Republican to sell “Outrage” and “Democratic Abuse of Power” in Filibuster Rule Changes. Anybody buying it?

Playing off the title, it could also read, Democrats Outraged by “Republican Abuse of Power” Filibustering Everything!!

Who doesn't remember the “nuclear option?” Republicans were once dead set on doing away with the filibuster when it came to judicial nominations. That would mean a simple majority vote of 51. And yes, it walks all over the political minority. 

But what’s the reward for instituting over 300 filibusters in the last six year, an unquestionable abuse of the senate rules? Ending the filibuster after years of abuse would be a bitter lesson for Republicans, and Democrats, to never get that out of control. Those are the consequences, right?

But something has to be done, and now the Republicans are marketing their next move; they’re outraged at the Democratic “abuse of power” when it comes to changing the filibuster rules.

Politico: Republicans are threatening even greater retaliation if Reid uses a move rarely used by Senate majorities: changing the chamber’s precedent by 51 votes, rather than the usual 67 votes it takes to overhaul the rules. “I think the backlash will be severe,” Sen. Tom Coburn, said sternly. “If you take away minority rights, which is what you’re doing because you’re an ineffective leader, you’ll destroy the place. And if you destroy the place, we’ll do what we have to do to fight back.” “It will shut down the Senate,” the incoming Senate GOP whip, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, told POLITICO. “It’s such an abuse of power.”

Republicans have abused the filibuster rule to make Obama an ineffectual leader, and remove him from office. That didn't  work out the way they thought.

“We cannot allow the Senate to be dysfunctional by the use of filibusters,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Reid’s No. 2. “We’ve had over 300 filibusters in the last six years — it’s unprecedented. What we’re talking about is very basic — you want to start a filibuster, you want to stop the business of the Senate, by goodness’ sake, park your fanny on the floor of the Senate and speak. If you want to go to dinner and go home over the weekend, be prepared, the Senate is moving forward.”

Maybe the Republicans want to begin trashing the old movie, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?” Oh please, let them try.