ConfirmThem

By AndrewHyman Posted in Senate Rules — Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Writing in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, former VP Walter Mondale and former Senator Durenberger say this:

The American people should know that the proposed repeal of the filibuster rule for judicial nominees by majority vote will profoundly and permanently undermine the purpose of the U.S. Senate as it has stood since Thomas Jefferson first wrote the Senate's rules.

Of course, the last thing that Mondale and Durenberger really want is for anything like Jefferson's rules to govern the Senate; those rules included the ability of a simple majority to cut off debate (by motion for the "previous question"). It's always persuasive to claim Thomas Jefferson is on your side, and --- when he is not --- to hijack Jefferson. Power Line comments about the Mondale-Durenberger column, here.

Not all Minnesotans are on the wrong track, as far as the filibuster issue is concerned. Besides Scott Johnson of Power Line, there's also Bryan Freeman of the Minnesota Daily, who concludes as follows:

It is the Democrats who have predominately led the country into the judicial confirmation fiasco. Before a mushroom cloud rises from the Senate, it is high time the Democrats realize the resolve of the conservative majority, the damage they’ve inflicted on the judicial nomination process and the futility of their obstruction.

Well said.