filibusters have been used to obstruct Democratic initiatives, regardless of how popular they are with the public or how desperately needed they are.

I became very aware of that during the Obama/Biden administration when congressional Republicans gave obstruction whole new meaning.

However, I apportion much of the blame for that on Obama/Biden for not effectively communicating their message.

Given the state of affairs, I agree with you about the need to reconsider the filibuster and/or the need for a 60 vote threshold. If the minority party can't advocate effectively enough for their initiatives, then they must suffer the consequences.

A good example: the Republicans could not repeal Obamacare despite their majority.

The quick and dirty: "filibuster" refers to several tactics that are used to delay or block either debate about or voting on legislation. For different types of activities different vote thresholds apply - sometimes simple majority (51 votes), sometimes 60 votes, sometimes 67 votes.

The orig idea was that filibusters can enable the minority to slow things down and force the majority to at least consider minority concerns. Due to the escalating partisan rancor that has characterized U.S. politics in the last few decades - which I maintain has been almost entirely emanating from the GOP side, especially since the despicable Newt Gingrich era - filibusters have been used to obstruct Democratic initiatives, regardless of how popular they are with the public or how desperately needed they are.

As such filibuster tactics have outlived their usefulness in that they aren't promoting bipartisanship but are instead allowing bad faith senators to block whatever they want to block for malicious reasons. And these are rules invented by the Senate - they aren't in the Constitution and they can be altered/abolished.

The piece I linked to offers several approaches for adjustments to the rules re: filibusters. I don't know enough to have an opinion on the best approach - but I believe some adjustments must be made or we will be unable to address crying needs in this country.

I could be wrong, but I refuse to google it, in the event I start receiving ads for Ted Cruz Aftershave or Rand Paul 'Do-it-yourself' fence kits.

;)

LL&P

The Hill...

I chortled aloud.

LL&P

I understand that the filibuster and the need for sixty votes is a kind of protection for the minority party. But, if the minority party is advocating for policies and legislation that have wide public appeal, then why would they need that protection?

and noted that I agree with it.

What it means is that eliminating the filibuster has to be part of this cycle's discussion, in the presidential and Senate races. Thus far, the declared presidential candidates who've weighed in on it are Sen. Elizabeth Warren ("all options are on the table"); Kamala Harris (the issue is a "difficult one and I actually am conflicted"); Sen. Bernie Sanders ("not crazy about getting rid of the filibuster"); Gov. Jay Inslee ("the time for the filibuster has come and gone"); Sen. Cory Booker ("We should not be doing anything to mess with the strength of the filibuster"); and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ("I just want to think long and hard about it"). Sen. Amy Klobuchar has also declared and signed on to a letter in 2017 to Senate leadership saying that the legislative filibuster must be preserved. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is still a potential presidential candidate, also signed on to that letter.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/3/1/1838661/-Democrats-have-to-acknowledge-a-2020-reality-the-Senate-filibuster-has-to-go?utm_campaign=recent

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/03/elijah-cummings-saved-michael-cohen-hearing/583915/

Isn't it interesting how Number 2 and the GOP keep whining about "lying liars" while worshipping at the altar of PT? With the collection of Trump's "best people" who have plead guilty and gone to prison, are headed to prison, or are currently located in prison, you'd think the MAGAts and minions might finally figure out that they all have something in common in that they each lied and committed a felony for and at the instruction of PT. But, alas, connecting the dots isn't exactly their strong suit. :)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/07/26/why-jim-jordan-is-surviving-and-thriving-despite-ohio-state-sexual-abuse-scrutiny/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.896545174c87

Where was David Pecker on this? Hah!

Just when you think Washington Politics can't possibly get any smellier, the coupling in the sewage line breaks and The National Basement is flooded again.

I present for your consideration the father of all gerrymanders circa 1812:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/The_Gerry-Mander_Edit.png/800px-The_Gerry-Mander_Edit.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Ohio_US_Congressional_District_4_%28since_2013%29.tif/lossless-page1-1280px-Ohio_US_Congressional_District_4_%28since_2013%29.tif.png

A classic gerrymander.

-CW

Yes.

We don't know what Mueller will deliver or when so in the meantime hearings like we saw yesterday contribute to death by a thousand cuts for Blotus and maybe the repubs.

There's a lot of chatter about how we're all so inured to his lies and crimes that nothing short of direct evidence he got a check signed by Putin to commit treason will bring him down. Certainly if the GOP can get away with it that's what will happen. But when the hearings are public and the Repubs are ludicrous and obviously obstructing damage does ensue.

I've just read that Going-to-Save-Us-All-(not)-General Kelly was pressured by Blotus to give Jared Kushner top-secret clearance. Kelly didn't want to do it and wrote memos, but gave in. But this coming out is more trouble for Blotus.

Anyone remember the movie of the week from the 70's called Crowhaven Farm? Always wished I hadn't watched it coz I've never shook off the image it ended with which was of an accused witch being pressed to death - laying under a board on which townspeople stacked a mountain of stones, one at a time. Ick.

But that image came to mind today - DJT under a board on which scandal after scandal, lawsuit after lawsuit etc. gets stacked.

All this should have commenced in 2015 so it's a long time coming but at least now Congressional Dems are unleashed and the broader public may start to get details about things many of us political junkies have been aware of for a long time.

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2019/02/27/two-clips-from-the-cohen-hearing-need-to-be-seen-by-all/#comment-131757

-CW