Here is video of MSNBC’s Ed Schultz going apoplectic tonight about the reality that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is not going to push for changing the Filibuster rule that requires 60-votes to bring a bill to the Senate Floor for a vote. Schultz slams Harry Reid for his failure to use the “Constitutional option” – they called it the “Nuclear option” when they feared Republicans would change it. Reid and GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have agreed on some minor changes to the rule, but not making a change in the need for 60-votes to bring any controversial legislation to the Floor.
But he never really stated the reason why Harry Reid went from wanting to change the Filibuster rule to now abandoning that effort? I really don’t know for sure, but I suspect it has something to do with the decision by Obama and many on the Left to push Gun Control. Harry Reid has had a strong NRA rating. I don’t think he wants Obama’s Gun Control push to come up for a vote in the U.S. Senate. Changing the Filibuster rule would make it much easier for Democrats to get it to the floor for a vote. By pushing for Gun Control, Obama may have unwittingly made it much more difficult to bring significant change to the Filibuster rule.
UPDATE: William Bigelow at Breitbart has a long list of disappointed liberal reaction.
Deal streamlining Senate filibuster rules passes 78 to 16 and 86 to 9. washingtonpost.com/politics/senat…
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 25, 2013
MSNBC’s Ed Schultz Hammers Harry Reid for Abandoning Push to Change the Senate Filibuster Rule – Video 1/24/13
You can tell the whole issue of “Gun Control” makes Harry Reid VERY uncomfortable!
Here he is on Nevada PBS TV yesterday where he really backed away from not only an “Assault Weapons Ban,” but he backs away from anything specific when it comes to Gun Control. Reid says he wants to wait and see what Obama does “administratively” before proceeding.
Reid also said he does not want to try and pass anything in the Senate that does not have a reasonable chance of passing in the House of Representatives. On an “Assault Weapons Ban,” Reid gives it a “maybe” on chance of passage in the Senate, and an “I doubt it” in the House.
Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Backs Away from “Assault Weapons Ban” or any other Specific Gun Control Measures – Video 1/14/13
Here is video of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this morning saying no deal on the “Fiscal Cliff” has yet been struck, and “We are running out of time.” Reid said “negotiations are still continuing as I speak.”
AP Sources: With midnight deadline approaching, contours of ‘fiscal cliff’ deal emerging: apne.ws/TZUwp6 – KM
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 31, 2012
Steny Hoyer says he’s “not enthusiastic” about an emerging deal politi.co/YGybct
— POLITICO (@politico) December 31, 2012
The real sticking point to a deal! Neither side wants to agree to something that makes it look like they caved.#ego
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) December 31, 2012
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: “We are Running Out of Time” to Avoid the “Fiscal Cliff”; “Negotiations are Still Continuing as I Speak” – Video 12/31/12 UPDATED: AP Says “Contours” of a Deal Emerging
Here is video of Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate Floor this evening after meeting with President Obama at the White House this afternoon, where they both said they had a “good meeting” on the “Fiscal Cliff.” Both indicated they are “hopeful” a deal can be reached and passed before the January 1, 2013 deadline.
It’s interesting that the House of Representatives sent a bill extending the current tax rates to the Senate months ago, and have been saying the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Obama need to act on it. Now, just three days away from the “Cliff,” there is tacit admission by Obama and the Democrats that it is the Senate that must act – what the GOP has been saying all along.
Reid, McConnell Say they had a “Good Meeting” with Obama on the “Fiscal Cliff”; “Hopeful” an Agreement can be Reached – Video 12/28/12
Not exactly the words of a man seeking to make a deal.
Here is video of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid blasting GOP House Speaker John Boehner for ruling the House with a “Dictatorship of the Speaker.” He attacked Boehner for “caring more about his Speakership” than the good of the nation.
Reid said time is running out for a deal that would avert the nation going over the so-called “Fiscal Cliff” on January 1, 2013. Reid said the House should pass the Senate’s “Middle-Class Tax Cut” extension. Of course, he failed to mention that the House sent the Senate an extension of the tax cuts on Middle-Class families months ago – which the Senate would not act on.
It’s clear that Obama and the Democrats are fine with the “Fiscal Cliff” because it will give them everything they want – tax increases, Military Defense Cuts, and a chance to blame it all on the GOP.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Attacks House Speaker John Boehner on Senate Floor; Says Boehner is Ruling the House with “a Dictatorship of the Speaker” – Video 12/27/12
From Mark Levin on yesterday’s radio program, where he revealed Harry Reid’s past statements in support of gun rights for protection, recreation, hunting, and “family” togetherness. Levin points out how hypocritical Reid will be if he supports restricting the 2nd Amendment rights of American citizens after making these statements.
Conservative Mark Levin on “The Life and Times of Harry Reid – Gun Man” – Audio 12/18/12
It’s going to be interesting to see how Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reacts to pressure coming from the Left to restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans. This is flashback video of Reid with the National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre back in 2010 where they dedicated a Shooting Park in Nevada. Reid speaks glowingly about shooting sports, and says he carried a gun for self-defense when he headed the Nevada Gaming Commission. Reid was endorsed by the NRA that year in his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate (Correction: Actually he was not endorsed by the NRA, but apparently, neither was his 2010 challenger, Sharron Angle). This video is posted on Reid’s YouTube account.
“I had a lot of bad people after me and I carried a gun every place I went. . . But for me, guns are more than that. In fact, the most important part of guns as far as I’m concerned in my personal life is the recreational aspect of guns.”
ALSO: Conservative Mark Levin on “The Life and Times of Harry Reid – Gun Man” – Audio 12/18/12
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010 Extolled the Virtues of Guns: “I Carried a Gun Every Place I Went. . . But for Me, Guns are More than That (about Self-Defense) – Video 2010
Via Sen. John Thune and the Senate Republican Conference, here is a great video showing just how pathetic Sen. Harry Reid and the other Democrats are in wanting to change the Senate rules to do away with the 60-vote rule required to break a filibuster. The video shows an impassioned (as much as he gets) Harry Reid in 2005 arguing against changing the Senate rules, actually saying he “would never” propose such a thing. Now, of course, he is all for it because it would give Obama and the Democrats unfettered control of the Senate.
Senate Republican Conference Puts out Video Showing “Harry Reid vs. Harry Reid” on Changing Senate Filibuster Rule – Video 12/7/12
So far, Democrats in the U.S. Senate appear to be short of the votes they need to use the “Nuclear” option, and change the Senate rules to do away with the 60-vote rule required to break a filibuster. They will have reinforcements coming in the new Congress – newly elected Democratic Senators who have pledged to vote for the rules change. But some more long-tenured Democrats are apparently hesitant, because they remember using the filibuster frequently when they were in the minority:
THE HILL: Democrats don’t have the 51 votes they need in the Senate to change filibuster rules that could make it harder for the GOP minority to wield power in the upper chamber.
Lawmakers leading the charge acknowledge they remain short, but express optimism they’ll hit their goal.
“I haven’t counted 51 just yet, but we’re working,” said Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a leading proponent of the so-called constitutional or “nuclear” option, in which Senate rules could be changed by a majority vote. . . . The problem for Udall and other supporters of filibuster reform is that many veteran Democratic senators remember when the filibuster was a useful tool in their years in the minority.
In the tradition-bound Senate, these veterans aren’t thrilled with changing the upper chamber’s rules, particularly with the use of the controversial constitutional option — which has never been used to change the chamber’s rules. . . . Read More
Report: So Far, Democrats Short of the Votes Needed to Alter Filibuster Rules – 11/13/12
Nothing like bi-partisanship Harry Reid style! “You can’t push us around.”
Harry might want to start with passing a budget.
