McConnell offers fresh defense of Senate filibuster, warns Democrats could pass 'socialist policies'

[Celerity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mcconnell-offers-fresh-defense-of-senate-filibuster-warns-democrats-could-pass-socialist-policies-if-they-take-control/2019/08/22/c99b8ea0-c4de-11e9-b72f-b31dfaa77212_story.html

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) offered a fresh defense of the filibuster on Thursday, writing in an op-ed that Democrats could pass a “laundry list of socialist policies” if they took control of the chamber and the long-standing tradition was dropped.

“Our country doesn’t need a second House of Representatives with fewer members and longer terms,” McConnell wrote in a piece published by the New York Times in which he touted the strong role of the minority-party rights in his chamber. “America needs the Senate to be the Senate.

McConnell’s op-ed comes as many Democratic presidential candidates and others in the party have called for abandoning the Senate requirement to secure 60 votes to overcome a filibuster to advance most legislation. According to a Washington Post tally, five Democratic White House hopefuls have said they believe the Senate should be able to pass bills with a simple majority, while another 11 contenders have said they are open to the change.

They argue that the lower bar would make it far easier to enact plans such as Medicare-for-all that draw little or no Republican support, assuming Democrats take control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in next year’s elections. President Trump has also called for eliminating the filibuster, a fact left unmentioned in McConnell’s op-ed. Trump derided the “ridiculous filibuster rule” in tweets early in his tenure when Republicans struggled to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

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[democratisphere]

1. As compared with Moscow Mitch's authoritarian dictatorship

policies? Moscow Mitch loves Russia, Russian Oligarchs and Putin.

[keithbvadu2]

2. Like Donald's socialist policies?

Like Donald's socialist policies?

[machoneman]

3. Worried he'll lose his post as majority leader? The Senate IS in play!

[Marie Marie]

4. Hopefully, he will lose his Senate Race and won't have to worry about the leadership.

[econron]

5. ZERO credibility

Yo Mitch you are the biggest hypocrite in politics and history will NOT be kind to you. Avoided the rules for the new Russian aluminum plant and there is one idled near New Madrid MO. WTF - wow thats fantastic you say, well your oped just reinforces what a tool you are for the Russians. Retire old man and move back to China with your spying wife...

[Poiuyt]

6. In other words, Democrats might pass legislation that actually helps people

[W_HAMILTON]

7. He scared.

Fuck him -- kill the filibuster.

[Celerity]

11. yes, if is something the Rethugs TRULY want, they will flush it first, fuck 'em

I am raging over Moscow Mitch, he is a HUGE block against protecting our nation and is also leading down the country the road to perdition.

[PoiBoy]

8. Why don't the Dems use the filibuster to hold up the federal judge appointments..?

I seem to recall legislation being held up in the past by a single Senator, who sometimes remained anonymous...

I don't have a clear recollection of the facts, so I would appreciate any input... thank you..

[EleanorR]

9. Moscow Mitch chose to ignore the tradition of blue slips

So he could ram thru as many judges as possible.

[Celerity]

10. +1

fuck that bastard traitor

[PoiBoy]

12. Thank you..!!