On what do you base your opinion that Joe Manchin 'can be convinced to live without this freaking filibuster'? Do you think that Schumer and others closer to him haven't tried talk Manchin out of his support for it? Given what is at stake, HR. 1, for instance, Joe sees another option to have his cake and eat it, too. Fiddle with the …
On what do you base your opinion that Joe Manchin 'can be convinced to live without this freaking filibuster'? Do you think that Schumer and others closer to him haven't tried talk Manchin out of his support for it? Given what is at stake, HR. 1, for instance, Joe sees another option to have his cake and eat it, too. Fiddle with the filibuster, 'make them (the Republicans) suffer' and pass vital legislation without sacrificing the filibuster. The minority will have to work much harder to filibuster, while making it easier for the majority to pass at least part of its legislative agenda. Norm Ornstein's thorough and deep understanding of legislative tools, has provided the democrats with a couple of options. If you are interested a short history of the filibuster, here's an article by Ornstein about it:
Well, I have read Mr. Ornstein's article, and it seems like a pretty clear argument against the filibuster. That eliminating it in the House may have lead to the Spanish-American war is interesting, though perhaps this is not relevant to trying to pass voting rights legislation while the minority party attempts to reinstate Jim Crow at the state level. I think we are in the midst of an emergency, and the filibuster may prevent us from saving our democracy from Trump's GOP.
I hope Joe Manchin - all politicking aside - believes that all Americans 18 or older have a right to freely and easily cast a ballot in any election for which they are eligible to do so. I cannot imagine that this basis for democracy itself is not more important to him than almost anything else. But if he wants to hold out for promises of some special benefits for his constituents - I can think of several the suffering citizens of West Virginia are entitled to and should receive in fairly short order under the Biden administration in any case - I hope he still has, shall we say, his eyes on the prize.
If on the other hand, fear of losing his Senate seat is his prime motivation in not helping President Biden do what Americans elected him to do, then I have no sympathy for him and regret he is a Democrat. I think Joe Manchin should be man enough to choose whether to eat his cake or to have it.
They’ll fiddle with it enough to pass HR. 1, and other significant bills on Biden's agenda. Raise the Wage (hike minimum wage) will be much more difficult as there isn’t even a Democratic consensus.
Currently, the filibuster takes the form of a threat to filibuster.
But there are threats and threats… Threats are two-edged weapons.
Given all the criminal actions engaged in by the previous president and his accomplices, a sword of Damocles hanging over every head must be just for starters. Starters. Beyond those… straitjackets, handcuffs and perp walks.
On what do you base your opinion that Joe Manchin 'can be convinced to live without this freaking filibuster'? Do you think that Schumer and others closer to him haven't tried talk Manchin out of his support for it? Given what is at stake, HR. 1, for instance, Joe sees another option to have his cake and eat it, too. Fiddle with the filibuster, 'make them (the Republicans) suffer' and pass vital legislation without sacrificing the filibuster. The minority will have to work much harder to filibuster, while making it easier for the majority to pass at least part of its legislative agenda. Norm Ornstein's thorough and deep understanding of legislative tools, has provided the democrats with a couple of options. If you are interested a short history of the filibuster, here's an article by Ornstein about it:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/03/we-already-got-rid-filibuster-once-before/618201/
I think that the democrats are determined to pass HR. 1. Manchin and Sinema probably won't and don't want to stop that from happening.
Well, I have read Mr. Ornstein's article, and it seems like a pretty clear argument against the filibuster. That eliminating it in the House may have lead to the Spanish-American war is interesting, though perhaps this is not relevant to trying to pass voting rights legislation while the minority party attempts to reinstate Jim Crow at the state level. I think we are in the midst of an emergency, and the filibuster may prevent us from saving our democracy from Trump's GOP.
I hope Joe Manchin - all politicking aside - believes that all Americans 18 or older have a right to freely and easily cast a ballot in any election for which they are eligible to do so. I cannot imagine that this basis for democracy itself is not more important to him than almost anything else. But if he wants to hold out for promises of some special benefits for his constituents - I can think of several the suffering citizens of West Virginia are entitled to and should receive in fairly short order under the Biden administration in any case - I hope he still has, shall we say, his eyes on the prize.
If on the other hand, fear of losing his Senate seat is his prime motivation in not helping President Biden do what Americans elected him to do, then I have no sympathy for him and regret he is a Democrat. I think Joe Manchin should be man enough to choose whether to eat his cake or to have it.
They’ll fiddle with it enough to pass HR. 1, and other significant bills on Biden's agenda. Raise the Wage (hike minimum wage) will be much more difficult as there isn’t even a Democratic consensus.
Well then, better to make an example of him and subject him a serious primary opponent next time around.
Currently, the filibuster takes the form of a threat to filibuster.
But there are threats and threats… Threats are two-edged weapons.
Given all the criminal actions engaged in by the previous president and his accomplices, a sword of Damocles hanging over every head must be just for starters. Starters. Beyond those… straitjackets, handcuffs and perp walks.
As for Manchin, are there no frighteners?
Your dramatic, frightening and funny options win the case!
What a great article, Fern! Thanks very much for the reference.
(p.s.: it's actually written by David Litt)
Thank you, Jeff. You’re right.