The Nuclear Option

When I heard that a "nuclear option" was being considered in the US Senate, I began to panic for a brief moment before realizing that it was just another case of over-hyped media obsession with drama. As I read on, the decidedly undramatic nature of the story began to reveal itself. The media's portrayal of this "conflict" has not reflected the necessity, nor the facts, surrounding the issue.

Of the 168 filibusters over an executive appointment since the beginning of the Constitutional United States well over 200 years ago, over half of them have occurred during the Obama Presidency. That is a difficult figure to wrap your head around, especially since the President is only a year into his second term. However, the obvious abuse of this previously noble institutional tool is apparent to anyone willing to look at the facts and circumstances of this debate.

There's a funny Jon Stewart clip that summarizes the media phenomenon regarding this story quite well:

Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Overall, despite the historic nature of this "rules change," it was a necessary and important alteration in order to make this otherwise failing institution function properly.


http://news.yahoo.com/why-harry-reid-finally-went-nuclear-senates-filibuster-125200983.html;_ylt=A2KJ2UglsppSgm0AXBvQtDMD