Norman Ornstein has tried to come up with a rationale for why the Republicans would have forced Harry Reid to 'go nuclear' with the filibuster on judicial nominations. The only thing he could come up with is that this will give them the go-ahead to undo all the filibuster rules when (if) they take control of the Senate, saying in childish fashion "They did it first" (which is exaclty what one can expect from them).
"For whatever reason, the Republicans decided to go nuclear first, with this utterly unnecessary violation of their own agreement and open decision to block the president from filling vacancies for his entire term, no matter how well qualified the nominees," Ornstein told TPM in an email. "It was a set of actions begging for a return nuclear response."
He also speculated that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) secretly wanted Democrats to go nuclear so he could use the same tactic to end the filibuster entirely if and when Republicans takes the majority.
"McConnell's threat, it seems to me, makes clear the strategy: let Dems take the first step, and we will then bear no blame when we entirely blow up the Senate's rules after we take all the reins of power," he said. "That other Republicans like Corker, McCain, Alexander, Murkowski and so on, went along, shows how much the radicals and anti-institutionalists now dominate the Republican Party. Which is sad indeed."
Other Senators have added their two cents, like one of the three Democrats voting against:
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), one of three Democratic senators to vote against changing the Senate's filibuster rules, said that the change "could permanently damage the Senate."
"Today’s use of the ‘nuclear option’ could permanently damage the Senate and have negative ramifications for the American people," he said in a statement. "During my time in the Senate, I’ve played key roles in the Gang of 14 and other bipartisan coalitions to help us reach common-sense solutions that both sides of the aisle can support. This institution was designed to protect -- not stamp out -- the voices of the minority."
And battle-axe McCain issued a stern
warning:
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that Democrats would "pay a heavy, heavy price" for changing the Senate rules for judicial and executive nominees.
"They're governed by the newer members... who have never been in a minority, who are primarily driving this issue," McCain told reporters after the vote. "They succeeded and they will pay a very, very heavy price for it."
McCain said moments later, though, that he did not believe it would be a major election issue. "I don't think Americans understand it very well," he said.
Except for one problem. Democrats never weilded the filibuster like petty children who haven't gotten their way.
If Ornstein's theory on McConnell's strategy is that he is looking ahead to being Senate Majority leader in 2014, that might not be the greatest strategy either, since thanks to the popularity of Obamacare in Kentucky, he might not even be in the Senate by then.