Be Careful What You Wish For

On Thursday, 11-21-2013, the Democrat majority Senate took away the power that a Democrat majority in 1917 created. At that time, filibustering got in the way of Woodrow Wilson's desires so his party created a rule that created cloture. This is a procedure in which 2/3rds of the senators must agree to end debate on a matter before the chamber and bring it to a vote.


There is a lot of confusion over this and much is being said about the Senate ending the practice of filibuster. This site has a good explanation of the history of the filibuster.

Never mind that the Democrats, when in the minority under a Bush presidency, favored this ability to block nominees from votes to approve. (In 1975, with a Democrat controlled Senate and a Republican president (Nixon), the 2/3rds was reduced to 60) This 60 vote cloture rule was getting in the way of the president's ability to quickly move his nominees through the consent process in the Senate. In the past, not all that long ago, when Republicans held the majority in the Senate, Democrats praised the rule of 60. Even Obama did.

But no more. Obama wanted this. But what happens if the Republicans regain control of the Senate and a Republican president lives in the White House?

I predict that they will, at that point, clamor for a return to the "sanity" of a 60 vote cloture rule. I hope the Republicans politely laugh in their faces.

Never, ever grant a power to your own party that you do not want the other party to have.