senator levin said, repeating senator vandenberg's words after world war ii, united states senate in which the majority can do anything it wants, any time it wants, is a senate without rules. it would be like the red sox falling behind in boston and saying to the cardinals, we're the home team, we'll add a few innings until we can score some runs. this is a senate without rules. and it's done -- >> that's lamar alexander and mitch mcconnell, republican leaders, in the u.s. senate, blasting harry reid, senate majority lead somewhere democrats for dramatically changing rules of the game. rules in place for a long time. dana, they just decided to do this. they passed this change, you no longer need 60 voted to block a presidential nominee. you only need majority 51. ever since i've been reporting here in washington, that filibuster has been in place, 60-vote requirement has been in place, but now for the first time it has changed and democrats are making what point in arguing for this dramatic change, dana? >> reporter: it's that they believe it is the president's prerogative to have the

and so we have this spectacle of members of the united states senate, united states senators from great states all over america, hat in hand bowing before the majority leader, pleading that he allow them to have their amendment up for a vote. and it's really not right. it is an alteration of the whole concept of the free and open debate the senate is all about. i truly believe that it is. and we're going to have to stop it. and i've -- i blame myself. i've complained about this probably as much, or maybe more than anyone on our side. but i haven't really ta taken te action really that we need to take to confront this issue. so when my new young colleagues and i were discussing this, one of them said, why, we even have to ask senator mcconnell to get his permission to offer our amendment. well, how could this happen? how could a united states senator from one of the great states of america be in a position, a democratic senator -- he has a majority in the senate -- how could he be in the position where he has to seek senator mcconnell's approval to get an amendment u up? well, the answer

i repeat: "the end of the united states senate." senator reid further wrote, "there will come a time when we will all be gone and the institutions that we now serve will be run by men and women not yet living, and those institutions will either function well because we've taken care of them or they will be in disarray and someone else's problem to solve." he described the nuclear option this way then: "in a fit of partisan fury, they were trying to blow up the senate. senate rules can only be changed by a two-thirds vote of the senate, or 67 senators. the republicans were going to do it illegally with a simple majority or 51 future generations be damned." end of quote. if only today the majority leader had recalled his own words. instead by his own hand he has brought on the end of the united states senate as we know it. instead of taking care of this institution, he will leave it in disarray. future generations be damned. our former parliamentarian, bob dove, and richard arenberg, one time former aide to george mitchell wrote a book

as senator levin said, after world war ii, a united states senate in which the majority can do anything it wants any time it senator levin said, after world. war ii, the senate, the united states senate, in which the majority can do anything it wants, anytime it wants, is a senate without rules. it would be like the red sox falling behind boston and saying, the cardinals, we are the home team, so we will add innings until we can score runs. senate without rules. it is done based on the flimsiest of excuses. the ideas filibusters were used to deny seats to presidential seats. in the history of the senate, the number of supreme court nominees who have been denied their seat by a filibuster is zero. district judges denied their seat by filibuster is zero. the number of cabinet members denied their seat by filibuster is zero. that is according to the congressional research service. the number of circuit judges denied their seat by filibuster is five democrats and five publicans, all because democrats for the first time in 2003, the time i was coming to the senate, filibustered 10 of preside

what is clear that as of now, we have entered a new era in the united states senate. joining me now, senator tom u udall, and it was you who said, we have to reform the filibuster, and you are in a distinct minority, i think of the caucus at that point. did you ever think you would see this day? >> i thought we were going to see this day, because this was a victory for democracy and we've returned to the constitution, and i think it's very important that we do that, so that we can do the things we promised the american people we would do when we got elected. >> how did it come about? i mean, i know from talking to senator reid's staff, from talking to senator reid himself, from other reports, that majority leader reid was -- what he said back in 2005, he meant. which is to say, he really did believe the importance of the filibuster, the importance of senate traditions, the importance of a voice for the minority, particularly with lifetime appointments, he was convince odd d of that. and he now believes he was wrong then and right now. what happened? what was the arc of

i'm a believer in the united states senate, i believe it's a deliberative body, but i believe it has to work for the american people. i think the actions that senator reid took today was on behalf of the american people to make the senate function. it's not functioning. >> i think it's interesting the senate, which after all has passed a number of important things this year, wasn't functioning for the president on his terms, and this was one more step to give president obama even more power and even more control. it's interesting to me that every democrat who is up for reelection next year except one voted to give president obama more power, and i suspect that will come back to haunt them. we'll debate that in the next few minutes. >> we will. >>> in the crossfire tonight senator bernie sanders and senator john hovan. i think these a very historic vote. i don't think it's a tactic. if you watch the president's press conference, the entire opening is a litany of legislative problems. he doesn't get to the appointments until after he goes through layer after layer of legislative problem

. >> without the importance of confidence and the united states senator but being a woman and how important it is to foster that in future women leaders or even moms. >> absolutely and i encourage young women to be involved and to step up front frank lee and i always say two graduating classes, i could never imagine i would have been running for the united states senate when i was in your position either but we have open the possibility of doing that because it is critical to have those examples and in governing institutions and all places in our society it's important to have women's voices reflected and women in our population. the second part of it is that they bring a different experience. that is also important to have that voice at the table. so anchorage them to think about it as a possibility in the future and those choices are sent to themselves and even for me as much that was passionate about politics the daughter of running for public politics, uis have to go against the grain. whatever you do in life it is what it is and that is what i always did against the grain and i felt so

change the rules of the united states senate. that's what we have witnessed today. nothing but an absolute power grab. the majority in the senate and their allies in the administration are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their partisan agenda. they know that there will be additional challenges to obamacare, they know that if they can stack the deck on the d.c. circuit, they can remove one of the last remaining checks on presidential power. but make no mistake. my friends on the other side will have to answer this question, why did you choose this moment to break the rules to change the rules? why now? why? when we're witnessing the collapse of this massive effort to centrally plan one-sixth of this wonderful nation's economy, why when millions of americans are losing their health care, why did you choose this moment over to the president, a president with less check on his authority. because the fact of the matter is this -- any vote to break the rules to change the rules is a vote to ensure obamacare remaining intact. so, mr. president, i'll conclude by s

then, washington gridlock intensifies with a power grab in the united states senate as republicans accuse democrats of trying to divert attention from

and the reason why is there is two members of the united states senate that you just mentioned that are up for reelection that are in states. >> and max baucus. >> harry reid has to give his caucus distance from the president. >> that's right. >> the president is too damaging. and so yes, harry reid would bring to it a vote even if the president doesn't want it to come to vote. >> remember, the president is not running for reelection. these guys and gals in the senate are. their names are on the ballot. harry reid will definitely give them. it doesn't mean it will pass. >> larry, it's a long time to november 2014. >> i'll grant you that. this thing completely change. the republicans went from deep, deep yogurt. now i don't know that they're ahead. i'm not sure. >> the republican party has record lows. >> what is happening is both parties are digging the ditch deeper for themselves. jimmy kemp, what should the gop,

i was here on the day when he walked up the steps in the united states senate to the capitol, and there were people of both political parties, senators cheering him on, as they should. i watched his progress ever since, and it is remarkable. his determination to serve our state and nation continues. and yesterday he gave his first speech on the floor in two years, and that speech was brief but it was important. and i'd like to quote from my colleague's speech. he said -- this is from senator kirk's statement yesterday in the "congressional record" -- "i think it is particularly appropriate for an illinois republican to speak on behalf of this measure." i'm speaking of the employment nondiscrimination act. in the true tradition of abraham, dirksen and lincoln, men who gave us the 1964 civil rights act and the 13th amendment to the constitution. mr. president, it was a brief statement but it was important. senator kirk joined in a bipartisan effort to move this bill forward. i searched the "congressional record." i searched the "congressional record" of yesterday to look for one statement

it's not only bad for president obama, bad for this body, the united states senate, it's bad for our country. >> minority leader, mitch mcconnell, says democrats are creating a crisis to distract attention from obama care. >> millions of americans are hurting because of a law washington democrats forced upon them. what do they do about it? they cook up some fake fight over judges, a fake fight over judges. that aren't even needed.

. >> the importance of confidence to be a united states senator but to be a woman and how important it is to foster that with the future business leaders. >> i encourage them to be involved and to step up the. i always said i could never imagine i would be running for the united states senate when i was in your position either pat we opened the possibility of that governing institution in a and all places in our society it is important to have women's voices in this and gephardt is a bring a different experience to have that place at the table. i encouraged them to think about the possibility of the future. in yvette as a was passionate eye when come to washington i would it go wiccans the grain. that is what i did and i felt so strongly so that police is important with the direct correlation. that even today the women's health initiative to exclude women in clinical studies trials to this day there still revealing results of lifesaving discoveries for women. that is to have women participate in the political process. think about title ix. donna brazil was a beneficiary that how loved

which is, the word delibrative its the very last word you associated with the united states senate. totally against tradition in the senate. >> use to be the aura of the place. e.j. dion, alex wagner, thank you for joining us. >> good to be with you. >> thank you, alex. >> coming up, the republicans have an actual playbook they can carry under their arms telling them how to attack the affordable care act. and we have more video from the police dash-cam in new mexico that captured that reckless police shooting. we have an explanation from the mother of five driving that minivan in her own words. joy read will join me to discuss all of the new evidence. now i'm a manager. my employer matches my charitable giving. really. i get bonuses even working part-time. where i work, over 400 people are promoted every day. healthcare starting under $40 a month. i got education benefits. i work at walmart. i'm a pharmacist. sales associate. i manage produce. i work in logistics. there's more to walmart than you think. vo: opportunity. that's the real walmart. a confident retirement. those dreams, t

you think this is in the best interest of the united states senate and the american people to make advise and consent in effect mean nothing, obviously you can break the rules to change the rules to achieve that. but some of us have been around here long enough to know the shoe is sometimes on the other foot.

what if i told you this jobs plan got 78 votes in the united states senate, a divided united states senate? of course i'm describing the comprehensive immigration bill which the speaker of this house refuses to bring up. there is no principled, no logical objection to this thing, there's scare tactics. the people with funny accents and names you can't pronounce will come and take your job. that's not true. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. himes: i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition? mr. harris: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. harris: mr. speaker, american families are watching the train wreck of the president's health care reform law coming down the track at them each and every day. promises were made by the president and by supporters of the law that if you like your plan you can keep it. and promises were made the family plans would cos

which is, the word deliberative its the very last word you associated with the united states senate. totally against tradition in the senate. >> use to be the aura of the place. e.j. dion, alex wagner, thank you for joining us. >> good to be with you. >> thank you, alex. >> coming up, the republicans have an actual playbook they can carry under their arms telling them how to attack the affordable care act. and we have more video from the police dash-cam in new mexico that captured that reckless police shooting. we have an explanation from the mother of five driving that minivan in her own words. joy read will join me to discuss all of the new evidence. the american dream is of a better future, a confident retirement. those dreams, there's just no way we're going to let them die. ♪ like they helped millions of others. by listening. planning. working one on one. that's what ameriprise financial does. that's what they can do with you. that's how ameriprise puts more within reach. ♪ >>> katie couric interviewed shellie zimmerman, george zimmerman's estranged wife today who said this about

i think it is a time to be sad about what has been done to the united states senate. united states senate. it is the greatest deliberative body in the world. it is the only legislative body that i'm aware of where a majority doesn't get to do anything it wants to at any point without consultation with the minority. i'm not interested in discussing a possible reprisal. i think it is not good for the senate. there is a lot of nervousness on the democratic side. they are in a panic about3 obamacare. the majority leader desperately try to change the subject. we want to get back on the subject. most americans, what they are thinking about right now is they are losing their health are losing their health insurance. their premiums are going up. jobs are being lost. we need to talk about what the american people are most concerned about.3 i'm going to take one more. >> you guys when the majority, and you are majority leader. will you abide by this ruling today, or will you try to move to reinstate prior reinstate pr? >> you guys know how much i love answering hypotheticals. ob

change the rules of the united states senate. that's what we have witnessed today. nothing but an absolute power grab. the majority in the senate and their allies in the administration are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their partisan agenda. they know that there will be additional challenges to obamacare, they know that if they can stack the deck on the d.c. circuit, they can remove one of the last remaining checks on presidential power. but make no mistake. my friends on the other side will have to answer this question, why did you choose this moment to break the rules to change the rules? why now? why? when we're witnessing the collapse of this massive effort to centrally plan one-sixth of this wonderful nation's economy, why when millions of americans are losing their health care, why did you choose this moment over to the president, a president with less check on his authority. because the fact of the matter is this -- any vote to break the rules to change the rules is a vote to ensure obamacare remaining intact. so, mr. president, i'll conclude by s

senator lamar alexander and i were taken by the patriotism and the hard work and the quality of the men and women who are serving our nation in the united states army at fort campbell, kentucky. senator alexander and i were both deeply alarmed at the fact that these people are literally having to budget and operate on a month-to-month basis. they are not able to sustain the level of readiness and capability this nation needs at this period of time so i urge my colleagues to consider this amendment that senator sessions will be sponsoring and i look forward to debating and hopefully passing this legislation to give the men and women the relief that they need to serve this country with the patriotism but now with the efficiency that we need in these difficult times. mr. president, i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from indiana. mr. coats: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the call of the quorum be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection, it will be suspended. mr. coats: mr. president, i

we have a circumstance here in the united states senate which is -- the presiding officer: on whose time does the senator speak? mr. durbin: i'm sorry. i didn't know we were in controlled time, so i yield the floor. mr. cruz: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cruz: mr. president, i rise in support of the gillibrand amendment. i am proud to support senator gillibrand's concerted effort to deal with the problem of sexual assault in our military. and i want to begin by commending her persisted leadership in forging a bipartisan coalition to tackle this serious problem. i supported the gillibrand amendment in committee, and i'm proud to be a cosponsor of the amendment here on the floor of the senate, and i rise today to share my reasons for supporting it and to urge my colleagues to continue to come together in support of this amendment. everyone in this body wants to support the men and women of our military, and in the course of the senate armed services committee hearings on sexual assault, we heard testimony after testimony after testimony about the persis

it's not only bad for president obama, bad for this body -- the united states senate -- it's bad for our country. it's bad for our national security and bad for economic security. that's why it's time to get the senate working again not for the good of the current democratic majority or some future republican majority, but for the good of the united states of america. it's time to change. it's time to change the senate before this institution becomes obsolete. mr. president, at the beginning of this congress the republican leader pledged that -- and i quote -- "this congress should be more bipartisan than last congress." mr. president, we're told in scripture, let's take for example old testament. the book of numbers. promises, pledges, a vow, one must not tkpwraeubg his word. -- break his word. in january the republicans promised to work with the majority to process nominations in a timely manner by unanimous consent except in extraordinary circumstances. mr. president, exactly three weeks later republicans mounted a first in history filibuster of a highly qualified the senator from

it's just an outrageous imposition of one senator's views and considerations on the entire united states senate. so, i would say to the senator that there ought to be some way for the senator to get an up-or-down vote on his amendment not on this bill. it's not relevant, not germane. i don't think it is relevant or germane on the defense bill. i'll say more on that in a second. we've got a lot of things coming down the pike here before we leave here this year or even in the next session of this congress to accommodate the senator from louisiana on his amendment. but why should we have to keep voting on it time after time after time if we have one dispositive vote on it, up or down, which is, as i understand, the majority leader offered. secondly, as regards the second unanimous consent proffered by the senator from louisiana to which i objected on behalf of the majority leader, i am not the chairman of the defense authorization committee, nor do i have the right to bring legislation to the floor. again, the senator wants everything accommodated to his wishes because if you read the unanimous co

on the downside there's something called minority rights which is sort of what makes the united states senate the united states senate which gives each senator an equal amount of importance in the chamber. the idea any of them can come up the works is sort of what makes it a special place. now the democrats have said the majority rule can change the rules of the senate and that in such a significant way changes the way this chamber is going to work. >> so, sue, what does it look forward -- the supreme court, what does it mean for supreme court nomination? >> that's one of the big questions and part of the reason they didn't go nuclear and walked to the line and walked back was this idea you could go too far. they drew the line. what they did is it only changes executive nominations like officials and all but the judges of the supreme court and it's a slippery slope argument. and republicans said if you open the pandora's box you're changing the game by which any future majority can change the rules. democrats said they don't intend to change the rules for supreme court nominees but in two yea

as a united states snorks i am dedicated to -- as a united states senator, i am dedicated to promoting policies that assist america's vents when they return home and to help ease that transition back into a normal life. many need care for their physical injuries as well as their emotional scars. despite possessing valuable skills, veterans also have difficulty finding employment after their return. we need to encourage businesses and organizations to utilize those talents that our veterans have and to help them find employment in our local communities. it is not just the values but also the training and the discipline of our military personnel that make america's fighting force second-to-none. i'm pleased to report to nebraskans that this year's national defense authorization act, the ndaa, furthers the goal of helping service members better translate the skills they gaining in the military to a civilian job. specifically, it helps ensure that service members understand how their military skills effectively transfer to meet license or certification requirements for those civilian caree

it's not only bad for president obama, bad for this body of the united states senate. country. it's bad for our national security and bad for economic security. that's why it's time to get the senate working again. not for the good of the current democratic majority or some future republican majority, but for the good of the united states of america. it's time to change. it's time to change the senate before this institution becomes obsole obsolete. mr. president, at the beginning of this congress the republican leader pledged that, and i quote, this congress should be more bipartisan than last congress. mr. president, we are told in scripture let's take, for example, the old testament, the book of numbers, promises, pledges, a vow, one must not break his word. in january, republicans promised to work with the majority to process nominations in a timely manner by unanimous consent except in extraordinary circumstances. mr. president, exactly, three weeks later republicans mounted a first in history filibuster of a highly qualified nominee for secretary of defense, desp

mandates, the house passed a bill to legalize what he did and they don't even bring it up in the united states senate. --are going to have to get when this stuff piles up in piles up, eventually they will have to deal with it in the united states senate. >> how so? senator reid is not up for reelection so there is not pressure to do anything. he has a tough 2014 election where there is a bunch of seeds could lose. what do you think he will do? >> don't you think you will get pressure like the meeting at the white house this week? he's going to get a lot of pressure from the five or six states where people are of all marble -- are vulnerable. they will force him to move to something. mary landrieu of louisiana has proposed a bill that would keepow propose people to the grandfather policies that are being canceled. is that something that could be approved by the senate? >> definitely it will be approved if reid let that come up. the reason he is not willing to do that is if you bring up one little bill are one big till, it's going to open up the whole issue again and he wants to avoid that. he's doing

it passed with 68 votes in the united states senate. he now says people have changed their mind. maybe that's the case. but it passed with 68 votes in the united states senate. they don't like it. madam speaker, i understand that. i get it. they don't like the health care bill. by the way, madam speaker, i'm starting to get that message. pretty thick, takes some time, but on 46 votes to repeal or to undermine, i get it. you don't like that bill. you think it's a bad bill. we have a disagreement on that, mr. leader. however, apparently we don't have a disagreement on the fact that the immigration system in america is broken. so what i'm asking you, you have passed out of committee, you've passed out of committee the agricultural guest worker program. creates a new temporary worker program. that also passed on a partisan vote. none of these votes were bipartisan. there was no effort to work with the democrats on the committee, to bring a bipartisan bill. unlike mr. lucas or mr. carter who brought bipartisan bills to the floor and saw them turned into partisan pieces of legislation,

i am honored to be holding one of your united states senate seats. it is your senate seat.ou decide who gets to hold it. have earnedhink i the privilege of holding it for another term. thank you very much for everything you do for the democratic party in this country. thank you. [applause] >> let's hear it for senator jeanne shaheen! [applause] >> there are those out there, especially in the tea party, who think that the working men and women of this country are the enemy. there are those in the tea party who believe that the causes of organized labor is not the cause that they should stand for. well, i want every member of to stand tonight and i want you to thank them for the work that they do each and every day. [applause] the cause of organized labor is the cause of the working man and woman is the cause of the democratic party. there is no separation. we stand with you and we will always. thank you from all of us to you for the work that you do for everything. also thank the finance committee of the new hampshire democratic party, starting with the finance chair, senato

the united states senate, democrats in the united states senate, have just now invoked what is known as the nuclear option on judicial nominees. that is to say by a majority vote, they got 52 votes in the senate, they changed the rules so that for the first time nominees for federal courts short of the supreme court, it doesn't affect the supreme court, no longer have to get 60 votes to end debate. now they can do it with a majority vote. this came, because democrats were frustrated by republican opposition to some of president obama's judicial nominees, just as republicans had been frustrated by democratic opposition to some of president bush's nominees. but a lot of people have talked about pulling this so-called nuclear trigger for the nuclear option. it happened when bill frist was the republican leader, and now harry reid has actually done it. republicans are warning it's going to change and degrade the quality of debate in the united states senate. we will see what happens as we go forward, scott. >> all right, john, thanks so much. we'll look forward to hearing more about that.

he's been president of harvard, governor of massachusetts, united states senator.bassador to england and secretary of state. lincoln taught himself. >> darn poor teacher, i'd say. >> i never said links con is a great man. maybe he isn't. but he's come a long way by the light of a pine knot with a shingle for a blackboard, charcoal for a pencil and a jack knife for an eraser. he taught himself to read and write and figure. and now he's president. >> but he won't be long. he's dead as a cock in a pit. thad stevens, republican foreleader in congress when advised of the president's decision to speak at gettysburg cemetery said the dead is going to eulogize the dead. >> that's it. the dead go to bury the dead. >> here's phil now. >> slower than mow lass ses. >> let me have "the new york times." >> that's phil still down at the depot this morning getting the train back to washington. he was there. said it wasn't much of a speech. >> says here exactly what happened. all it says is, president lincoln made a few remarks upon the occasion. >> everett, phil says, spoke longer

different people, and i would try and convince them that i was the right person to support for united states senate. but i would never forget the hours i spent with bob, and his generosity and thoughtfulness, and his tutoring this fellow who wanted to be a united states senator, who didn't really understand so much of the things that you have done over the years and why you're so important. so to bob, tonight, thank you, my friend. i am grateful. [applause] as i have noted, your selection of leon panetta is, i think, very appropriate for 100 years, as you celebrate what you've done. and i can't think of a more appropriate public servant. throughout his career, he's embodied the adl's fight -- continued fight -- for justice, equality, and security. and the adl has been about that. your theme tonight, for your 100th anniversary, "imagine a world without hate," that theme captures the hope and the possibilities of mankind. that hope, and that sense of possibility, is overflowing in this room tonight. you know that. but you also understand the realities that will always temper a certain amount of hope.

. >> it puts a chill on the entire united states senate. >> reporter: senate democrats voted to lower the threshold to break a filibuster from 60 votes to 51 votes, a simple majority. it strips the minority party's ability to block a president's nominees, called the nuclear option for good reason. just a few years ago, even democratic leader harry reid said he wouldn't do it, saying it would be -- >> a black chapter in the history of the senate. >> reporter: so what about now? why isn't this a black chapter in the history of the senate? >> things have changed dramatically since 2005. dramatically. for the last four and a half years, they have done everything they can to deny the fact that obama was elected and then re-elected. >> reporter: translation? gop obstruction is unprecedented. to back that up, democrats point to statistics from the nonpartisan congressional research service. in the history of the country, there have been 168 filibusters of presidential nominees. about half, 82, happened during the obama administration. >> in summary, this is a power grab. >> reporter: angry r

or will those guys actually end up in the united states senate? joining us now is sam youngman, he's a political reporter for the lexington herald leader in kentucky. mr. youngman, thanks very much for being here. nice to have you here. >> rachel, thanks very much for having me. >> so senator cruz according to politico is backing away from the senate conservatives fund, telling his colleagues in the senate that he will stop trying to get them fired. do you have any perspective on whether or not mitch mcconnell is playing any role in this? he may be the most threatened incumbent of all out of that whole list. >> no, there's no question about it. and it's hard not to see mitch mcconnell's fingerprints on this change from senator cruz. i know that you mentioned the civil war at the top of your show. well, the civil war in the republican party is coming here to kentucky. we just can't seem to avoid being in the middle of these things. i know that senator mcconnell, after it have shutdown was over, reached out to the rest of the senate republican confe

the house passed a bill to legalize what he did and they don't even bring it up in the united states senate. so we're going to have to get -- when this stuff piles up and piles up and piles up, eventually they are going to have to dealing with it in the united states senate. >> you can watch more with iowa senator chuck grassley on news makers sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. eastern here on -span. >> i think regardless of where you are in the political spectrum, we all feel fortunate and grateful that we live in america. it is a unique place. we try to sell our product overseas, what sour brand? and i think our brand is the constitution, the rule of law and our value system. under that brand and under that value system, there is that notion of equal under the eyes of the law. none of that brand alvalue system is trying to elevate the rights of americans with disabilities. >> this is a treaty. a treaty of the law. the emotional and political arguments that are -- no one can disagree with these arguments. but the question is will the treaty actually have the legal effect that is being prop

being the soulmate and wife of a united states senator, this is a special arena.ke a decision to go into public service you put your credibility, your character, you put it all out there to serve the people. and if you can't live up to that standard and stay focused, you have no business being in this body. i just think we have a void of leadership in this country that we constantly appease people who don't belong in the body to serve the people. why are we afraid to do that? i feel empathy for his family. it doesn't mean his life is ruined. it doesn't mean he can't rehabilitate himself. but right now he doesn't belong in a body that makes decisions as to whether we'll go to war or not, whether people are going to get fed or not, whether people are going to get housing or not, whether people are going to get health care or not. here we go. public speaker and speaker of the house john boehner won't say whether he thinks radel should resign but his father skip radel told "the cincinnati inquirer" he had a meeting with john boehner and some of the republicans. they t

, please listen to then-senator barack obama when he was part of the minority party in the united states senateng about the republican threat of a nuclear option. >> what they don't expect is for one party, be it republican or democrat, to change the rules in the middle of the game so that they can make all the decisions while the other party is told to sit down and keep quiet. >> and, my, how things change. now listen to the president obama reacting to the polling of the nuclear trigger after he became president and was in part of the majority party. >> today's pattern of obstruction just isn't normal. it's not what our founders envisioned. a deliberate and determined effort to obstruct everything, no matter what the merits, just to refight the results of an election. >> alan, no party has a stranglehold on hypocrisy, but that kind of speak forz itself. >> i don't know who the first guy was, obviously an obama impersonator. many republicans have flip-flopped, too. they were before they were against it. with can play that game on either side of the plate. president obama has had the filibuster

senate filibusters while trying to conduct that war. he referred to the filibuster as a little group of willful men who render the united states government helpless and contemptible, a phrase that probably could be used nowadays. so what did wilson do? went to the leaders o. senate and said, this really can't happen. why don't we find a way of shutting down filibusters. that's when they came up with cloture. the idea that if you had two-thirds, you could stop a filibuster end and the debate. even then, that had not been there before. >> so the evolution of rules, there's been negotiation led by presidents on this fact. >> absolutely. and the nuclear option, which is a term that was actually coined by trent lott in 2003, as the senate republican leader, it's actually a misnomer, because it implies if this is something that's sort of way out of constitutional tradition. what the constitution said is that senate and the house, they make their own rules. >> in terms of how we got here, i think when a change like this happens, everybody is sort of shocked and there's time to explain it, and then, i think, the instinct is to step back and say,

supported by most nra members, that is to say universal background checks can't get out of the united states senate. forget about the house of the representatives where i serve, it couldn't get out of the united states senate. >> sir, thanks for joining us this morning. >> thank you very much. >>> i want to bring in dr. gail saltz of new york presbyterian hospital. it's great to have you here. obviously lanza had some significant mental health issues. he stayed in his room for the last three months of his life. the trash bags that were covering his window. we see the access to the internet that he had with shootings, mass shootings and material on there, communicating only with his mother via e-mail. and he had been on medications and therapies, or therapies had been recommended but they were thwarted in terms of the fact that he would not give into it. at what point should a medical professional or should we as a society say there should be some type of forced intervention? >> i think this is the problem. we have this disconnect between civil liberties, that everybody is entitled to and wants to h

senate is broken. i believe the american people are right. during this congress, the 113th congress, the united statesdural hurdles and partisan obstruction. time to change the senate before this institution becomes obsolete. >> in a receipt or cal twist worthy of cirque du soleil he managed to link to failures of obama care saying washington is broken and democrats are trying to distract from obama kamplt the showdown come as senate republicans mostly flbd three of president obama's nominees. not because of their views or qualifications but in an attempt to permanently keep democratic judges off the bench. what qualifies as nuclear in the 2013 senate means using a simple 51 vote majority