Thinking of the filibuster

[RazzleCat]

I keep reading, end the filibuster. Not a bad idea, but then I think back to Mr. Smith goes to Washington, and Jimmy Stewarts filibuster. I liked that filibuster, if I remember the movie correctly, Mr. Smith could prevent a vote for as long as he could keep talking, he could not just stop any legislation coming up for a vote, nor could he just end a vote, no he could only stand and speak to try and delay the vote, for as long as he could hold the floor. I think we should maybe adjust the filibuster to that form, you can delay, you can speak for as long as well you can speak. Think about it, so the senator from X starts, they can go for say 5 or so hours, then senator Y the same, at most you will delay a vote for a few days, but you may be able to sway a vote to your side, or open up some real discussion. At the very least the public will hear and learn of legislation, have an opportunity to contact their representatives. Right now no one hears, or learns of proposed bills, they just go into a black hole with out discussion, a silent filibuster.

We do need to end this no debate, no consequences filibuster, this method not allowing a bill to come to the floor, this back door method of ending legislation with out a vote, but maybe we still need a "real" filibuster.

[Coleman]

1. You can't switch speakers. Once the speaker stops, the Senate takes a vote for closure.

You can still do the old type, Remember Cruz and "Green Eggs and Ham."

the Democrats ended the filibuster on judicial appointments and you see where that got us.

[moose65]

5. And you know WHY they did that, right?

McConnell’s Republicans in the Senate were blocking all of Obama’s judicial nominations. It was unprecedented. Democrats ended the filibuster, but not for Supreme Court nominations. The Republicans did that for Gorsuch.

[Sherman A1]

2. That is my position as well

If a senator wants to stand on the floor and keep talking until they wear out and in the process can sway some votes for their point of view, I have no problem with that being the rules.

[Johnny2X2X]

3. Ending the filabuster and expanding the SCOTUS are not good campaign issues

Say you aren't considering doing them, and then when in power go full nuclear and do them and use that new found power to cement voting rights and ease of voting into law and there will be nothing the Reps can do going forward to do anything about it.

[RainCaster]

4. Filabusters change no minds- no one is listening

They talk to an empty hall.
The only way to make a filabuster effective is to require that all must stay present. If you leave the chamber, you lose your vote.