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So I'm running with it:
Here's Joe Manchin working his magic. This is the classic villain rotation game..
Manchin told the assembled donors that he needed help flipping a handful of Republicans from no to yes on the January 6 commission in order to strip the "far left" of their best argument against the filibuster. The filibuster is a critical priority for the donors on the call, as it bottles up progressive legislation that would hit their bottom lines.
When it came to Sen. Roy Blunt, a moderate Missouri Republican who voted no on the commission, Manchin offered a creative solution. "Roy Blunt is a great, just a good friend of mine, a great guy," Manchin said. "Roy is retiring. If some of you all who might be working with Roy in his next life could tell him, that'd be nice and it’d help our country. That would be very good to get him to change his vote. And we're going to have another vote on this thing. That'll give me one more shot at it."
Notice the fight he picks is for the totally theatrical "Jan 6 Commission", not voting rights or infrastructure, but to keep Trump and republicans in the headlines
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 19 2021, @06:51PM (33 children)
Why is it you are worried about the filibuster fusty?
Because your news sources have told you to be worried about it.
Note the following:
Democrats used filibuster 327 times, compared to only once by GOP in 2020: Report
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/democrats-used-filibuster-over-300-times-gop-once [washingtonexaminer.com]
In filibuster fight, Democrats are forgetting their majority isn't permanent
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/in-filibuster-fight-democrats-are-forgetting-their-majority-isn-t-permanent/ar-BB1eLyA8 [msn.com]
Democrats on the Filibuster: Then and Now
https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-filibuster-then-now-103051666.html [yahoo.com]
Opinion: Democrats have vigorously used the filibuster. It’s pathetic they now won’t pledge to protect it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/26/democrats-have-vigorously-used-filibuster-its-pathetic-they-now-wont-pledge-protect-it/ [washingtonpost.com]
Democrats Call Filibuster Racist – But They Used It Over 300 Times Last Year
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/03/democrats-call-filibuster-racist-used-300-times-last-year/ [thegatewaypundit.com]
You are playing right into their propaganda.
Your articles ought to be titled: "filibuster for me, but not for you" -- because that's where the current crop is going. They LOVE using it when they are in the minority, but they HATE when the minority (who is not them) also decide to use it.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday June 19 2021, @07:22PM (26 children)
:-) Have been against the filibuster since before Obama screwed the pooch... It's bogus obstruction against the majority. If the dems ever decide to oppose the republicans, they will easily maintain their majority. It is their acquiescence and complicity that always costs them votes, but just enough to keep it 50-50
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 19 2021, @09:22PM (25 children)
Ah, but see, that's where you fully miss-understand the value of the filibuster.
It is specifically designed so that contentious things are very hard to get through.
Things where there is no contention sail right through (because there is no contention). Evidence: the recent new June 19th federal holiday that sped through in record time for congress.
The whole point of even having the filibuster is exactly to make it hard (and therefore slow) to push through things that are contentious. Because that is the only way to force any form of compromise, make it really hard to get the contentious things through, and both sides, if they do want some part of it, are forced to trim, deal, wheel, etc. in order to get the support necessary to finally get it through.
Simply allowing everything through on a simple majority vote is only 50 votes away from having an actual dictator.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Saturday June 19 2021, @10:26PM (23 children)
Yes, I would hope you know why, the most trivial things often do. So now, unemployed people have another paid day off.
Now is not the time for obstruction. This is a charade. The filibuster only provides excuses, the party has no opposition
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Saturday June 19 2021, @11:56PM (22 children)
Agree with GP AC, and gave him/her another "insightful" mod.
Stupid shit isn't supposed to sail through congress. We have a situation right now where one president was calling for immigrants from around the world to come in - the next president pulled the reins on that - and the current president called for immigrants to "surge the border". Who wants to argue that we don't look like some spastic child throwing a temper tantrum?
Changes in policy and new laws are supposed to be hard to implement, unless they are such a great idea that almost everyone agrees.
The filibuster keeps us from looking like even bigger idiots.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Sunday June 20 2021, @12:14AM
Yeah, they do let the dems put in "stupid shit" to poison the well. It's a fine balancing act [youtube.com]
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 20 2021, @03:29AM
Are you sure he said "surge the border" ? Maybe he meant "Serge the border" ie. go Russian on the asses of anyone who tried to cross.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by deimtee on Sunday June 20 2021, @03:36AM (5 children)
None of my business cause I'm in Oz, but I think the filibuster should be returned to its original state. You want to filibuster, you stand in front of the House and talk.
Being able to hold stuff up by just saying "I filibuster this, see you next year" is bullshit. If they really oppose it they can stand there and say why.
No problem is insoluble, but at Ksp = 2.943×10−25 Mercury Sulphide comes close.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 20 2021, @04:41AM (2 children)
Agreed. Not only should it be hard to get contentious stuff through, in part because of the filibuster, it should also correspondingly be hard to actually utilize a filibuster, because otherwise it gets miss-used.
So yes, if one wants to filibuster, then yes, one should have one's team lined up so that there is always someone, twenty four hours of the day, seven days a week, standing at the lectern talking.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 20 2021, @05:04PM
Make them stand on their head during the filibuster.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @12:58AM
Make it illegal for anyone to provide food and water to the speaker too, as it might influence her determination.
If she wants to filibuster, she'd better be prepared in advance.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by TheMightyChickadee on Sunday June 20 2021, @09:49PM (1 child)
I believe the proper Auzzie filibuster consists of the observation, "OK, Boomer!"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 24 2021, @02:10AM
Nah, in Oz a boomer is an adult male red kangaroo*. A filibuster would be "hey, the pubs open, let's do this tomorrow. Last one in gets the first round."
*these things are not like Skippy. 7 foot tall, solid muscle, aggressive like they've got roid rage, and can gut you with one kick. A pic https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1b/5f/64/1b5f64112b240ede60f6e35d59aba91a.jpg [pinimg.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 20 2021, @05:49AM (1 child)
I agree with this, and I do wish it was 80% and not 50% - for all laws. We shouldn't be passing laws that affect everybody based on tiny majorities.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Sunday June 20 2021, @05:28PM
I can go along with that, but then the elections should be that way also. An incumbent should need 80% to stay in office
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday June 21 2021, @04:51PM (11 children)
That quote you like to lie about is that "WE immediately surge to the border."
Do you often refer to immigrants as "we?"
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday June 21 2021, @05:13PM (10 children)
As I have pointed out before, a former president alienated large portions of the world's Muslims, when he carelessly used the word "crusade".
In Biden's case, the exact quote is,
No matter how you parse that, it's an open invitation for border jumpers.
Don't call me a liar, when I am directly quoting your president, mmmkay?
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday June 21 2021, @05:19PM (8 children)
WE surge to the border to hear the asylum claims...
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday June 21 2021, @05:27PM (6 children)
Oh, FFS - stumbling bumbling gaffe prone Joe put the word "we" into an awkward sentence, so it excuses the rest of the statement?
Maybe he didn't read his teleprompter exactly right? Who knows? He very clearly tells border jumpers to come. Surge the border.
When Biden's own "border czar" says it's so, it must be so.
https://thefederalist.com/2021/03/10/biden-border-czar-admits-migrant-surge-is-due-to-the-administrations-open-border-policies/ [thefederalist.com]
It is a Biden created crisis. No one owns it, but Joe and his fellow anti-American socialists.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday June 21 2021, @05:39PM (5 children)
If you take exception to the part where he says asylum seekers should seek asylum say that instead of lying about something he never said.
But of course, that doesn't sounds as scary, so you'll continue blatantly lying about it.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday June 21 2021, @05:45PM
Every body at the border is seeking "asylum". Everybody. "Surge the border" means "bring two million people with you, so the border patrol can't possibly process everyone!"
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @05:52PM (3 children)
"...you should come."
It's a direct quote. You are the one that is lying...
As I told him, let them come, but make them wait in Mexico for their turn in front of the judge. There is no reason to house them here, especially since we just cut them lose until their case comes up.
Bad choice, this Biden character. Now we have to put Trump and his big mean republicans back in to clean up
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday June 21 2021, @07:06PM (2 children)
Then quote THAT part and stop lying about the surge part.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @07:17PM
His invite is the cause of this immigration surge that started in November. He should be telling them to wait in Mexico or back in their home country, not here.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @10:34PM
*sigh* He did quote "THAT part", along with the rest to keep it in context. Inside that jumbled word salad he clearly invited them in. He is responsible for the surge, and no doubt some rich donor financed the caravan. These things don't happen by themselves.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday June 21 2021, @05:36PM
https://www.westernjournal.com/migrants-tell-fox-news-contributor-joe-biden-opening-gates/ [westernjournal.com]
It really doesn't matter much what you or I think of Joe's quotes. What matters is, what Latinos understood. They understood (correctly) that Joe Biden wants millions of undocumented Democrat voters to invade this country.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @05:35PM
Wow! Read that again.. The man definitely has trouble remembering what he just said, the way he broke up that sentence.
But he is talking about sending judges, or whatever down to hear cases. I liked Trump's idea better, make 'em wait on the Mexican side. Let them deal with it. They can close their southern border much easier. Unfortunately Biden is president, and he's killing us
The democrats are creating a real problem letting these people in, if they were Mexican, I wouldn't mind so much, but these Guatemalans and Salvadorians are monster gangsters. Let's send them to fight in Syria.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 20 2021, @04:49PM
50% (or maybe even 1/3 minority) should serve only for repealing an existing law.
As things stands now, the decades of untiring lawmaking made the body of laws into an entirely absurdly humongous heap.
http://kowal.com/?q=How-Many-Federal-Laws-Are-There%3F [kowal.com]
https://taxfoundation.org/federal-tax-laws-and-regulations-are-now-over-10-million-words-long [taxfoundation.org]
The disease afflicts every country in the world, it is accelerating in our decadent time of word processors with copy and paste, and we mere antiquated biological humans sorely need some method of reversing the tide that is nicer than a hard reset by a violent revolution, disintegration, or occupation.
(Score: 5, Informative) by deimtee on Monday June 21 2021, @01:49AM (5 children)
That's not at all surprising. The party with a majority has no need to filibuster.
No problem is insoluble, but at Ksp = 2.943×10−25 Mercury Sulphide comes close.
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @03:10PM (4 children)
Nope. The surprising part is:
When the democrats were the minority, they loved the filibuster and used it 327 times.
Now that the democrats are the majority, they hate the filibuster and call it racist.
If it is racist to use the filibuster now, when they have the majority, why were those 327 times they used it when they were not the majority not also just as racist?
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @03:20PM (3 children)
No, this is deeply disingenuous.
Anything that does not fit the DNC is obviously racist. So doing what the DNC is racist, unless it's the DNC doing it. Then it's progressive.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @05:10PM (2 children)
That is true. The current DNC modus-oparandi is:
You are either with us, or you are racist.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 21 2021, @06:01PM (1 child)
Reactionarty partisan trash, but a small kernel of truth.
Perhaps if Republicans didn't want to be called racists they shouldn't push racist legislation and put white supremacists into office. Then you all went full Nazi with your CPAC stage and variety of other Nazi symbols pushed out with marketing materials. Most people are shicked to learn the Nazis fled to the US and have been continuing their ideology with a lot of Republican support.
Nazis should be relegated to history, not have their flag carried around rightwing rallies, but apparently quite a few Americans think Nazis are just fine. Are you fine with Nazis Mr. Pol?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 22 2021, @06:54AM
Yeah exactly, we need republicans to start acting like democrats. Let's start passing way more laws that literally [nytimes.com] segregate treatment based upon race. Oh you want some COVID aid do you? First question: what's your race? Bzzt! Wrong race - get to back of the bus.
And Dear President is even mimicking such incredible movements on the national level. But those pesky judges just keep throwing out these [washingtontimes.com] bills, and people keep suing. Calling it racist or discriminatory?
Bah! Clearly they're all the racists. We're on the side of equality and progress! I mean doesn't the equality there just make you tingle with excitement? Oh the progress, oh the equality. I mean the times are progressing so fast, it feels like we're already all the way into the 19th century!
(Score: 4, Interesting) by aristarchus on Sunday June 20 2021, @10:14PM
Here https://www.washingtonpost.com%2fopinions%2f2021%2f06%2f10%2fjoe-manchin-filibuster-trolley-problem%2f [washingtonpost.com] is a nice version of the "trolley problem, as applied by Manchin towards the filibuster dilemma.
A few more:
Fusty helps make it all quite clear. For anyone who needs a refresher on the "Trolley Car" gedankenexperiment, the Good Place [youtube.com] is good.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday June 21 2021, @04:14PM (1 child)
Manchin ran on bipartisanship. Some people think that's a fool's errand but his constituents seem to like it.
So it is not very surprising that he's trying to negotiate with the Republicans.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Monday June 21 2021, @04:47PM
"Pray" that it doesn't work against the dems next year.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..