So what’s happening with Filibuster Reform? If you’ve been following the news here at TPM it was looking good and it still seems like something will happen. There’s a core of very strong advocates for changing the filibuster, centered around Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) of Oregon. There are various details. But the gist of his plan is the so-called ‘talking filibuster’. The minority can still hold things up but you really have to talk on the floor to do it. So it’s visible and conspicuous. Now though Harry Reid is expressing support for a more limited set of changes that proponents like Sen. Merkley, Udall, Warren and others say doesn’t go far enough. It all comes down to the wire early next week. Because these changes can in practice only be made by a majority vote at the beginning of a new Congress. So it happens next week or there’s not another chance until 2015.
I’m very interested to find out what’s happening here, what’s going to happen, who’s supporting and who’s not. So tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM eastern, Sen. Merkley is going to join us for a TPMPrime Live Chat to answer your questions about the state of play. Get your questions in now.
It wasn’t so long ago, coming off a bruising presidential election, that Republicans were looking at ways to increase vote percentages among younger and minority voters to remain a contender in national elections. But it appears professional Republicans have decided that’s either impossible, unnecessary or perhaps just too hard. Because now they’re going for another possibility: rig the electoral college to insure Republican presidential victories with a decreasing voter base.
In other words, nuclear gerrymandering. Read More
Momentum for wingnut fantasy impeachment grows: Now on the bandwagon: Reagan confidante and Attorney General Ed Meese.
Frontline goes inside the first term of the Obama presidency in tonight’s episode. An extended excerpt: Read More
David noted Chuck Schumer’s announcement supporting Chuck Hagel this morning. But let’s just state for the record: this means the Chuck Hagel ‘drama’ is over. Yes, you’ll still have some tough questioning. And it’ll still remain a niche hobby for Bill Kristol. But this baby’s done. And the whole Hagel nomination thing turned out to be a triple, mustard ketchup tomato lettuce and bacon nothingburger.
Can President Obama get retired Senator and Army vet through Senate to serve as his Defense Secretary right after he’s reelected and his own party has expanded majority? Please.
Jon Stewart to Krugman: “Motherfucker, I’m out here banging it out four days a week, 22 minutes a day. So don’t tell me I don’t work hard!”
In a just-released statement, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said: “Based on several key assurances provided by Senator Hagel, I am currently prepared to vote for his confirmation. I encourage my Senate colleagues who have shared my previous concerns to also support him.”
This email from TPM Reader JS over-simplifies a lot and doesn’t cover a lot of people. There are obviously plenty of female gun aficionados, though it’s obviously an overwhelmingly male scene. It’s a ‘complicated issue’ as we all say about pretty much every issue. But when I read it I could not help think, ‘Yeah, you’re definitely on to something.’
I view gun control from the prism of the gender wars. It’s a last-gasp attempt by lower-income men to hold onto some shred of self-respect: at least a capacity for autonomous violence, if they are left with nothing else.
Top Filibuster Reformer (i.e., Curtailer) fears Harry Reid is getting behind a watered down filibuster reform bill.