Of course, they’re only in the House, so they wouldn’t be giving up anything.

Multiple House Republicans want Senate leaders to “go nuclear” over the Obama administration’s deal with Iran now that Democrats have stymied efforts to derail the accord by conventional means.

A small but growing number of GOP lawmakers say that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should invoke the “nuclear option” to change Senate rules and prevent a filibuster on a resolution to kill the deal.

Their angst is intensified by their belief that Democrats will likely be able to block legislation withholding federal funds from Planned Parenthood, a standoff that increases the chances of a government shutdown.

Less than two years after Republicans railed against Democrats for changing the rules to prevent filibusters on most presidential nominees, McConnell has ruled out using the nuclear strategy.

But the call puts more pressure on the majority leader and illustrates Republicans’ growing frustration with their inability to score significant victories in Congress, even while controlling both chambers.

I say with regret that I believe these House Republicans are correct—“with regret,” because I believe that the cloture/filibuster rules once served a purpose, back when the parties weren’t so far apart and could actually get some workable compromises going. Those days are long gone. My reluctance also comes from the fact that even going to such an extreme as the House Republicans are suggesting would not result in anything but a series of Obama vetoes that will not be overridden. And yet, I believe it must be done. The issues are too huge, and the Democrats will not hesitate to do it themselves next time they get the opportunity and see an advantage to it.

Who are these Republicans in the House? The names of a few—Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), Steven Palazzo (R-Miss), Lamar Smith (R-
Texas)—are listed, but there are certainly more than that. Some of them want the rule ended entirely, but “others are calling for a more modest step to get rid of the procedural holdup only in specific cases, such as with the Iran deal.”

McConnell is said to be completely against it. I strongly doubt that he would listen to these House Republicans or care what they have to say. But what really matters is how many Republican senators agree with them, and what those senators are prepared to do about it. Till then, it’s just talk.