Jason Harvestdancer
Contributor
In other news, Texas legislators fled the state in order to prevent there from being a quorum necessary to conduct business.
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.
He's the President and not a Senator, even though he was a Senator for a long time.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.
Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.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?
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.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
Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.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?
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
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'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.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
Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.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?
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
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.The filibuster died when McConnell decided to appoint Supreme Court Justices with 51 votes. This is just the wake.
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.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.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
Then proposing to consider changes to the filibuster by Jan 17 or earlier. I couldn't find any further details.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?
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
That presumes that the Republicans will let themselves be obstructed by the Democrats. Does anyone seriously believe that?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?
So the worst case scenario is returning to the current status quo? Sounds like a risk worth taking.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.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
That presumes that the Republicans will let themselves be obstructed by the Democrats. Does anyone seriously believe that?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?
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.
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.
I would definitely add the filibuster to that list.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.
NotingHouse 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.
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.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.
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.