Speaking of the hackneyed "power grab" routine, I just wanted to point out its latest iteration in Republican circles, with respect to Senate Rules reform:
"Democrats lost the election. Their power has been weakened significantly. So they are trying to do a Washington-insider tactic to try to grab power, even though the voters told them very clearly in the election that they didn't like them, and didn't like their policies," said a Republican Senate aide.
As we know, we've seen this line before. But what makes it worth mentioning again is its unironic juxtaposition with the other favorite Republican line on rules reform, namely concern trolling:
Won't liberals need the filibuster?
By Jennifer Rubin
Liberals are all abuzz with suggestions for filibuster "reform." They were not in evidence, of course, when Republicans were proposing filibuster reform to end Democratic obstructionism on judicial nominees during the Bush administration. Aside from the sheer hypocrisy, there are constitutional and practical considerations the Democrats might want to consider.
We've been over the merits of the argument that liberals will "need" the filibuster at some point in the future. Rubin is about three months behind the curve in that respect.
And of course, the "sheer hypocrisy" line is as shopworn and predictable as the "power grab" line. Nevermind that there might, just maybe, be a little "sheer hypocrisy" in the sudden Republican opposition to the use of majority cloture as well. That's quite naturally neither here nor there in a column called, "Right Turn."
But do you see what I'm getting at here? If casting rules reform as a "power grab" doesn't convince you, then how about the argument that it's actually an abject surrender of power? How about both? How about "hypocrisy," then? No? Um, sociamalisms? Really? Nothing I can do to convince Democrats to take their strategic advice from Republicans? Fine, then! You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny! Impeach! Repeal Article V!
Be not afraid. Lend your support to Senate rules reform. Sign our petition. Demand reform of Senate rules, and make the filibuster real.