The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
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    Congress: Urgently needing a vacation...legislating is such hard work

    By jollyroger on Sat, 09/20/2014 - 3:21am |

    In the ongoing concatenation of news causing one's face to make an almost permanent acquaintance with one's palm, surely the brutal work schedule of our 538 Washington DC employees (aka Congress) ranks high on the list.

     

    After wisely exiting DC throughout the dog days of August (the invention of air conditioning notwithstanding...) these schtarkers have exhausted themselves with two back to back 4 day work weeks.

     

    ENOUGH!  We're outta here.

     

    It's true, congress has gone back on vacation until mid November.

     

    Now, I know what you are thinking, you're thinking "Hey, this is good news!  They are a constant source of mischief when in session"

     

    Which is true.

     

    Except for one thing.  Over 50 Federal judge appointments remain unconfirmed by a Senate whose continued Democratic majority is in serious peril.

     

    One might almost think that Reid (or Obama, via presidentially mandated session)  would have the Senate on 24/7 duty, ramming through the stalled confirmations before a feckless electorate (who, it is said, are largely unaware that control of the Senate is in play this November) fucks things up royally.

     

    One might think that, but not in bizarro world, which we appear to inhabit.

     

    What is wrong with Reid? What is wrong with Obama?  Am I missing something here?

    Comments

    In TR's day, Congress was only in session from December to March. If they were particularly industrious, they might extend the session until July.

    But you make an excellent point.


    by Michael Wolraich on Sun, 09/21/2014 - 5:52pm

    Reid knows that under his Jan 2013 change in the senate rules the senate can confirm those pending appointments during this November's "lame duck" session.

    Attempting to do so now

    A Will consume valuable "campaigning" time for the many dems who are in danger, and

    B Provide the Republican with a talking point: "Dems abusing the appointment process to "pack" the judicial roster".

     


    by Flavius on Sun, 09/21/2014 - 10:30pm

    Not without further tweaking.  I thought the same thing about the lame duck, but under the current iteration of the rules, it still can take 32 hours per nominee without consent.  There's just not enough time.


    by jollyroger on Mon, 09/22/2014 - 12:46am

    Sam Wang of Princeton says not to worry. 

    70% that the Democrats keep the Senate.

    http://election.princeton.edu/

    I actually think that is on the low side.  He is basing this on straight poll results.  Here in Florida, Rick Scott hired lots of polls to be done by right leaning outfits that get thrown into the pile.  It makes it look like a toss up but it is not. 

    I am really interested in how the ladies do that are running for Senate.  It is going to be an interesting night. 

     


    by trkingmomoe on Tue, 09/23/2014 - 3:26am

    Sam has been a beacon of hope for sure.  I'm more comforted by Nate Silver's 51% Dem prob., but either way, the relaxed attitude towards judicial appointments is bizarre.  We are, after all, in the last two years of this administration, no matter how you slice it.  Bad enough that it took well int the second term to finally roll out the (semi) nuclear option.


    by jollyroger on Tue, 09/23/2014 - 5:41am