BS: Filibuster rule evil or good

Subject: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 08:38 PM

Republicans say if changing a Senate rule is eliminated it is equivalent to nuclear winter and democrats say it is a barrier to democracy.
Its just a rule that has gone through many mutations and abuse since it was first mentioned in 1853. You may be familiar with the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington version of the filibuster but it has become a joke nowadays with Sen Cruz filibustering by reading Greeen Eggs and Ham. Then there was the virtual filibuster that didn't require saying a word. Then the double virtual filibuster by just threatening a filibuster. The damage only comes when the rule says a 60 vote magority is needed to end a filibuster. Then it became 3/5ths along with exeptions for Supreme Court nominees. That kind of cloture is near impossible to achieve. Anyway this is what the filibuster rule is about. https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/what-is-the-senate-filibuster-and-what-would-it-take-to-eliminate-it/

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 08:53 PM

A simple you tube version

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 09:57 PM

I picked up a book recently that discusses the history of the senate filibuster. Kill Switch by Adam Jentleson.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: beardedbruce
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 10:39 PM

Obviously evil when used against what you want to impose on a large minority, and good when used for your desired purposes of defeating a bare majority rule.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: beardedbruce
Date: 24 Mar 21 - 10:45 PM

or vice versa

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 04:48 AM

Good if I use it against you. Evil if you use it against me.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 06:15 AM

My bias is;
Good when it was intended for a clear bi partisan consensus. Evil when it is used primarily by people against civil rights.
The first technical filibuster was by JC Calhoun. In my lifetime I remember when Strom Thurmond had his white supremist diatribe.
Now its used often and automaticly by guess who...

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 10:11 AM

The filibuster started so slave-holding states could continue to enslave people without the North interfering. It pretty much goes downhill from there.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 11:29 AM

Pointed and concise. Texas has room for a new Senator.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: meself
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 12:30 PM

I don't understand the American version of filibuster - I was really surprised to discover that there could be anything other than what they(you) call a "talking filibuster". How can you have a filibuster without members standing up and talking??

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 03:17 PM

That is what it has become. the F word
Today Biden was asked about the fate of the filibuster and hedged with "politics is the art of the possible"..however "If there is chaos and a stalled Senate other means can be sought"

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 03:18 PM

The Senate designs rules to suit itself.. at some point, they decided to ALLOW a senator to declare he disapproved of a bill and required a 60 vote majority to override it.

That gave the Republicans the ability to stop things without showing up on the floor. I expect that is about to be changed.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 03:50 PM

I would like them to go back to the old rules. Stand up and talk, because eventually, they'll have to sleep, or eat, or pee. The way it is now, it's just a tool to stop things from happening. For the Republicans, who seem to be all about getting as little done as they can, and keeping others from getting anything done, it works. It does NOT work for America.

An awful lot of things Democrats are pushing through: I believe once the American public gets a taste of Covid help, and infrastructure being upgraded, Republicans will find it hard to explain why they don't want it. "No, we WANT potholes, and disintegrating bridges, and sucky Internet, and we know you do, too." Nope. And making voting easier. Maybe once people (even the Trump crazies) get a load of the improvements, Republicans may never have a hope of getting back in.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Mar 21 - 03:56 PM

That says it all as usual Bill but I would only add that any F word change is portrayed by Republicans as the end of the world.

Republican retribution has included not showing up in order to deny a quarom.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Mar 21 - 11:28 AM

The things the senate manages to do WITH the filibuster are evil. And as more time passes in this administration it is clear that it must go. Getting the cowardly two senators to stay in the party but support the party needs is the goal. This is something more important than their personal jobs.

Subject: RE: BS: Filibuster rule evil or good
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Jun 21 - 09:31 AM

I found this on the Cartoon page of The Guardian, & it's not what I expected to see when I clicked on the link. I didn't really know what filibusters were, I've seen & heard the word for years, but now I know. The filibuster: why Congress needs to end the paralyzing process