This was a pretty stupid thing for MM to do, politically. He had the votes, and sure EW was grandstanding, but so what? That happens in the Senate all the time. Had he not invoked the rule, none of us would probably ever have head about this. Now it’s story number 1 on the news shows.
He’s usually a more canny politician that that. I wonder if there is something else going on that we’re not aware of.
I think his hand was forced because the freshman senator presiding at the time she made her first remarks raised the issue.
That was rather unnecessary. But yes, I understand the English language (though no doubt my writing could stand for some improvement). However, Calmeacham wasn’t using “simply” as a synonym for “only” or “just”, but meant that Warren’s approach was more nuanced. My argument is that it isn’t more nuanced and quoted his\her earlier statement to reflect that. Calmeacham has responded and I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree.
It seems to me that impugning a fellow senator in their capacity as a senator (i.e. attacking your peers while you are all undertaking the business of the senate) is significantly different than impugning a cabinet nominee during the debate in which you are evaluating the ability of that individual to fulfill the role they have been nominated for.
My understanding is that the rule is intended to prevent the former, while it was invoked in this case to prevent the later.
How are the Rep lackeys different from the Dem lackeys?
I seriously think 95% of the American public doesn’t care. Its all Beltway drama that most of America can’t relate too.
I think the Dems should continue to set more traps like this one because it’s pretty much the only the weapon they have now, and it’s effective in getting people to pay attention. It’s reminiscent of the Civil Rights movement, when activists would provoke the establishment into showing their devil’s horns on camera. I learned something about Sessions that I hadn’t known before, and all thanks to Sen Warren.
Even if it was fair to silence criticism of a cabinet nominee that also happens to be a senator, the application to this situation seems inappropriate. Warren didn’t call Sessions a racist poopyhead. The letter being quoted was about his actions, not his personality or beliefs.
We’re living in the era of Obama Backlash. A backlash that has the look and feel of the 1950’s. Any Republican that doesn’t want to be on the wrong side of history better wake up and smell the fucking horrorshow that is a-coming.
I think there may be some element of silencing the “uppity” women (Warren and King) as well as the “uppity” minority (King) at work here.
Because it’s okay when Republicans do it.
Excellent post.
Yep. She will probably get some mileage out of this in campaign ads when she next runs, but arcane Senate rules aren’t things most Americans spend much time worrying about.
No, but most people will recognize it as a dick move on the republicans part. Senate technicalities one way or another, they “silenced” her. Hard to talk about freedom of speech after that.
“Most people” except Senate Republicans. McConnell really blew this one. Warren got tons more coverage than if he’d just let her talk.
“Most people” won’t know anything about it, so no. This is Inside the Beltway shenanigans. Tomorrow there will be some new outrage to focus on.
Republicans seem to think that everything changed for democrats, because of don the con, but that it’s business as usual for them! Pretty naive I’d say. It’s new for everyone. New rules, and the one way street is going to get called loudly.
Just wait for the untruth fatigue we’re all going to get from listening to the baboon and his servile reptiles. The normal propaganda outlets might not work like they used to.
[QUOTE=Senator Bernie Sanders]
When I read the same letter as @SenWarren, no one prevented me from speaking. Sen. McConnell owes Sen. Warren an apology. #LetLizSpeak
[/QUOTE]
Curious.
Not “curious”. It’s sexism. Women have always endured more criticism and more punishment for speaking out than men have.
Agreed!!
and the rest of the senate as well.
Perhaps the best thing that could happen to the Senate is no real-time broadcasting and transcripts published 1 week later. If you want to hear the debate in real-time, go grab a seat in the visitors gallery. Report all you want, but no recording. If they would move their comments outside of the news cycle, it would clean up a lot.
I am usually told to stopping overthinking such things, but I wonder the same as you.
MM did something really stupid that will benefit the Democrats for years. “but she persisted” will be a signature line of the 2020 race. Why did he do it? The Republicans have won the whole thing in Washington-the democrats can’t successfully order a cup of coffee. MM is a big believer in the functioning of the Senate. Perhaps he deliberately gave EW a gift? Perhaps there was a conversation in an elevator beforehand? The democrats knew they were going to lose, but they can make things very difficult for the majority leader, so perhaps a deal to give them something to balance the scales? Probably way too devious, but Washington is in turmoil right now and the power structures are trying to find ways to function in a new environment.
The best thing to come out of all of this is the line, “Nevertheless, she persisted.” I’m thinking of putting that somewhere in my daughter’s room.