"It will be Armageddon": Some Democrats fear midterm backlash without filibuster reform

[Nevilledog]

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John FitzGerald
@TheTweetOfJohn
"It will be Armageddon," Senator Jeff Merkley said when asked whether Democrats will suffer in the midterms if they don't enact filibuster reforms. "Our base will be so dispirited, so angry, so disaffected. They will stay home.”

"It will be Armageddon": Some Democrats fear midterm backlash without filibuster reform
Support for significant filibuster changes is still a long way off.
cbsnews.com
8:03 PM · Mar 18, 2021

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/filibuster-democrats-midterm-backlash/

When President Biden expressed support for a modest filibuster change this week, reform advocates took it as a major turning point. Their cause for celebration? The president was acknowledging that the fate of his agenda is tied to Senate procedure, which makes it difficult to deliver on campaign promises. And a stymied agenda could have consequences for the party.

"It will be Armageddon," Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley told CBS News when asked whether Democrats will suffer in the midterms if they don't enact filibuster reforms. "Our base will be so dispirited, so angry, so disaffected. They will stay home. And I understand why they will stay home if we failed them."

Merkley has long been pushing for filibuster changes, and introduced the "talking filibuster" which would require senators to actually hold the floor to hold up legislation rather than the current practice of phoning it in. In an interview with ABC News, Mr. Biden said he supported that kind of reform, which reminded him of how the upper chamber operated in his early days as a senator. Now, he said, "It's getting to the point where, you know, democracy is having a hard time functioning."

Support for significant filibuster changes is still a long way off, with some Democratic senators like Joe Manchin maintaining opposition to changing the 60-vote threshold for legislation even as they appear open to adjustments.

But advocates note that Republicans haven't yet filibustered legislation, such as the COVID relief bill, which was passed on party lines through a reconciliation process that only requires majority support. Once the opposition begins in earnest to agenda items like voting rights, climate, immigration and other Democratic priorities, the calls from the base of the party to change the upper chamber's rules will only grow louder.

*snip*

[rickyhall]

1. If we don't get voting rights fixed for sure....

[lagomorph777]

10. Yeah, and fixing voting rights requires Filibuster reform.

So there isn't any other option. Fix the Filibuster, then voting rights, or America is OVER.

[shanti]

2. Go big or go home n/t

[Colgate 64]

3. We have to stop reacting to McConnell's threats

and govern like the Repukes do when they are in power. If we want it, we do it Consequences be damned. And of we do that we will be rewarded by the voters in 2022 and 2024. If we don't, look forward to a long, long spell as the minority party.

[PortTack]

6. Absolutely! We can't be cowered into inaction

The shit turtle said the qgop would do, they will do anyway

[stopdiggin]

4. "So dispirited they will stay home"

This is getting very tired. I'll give the Senator the benefit in that this is just political palaver -- but it is still old, tired -- and dispiriting.

(I'm personally in favor of filibuster reform, HR.1+4, and the majority of the agenda. Don't care for the threats, or political tantrums.)

[Hugh_Lebowski]

5. Yeah, not a fan of this kinda stuff ... I will only be spirited to get more Democrats

elected pretty much no matter what happens.

[KPN]

7. It may be getting very tiring as you say, but

Merkley is only stating a reality that must be faced. He isn’t talking about you with his comment. To some degree, the voter turnout this year was anti-Trump whether we like that or not. Some of those votes were people who have tuned out in the past because they hadn’t seen results. He’s talking about those people. Results are what will keep them engaged.

[stopdiggin]

11. my remarks are not directed toward Merkley so much

as they are at the 'stay at home' threat. People that are already talking about 'disaffection' and dissatisfaction for the Biden administration .... I mean, really. Seriously? That doesn't sound just a little bit shrill to you? I just don't have a lot of time for this -- or them.

And further -- not a whole lot of Fs to give for people that 'can't be bothered' -- or aren't satisfied with 'the choices available' -- as far as voting. Y'all want to fuck around and do 2016 (and 4 years of Donald Trump again) -- be my guest. Hope y'all are real happy with Ted Cruz!

Edit: Upon reflection, I have to assume that Senator Merkley's 'base" -- must consist of attitudes and sensibilities that stray far from mine. I guess that's okay. Takes all kinds!

[KPN]

13. I guess I haven't seen much along the lines of people

talking about being disaffected or dissatisfied with the Biden administration. His support his huge — at historic levels frankly. The downside of that is that people are thrilled with the administration and actually have high expectations. With that comes the risk of results falling far short. People will support missing the bullseye, but not missing the target. That’s all Merkley is talking about. He didn’t use the phraseology the author uses.

[stopdiggin]

14. your last line here, particularly, is NOT a surprise to me (nt)

[KPN]

15. Okay ...

Edit: I take that back. My bad. I should have read the article again before saying that but about Armageddon. So okay, Merkley was rather hyperbolic stating it that way.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

9. Modesty is for shite here.

How would the repubs play it here. DIRTY

Get it done make some progress, keep and grow the true majority or DON"T

[Tracer]

12. As my mother used to say...

... that would be cutting off your nose to spite your face.