The GOP's Empty Threat on Totally Ending the FIlibuster

     The GOP doesn't understand what economists call a free good-that is where because you mess with someone no matter what they may as well give you a hard time back-as you give them crap even if they're nice and agreeable. 

      For years, the idea of 'going nuclear' was unthinkable. After all, liberals worried, what about when the GOP gets back in the Senate? However with their latest filibuster of Obama's D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals nominees-which breaks their agreement with Reid back in June, the threat seems more and more empty. If we have the N.O. the GOP is going to be very unpleasant? As opposed to how they've been over the last 5 years?

     So when GOPers say Dems will rue the day:

     "When Republicans regain control of the Senate, they're likely going to expand the rules change that Democrats approved Thursday to apply to U.S. Supreme Court nominees, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said on the Senate floor."

     "The changes passed by Democrats affects votes on judicial and executive nominees -- requiring only 51 votes to end a filibuster -- but excludes nominees to the Supreme Court."

    "The silver lining is that there will come a day when roles are reversed. When that happens, our side will likely nominate and confirm lower court and Supreme Court nominees with 51 votes," Grassley said, "regardless of whether the Democrats actually buy into this fanciful notion that they can demolish the filibuster on lower court nominees and still preserve it for Supreme Court."

     http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/grassley-filibuster-supreme-court-nominees

     Harry Reid has the right answer:

      "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) brushed off Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) threats earlier this year to eliminate the filibuster entirely if and when he comes to power, should Democrats invoke the nuclear option."

     "Let him do it," Reid told reporters in response to a question from TPM at a press conference after Democrats took the historic step Thursday to end filibusters for executive and non-Supreme Court judicial nominees.

     "Reid was asked if he was worried about a future GOP majority ending the filibuster for legislation or Supreme Court nominees, as Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) threatened on Thursday."

    "Let them do it," Reid said. "Why in the world would we care?"

     "McConnell mourned the demise of the filibuster on Thursday. He wouldn't reiterate his threats to retaliate after Democrats changed the rules, saying only that he looks forward to the mid-term elections.

"I think it's a day to be sad," he said. "We look forward to having a great election in 2014."

     

     http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/reid-if-mcconnell-wants-to-ends-the-filibuster-let-him-do-it

     Ok, Senator McConnell, you celebrate this day your way, I'll celebrate it mine. I too used to worry about the GOP going all the way if we tweaked the rules but now I think:

     1. I'm not nearly so sure that the GOP will win the Senate anytime soon-they may have a much longer slough in the wilderness than they want to think. 

     2. Even if they should win it back in 2016 along with a GOP President I still say go for it-in fact getting rid of the filibuster altogether may still be the best outcome. Also I figure that a GOP government left to its own devices would be such a dysfunctional mess they'll definitely never be allowed near anything like real government again for the next 25 years.