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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublicans back off threat to shut down government to undermine civilian control of the military
Republicans back off threat to shut down government to undermine civilian control of the military
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BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: (L to R) President-elect Donald Trump welcomes retired United States Marine Corps general James Mattis as they pose for a photo before their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, November 19, 2016 in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Recently retired Marine Corp General James "Mad Dog" Mattis, with Donald Trump
Despite what you might read in the Beltway press, lets be crystal clear about this: The Republicans blinked. On Tuesday, congressional Republicans began threatening to shut down the federal government if Democrats didnt buckle under and allow them to ram through Donald Trumps nomination of retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as secretary of defense. On Wednesday, though, the GOP backed down, meaning Mattis appointment wont sail through the way they wantedand that the governments doors will stay open.
But much of the D.C. media that covers this kind of thing has had a hard time grasping how, precisely, events have played out, so heres a timeline:
Last Thursday, Trump said hed tap Mattis as his defense secretary. But theres a big problem with this proposal: A 70-year-old federal law forbids anyone who has served on active duty in the armed forces in the last seven years from holding a senior defense post. Mattis only retired three years ago, so he's not eligible.
This longstanding law exists to preserve the doctrine of civilian control over the military, a bedrock principle of democracy: Only elected officials, not generals, should make decisions about how to use our armed forces, and that means keeping a healthy separation between active duty service and civilian life. So for Mattis to serve as secretary, both houses of Congress would have to pass a special amendment to that law.
Republicans, of course, are only too willing to undermine civilian control of the military, but Democrats are not. The same day Trump rolled out his Mattis pick, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced that shed filibuster any effort to pass a special amendment for Mattis.
That means Republicans would need 60 votes in the Senate in order for Trumps nomination to succeed, but theyll only hold 52 Senate seats next year, so theyd need the support of at least eight Democrats, assuming the GOP sticks together. (Note: While cabinet nominations cannot be filibustered and thus only require 50 votes, the special amendment Mattis would need can indeed be filibustered.)
This week, congressional Republicans then prepared to throw one of their patentedand dangeroustantrums, saying theyd attach this special Mattis amendment to a must-pass spending bill that would keep the federal government operating past Friday. In other words, if they didn't get their way on Mattis, theyd shut down the government.
Democrats told Republicans to get fucked.
In response, on Tuesday night, Republicans caved.
. . .
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/7/1608408/-Republicans-back-off-threat-to-shut-down-government-to-undermine-civilian-control-of-the-military?detail=email&link_id=7&can_id=dbb0d69c584cc3d0a04f63b55f76c85f&source=email-today-show-interview-with-trump-proves-we-elected-the-single-most-fragile-ego-in-american-history-3&email_referrer=today-show-interview-with-trump-proves-we-elected-the-single-most-fragile-ego-in-american-history-3&email_subject=today-show-interview-with-trump-proves-we-elected-the-single-most-fragile-ego-in-american-history
MADem
(135,425 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Thank You Harry Reid and The Bernie. Yes!!!
Ohioblue22
(1,430 posts)Filibuster you should be thanking her
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)thankfully someone grew a pair. Harry is still Circus Ring Master for us Dems. He has to lay the the Paper Work and Place any challenges in the record. Anyway,Kirsten deserves a "way to go award".
Skittles
(153,298 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)sand.
Skittles
(153,298 posts)don't tell me they don't matter
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)WhiteTara
(29,732 posts)Ohioblue22
(1,430 posts)WhiteTara
(29,732 posts)Nancy is corralling the House on this too.
flamingdem
(39,336 posts)Rockem' Sockem' robots against every dirty maneuver possible.
mbusby
(823 posts)...in a tweet concerning one of the women in congress who oppose him. Come on, make my day...
TeamPooka
(24,292 posts)niyad
(113,860 posts)TeamPooka
(24,292 posts)niyad
(113,860 posts)TeamPooka
(24,292 posts)Primary elected officials who don't do it.
The Tea Party did that to the GOP and look where they are now.
They have a House and Senate full of representatives scared as shit of being primaried them so they jump through hoops to please their base.
Skittles
(153,298 posts)Raster
(20,998 posts)niyad
(113,860 posts)apricot asshole