McConnell has no morals or ethics and doesn’t care about the American people, democracy, the future or even his own reputation. The Democrats care about those things and try to operate within the traditional framework, but they’re not on a level playing field when there is no limit to how low the Republicans are willing to go in order to accomplish their objectives. TLDR: McConnell fights dirty. |
So why don’t the Democrats wise up? |
Because then nobody is playing by the rules and the rule of law ceases to exist, anybody can do anything, and we no longer have any Constitutional protections. That would be the end of the USA as we’ve always known it. |
DP. The “thing about the Senate” PP is wondering about, is the filibuster. Nuke it. Majority rule is the only way when you’ve got a minority that won’t even convict a president they know is guilty. |
The filibuster is not in the Constitution and was only installed as a way for Reconstruction era former slave states to continue to hold sway over the country. It continues to be an effective tool.
The problem is, as constituted, the Senate has a massive and growing imbalance of power between the rural and urban. When Senators voting to acquit represent 71 million more people and yet there is no acquittal; when 75% of the American public supports the Biden COVID bill, yet it needs to be passed on reconcilliation, there is something wrong with the system, and yet, it will be the GOP who claim the Dems are breaking our democracy, our republic, by trying to force reforms. |
Did you mean to say that the senators voting to acquit represent 71 million fewer people? Also there was an acquittal. He was acquitted. |
Even worse, the senators are catering to an even smaller minority with in their own party. Reading reports this morning that GOP constituents want COVID relief more than their elected leadership does. That should be happening, but it is. Because of the filibuster. Here’s the article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/local-republicans-support-biden-covid-relief-plan/2021/02/14/9791d4ba-6d65-11eb-9ed1-73d434b5147f_story.html |
We need 51 votes to get rid of the filibuster. This is problem
with a divided senate—to easy to be the holdout, even without a filibuster. Dems need to win another seat or two. Then I think the filibuster is toast if anyone tries to use it on widely popular legislation. Maybe Manchin can be convinced to get rid of it, because he himself is a walking filibuster when the senate is tied like this. Dems need to be unanimous to get anything done right now. So why not. Just do it. Does that make sense? |
Importance in the senate needs to be by how many people you represent vs. seniority. Line them up that way. We can't get rid of the equal votes for states until we come up with something truly better, but we can do this. Big senators get the nice bathrooms. Little sens gotta queue up outside for a porto-potty. I'm from NH so it's a little sad, but worth it! Big sens get fresh coffee and water in glassware. Little sens get a paper cup from the coffee cart or the bubbler. The peacocks would get pissy fast. |
*snort* |