Here's a typical Republican excuse for the fact that they're resorting to blowing up Senate rules at the first sign of opposition.
Yep, that's John McCain for you, running to the press to complain about the thing he's being "forced" to do. Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell's getting ready to be "forced" into what Republicans will lament is the destruction of the institution once the Supreme Court filibuster is blown up.
Republicans are discussing making an additional change to the Senate’s rules to more quickly confirm President Trump’s nominees.
The floated change would reduce debate time after a nominee clears an initial procedural hurdle from 30 hours to eight hours, greatly reducing the amount of time the Senate would need to confirm Trump nominees.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) — the Senate’s No. 2 Republican — said the talks were aimed at finding ways to speed up the consideration of Trump’s non-Cabinet positions.
“Basically, there’s been some discussion on whether or not we ought to reinstitute the standing order that limited post-cloture time,” he said. “Basically, the idea is to expedite sub-Cabinet nominees.”
Which is ridiculously unnecessary. Because as of the beginning of this week, Trump had nominated just 74 civilians to various posts—24 of whom have withdrawn—out of 549 positions that require Senate confirmation. By this time in 2009, President Obama had nominated 130, and, in 2001 President Bush had nominated a whopping 275. So what's the problem here? It’s not Democratic foot-dragging. It’s an uninvolved and unconcerned and inept Trump, who just isn't bothering to do the boring presidential stuff.
When McConnell cries crocodile tears over getting rid of the filibuster, don't believe him for a minute. But remember this in 2018 and 2020, when all of his efforts to bend the Senate to Trump's will backfire on him at the ballot box.
