"It happened so quietly that few media outlets noticed. But Republicans are already rolling out their strategy to delay -- and perhaps even stave off -- congressional action to combat climate change." TPM lays out the strategery, and hopes to shine light on the secret holds.

UPDATE: More here. "If the GOP wants to be a remnant party of dead-enders usually found in the backwoods of Idaho, go for it."

Comments

[Jeffrey Sykes]

@David Kurtz:"And willing to obstruct a wildly popular new President in the midst of not just a national economic crisis, but a convergence of international crises of which economic collapse is just one."

I'm so glad I read the biography of Sen. Josiah Bailey this summer. The work of the conservative opposition during the New Deal Era was a great tale of checks and balances and bi-cameral legislative manuvering.

I guess Mr. Kurtz would have us undo the traditions of the last 111 congresses so this wildly popular president can get his way?

[eric]

I'm more or less with Sykes on this. For the past 8 years, congressional Democrats failed miserably in acting like an opposition party. Sure, they pissed and moaned and called Bush names; but when it really mattered, they folded like a cheap suit (do cheap suits really fold more readily than expensive ones?). And now they're pissy because the GOP isn't doing the same. Call the wahhhmbulance.

[Dave Ribar]

Jeff:

A question would be whether the opposition accomplished what it did through secret holds and prerogatives. The use of holds to block legislation is not a tradition dating back through all Congresses; it has been mostly used since the 1970s.

A single Senator blocking a nomination or legislation is inherently undemocratic.

The Congressional Research Service completed a report on holds just over a year ago.

[Jeffrey Sykes]

@Dave:"A single Senator blocking a nomination or legislation is inherently undemocratic."

I seem to recall that use of secret holds and prerogatives was an issue sometime during the last administration and that I agree with you that it is not the best way to conduct business. I more was reacting to Kurtz's clamoring about blocking a wildly popular president. Like Eric, I'd like to see a more active congress and a less imperialistic president, no matter the party.

As to your comment above, I wonder if you would agree with me that when the speaker of the NC House blocks a bill from coming to the floor, despite it having a number of sponsors equal to a majority of the house, that such action is also undemocratic?

[Spag]

Yes, the GOP should take advice from the liberal TPM. Oooh, I'm scared what might happen if we don't.