The history of the Filibuster on the chopping block... and the cost.

[WarGamer]

In the last 20 years, the filibuster has been targeted for destruction.

https://www.rollcall.com/2020/10/15/if-you-dont-like-the-supreme-court-blame-harry-reid/

Btw, roll call is rated at neutral bias for those about to call it a RW piece.

Let's start:

It's 2005. Majority leader Bill Frist (R) was frustrated by Democratic filibusters of 7 Federal Judge nominations. Frist considered "going nuclear" to break the gridlock but decided that doing so would damage the institution of the Senate, thus damaging the nation.

In 2013, Majority Leader Reid (D) was also frustrated by Republican efforts to block Federal Judge nominations. Reid decided that at least on the topic of Federal Court Judges, not including SCOTUS nominees to abolish the filibuster.

It was a good move for Reid. The Obama administration placed a tone of Judges in 8 years...

Fast forward to 2017... Majority Leader McConnell (R) gladly took the reins of Reids Federal Judge fast lane and began pushing Trump judges into courtrooms. In fact, Trump put nearly as many Federal Appellate Court judges on the bench as Obama in half the time in office.

Oh... and then McConnell recognized the move Reid had made on Federal Court Judges and killed the filibuster for SCOTUS nominations.

Say hello to GoodHair, Barf and Handmaiden.

Quick note: Congress has NEVER placed the "genie" back in the bottle after expanding its own power.

So today... some Democrats want to kill the filibuster again, albeit for seemingly good reasons.

But at what cost?

We DO NOT have one-party rule in this country. The White House changes hands, the Congress changes hands more frequently.

What will the GOP do with a filibuster-free Senate in '22, '24 or '26??

THIS is what the 5-7 DEM Senators against killing the filibuster are concerned with.

AND read this:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/26/donald-trump-kill-the-filibuster-677151

President Donald Trump had a simple message for Senate Republicans during a meeting at the White House on Tuesday: "Kill the filibuster now, before Chuck Schumer and the Democrats do."

McConnell refused.

[DarthDem]

1. GOPers

Will do away with it anyway. These people have attempted to paper over an insurrection that targeted THEM and the building where they work. I don't think they can be counted upon to maintain the filibuster.

[WarGamer]

2. Then why didn't McConnell?

I think they want to keep their "Club" intact...

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. Because RePuQs rarely try to do 'big things' like we do ... they use it far more than our side does

because most of what they want to do is relatively small time, and gets passed through reconciliation with a simple majority.

I understand the point you're making but in practice WRT legislation, it's a benefit to their side more often than it is to ours.

[FBaggins]

4. An additional argument against killing it

The earlier shifts were at least arguably legitimate claims that the filibuster could not apply to nominations because the constitution anticipates a role for the senate.

That claim makes less sense when we consider ending the filibuster for legislation.

[WarGamer]

5. Good points, all...

[WHITT]

6. Exactly

What will the GOP do with a filibuster-free Senate in '22, '24 or '26??

THIS is what the 5-7 DEM Senators against killing the filibuster are concerned with.

Of course. Which is why JUST killing the filibuster is a horrible idea. The Repubs would lay waste to this country.

You have to kill the filibuster AND immediately make D.C. a state, then no longer requiring Manchin/Sinema, make Puerto Rico a state, and make the U.S. Virgin Islands a state. Then add four justices to the SCOTUS.

You end up with six additional Dem senators and a majority on the SCOTUS. This will allow the time for demographics to kick-in, resulting in even more blue states.

As long as the Dems aren't dumb enough to engage in some Watergate size scandal, the Repubs will never regain the majority in the Senate.

[WarGamer]

7. I hate to say it...

But what you're saying is... "End our current form of government to permanently exclude the political opposition".

Put this on the other side... what if McConnell, under Trump announced an end to the filibuster and new laws making Texas, Florida, Wyoming and Montana electoral votes worth 3x what they are now, make California, New York and Illinois electoral votes worth 1/2 and add 3 conservative SCOTUS Judges...

Oh and national voter ID, voter retina scans and how about blood test required for voting?

I know, it sounds ridiculous.

What happened to winning with "good governance"?

You will WIN elections with 65% of the population if you DO A GOOD JOB.

Barack Obama and Bill Clinton won second terms because they did a GOOD JOB.

Your proposal is basically claiming that the policies suck and you need to fix the system for a captive population.

[WHITT]

8. Are You Not Paying Attention

to all of those warning that our democracy is at stake? Embedded in those over 400 voter suppression laws the Repub state legislatures enacted is language allowing them to throw the electoral college vote to the legislatures in 2024, nevermind how the pesky citizenry voted. Biden could garner 12 million more votes than whoever the Repub nominee is, and the electoral college will still appoint the Repub.

Given the choice between fascism and democracy, I'll do whatever it takes to keep democracy.