This scandal in Utah has been simmering for months. Now it looks like it’s going to bring down Republican Attorney General John Swallow. Local newspapers are reporting he is expected to resign before the week’s end.
Speaking on the Senate floor shortly after the filibuster rule change was pushed through over his objections and that of all of his Republican colleagues, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) was explicit: When Republicans control the White House and Senate, they will change the Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster for the Supreme Court, too.
It’s the GOP warning that there will be hell to pay — “a heavy, heavy price,” in John McCain’s words — when they are in the majority. Abortion, civil rights, environmental laws. We’ll hit you where it hurts.
Obama will speak momentarily on the Senate filibuster change. Watch.
Norm Ornstein puts the blame for today’s filibuster confrontation on the “radicals and anti-institutionalists” who now dominate the GOP. Interesting point, too, on McConnell really wanting this to happen
Three Democratic senators voted with Republicans in opposing the filibuster rules change: Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Pryor (D-AR).
Pryor, who is in a closely watched race for re-election in 2014, warned after the vote that the change “could permanently damage the Senate.”
McCain: Democrats will “pay a heavy, heavy price” for what the just did.