When only 46 of 100 Senators can prevent even a Vote on a Bill, that 91 out of 100 citizens want (expanded background checks to buy a gun) -- We got a problem.
When President Obama's judicial nominees have to "wait an average of 116 days on the Senate floor for a vote -- more than three times longer than President George W. Bush’s judicial nominee average wait time of 34 days" -- We got a problem.
When "Senate Republicans successfully filibustered a $60 billion infrastructure spending package -- third time in less than a month that Republicans have filibustered legislation that is completely paid for and designed to create jobs" -- We got a problem. Big Time.
And according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's recent NPR interview:
For every billion dollars spent on building a road or a highway, it creates 47,500 high-paying jobs, and thousands of other jobs that aren’t as high paying, says the senator.
So by that math: ~50,000 Jobs per Billion X 60 Billion =
300,000 Jobs blocked by GOP filibuster.
Guess what Harry -- We got a problem!
And Senator Reid knows it too. In that recent NPR interview Reid had this to say about the entrenched Tea Party government raiders:
"What has happened because the 'Modern-day Anarchists' -- the Tea Party folks they're not violent like they were in the 20's and 30's -- they're not doing physical damage to property and to people -- but they are throwing monkey-wrenches into the gears of government anyway they can, because they 'Hate Government.'
It's a new form of Anarchy: just do anything they can to Hurt Government."
Timemark: 3:08 -- 3:33
We hear you Harry Reid -- Now DO Something about it!
(Hint: you have the Gavel, Harry. No more Mr. Nice Guy.
You know what Mr Reid, their Obstruction DOES hurt People -- it keeps them unemployed and desperate and held captive to an extremely broken system.)
Here's that little noticed Reid interview. Where Reid once again threatens to do something about the Obstruction if it doesn't stop soon ...
Guess what Harry -- It ain't stopping. Surprise! Not unless YOU make it stop.
Reid Hints at "Nuclear Option" for Judicial Nominations (with Audio Clip)
by Marie Andrusewicz, knpr.org -- April 5, 2013
In an interview with Nevada Public Radio, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that he has not ruled out altering Senate rules to speed up Senate judicial nominations.
“All within the sound of my voice, including my Democratic senators and the Republican senators who I serve with, should understand that we as a body have the power on any given day to change the rules with a simple majority, and I will do that if necessary,” Reid says.
[...]
Reid told Nevada Public Radio that the seven million jobs created in the private sector post recession aren’t enough to compensate for massive job cuts in the government sector, losses he blames on the “government-hating Tea Party” and their refusal to invest in infrastructure.
Greg Sargent of the Washington Post, heard Reid's mild-mannered threats to "
kill the filibuster," -- AGAIN -- and he had a
few choice words on the subject:
[...]
By my count, this is at least the third time a Dem Senate leader has threatened to revisit rules reform. Yet the obstructionism continues with no action on Reid’s part.
Reid needs to stop threatening to revisit the filibuster unless he actually means it. Empty threats accomplish nothing. Indeed, they’re counterproductive. They make Dems look weak. They inflate expectations among Dem base voters -- and supporters who worked hard to reelect Obama and Dems to Congress -- that we may soon enjoy a functional Senate.
[...]
Sargent goes on to cite E.J. Dionne:
“We need to acknowledge that our system is giving extremists far more influence than the voters would,” Dionne argues. “That’s why American democracy is deadlocked.”
Deadlocked, Obstructed, Spanner in the Gears --
held captive to the minority 'hate government' tactics of the modern-day
"Tea Party" pack ...
Everyone knows it, including and especially, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
So come on Harry -- Why don't you DO Something about it!
Quit crying wolf Reid, and finally take the steps to 'cage them' at their own game.
Enough already! Stand up for the Majority already Harry. Quit playing footsie with 'your esteemed, gentlemen colleagues' -- and give them 'just desserts' ...
The Obstruction ain't stopping, Harry -- unless YOU make it stop.
So quit trusting them -- the modern-day wrench-throwers, as you put it -- and Act to de-wrench them already!
It's your reputation, and America's future on the line, dude. The GOP wolf-pack is still hungry. Gentlemen's-agreements, notwithstanding.
Senator Harry Reid -- Washington Office
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542 / Fax: 202-224-7327
Toll Free for Nevadans: 1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343) -- Restricted to calls originating from area codes 775 and 702