Dawn Johnsen: Reid Says Another Obama Nominee May Be Blocked By GOP

Political Animal:

As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moves to ease a backlog of executive branch nominations, he suggested on Tuesday that he does not have the votes to bring up President Barack Obama's pick to run the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel.

"Right now we're finding out when to do that," Reid said, responding to a question about the status of Indiana University law professor Dawn Johnsen's nomination to the Justice post. "We need a couple Republican votes until we can get to 60."

Read the whole story: Political Animal

Comments

[Madmac]

recess appointment

[evekendall]

Dear Harry,
You only need 60 votes in the face of a REAL filibuster.

[madprogressive]

Once again the so-called "bipartisanship" is coming from one direction. Can someone please tell me why Obama is bending over backwards to try and work with these morons, and all they do is give him their ass to kiss. At what point do Democrats stop this bullshit bipartisanship deal and just get down to governing. If it means blowing up the filibuster rule for the next two year term, then so be it. We have real problems that need to be dealt with and the party of no doesn't give a damn how many homes get foreclosed or how many jobs are lost due to their obstructionism, they only care about regaining power. To hell with them!

[Jaybot]

Someday, people will realize there is no such thing as a Mormon Democrat.

[ljc]

Ok, someone please explain how this works. David Hayes was blocked this morning. I looked at the votes and only one Dem voted no. It was Harry Reid. Is it necessary for him to vote no so that the nominee can be brought back up? I have seen him vote no before on things

[nolocontendre]

Don't have the votes...go get 'em, that's your job. Head counts are for underlings. Lugar's already signed on, so all you have to do is hold your own caucus. Nelson can be had if you push...pro­bably Snow and Collins too, for that matter.

And if you can't get Specter on a procedural vote, what good is he? Let him be a caucus-of-one out in the hallway. Better yet, tell him no vote, no DNC money, no endorsemen­ts...but you've got to actually tell him, Harry. Republicans played him that way for two decades.

[timnel]

There does not seem to be much of an effort from Reid or Obama for this nominee so they just nominated her to keep the lemmings happy and then dismiss her wow that is some change we are getting

[usawillprevail]

poor dingy harry. But hey this is gonna be a hoot watching you all turn on each other!

Pass the popcorn!

[Budokan]

Reid is gutless and worthless. He's suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. The sooner we ditch this weak-kneed crybaby the better off our party will be.

[MThomasNC]

Was I dreaming on Nov 4, '08 when the dems won the election with clear majorities to include the white house. Am I waking up now to realize that I slept thru election day and the repubs really did win. For sure, the dems sure act like the repubs won the election. Harry and Nancy need to stop the nonsense and push Obama wish list through. Give him the people he needs to get the job done. Obama has the right idea by putting all of the things out on the table that he campaigned for and what the people voted for. Forget this 60 votes, go for 51 votes especially on the people he wants in his admin.
We need to push, push, and push these dems - call them out by name if necessary. Harry Reid needs to give Obama the people he needs today, not tomorrow. Why play footsy w the repubs - the people rejected them at the last election.

[rosiebond007]

I TOTALLY AGREE - THESE DEMS NEED TO BE NAMED AND SHAMED.

EVERYONE OF OBAMA'S PEOPLE SHOULD BE USHERED IN PRONTO.

HARRY GET ON IT.

[Budokan]

The Democrats in congress obviously didn't get the memo that we won.

[Mavsreader]

Someone would have to explain to me what this accomplishes. Playing nice seems to have created no more shared common ground. I can only think they're not wanting a full-scale party warfare until after health care. I don't know what average Joe who votes has to gain, by sitting back watching this terrible partisan gamemanship. It's not what is right about America.

[patwal]

Forget the 60 votes? Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but reconciliat (needing 51 votes) works with appointments of nominees? I didn't get the impression that it did

[landmine]

No surprise.
They will block any real change.

[marye13]

This is one of those situations when you have to appreciate the rethugs marching in lock-step - it's one of the downsides of being a Dem. We shoot ourselves in the foot every time.

[suec03]

CORRECTION NEEDED: Please at least spell the nominee's name correctly on the link to the article. She in Dawn Johnsen with an "E".

[McFlipFlop]

What will it take to replace Reid as Leader? What do we need to do -- cause I'm ready to help.

[Osmona]

It's very obvious that the Republican party has made its mind (what little mind it has) to obstruct each and everything from the Obama Administration. Its disgusting. What gives? Harry Reid needs to go. We need better representation. By the time President O gets his administration filled it will be 2012.

This is pathetic. These people are playing games with our lives.

[timnel]

Grow up both parties always do it and if Obama really wanted he could stand at the podium and pummel the Repubs