I think it's not so much that they're silent, it's that they're in principle unlimited, and translate into a de facto 60% hurdle. That's not holding things up, that's stopping them dead in their tracks. As soon as the filibuster is limited in time, the hurdle disappears. Waiting some days, weeks or months for what will eventually be a majoritarian 50+ the VP is not a problem that I can see.
I have a better idea, and one that's guaranteed to work without altering the filibuster one bit. Typically, when a long-deferred bill the GOP hates finally reaches the full Senate, Republicans announce a filibuster and force a vote on having the filibuster. Just as typically, Democrats immediately defer the bill for later consideration (the excuse being the Senate is too important and busy to get bogged down in a filibuster), which knocks the bill into the next term (one or two years later). And when it does come up again, the process is repeated, ad nauseum.
Quite simply, any time the GOP threatens a filibuster, every Democrat for vote for it and force the GOP to make good their threat. So what if Republicans spend hours and days banging on about Dr Seuss or Mr/Ms Potato Head or any of their as precious as specious kultur kreig "issues" that are entirely unrelated to what is ostensibly being filibustered--like Ted Cancun Cruz reading "Green Eggs and Ham", it just exposes the GOP for the asshats they are.
Forcing Republicans to actually filibuster every time they threaten it is the best way to get them to stop. There is historical precedent: back in the 1960's Southern racists invoked the filibuster to stop civil rights legislation. Liberals* took the bait and argued the case for the legislation, point by point, and let the bloviating conservatives humiliate themselves publicly arguing against it. Public opinion turned in the liberal's favor quickly enough, and it didn't take long for conservatives to stop filibustering.
*Back then, the DP and GOP each had their 'liberal, moderate, and conservative' wings. Obviously, the GOP no longer does (only Right, Far Right, Alt-Right, and Q-Reich); while the DP still foolishly pretends they can be all things to all people.
I like this. I had trouble getting my 102 year old aunt on Medicaid when placing her in an assisted living home, because she was born at home and had no birth certificate. Then after a new outfit bought her assisted living home, she had to prove all over again to the government who she was, or they would quit paying for her room, and by then her dementia was too bad for her to answer their %& questions. It was a real fucking hassle, so yes, let the proof be on the government.
An interesting suggestion from Rachel Maddow. The focus of the filibuster could be narrowed to exclude legislation relating to election matters. The Republicans did that after Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell reached an agreement to suspend the filibuster for federal judicial appointments. Supreme Court nominees were later added to that agreement by the Republicans.
They can do more than cough up the money. They can do the work. You want me to have a mandated national voter identification card, the feds and states have all the information. Put it together for each registered voter and get it into their hands, certified mail, return receipt.
None of this go to some website and navigate a bullshit bureaucratic cybermaze to jump through stupid hoops. These assholes work for me. If they say I have to have this, my response is, "Then give it to me."
Jose Andres, (World Central Kitchen, Chefs to the Polls), should weigh in on this.https://www.youtube.com/wat...
I think it's not so much that they're silent, it's that they're in principle unlimited, and translate into a de facto 60% hurdle. That's not holding things up, that's stopping them dead in their tracks. As soon as the filibuster is limited in time, the hurdle disappears. Waiting some days, weeks or months for what will eventually be a majoritarian 50+ the VP is not a problem that I can see.
Trump will now wake up wondering why a bunch of bills are now stuck in his alimentary canal.
Also; Thank you, President Biden.
I have a better idea, and one that's guaranteed to work without altering the filibuster one bit. Typically, when a long-deferred bill the GOP hates finally reaches the full Senate, Republicans announce a filibuster and force a vote on having the filibuster. Just as typically, Democrats immediately defer the bill for later consideration (the excuse being the Senate is too important and busy to get bogged down in a filibuster), which knocks the bill into the next term (one or two years later). And when it does come up again, the process is repeated, ad nauseum.
Quite simply, any time the GOP threatens a filibuster, every Democrat for vote for it and force the GOP to make good their threat. So what if Republicans spend hours and days banging on about Dr Seuss or Mr/Ms Potato Head or any of their as precious as specious kultur kreig "issues" that are entirely unrelated to what is ostensibly being filibustered--like Ted Cancun Cruz reading "Green Eggs and Ham", it just exposes the GOP for the asshats they are.
Forcing Republicans to actually filibuster every time they threaten it is the best way to get them to stop. There is historical precedent: back in the 1960's Southern racists invoked the filibuster to stop civil rights legislation. Liberals* took the bait and argued the case for the legislation, point by point, and let the bloviating conservatives humiliate themselves publicly arguing against it. Public opinion turned in the liberal's favor quickly enough, and it didn't take long for conservatives to stop filibustering.
*Back then, the DP and GOP each had their 'liberal, moderate, and conservative' wings. Obviously, the GOP no longer does (only Right, Far Right, Alt-Right, and Q-Reich); while the DP still foolishly pretends they can be all things to all people.
I like this. I had trouble getting my 102 year old aunt on Medicaid when placing her in an assisted living home, because she was born at home and had no birth certificate. Then after a new outfit bought her assisted living home, she had to prove all over again to the government who she was, or they would quit paying for her room, and by then her dementia was too bad for her to answer their %& questions. It was a real fucking hassle, so yes, let the proof be on the government.
An interesting suggestion from Rachel Maddow. The focus of the filibuster could be narrowed to exclude legislation relating to election matters. The Republicans did that after Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell reached an agreement to suspend the filibuster for federal judicial appointments. Supreme Court nominees were later added to that agreement by the Republicans.
They can do more than cough up the money. They can do the work. You want me to have a mandated national voter identification card, the feds and states have all the information. Put it together for each registered voter and get it into their hands, certified mail, return receipt.
None of this go to some website and navigate a bullshit bureaucratic cybermaze to jump through stupid hoops. These assholes work for me. If they say I have to have this, my response is, "Then give it to me."
An executive order directing the federal government to support voting rights? https://media3.giphy.com/me...
Yeah, for being the guy who was everyone's fourth pick for the job, he's doing okay so far.
Am so happy, every single time, to see Joe's face instead of that other one!
Bravo, Stephen.
Thanks for the splainer.From Scranton With Love, Lt Col, USAF (Retired)
My military retired ID has no expiration date. Yet I use if for all kinds of benefits. Go figure.
I've done a lot of canvassing in the Scranton area in election years. What a pretty old city.
Nothing is happening. They have to decide on putting Murder 3 back in, jury selection moved to tomorrow.
They say they are, it's like the BLM protest at the capitol. I'd expect more outside agitators (white) stirring shit, though.