McConnell Whines Reid Makes Him Look Bad

[jaxx]

Uploaded by ThinkProgress6 on Mar 13, 2012


McConnell: I’m Filibustering Seventeen Judges Because Reid Made Republicans ‘Look Bad’

By Ian Millhiser on Mar 13, 2012 at 5:46 pm

In an exchange that seems designed to prove why fewer Americans approve of Congress than approve of communism or the BP oil spill, Senate Leaders Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) engaged in a long debate this morning over why Reid is currently trying to break seventeen filibusters of President Obama’s judicial nominees. The exchange culminated with McConnell admitting that, even though all these judges will be confirmed eventually, he is blocking them now because he is upset that Reid’s making him look bad: (video)

<..> And then McConnell says this deal is unacceptable because Reid “ma[de] the minority look bad.”

If this is truly McConnell’s reason for blocking these judges, then he just made an absolutely shocking admission. Thanks to excessive judicial vacancies, America’s courts are increasingly unable to function. In some courts, judges are so overburdened they have to rush major felony cases through as if they involved minor traffic violations. In one court, felony caseloads nearly doubled in just two years. Every court that is unable to handle its caseload means wrongly fired workers waiting months or years for justice and businesses that must delay making new hires until they are sure they won’t be hit with an unwarranted legal judgment. And yet McConnell says he is willing to punish all of these workers and businesses because he is upset that Reid has made him look bad. America can ill afford this kind of tantrum.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/03...-look-bad/

This is why the congress sucks. Blatant obstruction by small minds with an agenda.

[jaxx]

Update:

SENATE LEADERSHIP
Reid, McConnell Announce Deal on Judges
The accord avoids showdown over cloture

By Dan Friedman
March 14, 2012 | 12:40 p.m.

<..> The deal will avert cloture votes Reid was threatening to force on 17 district court nominations, McConnell said. The leaders did not announce details, saying they were briefing their members first, but McConnell said Reid had agreed to move first to legislation to help small businesses to raise capital. The agreement will allow the Senate “to handle judicial nominations and move forward,” McConnell said.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/...s-20120314

[yowzayowzayowza]

If the judges are not really a problem, vote on 'em already.

[NJMaverick]

not that you don't pretty much do that all the time. It's just nice to see you finally admit it for once.

[jaxx]

The Washington Post Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:10:00 PM
NEWS ALERT
Senate passes $109 billion transportation bill

The Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a two-year, $109 billion blueprint for transportation that gives states greater spending flexibility, sets standards for mass transit and buys time to find a solution for a funding system teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.

The bipartisan bill was approved 17 days before current transportation funding and authority to collect the federal gas tax that support it are due to expire. After efforts to move a House transportation bill stalled last week, the Senate bill may hold the only chance that legislation reaches the White House before the deadline.

email/no link

Well lookee there, they can get it done when the obstructionists back off.
Now what will the House try to screw it up with?

[pappy]

(03-14-2012 11:16 AM)jaxx Wrote:  The Washington Post Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:10:00 PM
NEWS ALERT
Senate passes $109 billion transportation bill

The Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a two-year, $109 billion blueprint for transportation that gives states greater spending flexibility, sets standards for mass transit and buys time to find a solution for a funding system teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.

The bipartisan bill was approved 17 days before current transportation funding and authority to collect the federal gas tax that support it are due to expire. After efforts to move a House transportation bill stalled last week, the Senate bill may hold the only chance that legislation reaches the White House before the deadline.

email/no link

Well lookee there, they can get it done when the obstructionists back off.
Now what will the House try to screw it up with?

Proposed Publican amendments to the transportation bill;

1. Gays may not use the interstate highways.

2. Women may only ride in the back seat of cars using roads.

3.Viagra will be free and paid for by a tax of 1% on all medical treatment to women, 2% if the treatment is for anything below the belly button.

4. Cars that get more than 20 MPG will have to pay a surcharge on license plates renewal to compensate oil companies to the damage done to their business by fuel economy.

[gateley]

How's that "going to make sure Obama is a one term President" thingy working for ya, Mitch?

He's been blatant since Day One, and I gleefully think of what will happen when Obama gets re-elected. "Senator McConnell, you stated you had only one mission in 2008 - to make sure Obama was a one term President. One mission. And you couldn't get that done."

I wish they would plaster this statement all over the news and maybe more people would get it that they are putting politics ahead of America.

They. Disgust. Me.

And good on Reid!!!!

[Andy823]

(03-14-2012 11:38 AM)gateley Wrote:  How's that "going to make sure Obama is a one term President" thingy working for ya, Mitch?

He's been blatant since Day One, and I gleefully think of what will happen when Obama gets re-elected. "Senator McConnell, you stated you had only one mission in 2008 - to make sure Obama was a one term President. One mission. And you couldn't get that done."

I wish they would plaster this statement all over the news and maybe more people would get it that they are putting politics ahead of America.

They. Disgust. Me.

And good on Reid!!!!

Yes, Reid should keep on going after the republicans and making Mitch mad! I think making republicans responsible for all their BS is a great idea. Make them vote on bills that would prevent speculators from manipulating oil prices. Make them show the american people who they really are looking our for, and we all know it's not the people, it's the rich and the big corporations.

[Brewman_Jax]

McConnell should call the WAAHmublance!

[Peacetrain]

oy vey.. and people wonder why we have such a dysfunctional congress.. who could work with these people? They carry their feelings on their sleeves and are in constant pout

[KonaKane]

Not to be glib, but how could McConnell be made to look any worse?