February 1, 2017

"I don't care what they want at this point," said Orrin Hatch.

"They" = Senate Democrats.

Senate Democrats have been failing to attend committee meetings (as a way to stop the confirmation of Trump Cabinet nominees). Hatch is the chair of the Finance Committee where every seat on the Democratic side was empty. Under the "extraordinary circumstances," Hatch allowed a vote to suspend the committee rules so it can get on with the confirmation of Steve Mnuchin (as Secretary of Treasury) and Tom Price (as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services).

The rules had required there to be at least one Democratic Party committee member present for a vote to take place, but, without that rule in the way, Republicans voted unanimously to put Mnuchin and Price through to the full Senate:
"They on their own accord refused to participate in the exercise," Hatch said about the Democrats on the committee. "They have nobody to blame but themselves."

Hatch said the Senate Parliamentarian had approved of the procedural maneuver, and insisted to reporters after the exercise was a "just utilization" of the rules. "This is all approved by the Parliamentarian," he said. "I wouldn't have done it if it hadn't been."...

Hatch chuckled when confronted by questions from reporters about the little notice that the public received about Wednesday's meeting. "You were scrambling? Well, you know, that's neither here nor there," he said.

111 comments:

rhhardin said...

No longer care what they think also describes whites' thinking on blacks.

Too much moral preening too long.

Meade said...

This reminds me of when the Fab 14 stopped Governor Walker's reforms.

rhhardin said...

The split-s is my favorite parliamentary maneuver.

Meade said...

From that Forbes article I linked to: "Like North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Wisconsin was a state where, following a lengthy period of Democrat rule, Republicans took control of all levers of state government in the 2010 midterm elections."

6 years later, every one of those 5 states elected Trump. But I'm sure it's only a coincidence.

David Begley said...

Yeah. Dems trying the same stunt as in Wisconsin.

Meade, refresh our recollection as to how that turned out.

cubanbob said...

Wow! It looks like Trump gave him some testicular extracts.

Scott M said...

That's how you have to deal with fleebaggers.

Owen said...

Meade: exactly.

They made their bed, now they can lie in it. Funny how a group so versed in controlling the Narrative seems to have lost track of how the public will read their self-immolating behavior.

Big Mike said...

I am hard put to guess whether there is anyone who loves the Senate, and its rules and traditions, more than Hatch, and the present shenanigans must be deeply disturbing to him. It's one thing for Schumer and Durbin to make enemies. I think they will come to regret making an enemy of Orrin Hatch, and very soon, and for a long time.

Reid, Schumer, Pelosi, and Obama couldn't have done a better job wrecking their party if they'd been paid billions to do it.

rehajm said...

Call of the house can't be used in committee?

It would be fun to see some lefties frog marched to the floor. Even lefties would like the disobedience. Win win!

Meade said...

the Fab 14

Alexander said...

It looks like even the most resistant Republicans have, through proximity, been affected by second-hand #Winning.

Ok - not most resistant, the McCain/Graham tag team is still countersignalling. But they will bend the knee or else be left behind as Trump continues to make america great again.

What a great two weeks; made all the better because we actually fight like Democrats now, don't just bow and scrape because someone didn't show up or someone will call us racist.

Just think - what happens the next time SCOTUS decides a case and nobody cares about NYT journalists hinting that dinner party invitations might get revoked.

Lewis Wetzel said...

As I wrote on another thread, these rules are in place to protect the rights of the minority party. I am watching the Democrat party commit suicide.

Wince said...

"Parliamentarian."

I'd love to put that job title on a loan application.

Susan said...

Just as soon as the Dems win enough elections to have the votes they need to actually do anything I suppose he'll start to care. In the meantime I guess Dems can continue to pull meaningless stunts for attention.

Nonapod said...

Reid, Schumer, Pelosi, and Obama couldn't have done a better job wrecking their party if they'd been paid billions to do it.

Yeah, sometimes I wonder if these clowns are secret Conservatives or something, but I have to remind myself that no... they're just prevaricating garden variety morons.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Hatch 1, Wyden 0.

Meade said...

"Meade, refresh our recollection as to how that turned out."

Well, first of all, they went full Rockford, Illinois. You never want to go full Rockford, Illinois.

Drago said...

Meade: "This reminds me of when the Fab 14 stopped Governor Walker's reforms."

That's not the first time either.

Remember this one from 2003?

"Dems flee Texas to avoid redistricting"

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-05-13-texas-lawmakers_x.htm


Drago said...

The Texas dems fled to Ardmore, OK.

Why didn't they just cross over into Mexico?

Racist dems.

DKWalser said...

The Senate rules presume senators will act within a common understanding of appropriate behavior. The Demorcrats decided that behaving appropriately was for losers (which is why Reid "went nuclear") and resorted to raw power when they controlled the Senate. Now, they are surprised when Republicans resort to raw power to accomplish their objectives? Somehow they believe it was different when they did it. And, in this they are right: It was much worse when they did it. When they resorted to raw power, they overturned decades of Senate norms. Republicans are simply following their precedent.

PB said...

If 80% of success in life is just showing up, it's clear Democrats are placing everything on a 20% bet.

The party of failure by long-shot bets.

Drago said...

Alexander: "Ok - not most resistant, the McCain/Graham tag team is still countersignalling."

Graham gave a very steely solid response last night so I thing the McCain/Graham will go along at this point.

Michael K said...

That's how you have to deal with fleebaggers.

Yes. Also Walker's reforms have improved the state.

If Trump's actions on taxes and regulations get the economy growing above 3% by next year, the 2018 election may be a Democrat disaster. If cooler heads try to drag the party back to sanity, it may split.

It makes me think about The Longest Suicide Note in History, the 1983 Labour election Manifesto.

Of course, Trump has to deliver on the economy,

Chuck said...


"Not showing up." It worked so well for Democrats in Texas, and in Wisconsin.

Actually, "not showing up" seems to have been what Democrat voters in Wayne County, Michigan did, handing the state to a Republican presidential nominee for the first time since 1988.

M Jordan said...

Hey, everybody, stop short-shrifting my state, Indiana, where Dems pulled the same stunt a couple years ago. Wisconsin gets all the glory. It's not fair.

M Jordan said...

Trump is winning. It's historical. It's amazing.

Anonymous said...

This reminds me of the obstruction that Republicans engaged in the last 8 years. Now they don't like it so much.

David said...

Terri said...
This reminds me of the obstruction that Republicans engaged in the last 8 years. Now they don't like it so much.


You need to look up the facts on how the Republicans handled cabinet appointments and Supreme Court nominations by Obama in his first term. Almost the complete opposite of what is happening right now. But probably you already know that, and just choose to ignore it.

clint said...

"Big Mike said...
I am hard put to guess whether there is anyone who loves the Senate, and its rules and traditions, more than Hatch, and the present shenanigans must be deeply disturbing to him. It's one thing for Schumer and Durbin to make enemies. I think they will come to regret making an enemy of Orrin Hatch, and very soon, and for a long time.

Reid, Schumer, Pelosi, and Obama couldn't have done a better job wrecking their party if they'd been paid billions to do it."

Totally agree. This isn't Ted Cruz or Rand Paul. It's Orrin Hatch. My head is exploding.

His words sounded angry yesterday -- which is a tone I don't think I've ever heard from him.

I'd have to guess that he showed up for the vote and the Democrats hadn't bothered to tell him they were going to do this -- making the Republicans on the committee take time out of their day to come and sit in the committee chamber waiting for them, twiddling their thumbs and feeling foolish as a backdrop for the Democratic press conference taking place in the hallway outside. Very, very uncollegial.

Original Mike said...

"Hatch 1, Wyden 0."

I didn't know much about Wyden but, for reasons I can't remember, I held him in respect. That repect evaporated after watching him during the confirmation hearing for Mnuchin.

clint said...

"Terri said...
This reminds me of the obstruction that Republicans engaged in the last 8 years. Now they don't like it so much."


Two quick questions: On February 1st, 2009, how many of President Obama's cabinet nominees had been approved? And on February 1st, 2017, how many of President Trump's cabinet nominees have been approved?

Heck, if you can't be bothered with all that research, let's just look at the big four: State, Justice, Treasury and Defense.

Obama: 3/4 -- and the 4th, Eric Holder as Attorney General, was confirmed on February 2nd.
Trump: 1/4 (only Mattis)

n.n said...

There is a Democratic precedent.

n.n said...

rhhardin:

Black leadership, certainly. At least a large minority of black Americans want assimilation and integration, the same as the majority of other Americans, brown, white, etc.

Original Mike said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
n.n said...

cubanbob:

That may well be. With a strong leader, and the People's support, the Republicans have no excuses.

Sigivald said...

Remember last year when it was a vital duty to the Republic to make sure the President's nominees were voted on in a timely manner?

Good times.

Original Mike said...

Blogger Terri said..."This reminds me of the obstruction that Republicans engaged in the last 8 years. Now they don't like it so much."

Yeah, I hated it when the Repubs filibustered Sotomayor and Kagan.

n.n said...

Nonapod:

If they are "conservative", then they are approaching the goal from the opposite direction. Methods matter.

Big Mike said...

Well, first of all, they went full Rockford, Illinois. You never want to go full Rockford, Illinois.

Nothing wrong with Rockford. At least not since the Dumbocrats from Wisconsin left.

Quaestor said...

Kamikaze Advice Centre

Forget the cowbell, Quaestor advises more kamikaze.

Anonymous said...

David, doesn't matter. It's total obstruction now. Obstruct Everything. That's how Clinton would've been treated, had she won.

Francisco D said...

The Democrats seem to think they are energizing their base with their childish antics.

That may be true of the die-hard leftists. However, there are a lot of folks who vote Democrat because it's a family tradition. Those folks are going to start associating today's Democrats with the crazy protestors and the campus snowflakes.

Even with unwavering support from the elite media, that's not a strategy that will work, assuming that Trump is moderately successful at delivering on his promises.

Matt Sablan said...

"That's how Clinton would've been treated, had she won."

-- You do know many, many, many prominent Republicans were part of a faction called #NeverTrump who advocated that Hillary would be a better choice, right?

Original Mike said...

Blogger Terri said..."David, doesn't matter."

You're right. It doesn't matter that your initial post had no substance.

Rusty said...

Are the Democrats still singing Kumbaya, or did they return to work?

Rocketeer said...

The split-s is my favorite parliamentary maneuver.

This was the Thatch Weave. The Democrats were so focused on pressing the attack on Trump himself that they never saw the Orrin Hatch on their tails.

FullMoon said...

Chuck said... [hush]​[hide comment]


"Not showing up." It worked so well for Democrats in Texas, and in Wisconsin.

Actually, "not showing up" seems to have been what Democrat voters in Wayne County, Michigan did, handing the state to a Republican presidential nominee for the first time since 1988.


Easy chair votes for Trump. Didn't even have to leave the house.

Anonymous said...

Two quick questions: On February 1st, 2009, how many of President Obama's cabinet nominees had been approved? And on February 1st, 2017, how many of President Trump's cabinet nominees have been approved?

I'd change the denominator and add in DHS.

then it's 4/5 and 2/5 now and maybe another 1 or 2 today

MaxedOutMama said...

Well, this was inevitable, wasn't it?

Shades of the WI Dems absconding to block Walker's initiatives. That didn't end well, did it? Maybe a new playbook?

Drago said...

Terri: "It's total obstruction now."

LOL

You keep using this term "total obstruction". I do not think it means what you think it means.

I believe what you mean is "fake obstruction that is destined to fail for the sole purpose of satisfying the childlike tantrum-throwing mentalities that inhabit the body Democrat".

Matt Sablan said...

Honestly, I think it would have been funny if they had a Republican convert to a Democrat, cast their votes, then convert back to show them that two can play silly, inane parliamentary games.

Seeing Red said...

Oh, please spare me about little notice.

When the dems were in charge like 80s, and on, they sometimes wouldn't tell the republicans when that committee was meeting so the republicans would miss it. Sometimes they locked the door.

Drago said...

MaxedOutMama: "Well, this was inevitable, wasn't it?

Shades of the WI Dems absconding to block Walker's initiatives. That didn't end well, did it? Maybe a new playbook?"

The democrats chose....poorly.

Matt Sablan said...

Seeing Red: You don't have to go as far back as the 80s. Just look at how the ACA passed.

Rocketeer said...

The split-s is my favorite parliamentary maneuver.

This was the Thatch Weave. The Democrats were so focused on pressing the attack on Trump himself that they never saw the Orrin Hatch on their tails.

Original Mike said...

This rule was a protection for the minority, right? It prohibits the majority from holding a vote in secret.

Good work, children.

Michael K said...

This reminds me of the obstruction that Republicans engaged in the last 8 years. Now they don't like it so much.


We have acquired another leftist troll. Or an ID change.

You have been answered "terri" but I think they like it fine that they refused to roll over for Obama on policy as it can now be reversed with Trump signing bills Obama vetoed.

Matt Sablan said...

"Hatch chuckled when confronted by questions from reporters about the little notice that the public received about Wednesday's meeting. "You were scrambling? Well, you know, that's neither here nor there," he said."

-- If you're a reporter reporting on the nomination process, and the last two days they've been held up by people not showing up... shouldn't you basically be hanging around the building waiting for them to either show up or a story to break?

Like, if I were a blogger writing about this stuff and not working, I'd be hanging around waiting for the story to break/see the committee members come around. It's just bad journalism to not be aware of this stuff.

Original Mike said...

Now watch the dummies force the Repubs to go nuclear to confirm Gorsuch, clearing the decks for the confirmation fight when a liberal needs replacing.

Seeing Red said...

The GOPe would have genuflected to Evita.

JAORE said...

" It's total obstruction now. Obstruct Everything. That's how Clinton would've been treated, had she won."

Am I mis-remembering when the trolls were better, much better?

Glad to know we have a Nostradamus among us.

Please give me the Powerball numbers for the next drawing, terri. I (Chuck Schummer) promise to split the winnings with you.

Seeing Red said...

Keep posting Terri. You just prove why women shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Ritchie The Riveter said...

Once again, we see when the going gets tough, the Democrats get going ... right out of town.

Matt Sablan said...

The weird thing is, I think they tried to pull this on Hatch BECAUSE he's a weak Trump supporter at best, and that he's most likely to say "no" to changing Senate rules. Apparently, they did not expect him to be so angry over their ignoring of precedent/responsibilities to actually change his mind and update the rules to prevent this sort of stunt in the future.

Lewis Wetzel said...

I don't think that the Dems have a choice. They are obsessed with status and they've gotten themselves into a hate spiral where they have to constantly outdo one another in public expressions of hate for Trump, his wife, his kids, and his voters or they will lose status. He's like worse than Hitler now to those guys. Way worse. Way, way worse.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Terri's representatives don't matter any more if they don't show up. She should take up her complaint with them. They are letting her down and not impeding us at all. But being a progressive has long meant trading rote follwer behavior for thinking things through and she has illustrated it well.

Brava!

Anonymous said...

"Ignoring of precedent", like when Obama was told his Supreme Court nominee wouldn't be given any consideration whatsoever. Payback is a bitch, and the Democratic base is demanding retribution.

Original Mike said...

"Payback is a bitch, and the Democratic base is demanding retribution."

What "retribution" did the Dems accomplish with this stunt?

Matt Sablan said...

""Ignoring of precedent", like when Obama was told his Supreme Court nominee wouldn't be given any consideration whatsoever."

-- There was precedent. Also, for precedent, see: The Biden Rule.

I Callahan said...

Actually, "not showing up" seems to have been what Democrat voters in Wayne County, Michigan did, handing the state to a Republican presidential nominee for the first time since 1988.

As someone who lives in Macomb county, I can tell you that that's only part of it. Macomb county, which had been the "Reagan Democrat" district, was pretty 50/50 for the past 20 years or so, with most county offices going to Dems. This time, the GOP picked up 3 county wide offices (more than they've had in about 100 years), and even my blue collar suburb went full slate GOP for township board, something that's never happened here.

You remove Macomb county, Trump loses Michigan, based on the numbers.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Inga, I mean Vicki, or is it Terri, the precedent is called the Biden Rule, which is exactly where we got the idea. The payback your bitching about is gonna hurt. There is literally nothing democrats can do to stop any Trump nominee because your side blew up the rules and lost too many contests to field a team.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Just put on a pussy hat and go cry in the streets.

Francisco D said...

Terri,

You are clearly out of your depth. Give it up.

Mr. Soros will still send you a check. I hear that he is very generous.

furious_a said...

Forcing them to play by their own rules

Pass it on.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Furious_alinsky

furious_a said...

" It's total obstruction now. Obstruct Everything. That's how Clinton would've been treated, had she won."

It's why Pres. Obama's cabinet nominees were all confirmed by this point in *his* first ter...wait.

furious_a said...

Furious_alinsky

...now in e-reader format.

mockturtle said...

While Hatch may or may not use the 'f' word, he has climbed aboard the 'fuck you' bandwagon. I like it. The great part about the mass leftist hysteria is that we can essentially plug our ears to it and sing la la la la la. It won't be long before their irrelevance becomes obvious to everyone.

Achilles said...

Terri said...
"Ignoring of precedent", like when Obama was told his Supreme Court nominee wouldn't be given any consideration whatsoever. Payback is a bitch, and the Democratic base is demanding retribution.

Do it. Exact retribution! Show your true power: Put on a pussy hat and throw a brick through a downtown Starbucks window!

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

"her little hands balled into reddening fists, she shook and wailed and then screamed,'
but it isn't fair when you do it!'"

Yancey Ward said...

Lewis Wetzel wrote:

"I don't think that the Dems have a choice. They are obsessed with status and they've gotten themselves into a hate spiral where they have to constantly outdo one another in public expressions of hate for Trump, his wife, his kids, and his voters or they will lose status. He's like worse than Hitler now to those guys. Way worse. Way, way worse."

Yes, I think the Democrats in D.C. have allowed themselves to be trapped in a corner that has no palatable escape route- mob mentality. Anyone who steps forward to be the adult that tries to stop it is sure to be denounced as a traitor to the cause. I think a few weeks back, Senator Schumer was feeling out that role as the adult, but for some reason only he can explain, he seems to have retreated- I would speculate that he was afraid of the mob, too.

readering said...

Hatch is ornery because polls show the Utah voters want him to retire in two years.

Big Mike said...

Michigan went for Trump. [looks down, shakes head]. The Dumbocrats shouldn't need a weatherman to tell them which way the wind is blowing.

traditionalguy said...

Just how long does a cold turkey drug withdrawal take? The Dims need lots of professional help, and all
They get is Elizabeth Warren on the War Path from two wars ago.

furious_a said...

Michigan went for Trump.

The margins were narrow and more than likely provided by prior Obama voters (compared to the Republican totals in MI/WI/PA from prior cycles), so Tru...sorry, Pres. Trump needs to win them again in 2020.

traditionalguy said...

Rev Scott from Detroit told DJT this AM that he has several Chicago Gang Leaders who want to talk to Trump
About ways to slow down the body count. They trust Trump, but not the ChiTown police. That was on live TV.

Michael K said...

Payback is a bitch, and the Democratic base is demanding retribution.

Revenge is a dish best served cold because that allows you to think through the consequences of you action.

You people have decided that insane is a good posture and will gain you a lot of votes next time.

I sure hope you are ready for that "payback" you desire,

Big Mike said...

At lunch I showed the wife my comment at 10:35. She said that someone has paid them billions to wreck their own party -- Tom Steyer, George Soros, folks like that.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

Looks like a Dem boycott of Scott Pruitt (EPA) confirmation hearing.

Are there any holdover "at the pleasure of the President" employees still serving in the EPA?

Time to clear the deck?

wulimaster said...

We need to stop calling it the "nuclear"option and begin using the now "REID" option to remind them of why it feels so good.

Unknown said...

I read somewhere that Trump should come out and say something like "I am always open to bipartisanship. Apparently, the Democrats believe that the EPA is not important enough to need leadership. And I am unwilling to leave people without a boss who can be held accountable. Accordingly, I am shuttering the EPA and putting the employees on unpaid leave until such time as the Congress, with full input from the democrat party, can approve a head of that agency."

Boom. Then walk away.

--Vance

Steven said...

If you try to obstruct when you have no actual power to obstruct, you're not doing payback or revenge or turnabout or whatever. You're just throwing a tantrum.

The Democrats, in the minority, have only such power to obstruct as the Republicans choose to allow them. If they had any goddamn sense, they'd carefully husband that limited store of ammunition to use on one or two occasions where it would do the most good. Instead, they're expending it all in the first couple of weeks of what will be four years of Trump and a Republican Senate. It's utter idiocy.

As far as Garland -- the Constitution does not specify the procedure by which the Senate can deny its consent to an appointee, it simply requires that the President get the Senate's consent. When Obama tried to replace a solid conservative with a solid liberal, the Republican Senate refused consent. Any other president would have then withdrawn that candidate and tried nominating another more acceptable to the Senate; Obama refused.

Sure, McConnell made noises about not voting on any Obama nominee. Standard political bullshit. If Obama had withdrawn Garland and made a Kennedy-type nominee while Clinton was outpolling Trump, the Senate Republicans would have gladly accepted the resulting leftward shift of the court in order to secure the seat against a Clinton nominee.

The reason the seat didn't get filled by Obama is that Obama was gambling that Clinton would win, and that therefore he didn't have to compromise. He lost his bet. Blaming the Republicans might feel good, but it doesn't change the fact that Obama had an opportunity to move the court moderately leftward and chose to gamble on moving it dramatically leftward.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

Rather off topic, but perhaps our hostess could provide some free legal counsel. Stumbled across this on the morning news cruise. Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis, as reported by USNews.com yesterday:

"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country," Lewis added. "Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake."

I know about the "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech...."

But where are citizens given the power to compel others to listen?

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

Was not that long ago - just a few months ago, actually - we were hearing that the Senate had a Constitutional duty not just to consider, but a Constitutional duty to approve (consent to) Presidential nominees.

Matt Sablan said...

What is this "President Bannon" nonsense? Is this like the pretending a dark cabal was behind Bush to try and have "Bush is an evil genius AND stupid" both be true?

Mark said...

That is a rule just begging to be abused and obstructive, just like the fake "filibuster" rule which does not require a filibuster at all, just a refusal to vote to end debate, but also refusing to debate.

damikesc said...

Yes, I think the Democrats in D.C. have allowed themselves to be trapped in a corner that has no palatable escape route- mob mentality. Anyone who steps forward to be the adult that tries to stop it is sure to be denounced as a traitor to the cause. I think a few weeks back, Senator Schumer was feeling out that role as the adult, but for some reason only he can explain, he seems to have retreated- I would speculate that he was afraid of the mob, too.

As I've said, for years --- The Left shouldn't worry. Robespierre thought he could control the mob too. I bet it worked out well for him.

damikesc said...

As far as Garland -- the Constitution does not specify the procedure by which the Senate can deny its consent to an appointee, it simply requires that the President get the Senate's consent. When Obama tried to replace a solid conservative with a solid liberal, the Republican Senate refused consent. Any other president would have then withdrawn that candidate and tried nominating another more acceptable to the Senate; Obama refused.

I'd ask "Why does it matter if they didn't put up to a vote a guy that would lose regardless?"

Republicans were the majority. They would've voted no.

Michelle Dulak Thomson said...

Matthew Sablan,

Yes, it's just exactly like that. Trump is a dope just as Bush was a dope, so there had to be a Rove, or a Cheney, or now a Bannon, who wrote the scripts the President read off his TelePrompter. Except that Trump is way outdoing Bush in the "evil genius" business. I love his move this morning of registering with the FEC to run in 2020 -- which means that 501(c)3 corporations are forbidden to campaign against him for the whole remainder of his current Presidency. Just because no one's ever done it before doesn't mean it's not legal.

Mark,

You're right. I much prefer the old way, where a filibuster required continuous talking. Now it's a nothingburger.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Defanging all of Soros' little nonprofits like that is a genius move. Trump is turning the Democrats' rules and tactics against them. It's awesome.

Rick said...

Terri said... [hush]​[hide comment]
This reminds me of the obstruction that Republicans engaged in the last 8 years. Now they don't like it so much.


Republican "obstruction" was voting against Obamacare, a plan so unpopular Democrats now claim it was a Republican plan. Meanwhile those who pretend voting against is "obstruction" support any measures by their own team. You couldn't design a better plan for Democrats to burn their credibility.

Gospace said...

Terri said...
"Ignoring of precedent", like when Obama was told his Supreme Court nominee wouldn't be given any consideration whatsoever. Payback is a bitch, and the Democratic base is demanding retribution.


It's already been said, but bears repeating. The Biden Rule. The precedent was set by---(W-a-i-t f-o-r i-t------) DEMOCRATS.

Democrats hate it when Republicans act like they do.

Matt Sablan said...

"Except that Trump is way outdoing Bush in the "evil genius" business. I love his move this morning of registering with the FEC to run in 2020 -- which means that 501(c)3 corporations are forbidden to campaign against him for the whole remainder of his current Presidency. Just because no one's ever done it before doesn't mean it's not legal."

-- ... That's... that's like what Hillary Clinton WANTED to get out of Citizens United, but couldn't.

ken in tx said...

It's like when the Soviets boycotted the UN Security Council meeting that voted the UN to support the South Koreans in the Korean War. They never made that mistake again.

Clyde said...

"They have nobody to blame but themselves." That's the perfect epitaph for the Democrats from November 2016 on. Grease the skids for the most corrupt and dishonest candidate in living memory, push divisive identity politics to the maximum, throw massive tantrums when you lose, alienate the moderates who might otherwise support you by inconveniencing them in traffic on the roads and at the airports. Enjoy your time howling in the wilderness, Democrats.

IgnatzEsq said...

Brave Sir Robin ran away.

FIDO said...

Here is the trap that the Dems are going to try to use: No Dems voted for these guys so they are illegitimate.

Orin Hatch should have a press conference stating that the Dems KNOW where the meetings are, have a responsibility to show up, and if they fail to DO THEIR JOBS, they are abrogating their ability to comment or criticize on the nominees. There will be no reschedule for their amusement. They can vote or not, but if they disappear, the principle of "Qui tacet consentire videtur, ubi loqui debuit ac potuit (He who is silent, when he ought to have spoken and was able to, is taken to agree)" will apply and their votes recorded accordingly.

See how quickly they run back to the conference room!

wildswan said...

For years I had to clench my teeth and believe, just believe, in the American system. Watching slick rats tear it all down. "There will be an answer, let it be." Then one day, there was Donald Trump and bam, the Dems wake up every day to hear of another wrecking ball. Even Orrin Hatch (a great guy but, you know, not known as a prankster) is getting into the spirit and wham - "Well, you guys didn't want to show up so we agreed you didn't have to. OK? How's Rockford?"

Gahrie said...

"Ignoring of precedent", like when Obama was told his Supreme Court nominee wouldn't be given any consideration whatsoever

Actually there have been cases in the past where Supreme Court nominations were never acted upon. The Senate has taken no action on at least a dozen nominees. (two were later renominated and didn't serve, three were later renominated and served)

Micha Elyi said...

Hammond X. Gritzkofe (2/1/17, 1:49 PM) wondered...
"I know about the 'Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech....'
But where are citizens given the power to compel others to listen?"

In the remainder of the Amendment that you quoted, Hammond, it says there's a "right of the people...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".

Are you a Trump voter or a Democrat?

Marty Keller said...

Wisconsin state senate partisan balance after 2010 elections: 18 R, 15 D. After 2016 elections: 20 R, 13 D. That fleebagger tactic was obviously a big hit with the voters.