Have You Seen Senator Udall's Stapler?

Hearings could be a sign he wants Harry Reid's job

(NEWSER) - Chuck Schumer plans to hold a series of Senate Rules Committee hearings to examine possible reforms to the filibuster rules so frustrating Democrats. Schumer, the committee’s chair, hatched the plan with senators Tom Udall and Carl Levin. In the first hearing, Senate historians will testify as to how the filibuster has evolved, while later hearings will examine reform proposals from Udall and Tom Harkin. More»

Proposes law allowing Senate to regularly change rules

(NEWSER) - New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall has introduced a resolution that could, in the unlikely event that it passes, eliminate the Senate’s dreaded filibuster. Udall’s law doesn’t specifically end the filibuster; rather, it calls for the Senate to change its rules every two years based on a simple majority vote. That would be a big change from the status quo, which requires a 67-vote majority to change a Senate rule. More»

The Senate is America's House of Lords Dynasties continue to dominate supposedly democratic politics, especially the Senate

(NEWSER) - The winning presidential ticket this year was the first since 1976 without a son or grandson of a senator on it. But don’t let that fool you: Royalism is on the rise in American politics, writes Charles Mahtesian for Politico. In the Senate, there are two new Udalls, a seat-warmer is saving Joe Biden’s seat for son Beau, John Salazar may replace his brother Ken, and, yes, Caroline Kennedy may join the club. All told, 2012 could see nearly a dozen congressional offspring in the Senate. More»

Dems could pick up 8 seats; GOP could oust Landrieu in La.

(NEWSER) - With 35 Senate seats up for grabs Tuesday, Chris Cillizza, in the Washington Post, predicts Democrats will flip eight. Two more are close calls for the Dems, while the GOP has one hope for a pickup. Starting with the most likely:

1. Virginia is in the bag for Mark Warner; he might even get 60% of the vote.
2. New Mexico will fall easily to Tom Udall...
3. ...while his cousin, Mark Udall, has pulled away in Colorado.

Deep-pocketed stars are raising money for Dem candidates

(NEWSER) - Powerful Hollywood women are reorganizing after Hillary Clinton's failed presidential bid, turning their attention toward increasing the Democratic majority in the Senate. A fundraiser Sept. 27 could raise more than $1 million for candidates, and is being put together by the likes of Jane Fonda, Kate Capshaw, Penny Marshall, Daryl Hannah, Laura Dern, and Sarah Jessica Parker. More»