--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Harry Reid employed the so-called nuclear…" description: "\"Harry Reid employed the so-called nuclear option, broke the Senate rules to change the Senate rules, lowered the threshold for confirmation from 60 vot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/ted-cruz-487_broke_harry-reid-employed-the-so-called-nuclea_1417711.jpg" --- # Harry Reid employed the so-called nuclear option, broke… ![“Harry Reid employed the so-called nuclear option, broke the Senate rules to change the Senate rules, lowered the threshold for confirmation from 60 votes to 51 votes. And it is a direct result of Harry Reid that we now have the most conservative Cabinet in decades.” quote by Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/ted-cruz-487_broke_harry-reid-employed-the-so-called-nuclea_1417711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/ted-cruz-487_broke_harry-reid-employed-the-so-called-nuclea_1417711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a9/ted-cruz-487_broke_harry-reid-employed-the-so-called-nuclea_1417711.jpg) > “Harry Reid employed the so-called nuclear option, broke the Senate rules to change the Senate rules, lowered the threshold for confirmation from 60 votes to 51 votes. And it is a direct result of Harry Reid that we now have the most conservative Cabinet in decades.” [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Harry Reid used a procedural maneuver to change Senate confirmation thresholds, leading to a more conservative cabinet. **In simple terms:** Reid changed Senate rules, resulting in a conservative cabinet. Key Takeaway Understand how procedural tactics reshape politics. Themes politics process power strategy Mood critical analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - policy analysis - civic engagement - historical study Key Concepts institutional change legislative tactics partisan dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What are the long‑term effects of altering confirmation thresholds? - How do procedural changes affect democratic accountability? A Different Perspective The description may oversimplify complex political factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [When you look at the people that Donald Trump is actually put around him on his Cabinet, this is a pretty - I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-walter/when-you-look-at-the-people-that-donald-trump-is-actually-put-around/) [Amy Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-walter/) > [ We shall have to begin all over again. \[Taft hoped that\] the Senators might change their minds, or that the people might change the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/we-shall-have-to-begin-all-over-again-taft-hoped-that-the-senators/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [The threat to change Senate rules is a raw abuse of power and will destroy the very checks and balances our founding fathers put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-reid/the-threat-to-change-senate-rules-is-a-raw-abuse-of-power-and-will/) [Harry Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-reid/) > [I think it's interesting that people like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi said that the Tea Party was dead and they weren't influential and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/i-think-it-s-interesting-that-people-like-harry-reid-and-nancy-pelosi/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [I'm hoping that we're not getting to Second Amendment remedies. I hope the vote will be the cure for the Harry Reid problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharron-angle/i-m-hoping-that-we-re-not-getting-to-second-amendment-remedies-i-hope/) [Sharron Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharron-angle/) > [Democratic Senator Harry Reid is expected to make a full recovery after he was exercising with a resistance band that snapped, causing him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/democratic-senator-harry-reid-is-expected-to-make-a-full-recovery/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid likes to reminisce about being an amateur boxer. But his Senate tenure has often looked like an endless rope-a-dope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/senate-majority-leader-harry-reid-likes-to-reminisce-about-being-an/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [I am running because I love my country and Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama are ruining it. It is time to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ashjian/i-am-running-because-i-love-my-country-and-harry-reid-nancy-pelosi/) Scott Ashjian > [And if you like 14.4 percent unemployment, if you like the fact that 70 percent of home mortgages in Nevada are underwater, then stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornyn/and-if-you-like-14-4-percent-unemployment-if-you-like-the-fact-that/) [John Cornyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornyn/) > [I've never seen anything so abhorrent in my life as Harry Reid. He's an equal opportunity basher. He goes after everybody, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-ve-never-seen-anything-so-abhorrent-in-my-life-as-harry-reid-he-s/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Harry Reid's accusation that President Bush is playing politics with national security may earn him the title of hypocrite-in-chief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-schmitt/harry-reid-s-accusation-that-president-bush-is-playing-politics-with/) Tracey Schmitt > [I think it is very good for the country, for the world, and especially for the Democrats that Harry Reid is retiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-think-it-is-very-good-for-the-country-for-the-world-and-especially/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [If we can take Harry Reid out, we can take our country back. I'm not here to preach to the choir. I'm here to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharron-angle/if-we-can-take-harry-reid-out-we-can-take-our-country-back-i-m-not/) [Sharron Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharron-angle/) > [I am a pretty level-headed person, but that person, Harry Reid, has been the most destructive entity in Washington when it comes to civility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/i-am-a-pretty-level-headed-person-but-that-person-harry-reid-has-been/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [Were anyone wondering how Sen. Harry Reid intended to manage life in the minority, it took one day of the 114th Congress to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-strassel/were-anyone-wondering-how-sen-harry-reid-intended-to-manage-life-in/) Kimberley Strassel ## More by Ted Cruz > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Donald Trump threatened to file a defamation suit against me for running a TV ad that consisted only entirely of his own words on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-threatened-to-file-a-defamation-suit-against-me-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The immigrant experience of all of us is what makes us Americans, because we value in our DNA liberty and opportunity above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-immigrant-experience-of-all-of-us-is-what-makes-us-americans/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [It is my hope that all of the Republicans who recognize that nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on a host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/it-is-my-hope-that-all-of-the-republicans-who-recognize-that/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Senate Majority Leader has the unilateral ability to stand up and say, 'If you defy Congress, if you defy the Constitution, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-senate-majority-leader-has-the-unilateral-ability-to-stand-up-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [You can't get to a balanced budget and begin to pay down debt and thus create jobs in this country if you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-can-t-get-to-a-balanced-budget-and-begin-to-pay-down-debt-and/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [That's what actually caused me to run for office is, you know, my family story, the experience of growing up in a family where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/that-s-what-actually-caused-me-to-run-for-office-is-you-know-my/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When you subpoena one pastor, you subpoena every pastor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/when-you-subpoena-one-pastor-you-subpoena-every-pastor/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/imagine-a-legal-immigration-system-that-welcomes-and-celebrates-those/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The court follows elite opinion, not public opinion. And Democratic leaders in Congress and Republican leaders in Congress follow elite opinion as well. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-court-follows-elite-opinion-not-public-opinion-and-democratic/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) [Explore all 523 Ted Cruz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More Broke quotes > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. 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I just have to keep trying to find what I'm looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/nothing-is-really-broke-so-it-s-not-like-i-can-fix-it-i-just-have-to/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [You're the one who broke my heart you're the reason my world fell apart you're the one who made me cry and I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-the-one-who-broke-my-heart-you-re-the-reason-my-world-fell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mother loved my father. From my view, she let him get away with too much. It broke my heart to see him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/my-mother-loved-my-father-from-my-view-she-let-him-get-away-with-too/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [I broke up with my first girlfriend because I was out of love. I was crushing so hard on her for a whole year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-and-the-queens/i-broke-up-with-my-first-girlfriend-because-i-was-out-of-love-i-was/) [Christine and the Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-and-the-queens/) > [You have to be nicer to me," I said. Again he laughed. "What? I'm the King of nice. What are you talking about?" "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/you-have-to-be-nicer-to-me-i-said-again-he-laughed-what-i-m-the-king/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [If you sleep now tomorrow you will be broke, Work hard now and sleep later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-fwea-d/if-you-sleep-now-tomorrow-you-will-be-broke-work-hard-now-and-sleep/) G-Fwea D > [IMAGINE if Facebook, Twitter, and msn all broke at the same time. We might have to actually get lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brown-ladyy/imagine-if-facebook-twitter-and-msn-all-broke-at-the-same-time-we/) Brown Ladyy > [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. 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Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) Browse all 2,091 Broke quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Harry Reid employed the so-called nuclear option, broke the Senate rules to change the Senate rules, lowered the threshold for confirmation from 60 votes to 51 votes. 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