None of the political leaders in Washington hold, or care about, the moral high ground when it comes to these sorts of procedural arguments. NONE OF THEM. They’re all hypocrites with respect to such arguments. ALL OF THEM.
The majority always likes majoritarian procedures; the minority always hates them. The minority always likes procedures that preserve minority power; the majority always hates them. When the majority and minority flip, their procedural preferences will flip, too. And then they’ll flip back again. And again. And again.
Any and all arguments that attempt to distract from these core facts — “But judicial nominations are different than legislation! But health care reform is just like tax cuts! … But reconciliation is used all the time! But reconciliation has never been used like this! … But the filibuster has never been used like this, either! And the actual ‘nuclear option’ is way worse than a one-time reconciliation vote! … Besides, you’re more obstructionist than we were! No, you were worse!” etc., etc. — are mere smokescreens designed to fool the rubes into believing there’s some core principle at stake.
THERE IS NO CORE PRINCIPLE AT STAKE. Or, if there is, it’s completely incidental to the arguments being made. Certainly, neither of the combatants in this fight give a flying you-know-what about any core procedural principle. They are just two sides fighting to advance their respective substantive agendas. They do not care about the procedures. To them, the procedures are only a means to an end. Each side cares only cares about one thing: winning.
The End.
