Following up on a story we've been following, President Obama nominated Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about a year ago, and no one could find any objections to his qualifications. But Republicans don't believe the agency, so they blocked Cordray's nomination in order to stop the law from being implemented. Indeed, GOP senators said they would indefinitely refuse to allow the agency to function -- or do any work at all -- unless Democrats agreed to weaken the CFPB's powers and lessen consumer protections.
Just so we're clear, this had never happened in American history. There was no precedent for the Senate blocking a qualified nominee solely because a minority of the chamber did not like the existence of the agency the nominee was selected to lead.
Obama gave Cordray a recess appointment, and the CFPB has been acting on behalf of consumers ever since, but given the rules of how recess appointments work, the president has re-nominated Cordray for the post he already holds. The Senate Banking Committee met yesterday to consider the nomination once again, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who personally helped create the CFPB, asked some very worthwhile questions -- not of Cordray, but of her GOP colleagues.
"What I want to know is why, since the 1800s have there been agencies all over Washington with a single director including the OCC, but unlike the consumer agency, no one in the U.S. Senate has held up confirmation of their directors, demanding that the agency be redesigned.
"What I want to know is why every banking regulator since the Civil War has been funded outside the Appropriations process, but unlike the consumer agency, no one in the United States Senate has held up confirmation of their directors demanding that that agency or those agencies be redesigned.
"And what I want to know is why there are agencies all over Washington who's rules are final, subject to the ordinary reviews and oversight, while the CFPB is the only agency in government, subject to a veto by other agencies. But unlike the CFPB, no one in the U.S. Senate holds up confirmation of their directors, demanding that those agencies be redesigned."
Those strike me as questions that need not be rhetorical.
At just a basic, institutional level, it's hard to think of a Republican abuse more outrageous than this one. The legislative branch passed law, and the executive branch of government wants to execute the law, but in this case, a minority of one chamber is arguing that they can block the White House from implementing the law because, well, the minority of one chamber feels like it.
Are conservatives comfortable with this dynamic? Congress passes a law, then gets to block the same law, after it's been signed and implemented, pending changes that reflect the wishes of corporate lobbyists? Is this what "constitutional conservatism" is all about? The executive branch is responsible for executing laws, except the ones the Senate minority decides it doesn't like?
Cordray's nomination will clear the Senate Banking Committee without much trouble, but the latest available information suggests Senate Republicans will refuse to allow a vote until after Democrats agree to weaken consumer-protection laws. Unless five GOP senators are willing to do the right thing, the Republican filibuster will very likely prevail.
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Expecting Repuiblicans to "do the right thing" is like expecting Hitler to have changed his mind about the Holocaust. Or Robert E. Lee to have changed his mind about slavery.
You should stay away from the Hitler and slavery references.
Unfortunately, for as bad as these references are, the conservatives in this country have plundered our country. They have decimated this Republic for years, have decimated the finances of millions of Americans, have decimated our educational systems, have decimated our infrastructure, have decimated our regulatory processes, have decimated our healthcare systems. While the correlations are disimilar, what is similar is that extremism seeks nothing more than to destroy democracy and the will of the people.
Why? Same destruction and the same disregard for the lives of "other". What the Senate is doing by blocking this nomination is both hurtful and harmful to the American people that have been abused most viciously by the Plutocracy.
While I tend to think of many Republicans as essentially traitors the Hitler/Slavery references go over the line into crazy talk.
No - not even close. And it's a very real disservice to Nazi victims and slaves to say that.
Ahhh -yeah - the correlations are dissimilar - meaning false. Wrong. Especially wrong with regards to the Nazis.
In addition, sadly, slavery was not promulgated to "destroy democracy". In fact the founding fathers had slaves.
Few in the senate want to do the right thing if it cuts the supply off contributions except Sen. Warren which is why I contributed to her campaign even though I live in New York.
One senate rule...one senate rule...one senate rule allows the minority to dominate the majority for far too long now, going against everything our democracy stands for.
This is why I love Elizabeth Warren. She is the voice of reason and common sense.
Unfortunately, in today's toxic and irrational environment, she is a voice crying in the wilderness. It is shameful what is going on in Washington today. It is downright dangerous.
The original comparison was not between the "destruction" of Republicans and the destruction of either Hitler or slavery. It was between the likelihood of Republicans "doing the right thing" and that of Hitler or Lee changing their minds. So the criticisms of the initial post are really misplaced.
That being said, I think if anyone can convince five Republican Senators to do the right thing, it's Elizabeth Warren.
...or maybe a VERY ANGRY populace that has been pushed to the limit by these corporate ass kissing spoiled brats, that seem to want only to line their pockets (further), cut taxes on their buddies, line up their post-congress careers, and destroy EVERY protection there is (left) for the lowly 99%...they are sinking deeper and deeper into unconstitional sand
Bad example. REL wasn't in the war for slavery, nor for "States' Rights." In fact, he would have preferred to fight on the side of the Union. However, he was a loyal son of Virginia and when Virginia seceded, he placed himself under the orders of the government of Virginia.
Now, if you'd chosen Jefferson Davis as your example ...
Sorry DC , that is garbage , Lee thought slavery and southern victory was GODS WILL , you can not get any more extremist than that
The Republicans are at war with America, and after the last election are holding on by a thread. All they have left are gerrymander, the press and the filibuster, yet they don't seem to want to move to the center. Maybe they are right, as long as they have the gerrymander, the press and the filibuster, they are large and in charge.
I do love the consumers be damned attitude of the Senate. It is similar to their gunshot victims be damned attitude.
Don't forget election funding!
Frankly, this strikes me as yet another reason Reid needs to get off his butt and fix his rules.
I shared my disgust by walking into their office. Got a form letter two weeks later. Sent an e-mail, got the digital form letter two weeks later. They got the two weeks down, the rest is sh-eet. I'll vote none of the above in the next cycle he runs in.
Tony, there are these things called 'Primaries'. Participate in them.
Voting for the opposition? Well, if you want Republicans to win, sure, because they're not going to throw away their vote come the General.
Primaries, eh? Well, thanks for that. Lissen Crissa, I put in time I didn't have at the party headquarters. Don't give me a lecture on primaries. I never said I'd vote R, I said none of the above.
Elizabeth Warren for President!
It would not matter if she ran for- and won-God. It is the filibuster that is the most powerful tool in America.
Exactly!! And I pledge $100 as a start.
I would love to see her as our first female president. How I wish!
She desperately wanted to end the filibuster, but Harry Reid prevailed. What a travesty.
Elizabeth Warren could straighten this goddamned country out. I'm beginning to think Warren/Clinton would demolish ANYTHING the Republicans could create even with a script writer.
What is utterly incomprehensible is how Democrats can't seem to make political hay on issues like the Republican abuse of the CFPB. It can't be that hard. It just can't.
Disgusted - You are right, it should be this difficult for democrats to stand up and broadcast this but you are forgetting a few things:
1) The media - they are corporate owned and many of those same corporations pay for lobbyists to help undermine real "journalism"; not to mention that those "journalists" are workers that want to keep their jobs and the access afforded them.
2) Low Information voters - they "know" only the pablum regurgitated by FAUX NOOZ, and many don't "do research" on their own, and while they're already confused - all they see is more "big gubbr'mint" spending.
3) Democrats - some of whom are from "red states" and have actually bought into the GOTP blathering points; others are just spineless cause they don't want to be "primaried".
But I do agree that more needs to be done by dems to bring this out into the open.
I'm not forgetting those things. It's simply Democratic cowardice ruling the day. All it would take would be a sustained refusal from Obama and Congressional Democrats to yield to the Republican talking points and a willful, determined insistence that the conversation be changed to understand that the reason for ALL the country's problems is the failed 30+ years of conservative ideas and policies. Stay on that message -- all the evidence is there and easy to understand -- and NEVER get off of it, and the country would be off in the correct direction in no time.
Disgusted: You are no different than the Republicans who claim their entire problem is tone and communicating. It's a fantasy to think people are going to respond in droves to some new media strategy. The country already loathes Congress and supports the POTUS's policies. It sounds like you want an angry message, with drama. Aint gonna happen. We elected no-drama Obama, a man who uses his noggin more than his loins. Better luck next time, maybe Alan Grayson, whom I admire and respect, will run...
The special interests lobbyists spread their money around to the Dems as well as Republicans. Our political system is being gamed by those groups that are wealthy enough to exert influence. This is why we need a Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United decision and comprehensive election laws that are designed to shine a bright light on the cockroaches in Washington DC as well as severely restrict the way our election process is bought and sold by both parties.
Well, what a surprise!
Dependably Useless Democrat Lebowsky DUDe stops by to spread his hormoneless and dependably useless dictums and nonsense prescribing more hormoneless and dependably useless pleadings for rationality and level-headedness in the face of a horde of insane people who will not give up the long game unless they're smacked upside the head.
It's unfortunate Obama is the one we have to face this Republican crowd of raging asswhole descendants of Hayek, Friedman, McCarthy, Birch, Atwater, and Gingrich. President Pushover/Wasted Opportunity just doesn't have the temperament, nor the economic intellectual groundings to face the menace with the proper response. And the proper response would be to REVERSE direction instead of simply right the listing ship and set it steaming to starboard, steady as she goes. Might as well call him President Supply Side with a Side Order of Revenue.
@Mike: I agree but the path to a Constitutional Amendment runs through the people who have to set the process in motion.
Since we are getting "constitutional"...
Couldn't the Justice Dept, on behalf on the President, sue the senate for an over-reach of authority? If the law has been passed, which it has, then the President's job is to implement and enforce the law. Period. For someone (the senate) to say we will not let you enforce the law must be unconstitutional. Or am I missing something?
I don't live in her state, and couldn't vote for Ms. Warren, but I am so thankful to have her in Washington fighting for all of us regular folk. GO Elizabeth!
I live in her state and did my best to drum up support for her during her campaign and, of course, voted for her.
I am so proud of her.
Seems to me if someone takes an oath to uphold the Constitution, and their not so secret agenda is to crash the government, that there should be legal ramifications for that. It's a joy to watch Warren at work, looking forward to tangible results.
To DisgustedWithIt All I agree with your ticket for 2016, but in reverse Clinton/Warren.
Unstoppable combination in my view.
I agree - even though I would prefer to see Warren/Clinton.
Yes, me too. But that's neither realistic nor effective.
I think Clinton/Warren would be a landslide, even if they ran against Zombie Reagan.
Clinton is very likey finished with politics and has earned a retirement from it.
Warren has far more zip.
I agree. Both women are very strong candidates; Hillary has more political experience, while Elizabeth Warren is very strong on the intricacies of finance, and VERY tenacious. The two women together could really rock Washington.
I cannot believe these republicans attempts to destroy consumer rights. Do they think they are above being affected by worker safety laws, food safety laws, clean air laws, medical malpractice laws. God help their children, when they are no longer viable to a lobbyist and are thrown aside. Who will protect them then. Are they so stupid they don't understand their usefulness to big business will come to an end. They will be struggling for a breath of clean air with no medical, working ungodly hrs for $2.oo a day like the rest of us and it won't take long for them to destroy us and themselves.
It is big business that is paying these republicans to block consumer protections. After all how can they make money if they can't screw their customers?
Hey Marty, Here's one of the Reason's They don't like her:http://business.time.com/2012/07/19/cfpb-orders-capital-one-to-return-140-million-to-customers/
they think they are above EVERYTHING
Minority Rule is the new Majority Rule.
But I do agree this is very much Harry's fault; fool me once...
As far as I can tell, Warren spends all day, every day, cutting down shifty Republicans and ineffective Wall Street regulators. She may have the BEST JOB EVER!
She is doing it for us, God bless her, and she is kicking butt.
The questions are not rhetorical but I bet the answers will be.
If 5 years of GOP behaviors remain consistent, the persons to whom these inquiries were directed will respond in vague unsupported terms, Fox will cover for them with a veneer of indignation while blaming Ms. Warren, and Rush will proclaim the Republicans are only trying to save the American free market from socialist policies...
Any takers? Shooter, Van?
I love that woman. I would make sweet, sweet love to her, if I ever could.
That's rapey, Dread_Pirate. Uncool.
dbl pst
Send her campaign contributions! Much less creepy & more effective!
To me it seems more and more like the R's are determined to bring down the US and Democracy and rebuild it as some sort of Ayn Randian dream world where the 'makers' rule and the rest of us have to get by as best we can. I would almost agree to split up the US into two countries. One in which true democracy rules and the other in which the R's hold sway. I wonder how long they would last before they crashed and burned.
Harry Reid has to do the right thing .
just because he 'has' to do the right thing doesn't mean he will...he has proven that already.
I'm thoroughly disgusted, and frustrated that the Democrats in the Senate are backing down from the GOP/Tea Party lunatics! THEY lost the election! So why now are they in charge????? Harry Reid, get your act together, and show some backbone and get tough with these nutcases! Do what Lyndon Johnson used to do: a little arm twisting can help a lot!. Get a bull horn and give those idiots hell! Never give in to old Turtleface McConnell! Or to that rat fink, Boehner. Oh, rumor has it that Boehner had an illicit affair! He's been taking money left and right from lobbyists. He's so scared that he'll lose the Speaker's Position that he won't even leave to go and greet the new Pope! Democrats: FIND A WAY TO END THE FILLIBUSTER AND THE SEQUESTRATION, TOO! Get it done!!!!!!!!!!
Harry Reid has shown his colors. He said he'd fix the filibuster and then he shook hands with turtleman McConnel and didn't fix sh*t. He has the majority in the senate now and it's in his power to change the course of the entire United States. Several year ago, some might remember, the Democrats had control of Congress and control of the house. All they could do is argue with each other until the entire country Became disgusted with their petty picking. That's one of the reasons for our spiral into poverty. Someone, maybe they'll read this, should tell them when you win, the reason you won is so that you'll have the mental fortituce to do as the majority says. Until that day, people, we'll have good 'ol grover norquist running the country into the poor house. But the richest will have everything they want, slaves, unwilling workers at 50 cents per hour, no health care that anyone can afford, dirty water and unsanitary food, to say nothing of rampant crime, no police, no Federal protection from anything, and we'll all, children too, be soldiers to be thrown into wars in some distant land with no hope for return to our present insanity. The dumbing down of America is still in progress. Good Luck to you all.
I love Elizabeth Warren! I want to have her children!
Another one. What the heck?
Here is where Republicans got us, with the recent help of Citizen's United. It is this that Elizabeth Warren fights against:
http://ecolocalizer.com/2013/03/03/video-shows-us-wealth-gap-is-now-so-huge-that-it-soars-off-charts/
And I fight against, as well. People need to wake up to what the GOP has been up to for 30 years, and more aggressively so now.
i just don't get how the system works. how can a minority have so much control? honestly i get fillibusters but is there not a law that says only 20 fillibusters a year? i know it's probably stupid but it doesn't make any sense. why can't people see how awful senatorial and congressional republicans are?
I wonder how these guys justify their efforts to block any kinds of meaningful reform to stop the monopolies in this country.
This is why congress has such great ratings on their performance - as someone said last week, " to call congress a clown show is an insult to clowns"
even more to the point (since it is pointed out elsewhere on this blog today about boehner) why the hell doesn't harry reid get off his ass and do something about the abuse of the filibuster by the republicans?
The worse, the better
E. Warren for president also!!! ive been waiting for something like this.i think we all have. we just have to watch out for her. people are going to see this and try their damndest to discredit her, defame her, or worse case scenario(i think we all know what this could be. and most of all, we need to get this out there. as much as i love Steve and Rachel, there is a stigma on the republican side about their opinions because it already implies partisanship. Although most of my republican friends agree on this point aswell, but will refuse to even look at it solely based on pride and patriotism. we need to break that barrier in a nonpartisan way. her videos should be shared on other forums in other formats. its easy to get this information to the rest of the choir. we need to get it to the ones who dont realise they want this just as much as we do.
I really think we have our next candidate here, buddy.