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To: deport
I personally agree that pre-1913 (meaning pre-17th amendment) would change things.

You are focusing on the number of Senators who would have been appointed from Democrat states, implying that they'd support the filibuster. I focus on the interests that those Senators would be representing. We have such partisan hatred today because the Senators are rogue politicians who form their own "gangs" in the Senate (the Dems and the Reps, each with their own colors and symbols). They stand together as a bloc once they are elected, and they are elected by a nationally-managed coalition (called the RNC and DNC) that funds their campaigns.

If you had Senators appointed by state legislatures, I believe that you won't see the cohesion that you see today where Democrats and Republicans form blocs to preserve their national interests -- you'd see more loosely coupled relationships that come and go whenever state interests coincide.

-PJ

305 posted on 03/01/2003 11:31:30 AM PST by Political Junkie Too
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To: Political Junkie Too; TLBSHOW
I was talking about two different subjects with the 'gifter' in the post. One was about his contention that a cloture vote would change/amend the constitution... My question to him concerned what about pre 1917 when cloture was adopted then one or more Senators could stop any legislation in the senate and cloture didn't exist. Now 60 senators can halt debate and force a vote.... back then no such thing existed thus one or more senators could control... 41 is the number needed today.

Second, senators appointed by states again would be at the whim of the ruling legislatures/Govs. in each state. So where you have democratic controlled states look for them to appt democrat senators and vice versa for the Republican controlled states. Would we be any better off? I don't know but maybe we would. True senators wouldn't be on the take for money from the many interest groups. So from that standpoint they would be trying to curry favor from their state governing bodies. I just don't think it will happen, but in all honesty I'd like to see it tried again.

TLBSHOW..... still waiting for answers... crickets chirping... but from you that is the usual.. all cut/paste and no action.
332 posted on 03/01/2003 12:57:29 PM PST by deport (Did the TURNIP TRUCK pass by last night?..........)
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