The filibuster... keep it or trash it?

[NurseJackie]

Has this obstructive procedure outlived its usefulness? Does it have any value to Democrats? Will the Republicans continue to abuse it?

6 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Keep the filibuster... we may need it some day.
	0 (0%)
	Trash the filibuster... it's been abused too long.
	6 (100%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[hlthe2b]

1. I have gone back and forth on this for years, but I do not see how Biden will get anything

through the Senate if it is not repealed. We've already seen McConnell's plays with Obama. We can't let it be repeated again.

That said, I am anxious about the long term implications once repealed.

[OldBaldy1701E]

2. Let me put it this way

Like so many things in our socio-political structure, everyone complains about it when it works against them and loves it when it works for them. The filibuster was put there for a reason, and I am not so sure that reason has been removed yet.

[NurseJackie]

3. I share those same concerns. Could we be powerless against someone worse than Trump?

The voters in certain states can't always be relied upon for their intelligence and compassion... the selfish and racist and gun-humping voters may someday manipulate the Electoral College and elect Trump-Junior. Then what?

Could the filibuster be weakened? Or limited? Could it be modified to require a minimum number of elected officials. Could the "talking" requirement be made obligatory?

[dsc]

4. I have consistently felt it should go

As the population of states gets more out of balance, the case of it to go only grows and grows. The 50 Democratic Senators represent 41 million more people than the 50 GOP Senators yet under the current rules we can have all 50 Democrats, plus the GOP Senators from TX (2), FL (2), NC (2), and PA, OH, WI (1 each) and still not get a bill passed. That is insane. On top of that, it is all but a completely one sided weapon. There is only arguably two things that Trump wanted that the filibuster nuked. One was ACA repeal (since they couldn't do a full repeal with reconciliation they had to do that horrible skinny one which failed) and the other was the border wall. But even those it is arguable not certain that he could have gotten those but for the filibuster. In comparison, Obama had at least Immigration reform and card check blocked by it for sure. Also ENDA would have passed in 1998 but for it. When one side wants to pass laws and the other doesn't which is where we are now for the most part then the filibuster is a one sided weapon. If we must compromise all of the following should be red lines.

1) Rule changed so that either you have senators voting that represent at least half of the population, or got at least half the votes cast in the three elections seating that senate or 60 senators.

2) To successfully filibuster you need either 40 no votes or have enough senators to represent 50% of the population for who got 50% of the votes cast in the elections seating that senate.

3) No more bs of lazy filibusters. If you are going to filibuster, you have to speak, occupy the floor, and have the senators for point 2 the entire time. If you fall short of that at any time the filibuster is over.

[MaryMagdaline]

5. Get rid of it. We already have the electoral college against us

We will never get anything passed with the filibuster. It’s why the people hate Congress and why idiots blame democrats when nothing gets done.

[Midnightwalk]

6. We need to be able to pass more than one bill a year

through reconciliation.

That means either getting rid of the filibuster or changing reconciliation rules to allow more than one bill per year. I don’t know whether the fig leaf of the bill being spending/tax related really matters.

If the republicans get both chambers and the presidency they could wreak havoc without the filibuster, but they can repeal the filibuster at that point.

The filibuster is a silent veto by the minority in the senate. It is mostly anonymous and lets republicans stop legislation without the accountability of taking a vote. When a cloture vote does happen just enough republican senators in close states are allowed to make show votes to end the filibuster without actually ending it.

Most people wrongly assume legislation isn’t happening because both sides.

The country needs more than one bill per year. We need legislative accomplishments to show for midterms.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

7. Qpublican obstruction must be eliminated, in order to be able to move

an agenda forward that will repair the enormous and extensive damage that Trump has done to our nation.

There is no time for even paying attention to childish, useless, and deranged Qpublican blathering (Jim Jordan comes to mind). The United States is facing multiple serious crises, and only focused and determined action by serious, intelligent, and competent adults can resolve these crises constructively and in the small window of time available for positive resolution of the critical life threatening issues we are faced with.

Qpublicans must be quarantined from literally being able to destroy our nation by obstructing any constructive progress they can, whenever they can.

The deranged jabbering of Ron Johnson, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley etc must be rendered moot, considered harmful right out of the box. Mitch McConnell, the self identified grim reaper of all constructive legislation, must be prevented from having any ability to prevent Democrats from saving our country from irrevocable catastrophe.

Trump and his fawning, unhinged Qpublican sycophant enablers have, because of their blatant corruption, deliberate attempts to dismantle our democracy and our democratic processes, and the considerable harm they have done to the American people, forfeited any and all reasons for us to allow them any control over us in government.

Appeasement is not an option. If we do not terminate the filibuster, Qpublicans will terminate the United States.