Discussion for article #231760
“Durbin promised the Democrats wouldn’t just be rolling over”
Which is a giveaway that the Democrats will just roll over.
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Republicans are counting on the Democrats having a pro-filibuster strategy, but the Democrats shouldn’t fall into that trap. Instead, they should make the Republicans own their agenda and their legislation. Let them send legislation to the president that would gut Social Security or Medicare or Obamacare. The president can veto that legislation and make the case against the Republicans. And Hillary ca run against a very visible (and unpopular) Republican agenda. But, my guess is that once the Democrats decide not to save the Republicans from their own agenda, they won’t be sending crazy stuff to the White House.
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Color Republicans skeptical.
“It’s hard to believe anything they say on filibusters,” a top Senate GOP leadership aide said of Democrats to TPM in a brief response.
Nothing like a little bit of typical Republican projection, assuming that other people will engage in bad behavior just because they typically do.
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“If [Senate Majority] Leader [Mitch] McConnell is willing to stare down the Tea Party and advance mainstream legislation that benefits the middle-class, he’ll find Democrats ready and willing to work with him,” a senior Democratic leadership aide told TPM…"
I guess a lot depends on how Durbin & company define “mainstream legislation.”
Unfortunately Dems politicians have a history of going along with legislation that is “mainstream” as defined by their boardroom friends, keeping an eye to ensuring the rank & file are blissfully unaware and the media are incompetent. They don’t much care what progressives consider mainstream. Thank God for Elizabeth and Bernie.
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They could also try doing actual talking filibusters where they lay out why the republican legislation is bad and needs to be filibustered.
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Step 1: GROW A FUCKING SPINE.
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"“If [Senate Majority] Leader [Mitch] McConnell is willing to stare down the Tea Party and advance mainstream legislation that benefits the middle-class…”
My unicorn got a big laugh out of that.
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That’s just crazy talk!
It might interfere with their lobbyist-paid dinners and junkets.
Not to mention taking time away from their calls to beg for campaign bribes.
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It’s going to be an irritating two years hearing the press concern-troll senate democrats about bipartisanship after treating the record-annihilating obstruction of the past 8 years like business as usual. [I see Manchin is already getting fitted* for his Good Democrat clown suit][1]. Coming to a Sunday morning circus near you.
*Edited because I’m a bored pedant.
[1]: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/obama-veto-threats-3-over-2-days
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The first time Democrats filibuster anything, the Republicans will get the vapors, declare that the Democrats have made it impossible to govern, and announce that they’re eliminating the filibuster, once and for all.
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News flash: filibuster everything. Morons.
I believe there was a discussion on this very subject back in, what, 2013(?) when Reid was dickering about what to do with the filibuster.
And many on this blog opined that if the Repubs got the Senate (total longshot, amirite?) that the Dems wouldn’t have the nerve to deploy the filibuster. Why? Cause they’re the adults in the room.
That smell wafting around you is America burning.
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The only reason that might not happen is that McConnell’s well aware that given the 2016 map, his majority is likely to last just two years (knock wood). But if the crazies in and out of Congress yell loudly enough about it, he may have no choice.
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I think it is fine if they do not use it that often. They are not supposed to do so. Given the agenda the GOP wants to follow though, the results will be the same. Or nearly so. I think filibustering any but the most extreme judges is pointless anyway. And even then, we are in a climate where there are arguments over what extreme means. It often just means, does not agree with me.
Fight or Die gentlemen. No one is going to vote for a party that allows the opposition to walk all over them and the people they supposedly support. Fact is the Democratic Party needs to make up their minds, do you support working people and small business or the 1%, Corporations and Wall Street?
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I think the article misses the point: the Dems now don’t have to worry about filibustering nominations – their problem will be getting the Senate to take up those nominations. Further, as long as Obama is prepared to veto the more outrageous GOP litigation (i.e., most of it), they don’t have to filibuster because it’s in the Repubs’ interest to pass something they can induce Obama into signing.
I’m kinda surprised the Repubs haven’t tried to modify the filibuster rules more to their liking.
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With Obama as President, Democrats can avoid being obstructionists and let the veto do it’s job.
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i nEEd thE wiSDum oF Eust!CE abOUT NOw, liBTards!11!!
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What conundrum? Bullies listen only when you punch them in the nose. That’s what the Democrats in the Senate should do. Authoritarians respond only to a show of resolve, real resolve, not accommodative words. It’s time to use some of that powder we’ve been keeping dry for the last ten years.
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