Posted on 07/31/2020 4:43:04 AM PDT by karpov
Anticipating a November romp, prominent Democrats have been dropping hints that they’d scrap the filibuster for legislation if they win the Senate. Would they really make such a polarizing move? Any doubt was eliminated Thursday when President Obama, speaking at the funeral for Congressman and civil-rights leader John Lewis, described the filibuster as a “Jim Crow relic” that should be eliminated if it gets in the way of Democratic voting legislation or admitting Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as states.
By requiring 60 votes, the filibuster gives Senators in the minority a say in legislation and differentiates the upper chamber from the more partisan House of Representatives. Segregationists did use the filibuster to block civil-rights legislation in the 1950s, though that also meant that when strong legislation finally passed in the 1960s it was backed by durable majorities. In 2017 most Senate Democrats signed a letter supporting the filibuster because “we are steadfastly committed to ensuring that this great American institution continues to serve as the world’s greatest deliberative body.”
Republicans kept the legislative filibuster intact when Democrats were a minority. But in a Democratic-controlled Senate, expect institutional arguments to wilt under the racism charge Mr. Obama previewed. The logic goes like this: Adding states to the U.S.—or, say, packing the courts—is expected to increase Democratic political power. Republicans are the modern-day obstacle to liberal policies, and therefore by definition the opponents of civil rights. Therefore, supporting the filibuster perpetuates the legacy of Jim Crow.
With Mr. Obama’s blessing this will become conventional wisdom among liberal intellectuals, and woe betide a Democrat who disagrees. Centrist Democrats won’t survive primaries if they support the filibuster, and our guess is that even West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, who last week pushed back against the anti-filibuster drive, won’t stand in the way
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
The Republicans have a long history of hamstringing themselves. “Oh, we could do this, and grab power for ourselves, but if we did that, then the Democrats would do this, and that would be awful. So we will be collegial and hold ourselves back, and that way the Democrats will hold themselves back also, when they have power.”
It’s stupid.
If we win big in November, we need to go scorched earth. We need to go nuclear. We need to govern like there are no Democrats.
full editorial at https://apkmetro.com/obamas-filibuster-swipe/
Never Cry Wolf, Obamalamadingdong.
Has there ever been internal debate in the DNC?
What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
But but but John McCain and his gang of fourteen!
(Of couse that was to prevent conservative judges. But when something’s in the way of leftist legislation, well that’s racist! Checks to power are only supposed to go in one direction ya see.)
From the looks of it, if the polls are right, not only are we not going to win, we are about to be obliterated in a historic humiliation.
I use to think the US would make it at least another 20 or 25 years... I’ve changed my mind.. I’m 76 years old and I believe I’ll live to see it burn.. :(
I guess not. No debate needed. They”re all in goose step with each other.
George Wallace and Jim Crow were both Democrats.
Obama is racist by being
Nothing new there. ‘Republicans’ ought to learn from that and quit fighting EACH OTHER!
Many Freepers live to spew anti Republican venom
I hate to be Eeyore but I agree...I can retire this year. I always thought I’d work at least 5-7 more years, build up the nest egg...but why, better enjoy it now before my property is nationalized and I’m sent to a re-education camp. This election is the MOST important one ever.
So.
Totally.
Agree...
The ‘Republicans’ almost to a man, can’t spend a day without bashing the President. The oppose him openly and on everything.
It’s been going on for his whole term, and even during his campaign.
What’s wrong with them? Trump deserves better and right now, he needs support... THEIR support.
BS
What a total ignoramus. The fillibuster was around at least 20 years BEFORE Jim Crow, so how can it be a relic OF Jim Crow.
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