What If...?

In November of 2013, the nation was “more divided than we have ever been before!” The issue at hand was healthcare, and specifically the lawsuit that was headed to the District Court over Obamacare. Odd as it seems today, at the time it was NOT at all clear what any Court would rule on the matter. And on the DC Circuit, where the case was headed, there were three seats open. The Senate had been unable to confirm President Obama’s three nominees as the democrats could not overcome the cloture rule to end debate. This left the DC Circuit court in an odd position of being almost equally split between GOP appointed Judges and Democrat appointed Judges which really put the matter up in the air. At just this moment, onto the stage of history walked Harry Reid, the senate Majority Leader, who announced that there would be a change tot he rules, and the cloture rule was being “nuked” – at least as far as these three nominees went. Oh… there was great wailing and gnashing of teeth on the right, while the left rejoiced and proclaimed eternal victories yet to come because of this brave and bold move by the Majority Leader. Less than half a decade later, there was another round of weeping and gnashing of teeth. This time, things were reversed and there was much condemnation of those who decided to nuke the rules. What happens if Harry Reid doesn’t invoke the nuclear option? What happens if Edmund G Ross decided to listen to threats made against him and not vote his conscience on May 16, 1868? Who? You know… Edmund G Ross, Major, USV, 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry… and Senator from the great State of Kansas… That Edmund G. Ross…