore my actual point and frame this primarily as Republicans being worse under Obama...all the while turning a blind eye to the events which predicated the retaliation. I would expect no less from you.
 

Pens1566

Lifer
Oct 11, 2005
13,918
11,614
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If you're capable of adding something reasonably intelligent to these discussions...do it. Otherwise you give every appearance that you're a complete idiot who's too stupid to figure it out.

Some self reflection would have been useful before posting this ^