Mitch McConnnell Holds His Breath Until His Face Turns Blue

Ilya gets like this occasionally, but he's only two and a half.  Looks like Sen. Vitter isn't the only one who could use a diaper.

Per Senate Rule 26, section 5(a), consent from both the majority leader and the minority leader is needed to begin or continue hearings after 2pm:

when the Senate is in session, no committee of the Senate or any subcommittee thereof may meet, without special leave, after the conclusion of the first two hours after the meeting of the Senate commenced and in no case after two o'clock postmeridian unless consent therefor has been obtained from the majority leader and the minority leader

Needless to say, unanimous consent is the norm.  But apparently Baby Mitch & Co. didn't get a good nap or something, because he and his friends decided yesterday to take the ball home at 2pm and not let anyone else play with it for the rest of the day.

If McConnell was the appropriate age for such tantrums, I'd pick him up and put him in his crib, and let him cry his lungs out there.  Good to know someone who seems to be re-experiencing his Terrible Twos can bring the legislative branch to a halt whenever he damned well pleases.

Next January, the Dems should really rewrite the entire Senate rulebook so that grownups can take care of the nation's business without having to worry about infantile behavior on the part of a minority.

(h/t Steve Benen.)