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How many years have Democrats controlled both houses? (Original Post) SHRED Feb 2018 OP
We never had a veto proof majority. RandySF Feb 2018 #1
I thought so for the ACA to pass? SHRED Feb 2018 #2
You mean filibuster-proof. RandySF Feb 2018 #3
Yeah that SHRED Feb 2018 #7
We had a veto-proof majority for about 10 minutes maxsolomon Feb 2018 #4
And that was with the big asterisk that is Joe Lieberman phleshdef Feb 2018 #9
Only once...between the time Obama was elected and Scott Brown took Ted Kennedy's place. Demsrule86 Feb 2018 #5
I think you mean 60 seats, so filibuster proof Exotica Feb 2018 #6
Thanks I'll change my wording SHRED Feb 2018 #8
When did Tom Delay push for gerrymandering counties? Wwcd Feb 2018 #10

RandySF

(57,661 posts)
1. We never had a veto proof majority.
Mon Feb 19, 2018, 07:48 PM
Feb 2018

Since Bill Clinton:

Both Houses:
1993-1995
2007-2011

Senate alone:
2001-2003
2011-2015

RandySF

(57,661 posts)
3. You mean filibuster-proof.
Mon Feb 19, 2018, 07:54 PM
Feb 2018

But we never really had that, either because of Lieberman. We passed the ACA on a majority vote based on a Senate rule.

maxsolomon

(32,992 posts)
4. We had a veto-proof majority for about 10 minutes
Mon Feb 19, 2018, 07:54 PM
Feb 2018

before Ted Kennedy went down with Brain Cancer.

The Right's propaganda program (think tanks, buying media outlets, politicizing churches) has been very effective.

Demsrule86

(68,352 posts)
5. Only once...between the time Obama was elected and Scott Brown took Ted Kennedy's place.
Mon Feb 19, 2018, 07:57 PM
Feb 2018

We had Congress during the first two years of Pres. Clinton's term. We have only had the presidency twice in 30 years and both times the president was abandoned during the first mid term.

 

Exotica

(1,461 posts)
6. I think you mean 60 seats, so filibuster proof
Mon Feb 19, 2018, 07:58 PM
Feb 2018

2 times
In 2009 and 2010

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/did-the-democrats-ever-really-have-60-votes-in-the-senate-and-for-how-long/

What this shows is is that there were only two time periods during the 111th Congress when the Democrats had a 60 seat majority:

From July 7. 2009 (when Al Franken was officially seated as the Senator from Minnesota after the last of Norm Coleman’s challenges came to an end) to August 25, 2009 (when Ted Kennedy died, although Kennedy’s illness had kept him from voting for several weeks before that date at least); and
From September 25, 2009 (when Paul Kirk was appointed to replace Kennedy) to February 4, 2010 (when Scott Brown took office after defeating Martha Coakley);
For one day in September 2009, Republicans lacked 40 votes due to the resignation of Mel Martinez, who was replaced the next day by George LeMieux
So, to the extent there was a filibuster proof majority in the Senate it lasted during two brief periods which lasted for a total of just over five months when counted altogether (and Congress was in its traditional summer recess for most of the July-August 2009 time frame).

 

Wwcd

(6,288 posts)
10. When did Tom Delay push for gerrymandering counties?
Mon Feb 19, 2018, 08:08 PM
Feb 2018

Rigging the electorate probably occurred before that, but that is when I first recall a big fight about the obvious unfairness via gerrymandering.

Tom Delay, the bug sprayer guy.

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