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Shhh... In Case You Missed It
Author: Raine    Date: 01/03/2013 16:06:15

Last night this was reported on Lawrence O'Donnells show, and I believe it is worth mentioning again. Here is some of the transcript:
“Harry Reid, who every day does much more than most people in the news media realize, and definitely accomplishes much more than the news media ever reports, pushed through pages and pages of nominations for President Obama yesterday when everyone was focused on what the House would do on the fiscal cliff vote. And Harry Reid did that with the active but invisible help of Mitch McConnell who did his part to make sure that no Republicans would vote against any of those nominations. And what did the United States Senate do today, that dysfunctional United States Senate? According to the news media, absolutely nothing.”


In other words, the Senate functioned. It functioned in a very big way. Not necessarily the best way, but it functioned in doing part of the work it was meant to do: confirm Presidential Nominations The Senate was practically empty and by unanimous consent, over 100 stalled confirmations were approved. You can take a look here. Having no other senator in the chamber prevented a filibuster which would have entailed a simple objection to any of these nominees.

We may never really know why Mitch McConnell agreed to allow Harry Reid to use this procedural action. It may have been in return for a delayed deal on filibuster reform. There have been many times that I have criticized Mr. Reid and will no doubt do so in the future. What was illustrated to me last night is that there is a reason why this man is the Senate leader. He may be quiet, but he is indeed a policy wonk. He knows procedures and the inner working of the legislative branch of Congress. There is something to be said about that. There is something to be said about experience and using that experience to make government function.

As O'Donnell pointed out, the media didn't tell people this because the media likes controversy and drama. Sadly, it appears that so do many elected officials. All one has to do is take a look at the actions of House speaker Boehner in the past few weeks (months, years?). Take a look at all of the shenanigans from freshmen representatives in the 111th and 112th congress. It is a classic example of compare and contrast. Harry Reid deserves credit for the quiet thankless work he does -- it is leadership. I'd also like to add that Mitch McConnell does get credit for making something work in this 'do-nothing' Senate. Yes, it pains me to say it. Harry Reid even stepped aside in the budget negotiations to let Vice President/Senator Biden step in.

So for today, let's give the quiet man a big shout out. This is the second lame duck congress the President has had, and with the help of people like Harry Reid, we were able to see historic legislation that also included nominations that are important to the nation, such as federal judicial posts finally being filled. That allows justice to be done. We should not be seeing vacant seats in the judiciary.

We have a long way to go with our legislative branch; this week was a good start -- no thanks to those that prefer to see and participate in dysfunction. Saying no all the time is not functioning, it is not governing, it is obstruction. Maybe Mitch McConnell remembered that this week. Let's hope more people do.

and
Raine
 

112 comments (Latest Comment: 01/04/2013 01:51:24 by TriSec)
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Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 14:11:56
Morning

Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2013 14:46:20


Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 14:56:27
:sniffle: Damn allergies

Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2013 15:18:17
Mornin' all.. back at work after being sick.. or maybe while I still am!

Anyone see this move Harry Reid made late night in the Senate, to get dozens of Obama nominations pushed through on unanimous consent? I'm still looking for a full list of the confirmations to see how many of them were judicial..

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 15:28:45
Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2013 15:49:01
Quote by Mondobubba:
NRA says AR platform good for hunting and home defense.

Again not so much.


*grunt*
Assault rifles are good for one thing only. Hunting? Sure. People.

The Assault rifle's strength is volume of fire - not necessarily accuracy or range, which you do need for hunting.


Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2013 15:53:43
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all.. back at work after being sick.. or maybe while I still am!

Anyone see this move Harry Reid made late night in the Senate, to get dozens of Obama nominations pushed through on unanimous consent? I'm still looking for a full list of the confirmations to see how many of them were judicial..

Ah.. here's the list!

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 15:54:08
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Mondobubba:
NRA says AR platform good for hunting and home defense.

Again not so much.


*grunt*
Assault rifles are good for one thing only. Hunting? Sure. People.

The Assault rifle's strength is volume of fire - not necessarily accuracy or range, which you do need for hunting.


The 5.56 mm round is way to small for hunting anything larger than say squirrels. Since the round is prone to tumbling when it hits the target it is going to really cause serious damage to anything it hits (see hydro static shock).

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 15:55:04
caller

shut up.

Comment by BobR on 01/03/2013 16:01:51
This is one case where Big Government (in other countries) goes too far:
A 15-year-old is suing the Icelandic state for the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother. The problem? Blaer, which means "light breeze" in Icelandic, is not on a list approved by the government.

Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment. Parents can take from the list or apply to a special committee that has the power to say yea or nay.


Comment by BobR on 01/03/2013 16:03:38
Quote by BobR:
This is one case where Big Government (in other countries) goes too far:

On the other hand, they don't have a bunch of "LaQueesha"s, etc to deal with...

Comment by BobR on 01/03/2013 16:05:06
Quote by BobR:
Quote by BobR:
This is one case where Big Government (in other countries) goes too far:

On the other hand, they don't have a bunch of "LaQueesha"s, etc to deal with...



Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 16:11:05
oh my lawd - what is it with all the whiners today

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 16:19:08
I am deleting the Blog stub, but putting the body of it here:
I'm still putting things together, but for now, please keep the children of Newtown in your hearts and thoughts today. ###FOLD###
They are returning to school for the first time since the shooting.
Parents wishing to remain with their kids, ages 5 to 10 in kindergarten through grade 4, will be allowed to accompany them to their classrooms and afterwards may stay in the school's "lecture room" for as long as they like, according to a memo to parents on the school's website. Counseling will be available for students and parents at the new school, about 7 miles south of the scene of the shooting.

"I'm not sure I'm ready yet to totally let them go," Sandy Hook parent Sarah Swansiger said on CNN about her trepidation over the return to school.

When the students return around 9 a.m. Thursday, they will find all of the belongings they left behind when teachers and police evacuated them from Sandy Hook nearly three weeks ago after Adam Lanza burst through the school doors and opened fire.

They will be welcomed to a building that has been decked out as a "Winter Wonderland" with the help of thousands of kids from around the world.


and
Raine


Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2013 16:26:38
Ohoho! Raine and I are on the same wavelength this mornin'..

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 16:29:58
Quote by Scoopster:
Ohoho! Raine and I are on the same wavelength this mornin'..


I should have been checking to blog as I was writing! That would have saved me time!




Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 16:36:46
Quote by BobR:
This is one case where Big Government (in other countries) goes too far:
A 15-year-old is suing the Icelandic state for the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother. The problem? Blaer, which means "light breeze" in Icelandic, is not on a list approved by the government.

Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. In a country comfortable with a firm state role, most people don't question the Personal Names Register, a list of 1,712 male names and 1,853 female names that fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules and that officials maintain will protect children from embarrassment. Parents can take from the list or apply to a special committee that has the power to say yea or nay.


Iceland is one of those countries that doesn't like loaner words from other languages. This is to keep the language pure (see also, France, pretentiousness of).

As to your on the other hand comment, YES IT DOES. How many spelling of "Brittany" do we need?

Comment by clintster on 01/03/2013 16:46:33
Did Road Flare Mary say a while back she wasn't gonna call back any more?

Comment by TriSec on 01/03/2013 16:46:42
Remember, Iceland is where "Ulfsdottir" is OK.



Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 16:47:33
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 16:49:04
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?



Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 16:49:37
Quote by TriSec:
Remember, Iceland is where "Ulfsdottir" is OK.




That is a patronimic. Everybody in Iceland goes by their first name. They are wacky like that.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 16:49:41
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?






smarty pants

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 16:49:52
Quote by clintster:
Did Road Flare Mary say a while back she wasn't gonna call back any more?
She is quite a charmer, I tell ya.


Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 16:51:41
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?




Yeah I've got some of those pre-Revolution ancestors on my mamma's side.

Comment by clintster on 01/03/2013 16:51:44
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?



God, Mary, bourbon is a sometimes food!

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/27065758.jpg

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 16:51:57
she's confused but the 2% that's going back into Social Security

Comment by clintster on 01/03/2013 16:52:07
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?



God, Mary, bourbon is a sometimes food!

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/27065758.jpg


Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 16:52:12
Actually, the payroll sales tax is going away. It was always meant to be temporary.

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 16:53:02
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?




Yeah I've got some of those pre-Revolution ancestors on my mamma's side.


guess we're one of "those people" now


Comment by clintster on 01/03/2013 16:53:03
Getting some posting reflux there. Sorry.

Comment by livingonli on 01/03/2013 16:54:28
Good morning, all. I guess Road Flare Mary likes to get sarcastic about "smart people" to conceal what an idiot she is while she might actually give proof that Fox News viewers have lower IQ's.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 01/03/2013 16:56:41
Quote by Raine:
I am deleting the Blog stub, but putting the body of it here:
I'm still putting things together, but for now, please keep the children of Newtown in your hearts and thoughts today. ###FOLD###
They are returning to school for the first time since the shooting.
Parents wishing to remain with their kids, ages 5 to 10 in kindergarten through grade 4, will be allowed to accompany them to their classrooms and afterwards may stay in the school's "lecture room" for as long as they like, according to a memo to parents on the school's website. Counseling will be available for students and parents at the new school, about 7 miles south of the scene of the shooting.

"I'm not sure I'm ready yet to totally let them go," Sandy Hook parent Sarah Swansiger said on CNN about her trepidation over the return to school.

When the students return around 9 a.m. Thursday, they will find all of the belongings they left behind when teachers and police evacuated them from Sandy Hook nearly three weeks ago after Adam Lanza burst through the school doors and opened fire.

They will be welcomed to a building that has been decked out as a "Winter Wonderland" with the help of thousands of kids from around the world.


and
Raine


Raine, thank you for the blog today and the stub. There are times when my faith in humanity is restored by the goodness of people who act with courage and compassion. Then, there is this story that I heard about that makes a cold part of me wish we could bring back impalement, the rack, and other horrors of the past as forms of punishment. From the Huffington Post:

Steubenville High School Students Joke About Rape In Video Leaked By Anonymous

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 16:57:06
Quote by wickedpam:
she's confused but the 2% that's going back into Social Security
exactly.


Comment by livingonli on 01/03/2013 17:01:01
Slime Porner pulled the plug on Current TV as soon as the sale to Al-Jazeera was announced as part of Time Warner's plan to dump underperforming networks. So far, the only network they dropped was Ovation TV until this. So far, they have only been dropping independent networks they haven't been paying that much for. I wonder what would happen if Time Warner decided to drop an underperfoming Nickelodeon or ESPN channel and how that conglomerate would respond to it. There's speculation that IFC and WE might be on their chopping black and I'm sure we will have the crawls ready if they announce that they are pulling the plug.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 01/03/2013 17:08:12
Quote by livingonli:
Slime Porner pulled the plug on Current TV as soon as the sale to Al-Jazeera was announced as part of Time Warner's plan to dump underperforming networks. So far, the only network they dropped was Ovation TV until this. So far, they have only been dropping independent networks they haven't been paying that much for. I wonder what would happen if Time Warner decided to drop an underperfoming Nickelodeon or ESPN channel and how that conglomerate would respond to it. There's speculation that IFC and WE might be on their chopping black and I'm sure we will have the crawls ready if they announce that they are pulling the plug.



I understand that Time Warner did have some sort of partnership deal and perhaps should have been consulted. Still, this is a loss for progressives. I respect Al Jazeera's coverage, but I have to say that I did not expect Current to end so quickly.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 17:11:39
Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2013 17:12:11
I just wanted to congratulate all my friends and family back in CT.. Joe Lieberman is OFFICIALLY GONE!

Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 17:13:08
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?




Yeah I've got some of those pre-Revolution ancestors on my mamma's side.


guess we're one of "those people" now


I can get very pretentious about having female relations who could be in the DAR.


Comment by Mondobubba on 01/03/2013 17:14:27
Quote by Scoopster:
I just wanted to congratulate all my friends and family back in CT.. Joe Lieberman is OFFICIALLY GONE!



It is a banner day for the Nutmeg State.

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 17:19:35
been looking for a video or link to something else Lawrence O'Donnell said last night, this was the best I could find. He did say this:


‎"Lawrence O'Donnell just said everything we've been saying about the fiscal cliff deal but went even further. He noted that the income threshold for the top tax rate under Clinton would be $397,000 today (indexed for inflation). The $250,000 figure was set 20 years ago. So by starting with $250K and "caving" by raising the threshold to $400K, Obama basically undid the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers, and most Republicans (and most pundits on the Left) didn't even realize what he was doing. Not only did he get Republicans to vote to raise taxes for the first time in 22 years (not a single Republican voted for Clinton's tax hike on the wealthy), but he got extended unemployment benefits and a five-year extension in refundable tax credits (i.e., entitlements) for low-income taxpayers. O keeps playing chess, and everyone else keeps seeing checkers." — DH Stone (The Pragmatic Progressive Page)



Comment by Will in Chicago on 01/03/2013 17:23:43
Quote by Raine:
been looking for a video or link to something else Lawrence O'Donnell said last night, this was the best I could find. He did say this:


‎"Lawrence O'Donnell just said everything we've been saying about the fiscal cliff deal but went even further. He noted that the income threshold for the top tax rate under Clinton would be $397,000 today (indexed for inflation). The $250,000 figure was set 20 years ago. So by starting with $250K and "caving" by raising the threshold to $400K, Obama basically undid the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers, and most Republicans (and most pundits on the Left) didn't even realize what he was doing. Not only did he get Republicans to vote to raise taxes for the first time in 22 years (not a single Republican voted for Clinton's tax hike on the wealthy), but he got extended unemployment benefits and a five-year extension in refundable tax credits (i.e., entitlements) for low-income taxpayers. O keeps playing chess, and everyone else keeps seeing checkers." — DH Stone (The Pragmatic Progressive Page)




This is something that should be shared widely. I think that people on the Left legitimately had concerns about this deal, for many reasons. My worry is that the GOP will continue taking the economy hostage. I think that from here on out, the President should remind whoever takes up the Speaker's gavel that the new House has more Democrats than before.

Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2013 17:24:51
Quote by Raine:
been looking for a video or link to something else Lawrence O'Donnell said last night, this was the best I could find. He did say this:


‎"Lawrence O'Donnell just said everything we've been saying about the fiscal cliff deal but went even further. He noted that the income threshold for the top tax rate under Clinton would be $397,000 today (indexed for inflation). The $250,000 figure was set 20 years ago. So by starting with $250K and "caving" by raising the threshold to $400K, Obama basically undid the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers, and most Republicans (and most pundits on the Left) didn't even realize what he was doing. Not only did he get Republicans to vote to raise taxes for the first time in 22 years (not a single Republican voted for Clinton's tax hike on the wealthy), but he got extended unemployment benefits and a five-year extension in refundable tax credits (i.e., entitlements) for low-income taxpayers. O keeps playing chess, and everyone else keeps seeing checkers." — DH Stone (The Pragmatic Progressive Page)



Here's the link.. it's not a standard player so I don't think it can be embedded.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



Comment by Scoopster on 01/03/2013 17:25:19
Well.. Lookie there! It worked!

Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 17:30:21
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
hey Mary my ancestor's didn't come thru Ellis Island - they came here prior to any immigration policy

does that make me illegal?




Yeah I've got some of those pre-Revolution ancestors on my mamma's side.


guess we're one of "those people" now


I can get very pretentious about having female relations who could be in the DAR.


me too


Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 17:33:09
Quote by Scoopster:
Well.. Lookie there! It worked!

Thanks for that Scoop!

Comment by Raine on 01/03/2013 17:40:03
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Well.. Lookie there! It worked!

Thanks for that Scoop!
That is the video about Harry Reid, tho. I;m trying to find where he explained about the Clinton taxes compared to what happened this week.

I'm still glad to see the video of that again.


Comment by wickedpam on 01/03/2013 17:46:03
btw - today is day 9 of this frickin cold!! and no real sign of it going away, I swear how much can one person blow their nose!