Currently in the minority, the GOP insists that the Senate's filibuster is absolutely ESSENTIAL

[Atticus]

to the appropriate functioning of our government and democracy may perish without it.

So,------if the Democrats get rid of it, will Republicans quickly re-establish it as soon as they regain control?

For the sake of clarity, of course I know the answer to that question.

I'd just like to hear it asked of Mitch and his crew.

[essaynnc]

1. just like all the other lies they tell to get what they want....nt

[robbob]

2. Ok, I've been meaning to post about, or even start a thread about the filibuster

I’m Canadian so I don’t fully understand the workings of the filibuster. Mr. Smith goes to Washington is about the extent of my knowledge, and it sure seemed like a good thing in THAT movie! And yes, I realize it doesn’t work like that anymore. From a practical point of view it seems anything that further gums up the workings of government should be done away with; it seems to this Canadian that it’s hard enough getting anything done with your 3 branches of government constantly “checking and balancing” each other. So yes, I think getting rid of it is a good idea, but…

Here’s the thing; it seems the filibuster is a kind of brake that a party not holding the reins of power can employ to slow down the agenda of the party in power. Now that the Democratic Party is back in power everyone here wants to get rid of it. Ok, so what happens next time the Republicans are in charge again? And yes, let’s hope that’s not for a long, long time, but be reasonable; it WILL happen.

Or for that matter, what if TFG had let a charge to get rid of the filibuster? Would everyone here have gotten behind that push? Of course not. So it seems to me if something is bad, then it’s bad regardless of who is in control. We can’t complain about the filibuster now and then find ourselves missing it when the shoe is on the other foot.

In other words, be careful what you wish for.

[CrispyQ]

4. We're stuck in a suck situation.

With the filibuster in place, dems can't pass bold legislation. By not going bold, the base, particularly new voters, will be demoralized & possibly not turn out for the mid-terms. Consequently, we risk losing one or both chambers of congress. If we lose either one of those, absolutely nothing will get done, & we set ourselves up to risk losing even more in 2024. And if we lose the House, they will start impeachment. That's where we are with our government now. Trump truly deserved to be impeached, but the repubs, who have sunk to a junior high level of maturity, are all about tit-for-tat now, so they will go after Biden.

IMO, new voters are fickle voters. They expect change to happen quickly. And the other side? They're fired up & motivated to vote us out.

[Baked Potato]

12. Agree with all. nt

[keithbvadu2]

5. Both parties have had the opportunity to get rid of the filibuster but neither one really wants to.

Both parties have had the opportunity to get rid of the filibuster but neither one really wants to. They feel that it's too useful to them in the future.

[Baked Potato]

11. Agree. nt

[GoCubsGo]

6. If the GOP ever regains the Senate, you can pretty much guarantee Moscow Mitch

will do away with the filibuster. They want it now, because it gives them power that they shouldn't have as a minority party. It currently serves their purposes, and they won't want the Dems to pull the kind of stunts they have been pulling. No way they're going to let the Dems grind things to a halt the way they are now.

[Nevilledog]

14. And they'll say we made them do it.

GOP: Dems threatened the filibuster. Therefore, our only choice is to get rid of it.

[Johonny]

9. Most likely they will keep it. The filibuster was already removed for the things the GOP likes to do

It still only exists to block social programs, social justice, and massive needed reforms. But they can cut taxes, pass judges, without it.

[Baked Potato]

10. Republicans use any means available to do whatever they want.

Democrats worry about not being perfect angels.

The filibuster needs to go. Democrats need to get some big things done, NOW. Republicans bank on Democrats being timid and scared to be tough politicians.

There is an ever narrowing window of opportunity to really do the People’s work.

Who really doubts what the Rs *might* do when in charge? Obviously, they will enact revenge politics like never seen before.

[andym]

13. The GOP doesn't need to end the filibuster: it really doesn't have much policy except tax cuts

which can use reconciliation, and creating neo-conservative courts (think Scalia and Thomas) to enforce their idea of social policies. So they can live with the filibuster as currently constituted as it allows them the exceptions to stack the courts and give out tax cuts, but blocks Democrats from any major legislation.