See if you threaten to take their toys away…

I like to believe our representatives aren’t children, but the more and more I’m convinced they are. So Harry Reid threatened the Senate Republicans with filibuster reform, and all of a sudden the Senate can in fact pass nominees. Contain your shock and excitement.

Back in July 2011, President Obama nominated Richard Cordray to the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and his confirmation was stalled for two years because the Republicans oppose the creation of the agency and it being run by a single director. The CFPB is part of the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. Cordray began serving as director in January 2012 as a recess appointment. The official confirmation was allowed to proceed on Tuesday when the Senate struck a deal to allow up-or –down votes on certain nominees whose confirmations had been stalled. After Reid threatened filibuster reform the 71-29 vote ended on the Cordray confirmation.

Shocking isn’t it? I guess they can pull their shit together when they have to. Now, there are news outlets hailing the bipartisanship of it all, but shenanigans. There was a compromise because Reid threatened to take away the Republican’s toy of the filibuster. However, because of Obama’s recess appointment, two courts have ruled them improper, which means the US Supreme Court gets to be the final arbiter next session. Oh good, one more thing we need the Supreme Court involved in.

Sen. Portman (R-Oh) was influential in getting Cordray passed. However, Portman also introduced a bill to create a dedicated, Senate-confirmed inspector general for the consumer bureau, like the one created for the IRS 15 years ago. It should also be noted that with Cordray’s confirmation it is expected Obama to pull the two labor-relations nominees, Sharon Block and Richard Griffin, who both have union ties, which obviously makes them a threat to republicans…not that Dems care that much about unions either.

You guys, I hope this is true

House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got into it on Friday. Huffington Post, Politico, and Wonkette (accompanied by the adorable angry baby below) are all reporting that several people overheard the verbal altercation in the White House lobby.[Couldn't you just die?]

The description of the verbal dispute:

With no bipartisan agreement about the debt ceiling, spending cuts and tax increases in sight, Boehner reportedly pointed at Reid and said, “Go f**k yourself.”

“What are you talking about?” Reid asked.

And Boehner again said, “Go f**k yourself.”

Inside the minds of greatness. 

They then resorted to schoolyard shoving and name calling. This is when Nancy Pelosi broke it up telling them they were scaring the women folk. Just kidding. But for real, "go fuck yourself" is the best Boehner could come up with? I've heard better cussing from third grade girls. And Reid's response...perhaps the man has gone senile, not knowing what "Go fuck yourself" means.

This occurred after Reid took to the Senate floor and claimed that Boehner could have ended the fiscal cliff by bring legislation passed by the Senate for a vote. I think this was the deal the White House suggested that cut Social Security and Medicaid. Reid also accused Boehner of playing politics and catering to members of his party rather than serving the country…You don’t say [if you could see me, which would be weird, you'd see my shifty eyes].

Reid said: “The American people I don’t think understand the House of Representatives is operating without the House of Representatives. It’s being operated by a dictatorship of the speaker, not allowing the vast majority of the House of Representatives to get what they want.”

Gauntlet thrown. You know, since the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House are all kind of useless I say death match. The White House can use Cabinet members or call in staff...maybe even former staff, I'm sure some representatives out of Chicago would love to throw a few punches at Rahm. Then the winner is the uncontested dictator. I'm eying the bi-sexual atheist out of Arizona. And I'll campaign for anyone who punches Paul Ryan in the face. 

So of course, they did reach a deal. Good Old Joe Biden rode into the rescue. You can read more about it on the Wonkbook or Train of Thought. The first link lets you know what actually happened, and the second lets you know what is going to happen now.

Behold: Angry Baby.