I’ve been a Democrat for as long as I can remember, but even I sometimes get mad at the Democratic Party for not holding well-earned grudges and exercising punitive measures on Republicans who will continue to screw us over every chance they get. The Trump years were traumatic especially because Congressional Republicans were in lockstep with him 99% of the time. Mitch McConnell wielded his Senate Majority Leader position to screw over President Obama’s presidency, then Mitch pushed through Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, two of the most appalling SCOTUS choices ever. Barrett was pushed through just weeks before the election. All that and a million other examples of McConnell and the Republican Senate caucus screwing over progress, all because they had a narrow grip on power.
Well, now the Democrats have a narrow hold on the Senate. We have the majority in the House. We have the presidency, and we fought hard for all of it. So of course, McConnell wants to suddenly remember Senate-minority rights and the sanctity of the filibuster. F–k that noise. And guess what? Democrats might actually be ready to tell the Turtleman to eat sh-t.
Senate Democrats are signaling they will reject an effort by Mitch McConnell to protect the legislative filibuster as part of a deal to run a 50-50 Senate, saying they have little interest in bowing to his demands just hours into their new Senate majority.
McConnell has publicly and privately pressed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to work to keep the 60-vote threshold on most legislation as part of their power-sharing agreement. Democrats have no plans to gut the filibuster further, but argue it would be a mistake to take one of their tools off the table just as they’re about to govern. Many Democrats argue that having the threat of targeting the filibuster will be key to forcing compromise with reluctant Republicans. They also believe it would show weakness to accede to McConnell’s demand as he’s relegated to minority leader.
“Chuck Schumer is the majority leader and he should be treated like majority leader. We can get sh-t done around here and we ought to be focused on getting stuff done,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). “If we don’t, the inmates are going to be running this ship.”
“It would be exactly the wrong way to begin,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “We need to have the kind of position of strength that will enable us to get stuff done.”
Four years ago, as McConnell himself came under pressure from former President Donald Trump to gut the filibuster, 61 senators signed a letter to Senate leaders emphasizing the importance of protecting the supermajority requirement. And even now Democrats like Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia say they want to keep the filibuster, emphasizing that it drives compromise.
Obviously, I’m not a Senate parliamentarian, but I do think that after years of Mitch McConnell playing his Treason Turtle games as majority leader, no one should give two sh-ts about his threats, pleas or turtle tears. F–k sh-t up, get sh-t passed with a simple majority, you know, the way things used to be done before the GOP became the Party of Sedition.
In early 2017, Republicans ‘broke the filibuster rule’ to install a Trump-appointed right-wing Supreme Court justice after stonewalling President Obama’s moderate nominee for the best part of a year, and as far as I can tell they remain absolutely thrilled about doing it. https://t.co/ZaqCPxEbUz
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) January 22, 2021
Democrats in the Senate majority represent 41 million more people than Republicans.
Why aren’t we able to legislate like it? Because the filibuster—a Jim Crow-era relic which is nowhere in the Constitution—gives Mitch McConnell a pocket veto.
Eliminate the filibuster.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 22, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
If Mitch was majority leader in a 50-50 senate, he wouldn’t even be picking up Chuck Schumer’s calls.
Republicans always want unity and bipartisanship when they’re no longer in power.
The Dems need to be tough on this. None of this “when they go low”/“let’s all get along” crap. As the poster above said, they should ask what McConnell would do in their place, and do that.
What was the point of all that work in Georgia, or getting all those people to come out and flip a red state blue with the purpose of gaining the majority in the senate if now they’re going to be like “ha ha, just kidding. We still don’t really have the legislative control we told you we would have. 10 Republicans still get to decide everything.” It seems like such a slap in the face to voters. Especially since these aren’t normal Republicans. These are people who voted in lockstep with a fascist dictator wannabe whose only agenda was enriching himself and his family and cruelty. These senators can’t be trusted to ever do the right thing again. They are quite literally deathly afraid of their own voters because their voters will storm the Capitol and attempt to overthrow the government when they don’t get what they want. So these weak, weak R Senators pander to this radical base in order to keep themselves physically safe and safe for re-election. They will constantly vote against the constitution and against the United States because they do not have the courage to actually work to fix problems and do what is best for the majority of the country. Leave the legislating and decision making to the senators who actually have the courage to vote their own consciences, who are strong enough to stand up to radical right terrorists and do what is good and right. Without the filibuster the R senators can go home and say “oh we tried to subvert democracy and ruin America forever, but we just didn’t have the votes and the power in the senate anymore. It’s not our fault, don’t hurt us!” They can hide behind their minority position and let the Democrats actually do the real work of fixing all of the problems that Trump created. I’m sure some of the Republicans might even be secretly pleased that they no longer have to constantly vote against everyone’s best interests just to placate the Trumpaloonies.
I’ve always felt discord with American politics, they reek of corruption. I’m not originally from here, I am from MallorcaI but when one the thinks of how much money Uncle Sam gets and what good that could be done with it, the US could be a utopia with something for everyone but corruption and greed are winning. It is shocking and wrong in such a rich country so many people are homeless, regular working people but the wages are crap compared to rent, medical care. Makes me sick corporations have a loophole where they don’t have to give you health insurance if you work less than 40 hours a week. So they hire a bunch of part timers and just a tiny handful off full time employees getting health ins. The U.S. needs to fix the healthcare system the most, mental health too. Getting people healthy is key, preventive care, lots of depression going on right now. Your job or money situation should not affect care, if there’s one thing every tribe needs is a medicine man(LOL at Faudi’s low-key trump diss). Thank the lord for Joe’s smiling face as he reverses back to the Paris Accord etc first day. Oh, and I’m not from Spain, I am from England but the subject isn’t exciting and am sad she felt she wasn’t interesting being herself. non sequitur sorry, but England always has a place in my heart truly, daffodils and crocuses always made me happy as a kid, better weather soon! England has a lot of easements so walking there is lovely, all the styes hills and dales. They still have the Ramblers Society active? I love that, many people (trumpers often) here don’t realize how much more free they could be, they’ve really tricked people with that freedom concept thing here. We are not free argh. Sorry early rant, still some post trump tension. Hope everyone has a great weekend, cheers!
That the Dems represent 41 million more people than the GOP senate is a staggering stat. They do need to act like it and not give an inch to Mitch. F him.
Cry more, Mitch
Just think when he and his equally corrupt wife, Elaine Chao, get investigated and indicted and convicted for taking bribes. It’s coming soon.
“I’ve been a Democrat for as long as I can remember, but even I sometimes get mad at the Democratic Party for not holding well-earned grudges and exercising punitive measures on Republicans who will continue to screw us over every chance they get.”
THANK YOU. 100% CO-SIGNED.
I have been saying this for years and been frustrated by the issue that every time the Democrats get the chance to show their teeth, they back down. If the last four years have proved nothing else, it’s that McConnell et al, have zero intention on working with us and this is him trying to hold on to power and continue to screw over desperately needed legislation. Please don’t let’s fall for this BS AGAIN.
I get that Joe Biden has known him for years and believes he can work with him, but Moscow Mitch is loyal only to himself. He’s chomping at the bit to tip those scales back in his favor, and he k own pulling this has always worked for him in the past.
It is so frustrating, and best summed up in the Good Place: when Sean (a demon) is asking for concessions, the Good Place committee says “the only reasonable thing to do is to keep giving up things unilaterally until this demon is happy.” That’s what the Democrats do, give and give and give until McConnell (a demon) is happy.
YES get rid of the filibuster and also enact term limits, and make gerrymandering illegal. Oh and hey – how about government officials having to meet some kind of ethical criteria like say….certain felonies or misdemeanors would disqualify you (*certain, I think those that question integrity like embezzlement, insider trading, fraud, you know, “white collar crimes” demonstrate a willingness to engage in behavior and activity that goes directly against the interests of your constituents as opposed to “Crimes” that are the result of substance dependence, motivated by poverty, etc. that are a consequence of larger social issues should not prevent someone from holding office if they are recovered). Also, if you’re under investigation you can’t run until it’s resolved and tax returns should be mandatory. In fact, i would love to see BOTH parties have to wear stickers like nascar that display their doners and how much money they’re receiving. There is way too much that’s allowed to go under the radar, and this idea that just anyone can run is great in theory (like, anything is possible!) but also….anything is possible. Isn’t there a law out there that says if you pose with an automatic weapon in a campaign ad that’s like….not ok? Last wish: I really think we need a government response or some kind of task force that seeks to better understand, address and ultimately treat the psychological warfare of conspiracy theory. This is a problem that can’t be ignored, and there are plenty of people out there doing private research that should come together, share resources, and try to actually establish some kind of workgroup. We could call it the Department of Information Hygiene and Ethical Dissemination. I volunteer as tribute.
“Yes, get rid of the fillibuster”
Eeeeh, the way States are drawn, Republicans tend to have an edge in Senate elections. 2020 was unique because Trump sabotaged his own party. Same way 2008 was unique because Bush was such a failure. Republicans almost always claw the Senate back. Dem strategists arent being soft, they’re being strategic. Get rid of the fillibuster and what happens if and when you are the minority Senate party again? Which the bookies have down as 2022 because both Arizona and Georgia have seats that were won by Special Election by thin margins.
Its true that Republicans sometimes step all over it when they are in power and that’s what Democrats should do. They would be foolish to eliminate it all together.
“Get rid of the fillibuster and what happens if and when you are the minority Senate party again?”
We got no covid relief for the people who needed it and a handmaid on the Supreme Court as the minority party with the filibuster.
The filibuster has to go. Real changes have to be made now with a 51 vote while we have it.
It is absolutely appalling that in most states convicted felons are denied the right to vote, but they can still run for office. A felon can run for president (or Senate), but can’t vote for himself…
A new congress is back in session. The new GOP motto: “Let’s just pretend the past four years never happened and move on with our normal obstructionist maneuvers”
More like the past 12 years
Yes, because we all want unity – and no consequences for our actions.
F@ck the Republican cult and all its body parts. I’m ready for electric saws. Cut em up and toss into the kitchen sink disposal. “Say hello to my little friend.”
When rethugs say unity they really mean immunity.
NO. Sorry, but Democrats don’t have to take the high road every time. Get shit done dems.
Do unto Mitch as he would do unto you.
SENATE MINORITY Leader. Hahahahahaha!!! Suck it McConnell! This is your last term anyways.
Schumer today said no thank you to Mitche’s absurd power sharing proposal.
They need to ditch the filibuster. Susan Collins, usually one of the best shots to get a GOP to vote for something good, has just said she doesn’t think we need another covid stimulus bill, and wants to wait to see what the needs are. HELLO? The needs are pretty evident, and the bill addresses a ton of them. Especially vaccine distribution, help for schools, unemployment, direct payments, etc.
So f*** ’em. Work around them. 51 votes. Go.
She is going to hell. Although not soon enough for me.
I believe the saying goes, F*ck your feelings Mitch.
Awww, Mitch. Let me get out my favorite parka to wear when I hear about your crying:
I don’t really Care, do u?”
This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This. This…………..Mitch you little weasel, you thought you were the puppet master. Time to cut the strings.