ConfirmThem

By Paul Zummo Posted in Fillibuster — Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Ed Morrisey at Captain's Quarters reports on Harry Reid's appearance on ABC's This Week.

The Senate's Democratic leader said Sunday that Republicans "would rue the day" if they try to make it harder for Democrats to stall judicial nominees who could not get a vote last year. ...

Reid also went on to note that only 10 of Bush's 204 nominees had been "turned down."

Tough talk from the Democratic Senate leader, though perhaps Dirty Harry should consider that the only ruing that has taken place lately is that of the obstructionist Tom Daschle.

It's also difficult to decipher what Reid means when he says "Republicans will rue the day" if they try to go nuclear. If he means there will be electoral fallout, he is sadly mistaken. I do not see voters rising up in rebellion if the Senate leadership attempts to curtail the filibuster. I think that, politically speaking, the Republicans have much to gain and the Democrats much to lose over the issue of obstructionism, and rather than being seen as bullies, voters would welcome a Republican attempt to force a vote on the justices.

If Reid is speaking of a political fallout that would occur if the Democrats regained majority status, again I believe he is being somewhat naive. Any attempts at payback would be seen as childish, and would probably wind up backfiring on the Democrats. Besides, who is to say that if the Republicans ever lose the majority again it will be the Democrats that would be the ones to gain power?