The filibuster is such a joke

[Proud liberal 80]

And even the “tradition” of it that people like Manchin and Sinema like to cite for not wanting to change it really isn’t a long tradition...the filibuster rules have changed drastically and has made it too easy to filibuster without any consequences

I read this history on the filibuster (yeah it’s Wikipedia, but whatever)....these were the highlights for me:

1. If the minority filibustered in the past, that filibuster held up all other Senate business...so senators didn’t filibuster as much...this rule changed in 1970 which then allowed senators to filibuster without holding up other senate business

2. In 1975, they instituted a rule that you had to have 3/5 of all senators to end debate instead of just 3/5 of those present...that meant that a minority senator could filibuster even if his minority colleagues weren’t around

3. They removed a rule in which you had to stay on the senate floor and talk during your filibuster

So all this talk about filibuster tradition is bull crap...and eliminating these 3 rules made it easier for the minority party to do it....if Manchin and others who care so much about the filibuster then at the very least they should put these rules back in place to make it harder to do

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster_in_the_United_States_Senate

[Laelth]

1. It's a VERY BAD joke. n/t

-Laelth

[essaynnc]

2. So all they've done...

is change the senate vote from a simple majority to 3/5 vote to pass anything. sounds like they have defacto changed the senate rules with procedures. And made the body a lot more partisan.

Is the senate majority in the constitution?? Maybe we should get back to it then, just saying....

[gulliver]

3. Great post and points

The filibuster is like having unlimited timeouts or play reviews in football. It would ruin the game. I think it's just silly to give the minority veto power. Elections have consequences. The minority can always cut deals with the majority to get some of its members to block a bill for certain trade-offs. That's just politics, and it helps motivate cooperation and relationships across the aisle.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. The filibuster needs to GO.

[Claire Oh Nette]

5. Or make them really filibuster

Full Senate. Speaking the whole time. In convenience them if they're going to do it. More like Wendi Davis in Texas did, in her sneakers, than what her fellow Texan Cruise did with Sam I am, ffs.

[Proud liberal 80]

8. Exactly

If they keep the filibuster...they need to make them filibuster for real.

[Midnight Writer]

6. It rewards obstinance and punishes cooperation.

[Wounded Bear]

7. Requiring super majorities to pass legislation is not democratic...

it is the antithesis of democracy.

[dsc]

9. It is actually more insane than that

Clarence Thomas was put in the Supreme court with 52 votes, the assault weapons ban passed with 57, Roberta Actenburg was confirmed with less than 60 votes. Until Obama was elected this filibuster everything wasn't a thing.