End the filibuster?

[Jason Harvestdancer]

In other news, Texas legislators fled the state in order to prevent there from being a quorum necessary to conduct business.

 

[Elixir]

I think this is purely academic because the dems don't have the votes to end the filibuster anyway. But when the pendulum swings back, the republicans might be able to do it.

It's no longer a pendulum if Republicans get their way. They will gerrymander the States, the State legislatures will legalize their overthrow of electoral results (already done and approved by the corrupt SCOTUS), and voilá - we have one party rule.
Even an unimaginably massive turnout in 2022 isn't going to help, if enough States go along with trumputinism.

 

[lpetrich]

Biden gives strongest signal he’s ready to move to end Senate filibuster | Joe Biden | The Guardian

Speaking in Baltimore a day after Senate Republicans yet again blocked major legislation designed to secure access to the ballot box for all Americans, Biden expressed mounting frustration at the filibuster which effectively gives the conservative minority a stranglehold over large swathes of policy.

“We’re going to have to move to the point where we fundamentally alter the filibuster,” the president said.

At a CNN town hall in Baltimore on Thursday night, Biden hedged on how far any reform would go. “That remains to be seen,” he said, “in terms of fundamentally altering it or whether or not we just end the filibuster straight up.”

Asked by the moderator Anderson Cooper whether he would consider ending the filibuster on the issue of voting rights alone, Biden replied: “And maybe more.”

He's the President and not a Senator, even though he was a Senator for a long time.

 

[ZiprHead]

He's the President and not a Senator, even though he was a Senator for a long time.

370 years, as a matter of fact.

 

[lpetrich]

Schumer announces Senate vote on filibuster change | PBS NewsHour
U.S. Senate's Schumer eyes change to filibuster to advance voting rights bill | Reuters
Schumer: Senate to vote on filibuster change on voting bill | AP News

Noting
Dear Colleague 1.3.22.pdf by Sen. Maj. Ldr. Chuck Schumer

Let me be clear: January 6th was a symptom of a broader illness - an effort to delegitimize our election process, and the Senate must advance systemic democracy reforms to repair our republic or else the events of that day will not be an aberration – they will be the new norm. Given the urgency of the situation and imminence of the votes, we as Senate Democrats must urge the public in a variety of different ways to impress upon their Senators the importance of acting and reforming the Senate rules, if that becomes a perquisite for action to save our democracy.

Our Caucus has fought back against these assaults, uniting behind comprehensive legislation that would address these threats to our democracy. Sadly, these common-sense solutions to defend our democracy have been repeatedly blocked by our Republican colleagues, who seem wholly uninterested in taking any meaningful steps to stem the rising tide of antidemocratic sentiment still being stoked by the former president today. In June, August, October, and once more in November, Republicans weaponized arcane Senate rules to prevent even a simple debate on how to protect our democracy.

,,,
We must ask ourselves: if the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we in good conscience allow for a situation in which the Republican Party can debate and pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote, but not allow the United States Senate to do the same?

Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.

Why to do it?
Pramila Jayapal on Twitter: "It’s the filibuster or:
Climate action
Reproductive rights
🗳 Voting rights
Police reform
$15 minimum wage
The PRO Act
Equality Act
And so much more.
This shouldn’t be a tough choice. Abolish the filibuster." / Twitter

 

[Elixir]

Proposing to consider stuff is what Democrats are good at.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Schumer announces Senate vote on filibuster change | PBS NewsHour
U.S. Senate's Schumer eyes change to filibuster to advance voting rights bill | Reuters
Schumer: Senate to vote on filibuster change on voting bill | AP News

Noting
Dear Colleague 1.3.22.pdf by Sen. Maj. Ldr. Chuck Schumer

Let me be clear: January 6th was a symptom of a broader illness - an effort to delegitimize our election process, and the Senate must advance systemic democracy reforms to repair our republic or else the events of that day will not be an aberration – they will be the new norm. Given the urgency of the situation and imminence of the votes, we as Senate Democrats must urge the public in a variety of different ways to impress upon their Senators the importance of acting and reforming the Senate rules, if that becomes a perquisite for action to save our democracy.

Our Caucus has fought back against these assaults, uniting behind comprehensive legislation that would address these threats to our democracy. Sadly, these common-sense solutions to defend our democracy have been repeatedly blocked by our Republican colleagues, who seem wholly uninterested in taking any meaningful steps to stem the rising tide of antidemocratic sentiment still being stoked by the former president today. In June, August, October, and once more in November, Republicans weaponized arcane Senate rules to prevent even a simple debate on how to protect our democracy.

,,,
We must ask ourselves: if the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we in good conscience allow for a situation in which the Republican Party can debate and pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote, but not allow the United States Senate to do the same?

Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.

Why to do it?
Pramila Jayapal on Twitter: "It’s the filibuster or:
Climate action
Reproductive rights
🗳 Voting rights
Police reform
$15 minimum wage
The PRO Act
Equality Act
And so much more.
This shouldn’t be a tough choice. Abolish the filibuster." / Twitter

I'm uncertain why it is so unclear that without the filibuster, all of those bills can be unpassed when the GOP gets the power back.

 

[laughing dog]

Schumer announces Senate vote on filibuster change | PBS NewsHour
U.S. Senate's Schumer eyes change to filibuster to advance voting rights bill | Reuters
Schumer: Senate to vote on filibuster change on voting bill | AP News

Noting
Dear Colleague 1.3.22.pdf by Sen. Maj. Ldr. Chuck Schumer

Let me be clear: January 6th was a symptom of a broader illness - an effort to delegitimize our election process, and the Senate must advance systemic democracy reforms to repair our republic or else the events of that day will not be an aberration – they will be the new norm. Given the urgency of the situation and imminence of the votes, we as Senate Democrats must urge the public in a variety of different ways to impress upon their Senators the importance of acting and reforming the Senate rules, if that becomes a perquisite for action to save our democracy.

Our Caucus has fought back against these assaults, uniting behind comprehensive legislation that would address these threats to our democracy. Sadly, these common-sense solutions to defend our democracy have been repeatedly blocked by our Republican colleagues, who seem wholly uninterested in taking any meaningful steps to stem the rising tide of antidemocratic sentiment still being stoked by the former president today. In June, August, October, and once more in November, Republicans weaponized arcane Senate rules to prevent even a simple debate on how to protect our democracy.

,,,
We must ask ourselves: if the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we in good conscience allow for a situation in which the Republican Party can debate and pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote, but not allow the United States Senate to do the same?

Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.

Why to do it?
Pramila Jayapal on Twitter: "It’s the filibuster or:
Climate action
Reproductive rights
🗳 Voting rights
Police reform
$15 minimum wage
The PRO Act
Equality Act
And so much more.
This shouldn’t be a tough choice. Abolish the filibuster." / Twitter

I'm uncertain why it is so unclear that without the filibuster, all of those bills can be unpassed when the GOP gets the power back.

Regardless of the filibuster's availability, recent history has shown that nothing will stop the GOP from undoing any work if they get full power (including the POTUS).

I think eliminating the procedural filibuster (i.e. the threat of the filibuster) is sufficient. If done, a filibuster requires someone to actually work to stall the Senate which means they cannot go out and fund raise.

 

[Bronzeage]

The filibuster died when McConnell decided to appoint Supreme Court Justices with 51 votes. This is just the wake.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The filibuster died when McConnell decided to appoint Supreme Court Justices with 51 votes. This is just the wake.

No, that was when Democracy died. We are still trying to pointlessly save the filibuster, to hold off the floodwaters of alt-right authoritarianism for a couple more years.

 

[ZiprHead]

Schumer announces Senate vote on filibuster change | PBS NewsHour
U.S. Senate's Schumer eyes change to filibuster to advance voting rights bill | Reuters
Schumer: Senate to vote on filibuster change on voting bill | AP News

Noting
Dear Colleague 1.3.22.pdf by Sen. Maj. Ldr. Chuck Schumer

Let me be clear: January 6th was a symptom of a broader illness - an effort to delegitimize our election process, and the Senate must advance systemic democracy reforms to repair our republic or else the events of that day will not be an aberration – they will be the new norm. Given the urgency of the situation and imminence of the votes, we as Senate Democrats must urge the public in a variety of different ways to impress upon their Senators the importance of acting and reforming the Senate rules, if that becomes a perquisite for action to save our democracy.

Our Caucus has fought back against these assaults, uniting behind comprehensive legislation that would address these threats to our democracy. Sadly, these common-sense solutions to defend our democracy have been repeatedly blocked by our Republican colleagues, who seem wholly uninterested in taking any meaningful steps to stem the rising tide of antidemocratic sentiment still being stoked by the former president today. In June, August, October, and once more in November, Republicans weaponized arcane Senate rules to prevent even a simple debate on how to protect our democracy.

,,,
We must ask ourselves: if the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we in good conscience allow for a situation in which the Republican Party can debate and pass voter suppression laws at the State level with only a simple majority vote, but not allow the United States Senate to do the same?

Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.

Why to do it?
Pramila Jayapal on Twitter: "It’s the filibuster or:
Climate action
Reproductive rights
🗳 Voting rights
Police reform
$15 minimum wage
The PRO Act
Equality Act
And so much more.
This shouldn’t be a tough choice. Abolish the filibuster." / Twitter

I'm uncertain why it is so unclear that without the filibuster, all of those bills can be unpassed when the GOP gets the power back.

Yeah, so let them. Let the people who mostly don't pay attention actually see AND FEEL the GQP's agenda. Let them repeal the ACA and millions of people lose their healthcare. Let them screw the elderly by screwing with social security and medicare. The people that don't pay attention will surely start doing so when it hits them personally.

The Dems have been protecting the people from the Republican agenda and get bitten in the ass for doing so. They're called "ineffective" and "weak". Remove the filibuster. Pass the legislation that is popular with the people. If the Reps reverse the legislation the people will see it and feel it. Let them see it and feel it. The reps will either have to revise their agenda or die protecting it.

 

[Trausti]

Meh.

 

[ZiprHead]

Yeah, yeah. Everyone wants to keep it when it's to their advantage. When It wasn't working for McConnell he had no issue dropping it so you can drop the hypocrisy angle, Trausti. He's just as much a hypocrite as anyone on this matter.

The bottom line is it's a rule that was made by mistake, fifty years after the creation of the senate. This is not the way it was intended.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

Hm, this coming November doesn't look good for Democrats. Are those arguing in favor of ending the filibuster sure that is what they want?

 

[lpetrich]

Hm, this coming November doesn't look good for Democrats. Are those arguing in favor of ending the filibuster sure that is what they want?

That presumes that the Republicans will let themselves be obstructed by the Democrats. Does anyone seriously believe that?

After Mitch McConnell's two-faced performance on appointing Supreme Court Justices in Presidential election years, I'm sure that they will revoke the filibuster if they find it expedient to do so.

When the Democrats filibustered the appointment of some of George Bush II's judges back in 2005 or thereabouts, the Republicans threatened the "Nuclear Option" and the Democrats backed down.

I also note that the Republicans did not succeed in repealing Obamacare when they had a trifecta in the first two years of Trump's Presidency.

So if the Democrats pass a lot of very popular legislation, the Republicans will be reluctant to repeal it. Even if they get the House and the Senate this year, they will not be likely to have enough votes to override President Biden's veto.

 

[Jayjay]

Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.

Why to do it?
Pramila Jayapal on Twitter: "It’s the filibuster or:
Climate action
Reproductive rights
🗳 Voting rights
Police reform
$15 minimum wage
The PRO Act
Equality Act
And so much more.
This shouldn’t be a tough choice. Abolish the filibuster." / Twitter

I'm uncertain why it is so unclear that without the filibuster, all of those bills can be unpassed when the GOP gets the power back.

So the worst case scenario is returning to the current status quo? Sounds like a risk worth taking.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

Hm, this coming November doesn't look good for Democrats. Are those arguing in favor of ending the filibuster sure that is what they want?

That presumes that the Republicans will let themselves be obstructed by the Democrats. Does anyone seriously believe that?

After Mitch McConnell's two-faced performance on appointing Supreme Court Justices in Presidential election years, I'm sure that they will revoke the filibuster if they find it expedient to do so.

When the Democrats filibustered the appointment of some of George Bush II's judges back in 2005 or thereabouts, the Republicans threatened the "Nuclear Option" and the Democrats backed down.

I also note that the Republicans did not succeed in repealing Obamacare when they had a trifecta in the first two years of Trump's Presidency.

So if the Democrats pass a lot of very popular legislation, the Republicans will be reluctant to repeal it. Even if they get the House and the Senate this year, they will not be likely to have enough votes to override President Biden's veto.

I'm not asking about their opinion, I'm asking about resident opinion.

 

[ZiprHead]

I've given mine if that helps.

What's your opinion on the filibuster, Jason?

 

[ZiprHead]

The epic struggle for America’s soul is just getting started

A year after the Capitol insurrection, democracy is still under attack from Republicans in thrall to Trump’s lies. What is to be done to avoid a descent into violence?

www.theguardian.com

A new USA Today/Suffolk University poll found eight in 10 Republicans, Democrats and independents are worried about the future of American democracy. But they disagree over the causes – and who’s to blame: 85% of Democrats call the Capitol Hill rioters “criminals”; two-thirds of Republicans believe “they went too far but had a point”.

“Only free and fair elections in which the loser abides by the result stand between each of us and life at the mercy of a despotic regime,” warns Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe. But increasingly, for today’s politicians, honourable defeat is a wholly foreign concept.

This chronic loss of institutional trust and credibility, also tainting a politicised, conservative-dominated supreme court, reflects a society more openly riven by longstanding cultural, racial and religious animosities – and one in which income, wealth and health inequalities are growing. These divisions are in turn wilfully exacerbated by rightwing broadcast and online media, bloggers and internet trolls.

Columbia’s Britton-Purdy says America’s democracy is failing because it is not democratic enough. Old saws about the “tyranny of the majority”, propagated by founding father James Madison, among others, are redundant. The electoral college, which can override the popular vote, should be abolished, the franchise widened, and constitutional amendments curbing money in politics, banning gerrymandering and enshrining abortion rights should be voted on by all, he argued.

I would definitely add the filibuster to that list.

 

[lpetrich]

Clyburn knocks Manchin for arguing voting rights vote must be bipartisan | TheHill

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) lambasted Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Sunday for saying a vote on changing voting rights laws must be bipartisan.

Noting
Manchin delivers blow to Democrats as he signals opposition to changing Senate rules to advance voting bill - CNNPolitics

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the pivotal Senate swing vote, made clear on Tuesday that he remains deeply skeptical of overhauling the chamber's rules on a simple majority basis to advance voting legislation, a clear sign that a frantic push by Democrats to win his support to change the filibuster and pass one of the party's core priorities is likely doomed.

The comments from Manchin come as his party is launching a full-court press to pressure him and fellow moderate Democrat, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, to back changes to the filibuster that would allow Democrats to pass voting legislation.

What Republicans does he think will vote for it? If the Republican Party refuses to support it, then we must leave the Republican Party behind.

Back to TheHill:

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Clyburn told Fox News anchor Bret Baier that's Manchin's suggestion of requiring bipartisan support for voting tights caused him "pain."

“I am, as you know, a Black person, descended of people who were given the vote by the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The 15th Amendment was not a bipartisan vote. It was a single-party vote that gave Black people the right to vote," Clyburn told Baier.

"Manchin and others need to stop saying that because that gives me great pain for somebody to imply that the 15th Amendment of the United States Constitution is not legitimate because it did not have bipartisan buy-in," he added.