If we’d kept the supermajority, democrats would have EXPANDED Obamacare.
Democrats could have dropped the filibuster to be able to pass that better version with a simple majority. Then they could ride that success in future elections by pointing out that they were willing to overcome Republican obstruction.
But instead they half assed it when they had the chance and achieved partial progress that killed the momentum.
Then the Republicans dropped the filibuster partially to stack the courts.
Dropping the filibuster is a nuclear option that will open us up to massive Republican attacks when they’re in power. It’s not a move to be taken lightly.
It has zero power when the other party holds all three branches other than tradition.
Republicans have already shown they don’t care about tradition, and they only keep the neutered version of it around to obstruct Democratic legislation. Republicans already snipped it out from the judicial nominations when they had the senate and the oval office. If they hold all three branches they will drop it the moment they want to pass an abortion ban or anything else. The Democrats keeping it around is just shooting themselves in the foot.
Remember that the filibuster exists with a simple majority in the senate and can be dropped at a moments notice. It was never needed in the first place because needing the House, Senate, and a Presidential signature is already enough room for obstruction and the idea that it keeps debate from being stifled has long proven to be false based on it being used without needing to even be spoken.
The filibuster only benefits Repubilcan obstruction. Why the Democrats won’t let it go is beyond me.
Bullshit. If we’d kept the supermajority, democrats would have EXPANDED Obamacare.
Republicans are stopping progress. Democrats didn’t go “eh fuck it I don’t feel like helping people anymore”. They were blocked by Republicans.
Democrats could have dropped the filibuster to be able to pass that better version with a simple majority. Then they could ride that success in future elections by pointing out that they were willing to overcome Republican obstruction.
But instead they half assed it when they had the chance and achieved partial progress that killed the momentum. Then the Republicans dropped the filibuster partially to stack the courts.
Dropping the filibuster is a nuclear option that will open us up to massive Republican attacks when they’re in power. It’s not a move to be taken lightly.
It has zero power when the other party holds all three branches other than tradition.
Republicans have already shown they don’t care about tradition, and they only keep the neutered version of it around to obstruct Democratic legislation. Republicans already snipped it out from the judicial nominations when they had the senate and the oval office. If they hold all three branches they will drop it the moment they want to pass an abortion ban or anything else. The Democrats keeping it around is just shooting themselves in the foot.
Remember that the filibuster exists with a simple majority in the senate and can be dropped at a moments notice. It was never needed in the first place because needing the House, Senate, and a Presidential signature is already enough room for obstruction and the idea that it keeps debate from being stifled has long proven to be false based on it being used without needing to even be spoken.
The filibuster only benefits Repubilcan obstruction. Why the Democrats won’t let it go is beyond me.