This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

The GOP Confederacy is Alive & Unwell

News item:

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans' rejection Thursday of two key nominations by President Obama revived a battle over filibuster rules and opened a new partisan front just as congressional leaders and the White House are searching for a budget compromise to avert another government shutdown...

The latest clash erupted when Republicans blocked two procedural votes on the confirmations of Rep. Melvin Watt (D-N.C.) as top regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and Patricia Millett, Obama's selection to sit on the D.C. District Court of Appeals, considered the nation's most influential after the Supreme Court.

Find out what's happening in Redondo Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 55 to 38 in favor of Millett, and 56 to 42 for Watt, but both fell short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.

Democrats accused Republicans of rejecting highly qualified presidential choices. Watt became the first sitting member of the House to be denied Senate confirmation in 170 years. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus stood silently on the floor during his vote to protest Republicans' blocking of an African American to a senior post.

Find out what's happening in Redondo Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

No word on whether Texas Senator Ted Cruz asked his father to stop by to sell his "Obama is from Kenya" snakeoil in the Senate giftshop. The Confederate flag-waving Teabagger was unavailable for comment. 

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/31/ted-cruzs-father-in-2012-send-obama-back-to-kenya/

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?