Senate Stuck in Quicksand of Record Filibusters

View attachment 413 The Republican minority in the Senate continues to obstruct even wildly popular legislation. RW’ers like to belittle the “Change” mantra of the 2008 Obama campaign but even given that a large majority of the electorate swept Obama into office, Republicans have spent the last 3 years blocking any and all changes and then mocking the president’s “lack” of change. If that isn’t the very definition of cynicism, I don’t know what is. Obstructionism isn’t leadership, it’s a lack of ideas and a vacuous ideology.

In just one more of numerous examples, the U.S. Senate vote Monday on the so-called “Buffett Rule” provided more evidence of the dysfunctional mess that is supposed to be our democratic political system.
By a 51-45 vote, the Senate voted in favor of a minimum tax rate for millionaires and billionaires. Polls clearly show the public agrees that the very wealthy should pay an equal or higher income tax rate than other taxpayers.
But of course the legislation didn’t pass because, after all, we are talking about the U.S. Senate, where 60 votes are required to invoke cloture, end a filibuster and pass most bills. With partisanship and obstructionism the GOP’s preferred strategy, filibuster threats have soared to record levels and explain in large part why so many popular Democratic Party proposals have been left in the dust.
What makes this all the more absurd is that the U.S. Constitution has a solution for a deadlocked Senate. Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 spells it out: ”The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.”
Exactly how this constitutionally mandated role can be implemented these days, when 60 Senate votes are needed to get legislation passed, is hard to figure out. Even if the Monday vote had been 50-50, with Joe Biden sitting in the bullpen, the “Buffett Rule” never had a prayer of passing.
This kind of deadlock by minority rule has worked out wonderfully for the GOP. With their stated goal, ”for President Obama to be a one-term President” according to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, gridlock is easy and effective.
So once again, millionaires will continue paying lower effective tax rates, single-payer or public option in health care will be out of reach, and federal judges will fail to be confirmed. Is it possible Democrats will get tough and move to reform the rules to prevent such blatant obstruction by Republicans? It’s about as likely as the GOP admitting they were wrong about global warming and abortion rights.
Expect a whole lot more good legislation to die in the United States Senate this year.

 

ummmm.....the dems control the Senate, there aren't 51 Repubs

 

Do you not understand how the filibuster works? Apparently not!

 

But please explain how the filibuster works when the democrats hold 60 votes.

 

They don't hold 60 votes.

 

Present tense, you are correct. However, if you look up the past, that you seem to have conveniently forgotten, the democrats did in fact have 60 votes from 2008 though 2010. Now if you compare that to your chart, how inconvenient is it that it just happens to be your high point. So the only ones capable of actually pulling off a filibuster would have been the democrats. How awkward!

 

Why not use reconciliation or executive order? It wouldn't be the first time, would it?

Anyway, I don't know what the libs are complaining about. BO has gotten virtually everything he has ever wanted passed, hasn't he? Oh, maybe that's the problem? The libs know if BO keeps doing his thing there will be no chance whatsoever he'll be re-elected.

 

Keep dreamin'. Obama's going to win in November. Why? Romney will not be able to gain enough support from his party... it's too fractured, and a significant chunk of it can't stand him.