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Chris Dodd was the guy who said a few days ago that the Senate has actually been working wonderfully in this session of Congress, with so much productivity, and that the desires of freshman Democrats to restructure the rules of the body were misguided. I wonder what he’s thinking today, as a nominee for the Fed Board of Governors, who just passed through his Banking Committee with bipartisan support, was sent back to the White House basically because some Republican felt like it:
The Senate sent the nomination of Peter Diamond, one of President Barack Obama’s three nominees for the Federal Reserve Board, back to the White House because of objections from at least one lawmaker.
The office of the executive clerk of the Senate said the procedural move occurred as part of actions taken on nominees without debate before the chamber left for a summer break. Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, said the White House may resubmit the nomination [...]
Under Senate rules, all nominations that aren’t completed before a lengthy recess go back to the White House and have to be resubmitted unless the Senate unanimously agrees to hold onto them and act later, Stewart said. Routinely, the Senate does agree to retain the nominations.
If a single senator objects, the name goes back to the president’s office. In Diamond’s case, at least one senator did that. Stewart said he didn’t know the identity of the lawmakers.
What I think about Peter Diamond is irrelevant to my point on this. Diamond passed through the Banking Committee 16-7, with three Republicans in support. But someone, most likely the ranking member on the committee, Richard Shelby (who said that Diamond “may not be qualified” in issues of monetary policy because that’s not his area of specialization), didn’t like the cut of Diamond’s jib, so he sent him back.
All this means is that Diamond must be renominated, which is likely, and then sent through the committee again, delaying his confirmation for months more. Yet it’s near-certain that he has at least 60 votes for confirmation. So Republicans are delaying the inevitable, and it only took one of them to do it.
Moreover, this means that the Fed Board could be down to five or even four members once Donald Kohn steps down September 1. So it potentially hampers the monetary policy of the country.
Dodd termed himself an “enthusiastic” supporter of Diamond in the committee. Because of some ridiculous unanimous consent rule around recess periods, that sure-to-be-confirmed nominee faces a months-long setback.
There’s really nothing that can be done to improve the rules of the world’s most deliberative body, Senator?
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The administration should use every weapon at its disposal to highlight the inertia of these “gentlemen”.
Running against this do-nothing body, as Truman did, in the mid-terms is a winner(if played correctly; no whining allowed).
The only people on the globe who want the Senators to permanently retain their prerogatives are having cocktails at 3.
As reaching a conclusion and making a decision ends deliberations? No, the rules are perfect now for the world’s most deliberative body.
Recess appointment.
Whoa, sorry. For a minute there I was pretending Obama had balls.
Chris Dodd doesn’t want to make waves. He might not get that sweet lobbying gig….
With all due respect, I have an issue with your post’s title. Why put the “Now” in there? And for that matter, why put “Republicans” in there?
IMO, the title should be something like: “Republicans and Democrats always obstructing just for sport.” Or you could say: “All federal politicians always obstructing just for sport and personal profit.”
IMO, there is no “now” about this, nor is it a game played only by the Republicans. You highlight good info about the ongoing Kabuki show, so thanks for the post.
With all due respect, Republicans sreamed “up or down vote” for years. Why do I seem to be the only one to remember that.
Morning all.
Tinman here.
G’Morning.
May I make a suggested edit?
the rules of the world’s most deliberat
ively disfunctional body.
Is that a slam at Repubs or Dems? It could go either way.
Amen.
He actually can’t do that now, I don’t think. Because the nomination was sent back, it’s not an open nomination.
Indeed, plus making assumptions about what people remember. I certainly remember “up or down,” but that was also just part of the ongoing Kabuki show. There’s nothing much more to be said about that, either. Both sides of the aisle have been ripping voters off for quite a long time now, and both sides scratch each others’ backs.
It was republicans playing the victim then and it is republicans playing the victim now.
Oh and thank dog tinman is here. Maybe he can tell us how “
weyou people” are fucked up today.Someday when the Rethugs take over the Senate they will abolish the filibuster in no time. If the shoe was on the other foot the Rethugs would never be tolerating the Democrats blocking everything.
Dear David; why shouldn’t they obstruct? It’s working like a charm, since Obama is “punishing” them by flaying them with a wet noodle.
When he came in, if he’d confronted them, every filibuster they mounted would have been a nail in their own political coffin.
Now that he and the democrats have rehabbed them into “the loyal opposition” all they’re doing is using the stick that he handed them with all of his “reaching out” bullshit.
That he expected anything else of them is probably reason enought, itself, to look for an alternative in 2012.
Oh; the voters are already looking for one…in about 12 weeks.
You’re not. The irony isn’t lost on me. There are even some msm talking heads that have pointed that out.
Oh joy. NOW it’s a party…
Break out the twinkies and ding dongs.
Alan; good question!
The problem is, that Obama’s NOT screaming…about the “up or down” stuff, or anything else. He’s being: articulate “centrist” on-the-way-to-becoming-articulate-LAMEDUCK-”centrist”, 12 weeks hence.
Yesterday, Pelosi said of the mid-terms: “I’m not worried.”
Honest woman! I believe her. :o)
In fact, I think she’s actually looking forward to the democrats getting their asses shellacked, so that the terrible burden of those big congressional majorities (and the expectations that came with them) will be lifted.
The ding dongs are already here. ;)
I set you you up. Ba dum dum. Never thought I’d be the one playing the straight man.
You know you’re f*cking up when O’Reilly is to the left of you.
There is also this stupid bit from ThinkProgress:
No TP, nobody that I know is any longer expressing “bewilderment”, at least not anybody who has been paying attention for the past year and a half.
This would be easier to dismiss as just O’Reilly being reactionary anti everything Obama if he didn’t have a history of being generally supportive of LGBT rights….or as supportive as anybody on FOX ever gets.
I don’t think you’ll even be confused for any kind of “man” cutie. :)
Actually, I like to play the Gracie Allen, sometimes.
I got chastised recently for making a self deprecating blond joke recently. Sheesh, and I thought I was overly sensitive sometimes.
Emptywheel has a fresh cross-post up: Why Isn’t Obama Clearing Brush on PDB Day?
Yeah, I think I saw that. I think we blonds ought to be able to make as many blond jokes as we wish. Lord knows enough are made about us. I had somebody at the Orange Satan yesterday if I’d been a secretary in my career, (as opposed to a scientist). Sexism is alive and well, even in a so-called progressive community but if we can’t laugh at ourselves, what gives us the right to laugh at others?
Harumph.
I don’t know why nobody understands this. The filibuster is guaranteed to die under the Republicans, we are only quickening its death.
Because obviously we aren’t as bright as you! Seriously, the repugs made that threat before and in response the Dems capitulated on everything. The repugs won’t kill the filibuster because the Dems won’t challenge them and they know they will once again be in a position to block everything Democratic in the future. That’s my opinion anyway. Why strip themselves of future power when they won’t need to?
Margaret, I think that’s a good opinion.
But personally, I don’t want the filibuster to be chunked; I think we’re going to need it, and badly, after 2012.
Which is why it won’t be used, after 2012. Dry powder, and all that…
Dodd is really tarnishing his ‘legacy’ here.
Gotta wonder whose bidding he’s doing, trying to convince the youngsters to leave well enough alone, with the Senate working so well….
The Repubs are behaving this way because they sense weakness in the Democratic leadership.
Truedat.
Obama could have gone into the pulpit, run the GOOD bills up to the hill, and every time the repubs went to the filibuster, he could have reminded the voters who was responsible for the mess we’re in. The GOP would have caved in two weeks, and he would have been Captain America.
Instead, he did rehab on the assholes, they’re STILL bungholing him (and us) cross-eyed, and he can’t even get a reach-around.
Never has so much political power been squandered in such a short time.
You’re not. There are actually quite a few of us. It’s just that very few of us seem to have a bully pulpit.
If the recent past is any guide, Democrats won’t use it. It would be nice if that were to change, if for no other reason than that it will then be worth getting rid of, but I’m skeptical.