McConnell cautions Democrats on nixing the filibuster

[dixiechiken1]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Democrats on Tuesday against scrapping the legislative filibuster.

“I think the important thing for our Democratic friends to remember is that you might not be in total control in the future,” the Kentucky Republican said. “Any time you start fiddling around with the rules of the Senate, I think you always need to put yourself in the other fellow’s shoes and just imagine what might happen when the winds shift.”

McConnell added that he has resisted pressure from President Donald Trump to nix the legislative filibuster.

https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/06/30/mcconnell-filibuster-democrats-345816


It's sinking in... they know a(nother) blue wave is coming. Good. I hope they choke on it.

We will never forget. We will never forgive.

[Wounded Bear]

1. I used to think we shouldn't kill the fillibuster...now I think it is essential.

The Senate right now is the last bastion defending racism and white privilege in our country.

They've stacked the courts, but I think we can alleviate that a bit with some decent legislation.

[still_one]

11. Same here, but if we win we have to. It is the only way to correct the damage they have done

[Demsrule86]

25. We have to...we won't get a thing passed if we don't.

It is risky but I think Senators should have to stand up and vote ...not hide behind the 60 vote rule.

[Wounded Bear]

31. At least get rid of the cheesy automatic move on to the next item bullshit...

Now, someone can declare a fillibuster, they'll call an immediate cloture vote and if it doesn't pass, they just move on. Bullshit, if someone wants to actually fillibuster, make them stand there in their comfy shoes and Depends and talk for hours and hours.

Now, everything gets fillibustered; they vote and can't get cloture and they just move on.

Me? I'd just nuke it. Fuck it, McConnell escalated for judges, time to escalate back and declare the minority part meaningless. Maybe that way they'll have to listen to the voters, most of whom blame "Congress" for nothing getting done when it has been Repubs riding the brakes for years upon years.

[Hortensis]

30. The filibuster is crucial to keep the majority from just

steamrolling the minority. Some who find themselves always among smaller factions should appreciate the power it gives them to require some accommodation of their needs and beliefs from the mainstream.

[Wounded Bear]

32. And minority rule is undemocratic...

[Hortensis]

33. Yes, corrupt, unprincipled McConnell Republicans have

been grossly misusing the filibuster keep Democrats from accomplishing anything. But that's not minority rule; and using it as intended, very rarely in special situations, does not create minority rule either. It tends to lead to negotiation and agreement both sides can live with when something is especially important to a minority group, but not always.

Btw, there's nothing simple and easy to understand about most legislative procedures and principles; as someone who wrote a book on this explained, by the time we hear about these issues they're usually twisted out of recognition and we don't understand what's at stake. Their critical principles and functions are never mentioned, just the current squabble.

The filibuster is intrinsically liberal as intended and is an essential check on abuses, both within the senate especially and through the federal government against the nation. McConnell's threatening Democrats, and that makes us want to spit in his crooked face because he abuses it to defeat democracy. Hopefully, at best he'll be gone next January, but at least that they'll be such a weak minority that they'll be forced to deal in something approaching good faith to get anything they want.

"I'll let you write the substance...you let me write the procedures, and I'll screw you every time." The late John Dingell, who knew how.

[Mariana]

87. If it's that easy for corrupt, unprincipled McConnell Republicans

to grossly misuse the filibuster, and to do it for decades on end, then it's much too flawed to leave in place as it is. It's not like the Republican Senators are going to suddenly become honest and principled, and stop misusing the filibuster on their own.

[Hortensis]

89. Maybe, but IMO neither you nor I begin to know what we

should to okay throwing over what is very necessary for our own wellbeing and served us well for over 200 years. I suspect throwing over the McConnell Republicans and restoring ethical procedures would serve us far, far better.

For that, we need control. We'd all do far better to find some flawed friends who failed everyone in 2016 and refuse to leave them in place instead.

[Mariana]

91. The current filibuster rules have been in place since 1975.

That is 45 years ago, not 200. Maybe a repeal of that change is all that's necessary.

[Hortensis]

92. Yes, I misspoke. It came into being in the earth 1800s

as a way to fulfill the spirit of the constitution. One of those important tweaks to make it work as it was supposed to.

Everyone needs to understand that, although liberals might be forced to change the rules to eliminate the filibuster, actually imagining that'd be a good thing is to inadvertently support conservative attitudes of authoritarian hierarchy. Majority makes right and fuck all those who imagine they should have say.

[Doremus]

88. Then they need to filibuster the hard way, not the 2000's La-Z-Boy version

It's being abused to the detriment of Democracy, the antithesis of its purpose. Time for reform.

[Maven]

69. The Senate itself enables minority rule

The ONLY way for the majority to have any of its legislative priorities move forward is to abolish the filibuster.

[Hortensis]

78. Join the McConnell Republicans in smashing government, and they win.

That's what they want. Tough situation.

It's not that the nuclear option may not be taken, only that there are huge reasons why it's called that. It is itself a failure of the principles and structure of our democracy with potentially severe costs for everyone. And that's not considering McConnell eventually carrying out his threats; he'd do his worst regardless.

If the people give enough Republicans the boot from office in November, not just from the senate but from many offices nationally, it just may be the Republican Party that finally breaks and is forced to reform itself instead.

[cstanleytech]

56. In theory yes but the Republicans have abused and misused it for decades so

maybe it's time to let it go.
Then if legislation is bad the voters will make the choice to change it by changing the makeup of the Senate.

[Maven]

71. Incorrect. The Senate itself represents minority rule.

It is an anti-majoritarian body. The filibuster makes it almost impossible for the majority to shape policy with their votes. That has to end.

[Bev54]

40. It is absolutely essential and when dems are in control

not republicans. The way the senate is set, with all these small states getting the same amount of senators as populated states, the dems will never get a veto proof majority for more than a very small period of time, if ever. They have only had it for a for a few months at a time over the last 40 years. It is the repubs that the senate favours. So get rid of it, get the work done that needs to be done. It is the only way any real work will be done at all. Screw Moscow Mitch, he is hardly one to listen to.

[dalton99a]

44. It is a must.

[PJMcK]

2. Hey, McConnell!

Two words:

Merrick Garland.

Just shut the fuck up, you un-American asshole.

[GusFring]

3. All the rules this piece of shit has changed. SMH.

[SoonerPride]

4. Oh Moscow Mitch. How adorable you are.

We will pass Medicare for all, add two new states, and expand the SCOTUS to 13 jurists.

If anyone in your party filibusters those then we will end the filibuster.

Change is coming.

[Wanderlust988]

5. But do we even have 50 Dems to support it?

If we get a bare majority, I'm not confident we could muster the votes to get rid of it. Sen. Feinstein is dead set against removing it.

[Wounded Bear]

16. I think we do...

We look good at flipping the Senate right now. Stars are aligning. McConnell went all in on judges, Dems need to go all in on social justice programs. Even DiFi should be able to see that. California is marginalized more than most states by the fillibuster.

[Demsrule86]

36. We will get some good things...you have to have compromise...but it will be way better than this.

[Sherman A1]

6. I have no problem with the filibuster

as long as the member doing the filibuster physically stands on and holds the floor until a cloture vote is passed or the member can no longer continue to talk.

[Caliman73]

86. I agree. None of this silent, anonymous bull...

If you are against allowing a bill to go up for debate, then put your face and voice out there so that people can see who is holding up legislation and why.

I would not even be opposed to more than one person doing the filibuster but they have to state their reasons for opposition and can't just read "Green Eggs and Ham". Put them on the record for their opposition.

[House of Roberts]

7. If McConnell thinks he's going to sit up there and block everything Dems want to do,

he better have another think, unless Schumer is as gutless as Harry Reid was.

It always seems like irresponsible tax cuts for the filthy idle oppressor class can get through on 51 votes, but getting rid of them always have to have 60. Better not this time!

[liberal N proud]

8. He is protecting his pending minority status

[cstanleytech]

67. Exactly!! This is entirely because of that and he intends to then abuse the filibuster again like he

did with Obama when he used it like a cudgel to stop his nominations which is what started this thing so I say fuck it and lets do away with it entirely.
Plus consider all for years the Republicans would weaponize a bill by passing it in the House to send to the Senate when they knew the Democrats would oppose and use the filibuster.
Then the Republicans would turn around and use that to rally their base and raise money and rinse and repeat.
This simply stops the cycle and it fucks them royally in the ass because it stop them from using the filibuster to raise money and rally their base.

[CentralMass]

9. Hey Mitch. STFU.

[John Fante]

10. Democrats in all 52 states will be laughing heartedly at Mitch's comments in a few years.

[Laelth]

12. The filibuster needs to go.

It has outlived its usefulness.

-Laelth

[The Magistrate]

13. His Rotten Behavior Has Made It Necessary, Ma'am

Everyone knows if he leads the minority he will filibuster every damned thing that comes down the pike, and prevent a Democratic administration and majority from governing as they were elected to do.

Better to bite the bullet and count on sound policy proving to be popular over the long haul, so that reptiles like McConnell never are again in power to do their damage to our people and our country.

[uponit7771]

14. +1, I didn't know Obama admin only got like 50 judges in place

[The Magistrate]

15. The Reason, Ma'am, Was That Sen. Reid Respected Senate Rules

Everything he allowed a Republican minority to do, McConnell has disregarded as majority leader.

[former9thward]

60. It never happened.

Obama got 329 judges confirmed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Barack_Obama#:~:text=The%20total%20number%20of%20Obama,the%20United%20States%20Court%20of

[former9thward]

59. You didn't know because it never happened.

Obama got 329 judges confirmed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_judges_appointed_by_Barack_Obama#:~:text=The%20total%20number%20of%20Obama,the%20United%20States%20Court%20of

[Mike Niendorff]

17. Eliminate the filibuster on DAY ONE.

And tell Mitch : this is what happens when you don't heed your own advice.

Long past time to go scorched earth on this guy.


MDN

[Wounded Bear]

76. First order of business in every session is vote on the rules...

[Mike Niendorff]

79. Then don't leave it till day 366.

No reconciliation, no let's-make-nice, no let's-put-it-past-us.

It's time to put the hurt on Mitch and his fellow enablers.

It's time for them to pay the price.


MDN

[niyad]

18. Mendacious, murderous, traitorous chinless mcturtle is telling the Dems how they have to govern.

Reallllllly, you worthless aste of oxygen? I remember when the Dems had control, and you traitorous bastards acted like YOU were still in charge.

I hope you and the other mask less traitors all contract fatal cases of the virus.

[kairos12]

19. Screw him. When we get the Senate pack the court. Revenge!!! No quarter.

[chriscan64]

20. Is that still even a thing?

One justice gets no hearing, two get installed with just over 50 votes. Maybe there is some remnant of a filibuster, but not at your trial, putz.

[GulfCoast66]

74. Had nothing to do with the filibuster. Republicans controlled the senate.

[Wounded Bear]

77. McConnell eliminated fillibuster for SC nominations...

therefore the fillibuster could not be applied, like they did to Obama.

[Xolodno]

21. Ahhhhh....isn't that cute!

He wants to play by the rules again once he's out of power.

He's the one who started torching the rules of decorum, we may as well add gasoline. He made his bed, now he can sleep in it.

And sure, we may lose a cycle in the future and even try to repeal some things, but most will be institutionalized by then and they won't be able to touch it once it becomes popular. Then we will see GOP protest signs that say "keep the government out of my free healthcare". He got his judges, we'll see if it was worth it.

[Doreen]

22. Sounds like a threat to me.

Maybe not outright but it had a touch of something like it.

[jojog]

23. We don't have the time for filibuster

If we don't get climate change legislation through we are finished.

[Maven]

24. Go to hell, you neo-Confederate traitor.

Your days of forcing regressive policies on the majority and packing the courts with unqualified extremists are coming to an end. Get ready for a progressive tsunami that will remake this nation into something civilized again, or for the first time, you snake.

[gratuitous]

26. Mitch sounds concerned that he might not be the Majority Leader come 2021

We'll see how your shoes fit then. If you're still in the Senate, that is.

[Ferrets are Cool]

27. I HOPE we never forget and never forgive.

[dem4decades]

28. Nix the 60. Add DC and PR for 104 Senators, add 4 SC justices and fuck Mitch.

[sobenji]

29. F*ck you Mitch.

[bdamomma]

35. I'll second that

nt.

[Major Nikon]

34. The biggest fear of sane GOPhers in 2016 was that Trump was going to bring down the entire GOP

That prophecy is now being fulfilled.

The part of it Mitch just doesn’t get is those winds are just never going to shift the other way again. The only thing keeping them afloat at the moment is a successful GOTV effort which has allowed them to get a bigger share of a shrinking demographic. The worst of it is that shrinking demographic is shrinking the fastest in the South.

So once the GOP is gone, they are gone forever. They might be able to somehow reinvent themselves and come back, but it sure won’t be as the white people’s party.

[Hassler]

37. Too bad Moscow Mitch won't be around when that day comes.

[tinrobot]

38. Is he predicting the Senate will flip?

Sure sounds like it.

[GeorgiaPeanut]

39. Fuck Moscow Mitch

I think senate rules should be changed to get rid of the damage created by Trump.

It is unlikely that repukes will ever have the presidency again anyway considering the demographic shift.

[JDC]

41. He can STFU.

[LudwigPastorius]

42. "McConnell cautions Democrats on nixing the filibuster"

Oh, eat me, you traitorous, turtle-looking motherfucker!

The Republican party is DONE come November.

[dalton99a]

43. Kill the filibuster, or live under Republican rule forever.

[roamer65]

46. THIS.

[world wide wally]

45. Shut the fuck up Mitchie

[Flaleftist]

47. Fuck you, McTurtle. Republicans as we know them today will never control Congress again.

[BigmanPigman]

48. Dude, you don't have any Dem friends

and I sincerely doubt you have any real friends (they only want $$$ and power like you and your fucking wife). Even Mitch's adult kids hate him.

[MontanaMama]

49. Oh Mitch.

Bless your heart. Say hello to your reckoning you self serving traitorous asshole.

[cstanleytech]

50. After how he packed the court and stole a SCOTUS seat choice from a Democratic President.

Instead what he should be doing is packing his bags and arranging a flight somewhere without an extradition treaty...............I heard Russia so maybe he will soon have a condo in Moscow?

[bucolic_frolic]

51. We filibustered something?

Because all I see is Merrick Garland, 200 Swift Boat judges, budgets that get diverted to a Mexican Wall, and no Democrat has the power to do anything about it.

Mitch should listen to himself.

[AlexSFCA]

52. we MUST kill filibuster on a first day of dem senate

no debate. We have legislative agenda to plow through at light speed. Biden will sign more bills than any president in history. Dems focus on people not politics, so to avoid gop poison pills, eliminating filibuster if VITAL. GOP is now a domestic terrorist organization responsible for more american deaths than any other terrorist organization. There must be ZERO tolerance for that.

[dalton99a]

54. +1. Give no quarter.

Republicans are not our "esteemed colleagues and friends"

[AlexSFCA]

55. they are enemies of the people

[cstanleytech]

70. Agreed. If the Democrats do this though and also do things like empowering the FBI to

investigate all the Russian as well as Chinese government ties inside the US to varies politicians I suspect we will see a number of Republicans booking flights out of the US and fleeing to countries without extradition treaties with the US.

[Crowman2009]

53. Elizabeth Warren is dead-on right!

Kill the filibuster!

[peggysue2]

57. The last thing Democrats need to hear . . .

Is advice from McConnell the Obstructionist. The man deserves a swift kick to the curb because alongside Donald Trump he has proven himself an enemy of our Republic, enemy of all things democratic in nature.

And yes, it is dawning on these greed/power addicts that the tide is turning, that they will soon face minority status, a position they've earned by the numbers, underhanded methods, massive failures and American grief.

May they dwell in the ash bin of history, right behind America's primo Traitor, aka Donald Trump.

Never forget, never forgive.

[marble falls]

58. I think filibuster has helped Democratic shape some good in a lot of bad law. That said ...

I think that the filibuster needs to be stripped down to what is was in the Franl Capra 30's.

None of these weenie semi head nods to filibuster.

No more "secret holds" holds. If you're holding up a nomination, put your name on it. How about" if a nomination is not rejected in XX ampint of days, the nomination is considered an appointment, why not?

[cstanleytech]

72. Because the Courts (which are Republican controlled for the next few decades) would probably

rule a default appointment like that as unconstitutional.

[marble falls]

81. We allowed the courts to turn Republican by not paying attention to state legislatures ...

who became Republican and reapportioned gerrymands that devalued our votes and gave us Republican Congresses. Sometimes we spend all our energy on Presidential election years and ignore the off years. DeLay, Gringrich, Lott, Graham, McConnell and their cronies took advantage of that and took over state legislatures.

[pecosbob]

61. My folks used to say 'You made your bed...now lie on it.'

[mysteryowl]

62. Oh come-on! Moscow Mitch. YOU NEVER follow the senate rules.

YOU broke the senate!

[ibegurpard]

63. Filibuster requires good faith from both parties

Republicans have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will not govern in good faith. They would get rid of it in a heartbeat on an issue critical to them. They proved that with their supreme court nominations. I believe it is now an anachronism.

[cstanleytech]

68. Good faith from a Republican? LOLOLOLOLOlolololololol...............................

[C Moon]

64. Spoken like a true loser.

[rpannier]

65. Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!

I think you always need to put yourself in the other fellow’s shoes and just imagine what might happen when the winds shift.”

When? When did you do that?

[yellowcanine]

66. Democrats don't need no steenkin advice from Moscow Mitch.

Just sayin'.

[Volaris]

73. Pfffft hahahhaa...McConnell issuing 'warnings' about fiddling with the rules...

Omg that's funny.

Mitch can go choke on a dick, theres no way no to stop the vengeance thats coming for the Party of Trump, and I suspect Yertle knows it now.

[GulfCoast66]

75. I'm ok with the filibuster. As long as they really filibuster.

Keep talk till they run out of steam.

I just can’t help thinking how much worse the last 3 years would have been had the senate been majority rules.

Remember, we have not controlled it since 2012. And while I think we take it this year it will be in play every election unless there is unless we see a huge political realignment this year.

[OnDoutside]

80. To an extent I agree, HOWEVER, Schumer should warn Republicans that any more of the shit they pulled

against Obama, then the filibuster will go, and it's on them. It's a two way street, no more dickhead Pauls.

[jalan48]

82. From the party that is OK with fixing elections. nt

[pwb]

83. Rules are only for democrats ha Mitch?

Like Supreme Court nominees?

[D23MIURG23]

84. Die in a fire Mitch. n/t

[maxsolomon]

85. The Filibuster? I want to nix the SENATE.

That ain't Democracy.

[RGTIndy]

90. After what he did with Garland

He can't say a goddamn thing about the "rules of the Senate" ever again. Go fuck yourself, Mitch.