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Harry Reid and the 'nuclear option'

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    All-Star panel weighs in

  • Duration 6:19
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Filibuster is far from a procedural gimmick.

It's part of the fabric of this institutional we call percent.

It was well known and colonial legislature before we became a country -- it's an integral part of our country's 214 year history.

This nuclear option is ultimately an example from the arrogance of power.

It is a fundamental power grab and -- majority party.

The checks and balances that Americans prize -- at stake I will do everything I can.

To prevent the nuclear option from the union vote.

Not for the sake.

For myself for my party.

But for the sake.

Of this great republic and its traditions.

Everyone in this chamber knows that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster.

If they choose to change the rules and put an end to democratic debate and the fighting and the bitterness and the gridlock -- only get worse.

Well some top Democrats talking about the nuclear option and being the filibuster that would allow the majority to end filibusters.

Defeat amendments by simple majority vote not the sixty votes needed.

In the senate right now the three fifths threshold under senate rules for major legislation.

For more than thirty years as you saw there that was their take back then but now senate majority leader Harry Reid is moving forward a number of Democrats.

To make adjustments here's what he says they are.

These minor changes I'm suggesting it wouldn't affect.

Anyone.

That have been.

Thought of making America better if I -- the minority.

To stop a filibuster on a motion to proceed to a -- take ten days to just get on a real I don't think that's that's good we need to change that.

Okay we're back with the panel Pearson.

Why isn't his index the hypocrisy when you're shot you're actually you wanna you know on scam what about the -- -- -- -- in Washington.

What about the effort I think that.

I think that.

I I don't think that he's gonna try to ram anything through I think he's gonna try to get something in the middle -- -- -- -- where you do you stop the filibuster.

For just debating a bill just simple things.

I personally think that -- -- -- -- Harry Reid thinks is that if you're gonna filibuster you -- -- filibuster he should have to go on for each upstanding from a country you have to filibuster what they do right now -- -- do it in the Dark -- They just can stop.

Even a bill through moving forward and no one everybody knows that I happen so.

I think that you can't -- also remember that when Democrats were just saying those things the reason they're saying it's because Republicans are trying to do exactly what Harry -- trying to you right now so there's hypocrisy on both sides of minority is always making the same complaint regardless of the party.

But in terms of what's good for the country I think they needed a filibuster reform he should have to -- reform the last.

Straw.

I -- -- these debates because we have all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world.

This issue is the one that brings us the purest.

Hypocrisy -- laboratory sample.

And you give -- -- arguments.

But different change argument depending on who's a majority and emotionally I was most and you know with great Grande do accordance.

And how much of the republic hangs on this and then six years later -- -- the exact opposite to with the same.

Fervor and passion.

So it's obviously a joke it depends who's in power.

In 2005.

I think is when those clips were the Republicans were in charge that it did Democrats were stopping the appointment of the judges including a Miguel Estrada was a promising.

Rising -- -- who probably would have an open on the and in the end Republicans -- and got to kind of compromise the -- can live with -- -- without it.

But I mean I do think it is his highly amusing and entertaining.

That a YouTube -- over the thunder and arguments on news site.

I think we ought to have you know Simpson and to put -- vols get them in a room and decide how we're gonna do this for like fifty years depending on who's going to be.

And they can be a yes or no I think the Republican survive.

Either way.

Seemed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said it was just an interest and take -- that this is the first move by Democrats in the new congress.

When you're trying to get things done and move forward and deal with the fiscal cliff that the first announcement comes out -- you're going to.

And the filibuster or try to and take away minority rights and then.

By the way let's negotiate at the negotiating to it.

Yeah I mean I will -- from that -- and I don't have an explanation as to why Harry Reid would be doing is particularly at a time when you've got the president seeming to want to send it despite the fact he's harping on these tax rates.

He's wanting to send a broader message.

-- look I want to talk to Republicans it's been in some ways the opposite of the way.

He campaigned and governed in his -- the last two years of his first term where he.

Had these we can't wait initiatives and he deliberately sought to circumvent congress the president is at least making on a very I think superficial level.

A public relations case that he wants to actually work with Republicans you've got Harry Reid on the other hand saying absolutely not we know we're going to it -- that we can't possibly.

Run the senate without making these changes the republic is at stake -- you truly believe that this is what they want to pursue and that this is not part of the whole.

Let's forced them into dealing.

You know better in the negotiations.

Somehow with the threat.

Loves and can be both I think that's -- I mean -- the majority.

Of course is gonna want to do this regardless what the majority -- -- -- -- minority is gonna fight this no matter what the Democrats.

Maintain that that Republicans have -- the filibuster as majority.

Always does so I think it would be doing it anyway but if it's you know get some extra leverage -- that's probably -- bonus.

I like -- with the president's.

Approaching -- -- -- -- -- to the Republicans on taxes.

You give me everything I give you know I think -- over a cliff otherwise I think this is an assault by -- by Democrats on Republicans who and Democrats have an idea that.

Having just wonder what they imagine is a landslide in a pushes on all the fronts in the congress and on taxation and I think it's a big mistake.

That is if of the panel that.

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