Obstruction is in the Eye of the Beholder

I regularly read liberal blogger Matthew Yglesias. Even though I often disagree with his policies, I would say he is generally willing to follow his views to their logical conclusions, even if that means being tough on people with whom he usually agrees. Well, so much for that.

One of Yglesias' pet peeves is Senate procedure, particularly things like the 60 vote filibuster and the practice of Senators placing a hold on a presidential nominee, which he generally views as blocking the progressive reforms he prefers.

Here he is on 11/25/09:

You’ve seen an evolution since then, just as you’ve seen an evolution of the “hold” from a senatorial courtesy to a hardball political tactic.

Now, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who I believe describes himself as a socialist, has decided to place a hold on the nomination of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. How does Yglesias react?

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is going to place a hold on Ben Bernanke’s confirmation. I expect what progressives excited about this are going to learn is that...a hold on an establishment priority, like Bernanke’s confirmation, won’t be substantially held up by this move. That said, at this point I welcome increased public scrutiny of the Federal Reserve.

So I guess when it comes to denouncing hardball political tactics that Yglesias regularly rails against as fundamentally undemocratic, the source is what really matters.

I'm assuming the Yglesias also welcomes the hold on Bernanke announced South Carolina's Jim DeMint, a Republican. Well, there's a first time for everything.