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The most shortsighted way to end the government shutdown
The Washington Post ^ | 10/13/2025 | Editorial Board

Posted on 10/13/2025 3:54:55 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Getting rid of the filibuster would spell disaster for Republicans.

As the partial government shutdown rolls into its third week, some Republicans are floating the idea of getting rid of the Senate filibuster to overcome Democratic recalcitrance. GOP leaders have been wise to rule it out.

The 100-seat body requires 60 votes to pass a government funding bill because of the filibuster tradition, which means that Republicans need to win over a handful of Senate Democrats to end the shutdown. The idea of ending the practice, which was popular among Democrats until they lost control of the chamber this year, is now gaining some interest on the right. “Maybe it’s time to think about the filibuster,” suggested Sen. Bernie Moreno (R) in a recent Fox News interview.

The Ohio freshman has never served in the minority, so he can be forgiven for failing to appreciate how such a move would come back to haunt his party and the country. The filibuster has a long history of frustrating presidents but also moderating legislation coming from the more unruly House.

The top two Senate GOP leaders, who have been around for a while, know better. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (South Dakota) and John Barrasso (Wyoming) both reiterated their opposition. Thune said the White House hasn’t pushed them to change course, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) also called it a bad idea.

The irony is that Democrats who tried so hard to get rid of the filibuster under President Joe Biden are now taking advantage of it. Joe Manchin (West Virginia) and Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona) stopped Democrats from “going nuclear” in 2022 — and were effectively forced into retirement. Perhaps Democrats will have the votes to nuke the filibuster the next time they control the Senate, but...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Government
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Getting rid of the filibuster would spell disaster for Republicans...

...The irony is that Democrats who tried so hard to get rid of the filibuster under President Joe Biden are now taking advantage of it.

The New York Times is concerned for the success of the Republican Party.

Isn't that special?

1 posted on 10/13/2025 3:54:55 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I hate the “minority” argument. Shows weakness. With a 51 vote threshold more could get done to the point they’ll stay in the majority.


2 posted on 10/13/2025 3:57:34 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I think it was the Washington Post, but I sympathize fully as that is an easy error to make, conflating the NYT with the WaPo!

And, you are spot on with your observation of how touching that is!


3 posted on 10/13/2025 3:58:01 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
The New York Times is concerned for the success of the Republican Party.

No, they are rooting for it. They want an end to the filibuster because they know Dems always stick together and GOPers defect much easier. Manchin and Sinema were rare situations and both are gone.

4 posted on 10/13/2025 4:00:52 PM PDT by monkeyshine (live and let live is dead)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

This is the GOP’s shutdown.

They own The Presidency, the Congress and the Supreme Court.


5 posted on 10/13/2025 4:08:18 PM PDT by Sunsong
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To: Sunsong
This is the GOP’s shutdown. They own The Presidency, the Congress and the Supreme Court.

"If you want to succeed, tell yourself the truth," to coin a phrase.

The Democrats shut down the government to give free healthcare to illegal aliens. All they have to do to end it is vote to end it.

6 posted on 10/13/2025 4:13:04 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Je suis Charlie Kirk.)
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To: Sunsong

You do realize it takes 60 votes in the Senate, and the Republicans are 8/9 short, so no, it’s on the Dems


7 posted on 10/13/2025 4:16:00 PM PDT by gbs
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To: Sunsong

You are in the wrong forum


8 posted on 10/13/2025 4:16:08 PM PDT by Dartoid
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To: Dartoid; Sunsong

Here you are:

https://democrats.org


9 posted on 10/13/2025 4:26:01 PM PDT by Brandonmark (November 5, 2024 - A New Day in America!Adam Schiff PARDONED criminal!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

We live in a part of King County, WA that was once so conservative that we wanted to secede from the rest of the county. To take care of this Democrat politicians and bureaucrats pushed Washington State into being the most tolerant of all “Sanctuary States. Our populations has increased dramatically because of this. In our zip code approximately half the residents speak a language other than English at home.

Big grocery stores and other retailers have been forced out of business by the high shoplifting rate. Our property taxes have increased dramatically to pay over $20,000 a student to accommodate kids that speak over a hundred different languages. I called in over a month early to get my BP prescription refilled. I was told that I would have to wait until mid-April to get an appointment to see the doctor. I was advised to repeatedly go to the emergency room to get my prescription refilled. Our health care system here has been completely overwhelmed by illegal aliens.

The state has been handing out drivers licenses with barely any testing or proof of who they actually are. WE now have one of the most dangerous roads in the country. And don’t get me started on the dumping of garbage everywhere and the increase in crimes of all type.


10 posted on 10/13/2025 4:29:09 PM PDT by fireman15
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

make the senate more like the house?

elect senators rather than appointed by states

make passage simple majority


11 posted on 10/13/2025 4:42:50 PM PDT by joshua c
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Opening it back up?


12 posted on 10/13/2025 4:48:46 PM PDT by GingisK
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Our shoes are our only realistic defense in the long term.

The Chinese in California can head to China, the Mexicans in California can head south, productive Blacks can head back to Africa, and the Asian Indians can fly to Bangalore.

That leaves aging Caucasian hippies, crazy Caucasians, badly behaved Caucasians, mooching Caucasians and Blacks and some productive Caucasians.


13 posted on 10/13/2025 4:51:02 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Sunsong

Is the shutdown still on because reconciliation can only be used once in a year?

Is that year a calendar year, a fiscal year or a 365-day period?


14 posted on 10/13/2025 4:53:33 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: Sunsong

This is the Schumer Shutdown.


15 posted on 10/13/2025 4:59:36 PM PDT by cp124 (Bring back the Constitution.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

People that will do what Democrats have done are willing to do more than just restore majority voting in the Senate.

“The only thing you have to fear is fear itself, blind, unreasoning fear.”

FDR


16 posted on 10/13/2025 4:59:39 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

17 posted on 10/13/2025 5:16:16 PM PDT by 4Liberty (One person’s Socialism is another’s neighborliness. -Tim Walz)
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To: Sunsong
This is the GOP’s shutdown.

They own The Presidency, the Congress and the Supreme Court.

No. Who owns the shutdown? The ones with the power to end it. The GOP can't end it as long as the filibuster is in place. The Democrats own it because they can end it.

18 posted on 10/13/2025 5:19:29 PM PDT by pgyanke (Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)
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To: Sunsong

19 posted on 10/13/2025 5:19:47 PM PDT by 4Liberty (One person’s Socialism is another’s neighborliness. -Tim Walz)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I’ve opposed the filibuster for decades. It defies the founders’ intent to have majorities decide in both houses of congress. Their idea was speedy change and speedy course corrections. I agree with that.


20 posted on 10/13/2025 5:22:41 PM PDT by xzins (Retired US Army chaplain. Support our troops by praying for their victory. )
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