About us Login Get email updates
Quick Clip
Print

CNN's Levs explains: "a simple majority of 51 votes" is "actually not" the "nuclear option"

August 20, 2009 12:12 pm ET

From the August 19 edition of CNN's Newsroom:

Please upgrade your flash player. The video for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a QuickTime version of the video.

EMBED

LEVS: So, the theory here is, if they cannot get those 60 votes they would usually need to break a filibuster, there's this whole other way to circumvent it and say, you know what? Let's not even worry about it. Let's use that reconciliation, get a simple majority of 51 votes, potentially pass the bill.

GRIFFIN: Josh, is that the nuclear option --

LEVS: It's actually --

GRIFFIN: -- we've heard about that in the past?

LEVS: It's actually not. Right, we've heard the "nuclear option" term used, and that was used in the context of trying to get through some judicial nominees against a filibuster. In a way, it's a similar concept, but we're not talking about that term here. That's not the term that we're -- that's being used. Instead, it's about this specific thing, a reconciliation, that got inside that 2010 budget. [CNN's Newsroom 8/19/09]

Previously:

CNN joins Fox News in falsely comparing reconciliation process to "nuclear option"

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by NiceguyEddie (August 20, 2009 12:15 pm ET)
      2  
      No. The nuclear option is changing the rules so that you can do what-ever you want, democratic procedures be damned.

      Now who did that... something about judges... who was it...?

      Oh yeah: NOW-HYPOCRITICAL REPUBLICANS!

      (well, they've ALWAYS been hypocrites, but never so transparently on procedural issues.)

      (Or when a republican does it, is it called the nucular option?)
      Report Abuse
    • Author by shaggles (August 20, 2009 12:16 pm ET)
      5  
      So what? An hour after this someone else on CNN will refer to it as the nuclear option again.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by foghornleghorn (August 20, 2009 12:41 pm ET)
        1  
        Echoed 24/7 by Fox and hundreds of hours on hate radio (or as someone else said, Radio Rwanda).
        Report Abuse
    • Author by kfraz43 (August 20, 2009 12:17 pm ET)
      2  
      Thanks, Josh. I only wish it would make a difference.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by cuardai (August 20, 2009 12:27 pm ET)
      1  
      I can already see it, the poor guy is talking to a brick wall.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by snoopy (August 20, 2009 12:28 pm ET)
      4  
      Three republican senators now want the filibuster rules changed to require a 75-80 vote supermajority on healthcare. Sounds like desperation to me!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by pilotshark (August 20, 2009 12:35 pm ET)
        1  
        Yes i believe i smell the fear,,,, As they are starting to see that they tea baggers and town hall clowns are losing now and well more pro health care people are coming out.

        So now they are close to firing there last wad here and then its self imploding on there part.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (August 20, 2009 12:44 pm ET)
           
        Are you serious?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by ReasonAndResolve (August 20, 2009 1:02 pm ET)
        1  
        I am all for a filibuster. I say let them do it - and don't take a vote of cloture. let them talk until Christmas. It wouldn't take long at all for the public to figure out that the Republicans don't care about the people at all.

        I say, bring it on.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by kfraz43 (August 20, 2009 1:02 pm ET)
           
        I think I will send Mr. Hatch a nice wheel of cheese to go with his vintage whine.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by mk3872 (August 20, 2009 12:36 pm ET)
         
      YEAH! Somehow an actual "FACTOID" sneaked through on cable news ... Woo-hoo!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jjamele2880 (August 20, 2009 1:11 pm ET)
      1  
      How exactly is proposing to pass legislation with "only" 51 votes a "nuclear option?" Since when does Majority Rule= Nuclear Option?
      Report Abuse