We all remember the cold dark days that brought us Justices Roberts and Alito and all of President Bush's other judicial nominations. When we were cautioned against filibustering the travesties because of the Republican threat of the "nuclear option." In that they would change the rule for cloture from 60 to just 51.
We were all warned that we HAD to keep our powder dry. That we simply could not call the Republicans on this bluff because we had to save the fight for another day
Perhaps now, while we watch obstructionists attempt to destroy the most essential reform of our lifetimes for political gain, that time has come. Perhaps it's time to light some fires and blow some s*** up. Perhaps it's time to go nuclear.
To the fold!
Right now we have health care legislation that is being held hostage by a few Senators who seem to think they are Presidents. We have members of our own caucus thinking of attaching the poison pill Stupak amendment to insure that reform never happens. All because of cloture.
Maybe, just maybe, we should be the ones making threats right now. Maybe we should be putting "going nuclear" on the table. If only to see if the other side caves like wimps. You know, like we kind of did.
Just think of it. 51 votes only. Healthcare would pass tomorrow and we could move onto reconciliation. Climate change could be passed next week. Qualified appointees such as Dawn Johnson could be seated almost immediately.
Or, maybe, the threat of such and the appearance that we will do it might just be enough to end some of this obstructionism. Maybe we'd get a new Gang of 14...only with (for once) the concessions not being 100% our own.
I'm sure several of you will tell me them in a minute, but right now I'm just not seeing the downside to (at least) the threat. If not going forward if our bluff is called. Republicans can threaten it if judicial nominees aren't rubber stamped for a moron. Why can't we threaten it if popular essential reform is delayed?