Harry Reid's Surrender

Today, the Senate is expected to announce a watered-down compromise on filibuster reform, as negotiated by Dem Sen. Harry "Bending" Reid and turtle impersonator and Sen. Mitch "Missy" McConnell. Senate Rethugs have been using the filibuster to stop legislative action in the Senate by requiring 60 votes to bring a close to debate (which is a fiction, since no Senator actually gets on the floor and talks for hours, as in the distant past).

Sadly, Bending Reid had an opportunity to shelve the filibuster for the next two years, but his spine failed him. Instead, this is what they got according to the New York Times:

"It will not include, for instance, a requirement that senators be present on the Senate floor when they want to block a bill from coming to a vote, continuing the practice of allowing them to filibuster in absentia. And opponents would still have the opportunity to filibuster a final vote on any legislation, thwarting its passage without 60 votes."

What this means is that Missy and Co. can still obstruct, despite being in the minority, and thwart legislation supported by the majority of Americans. Can you imagine, if the shoe were on the other foot, the Rethugs compromising at all? If they do retake the Senate, you can be sure that they'll deny the filibuster to Dems, so what did Bending Reid's "compromise" accomplish anyway?

Bending Reid has to be the worst Dem Senate Majority Leader in memory.

UPDATE: Progressive stalwart Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) says, "I dare say that Obama's package -- his very aggressive proposals -- will not get very far." More here on the reactions to this latest cave-in.

UPDATE II: Missy McConnell's campaign wants to thank you, too, Bending Reid, for helping him defeat the libruls!

(photo: Reid, left, waiting for Missy McConnell's approval)

Op Eds Worth Reading

Kaplan Daily has three (3!) op eds worth reading today: Ruth Marcus on Rethug health care reform scare tactics; Harold Meyerson and Steven Perlstein on the problematic Senate. Tomorrow: full monty bipartisan Rethug "balance" with Kraphammer, Quill, Wee Willie and a guest column by Sarah Palin?

Merkley Wins Oregon Senate Seat

Jeff Merkley has defeated Oregon Rethug Sen. Gordon Smith for reelection. The votes from the Portland and Eugene jurisdictions put him over the top. That makes 57 Democrats in the Senate.

Good work to our Portland, Oregon contingent.

Happy Holidays, Dumbya! Regards, The Senate

The U.S. Senate will be in pro forma session, in order to prevent the Decider from making recess appointments (see John "Porno 'Stache" Bolton) and circumventing Senate approval.

Dumbya would certainly like to appoint a number of highly competent judges, sub-cabinet officials, etc. without the interference of that other branch of Government, but the naughty Democrats just won't let him rule now in the manner he's been accustomed.

"Tom, Not Now. . . Later"

It's nice to see that the Senate won't permit the Decider to make recess appointments during this Thanksgiving holiday. The Democrats have convened the Senate in pro forma session so that Dumbya can't pull an end-run and appoint various turkeys to high positions. Recess appointees in the past have included the neocon nutjob John "Screw Loose" Bolton to the U.N, and Sam "Swift Boat" Fox, who funded the notorious Swift Boat attacks on John Kerry, as ambassador to Belgium. Among other key appointments, there are numerous judges waiting for Senate confirmation, and the concern was that the Decider would appoint some horrifically bad ones to the bench.

(photo: Frustrated Bushie Tom Turkey, center, pulls out all the stops in seeking the Decider's support for a position in his Assministration.)