It's incredibly disappointing that we have all the tools we need to save Democracy but wont use them

[NewsCenter28]

The solution and the tools to the Trump/fascism problem are right in front of us. Sad we've evidently decided not to use them (other than the brave electeds from Texas). The other side is not interested in soaring rhetoric. They only respond to those willing to use force and the rule of law to the fullest extent to deny them their evil aims.

Surely, not one of us here on DU would say that we should let their sacrifice be in vain. Not one of us.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

1. I don't get it either

not sure why we can't even control the narrative ?

Why is this not fundamental for all americans to vote !

Every repub who says voter fraud should lose their job ! This myth has been busted

[JohnSJ]

2. What do you mean "we"? There are two people, Manchin and Sinema as far as I am aware who

do not want to use all the tools to insure voting rights by eliminating the filibuster

[NewsCenter28]

3. Civil rights leaders

are upset per CNN that filibuster reform was not explicitly called for in the speech, today.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/13/politics/biden-voting-rights-speech-black-leaders/index.html

However, Biden did not mention the need to end the filibuster, which has made it impossible for Democrats to move forward with voting rights legislation because their slim majority in the Senate isn't enough to overcome GOP opposition.
"I would have liked to have heard him to say process should not be more important than people," said Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation. "And process should not get in the way of the right to vote in this country."
Still, Campbell said Biden's speech was "pretty strong" overall.
"What I liked was the fight in him, he came strong and laid out how we got here," Campbell said.
Biden's speech was criticized by the founders of Black Voters Matter, which led a bus tour across the country last month to educate the public about voting, lobby for equal voting access and empower people to join their efforts.
"Good speech, so what's the strategy? #EndTheFilibusterNow," Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown tweeted.
Cliff Albright, also co-founder of Black Voters Matter, called Biden's speech an "epic fail."
"It's like listening to a doctor describe in the starkest terms how dire your illness is, and then saying "good luck with that" as he escorts you out the office," Albright tweeted.

[JohnSJ]

7. Nonsense. They want to scapegoat Biden for something that is up to the Senate.

[NewsCenter28]

9. Nope. If he had called for fillibuster reforms, he places the red hot focus squarely on M and S

Manchin and Sinema. Schumer and Biden both could have come out in support of filibuster reform today to place the red hot focus on these guys.

[treestar]

13. Is that the new word for the "bully pulpit"

otherwise known as expecting the POTUS to be able to get everything just by saying so?

[JohnSJ]

15. Biden's approach is not to publicly chastise Democrats, but to meet with them one on one, which

he has done

Publicly calling them out will accomplish nothing

[Amishman]

28. We know about Manchin and Sinema, but I suspect there are others who are not on board

and choose not to put the bullseye on their backs.

The senate is 50/50, and we have the House by a razor thin nine seats, we lack the margin of error and political leverage for controversial change. Thankfully Joe seems to understand this political reality. Let the Pubs shoot themselves in the foot, expand margins with a fairly favorable map in 2022. Be content with small wins until then, and every single judge we appoint is a small win. Be thrilled if we can pull off something larger, even a small infrastructure bill would be a step forward for this country.

Progress takes time.

[SoCalDavidS]

4. There Are Others

Manchin & Sinema are taking all the heat, but there are others. I am 100% certain of that.

[NewsCenter28]

6. And there are growing indications

That President Biden is not particularly interested in this issue. He supports voting rights reform, of course, but is not fiery and passionate in his soul about the issue. Like it's not something he particularly wants a huge fight over. What I mean is he is on our side, but he doesn't feel the fire in the belly to fight like hell for this.

[SoCalDavidS]

11. Our Side Rarely Goes For The Jugular

I expected as much when Biden was elected. But he was the best chance we had to get rid of TFG, so we had to accept his "Let's All Get Along," "Forgive & Forget" attitude.

We pretty much have to live with it, and accept that it's more than a possibility we'll end up losing the House and/or Senate in 2022 as the result of being timid.

[JohnSJ]

18. Didn't Reid do that for judges when the republicans wouldn't allow any of Obama's judges, and

eliminated the filibuster rules for judicial appointments ? Not for SC appointments though. When the repulse got control of the Senate, McConnell did that

[smirkymonkey]

23. And if that happens, we can kiss our democracy goodbye, because they will definitely

put a fascist dictator back in the White House in 2024 - possibly even TFG again. And then it's over.

We can't live with it and we have to go for the jugular. Everything is at stake here.

[SoCalDavidS]

25. Sadly, I See That Eventuality

And we will all suffer for it.

[JohnSJ]

10. I don't buy that, and even if there was merit in that argument, even if they narrowed the filibuster

rules to make an exception for voting rights, I would argue tha Manchin and Sinema would be the only ones would would resist the exception

[NewsCenter28]

12. Harris could make a ruling from the chair like Nixon

It'd be extremely politically difficult for Manchin and Sinema to vote to overturn a ruling directly from the vice president of their very own party, who, as you are well aware, is also President of the United States Senate.

[treestar]

14. a ruling from the chair?

what is that?

Is that like ex cathedra?

[JohnSJ]

21. Actually Schumer could do that like Harry Reid it for judges, except SC appointments

[SoCalDavidS]

16. Bottom Line Is It's Not Gonna Happen

We may end up losing the House & Senate as a result.

[walkingman]

5. I don't get it either. It simply has to be that they want to sit on the fence in

order to not offend their base (many Retrumplicans) and get re-elected. If you don't have core values then in my opinion you should not be a politician. How can any job be that important?

[bluestarone]

8. Just gotta hope the smart Dems. from texas

Help start the ball rolling here! I'm so dam PROUD of them ALL! WE needed something like this! TY Texas Democrats!!!

[SoCalDavidS]

17. I Truly Admire Their Effort & Courage

But I think they don't realize the situation in D.C. They may be there for quite awhile though, so eventually they may come to understand.

[bluestarone]

19. Actually i think they DO realize what they are doing,and

How long they will be there. to THEM!

[SoCalDavidS]

20. Do You Think They Will Stay In DC Until November 2022?

I truly believe that is what it will take to prevent a quorum in TX, so the bill can pass.

[bluestarone]

22. NO they won't stay that long BUT

They are making a statement here, plus it was the ONLY way to stop it for now! (They truly know it's only for NOW)

[SoCalDavidS]

24. Great. A Statement.

Sorry, but I won't care less about a statement if/when we lose the House and/or Senate in 16 months.

But I'm certainly not blaming the TX Democrats. If they're comfortable doing this, then I'm glad.

[bluestarone]

26. I feel Sometimes a simple statement leads to

Bigger and better things! We'll wait and see! Dems. can do this!

[Sneederbunk]

27. When does the 30 day session end?

[bluestarone]

29. Not sure. i think

August sometime.