McConnell filibusters to prevent a Biden government as his argument to keep the filibuster

[LiberalArkie]

Republican leader Mitch McConnell is literally filibustering the Senate organizing resolution in order to preserve the filibuster and selling his actions to the public with a "unity" argument. In other words, Democrats have to prove they're trying to unify the country by allowing Republicans to veto everything President Joe Biden wants to accomplish. The truly remarkable and horrifying part of it is that the Washington press is letting him get away with it by calling it "gridlock."

The Senate, Mike DeBonis and Seung Min Kim write, has "ground to a halt, with Democrats and Republicans unable to agree on even basic rules for how the evenly divided body should operate." It is "gridlock [that] could imperil Biden’s entire early presidency, making it impossible for him to deliver on key promises as he contends with dueling crises." Nice passive voice there, huh, as if "gridlock" was a sentient actor in the game and not McConnell once again ignoring all the norms—like previous agreements for 50-50 split Senates—and playing them like a fucking fiddle. It's as embarrassing for them as it is predictable. (Though not all WaPo writers. Here's Greg Sargent: "McConnell has calculated that the press will place the onus of achieving bipartisan cooperation on President Biden, while allowing Republicans to cast their own withholding of bipartisan cooperation as proof of Biden’s failure to achieve it.&quot

At issue is the first thing a new Congress does every two years. At the beginning of a new Congress, the House passes the set of rules that it will operate under, and the Senate passes an organizing resolution. That resolution sets the committee makeup and leadership. It gives the newly elected and reelected members their committee assignments. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants the Senate to adopt the resolution the body used the last time it was split 50-50 in 2001, with whatever minor modifications it might need for 2021. McConnell is refusing, insisting that Democrats will have to agree to preserving the filibuster and his easy ability to block any Biden legislative agenda for him to sign on. This is McConnell telling Schumer and everyone else that he has no intention of advancing that agenda. Simple as that. It's not about unity. It's not about bipartisanship. It's not about the norms and traditions of the Senate. It's vintage McConnell refusing to allow a Democratic majority to govern. Again.

How many times has the nation collectively lived through this in the last decade? And still we get this paragraph: "'Republicans very much appreciate the consistency and the rock-solid fidelity to the norms and rules that make the Senate a moderating force in policymaking,' said Scott Jennings, a former McConnell aide. 'The legislative filibuster is the last rule driving bipartisanship in Washington.'" They printed that. As if it were anything other than another McConnell person trolling them, knowing they would put that statement down in black and white.

Snip

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/1/25/2011774/-Dear-Washington-D-C-media-it-s-not-gridlock-it-s-McConnell-playing-you-AGAIN

[uponit7771]

1. K&R, not the onion. After Jan 6 we know the kGOP isn't interested in democracy any longer

[LiberalArkie]

4. I believ that the filibuster should be kept. A 51vote to break it, and the person filibustering

should only be able to drink water no breaks, no relief or help from others. There should not be the situation where someone scares everyone by saying they are going to filibuster. A filibuster is someone talking until they pass out or the senate agreas.

[uponit7771]

6. hmmmmm, this might be OP worthy

[Walleye]

2. Part of the problem is the Democrats won't stick together

We could deal with McConnell if our own party was determined enough.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. Call, write, email, fax or send smoke signals to Senators.

[OhNo-Really]

3. Sucks to be minority. Thanks MMc. Kiss Chucks Filabuster A*s

Good bye oh irrelevant one

[edhopper]

5. Fuck

we really needed 51.

Fuck NC and Maine.

[Maraya1969]

8. I do not understand this, "So and so blocked such and such" Who can block

what? It seems that when the R's were in control they whatthefuckever they wanted. No Democrat could stop any judge or that huge tax cut.

Now McConnell can put the breaks on? I thought that we have Kamila to break ties?

Can someone dumb this down for me please?

[NCDem47]

9. I posted the same thoughts a couple of days back...

And was flaaaaaamed.

I’m a simpleton and what I heard after the Georgia races were Ds control the Senate. Now all I hear about is McConnell!

[Caliman73]

14. It rather simple to understand.

Democrats believe in using the power of government to try to help the majority of the American people, regardless of their party affiliation, gender, race, etc... We play by the rules and norms of good government.

Republicans do not believe in governing. They believe in wielding power to advance their agenda, which is to preserve the wealthy, White, Male, Protestant Christian power structure. They don't care if government works because whether it does or not, if the have power, they can protect the status quo.

Republicans use the rules and arcane policies to disrupt and obstruct because "if government doesn't work, it is the Democrats' fault" because we believe in government.

[NYC Liberal]

15. We don't have a majority who want to end the filibuster.

I believe Manchin is opposed.

[Rstrstx]

10. How binding are the Senate rules?

Can they be changed by a simple majority vote? And didn’t McConnell do just this back in 2017 to ram Trump’s SCOTUS nominations through? If that’s the case and we can change Senate rules mid-stream then sure, let McConnell have his silly requirement in the new rules. At present we have at least 2-3 Democratic senators who are unwilling to scrap the filibuster but if Repubs go full-on obstructionist they may come around.

Also, can Kamala Harris force Schumer’s proposed rules to the floor for a vote, or call on someone who then proposes a motion to adopt Schumer’s rules and just bypass McConnell’s demand? If that’s the case we may want to come up with some far stricter rules in an effort to pressure McConnell into accepting the very generous terms Schumer is proposing. (Harris can vote on rule changes right? In the Constitution her only role that has any teeth is breaking ties in the Senate, nowhere does it specify this ability is limited to only breaking ties for legislation or confirmations).

If there’s something I’m getting wrong I’d like to know, otherwise we are holding the upper hand here.

[Thekaspervote]

11. Schumer doesn't have 51 votes...Sinema, Manchin and maybe Feinstein are a no

[Rstrstx]

17. I know, so why is Schumer demanding the filibuster language be kept out?

I guess what I asking was whether the rules are binding in such a way that a vote to remove the filibuster for certain bills will not be possible even if he gets his entire caucus onboard in the future? If that’s the case I can see why he’s holding out; if not, then why is he objecting to putting the language in the new rules if he knows they can be overturned should things go south too quickly.

[ffr]

12. I wished McConnell would slip on ice and disable himself

He is a leach that serves no positive purpose in the world. The sooner he's gone from the face of the earth, the better. Just go, you POS!

[madamesilverspurs]

13. ...

[Nitram]

16. Well, it is gridlock until McConnell gives in (never happen) or Dems release the "nuclear option."

[Hotler]

18. Maybe we can offer up another generous tax cut, for unity of course. nt.