Senate Democrats have the power to stop Trump. All they have to do is use it.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/01/27/democrats-in-congress-can-block-trumps-agenda-if-they-want-to-heres-how/?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.3b416714b99e

Senate Democrats have a powerful tool at their disposal, if they choose to use it, for resisting a president who has no mandate and cannot claim to embody the popular will. That tool lies in the simple but fitting act of withholding consent. An organized effort to do so on the Senate floor can bring the body to its knees and block or severely slow down the agenda of a president who does not represent the majority of Americans.

The procedure for withholding consent is straightforward, but deploying it is tricky. For the Senate to move in a timely fashion on any order of business, it must obtain unanimous support from its members. But if a single senator objects to a consent agreement, McConnell, now majority leader, will be forced to resort to time-consuming procedural steps through the cloture process, which takes four days to confirm nominees and seven days to advance any piece of legislation — and that’s without amendment votes, each of which can be subjected to a several-day cloture process as well.

McConnell can ask for consent at any time, and if no objection is heard, the Senate assumes that consent is granted. So the 48 senators in the Democratic caucus must work together — along with any Republicans who aren’t afraid of being targeted by an angry tweet — to ensure that there is always a senator on the floor to withhold consent.

Because every Senate action requires the unanimous consent of members from all parties, everything it does is a leverage point for Democrats. For instance, each of the 1,000-plus nominees requiring Senate confirmation — including President Trump’s Cabinet choices — can be delayed for four days each.

The link has the whole article, from the Washington Post.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. That was my understanding,

and what the Hell is Schumer doing.

[msanthrope]

12. Waiting. So far, without googling can you name the law that passed through

the Senate with consent?

[Wellstone ruled]

16. Not yet,

watching Budget Amendments to come. Next week should be interesting with Debt Ceiling coming up. Do know Al Franken is waiting to pounce on any Consent Motions.

[dalton99a]

2. Kick.

[pat_k]

3. FAX article to your Senators. Quick and easy way to say "get on the stick" damn it.

Last edited Sat Mar 18, 2017, 04:03 PM - Edit history (1)

FAX numbers
https://gfbrandenburg.wordpress.com/2017/01/29/a-list-of-help-senators-fax-numbers/

Can send for free with following (but free faxes have FaxZero branding on cover page).
https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php

https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

More fax services with free trials below.

If you don't have time to write a letter just FAX the article to your Senators and the leadership.
Use leadership titles on cover sheet (or letter if you include a letter) otherwise you may be "written off" as "not a constituent.

Shumer, Minority Leader
Durbin, Minority Whip

Also may want to FAX ranking members of the committees considered most powerful

Leahy Vice Chairman* Appropriations
Sanders. Ranking Member Budget, (also Chief of Outreach)
Wyden, Ranking Member, Finance
Nelson, Ranking Member Commerce

*There are four committees that use the title "Vice Chairman" for Ranking Member: Appropriations, Indian Affairs, Ethics, and Intelligence



All the following have free trials. (If you plan to keep after your Senators and Rep via FAX -- which is considered more effective than phone or email -- may want to subscribe.)

http://www.metrofax.com
7.95 monthly

http://www.myfax.com
$10 monthly subscription

http://www.fax.com
$10 monthly.

https://www.efax.com/pricing
$16.95 monthly

There are many more.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Good thinking! And thank you for those links.

[pat_k]

10. FYI. Just added some more info.

Added leadership, ranking members of big committees, and some other stuff.

[samnsara]

39. just text RESIST to 50409...You can send free faxes emails or texts to your reps..

..its called resist robot or something. I used to use it daily...

[H2O Man]

4. Recommended.

We have to remind them.

[ananda]

6. Perhaps.

I also tend to want the Dems to fight tooth and nail
with every possible tactic and tool available.

At the same time, I also want the 45ers to see and feel the
real consequences of their hate and their vote without the
Dems coming in to save their asses and not getting credit
anyway.

It's an internal conflict for me.

[pat_k]

17. Perhaps these thoughts will help resolve your mixed feelings.

It is particularly important for Democrats to "fight tooth and nail" because, too often, they don't. They have a habit of refraining from going "all out." That habit has helped to brand them as "weak" and "ineffective" in the minds of many. The leadership takes a "Can't win, so don't fight" position far too often. One of the major driving forces behind DT's appeal is the view that he is "strong." And, as Bill Clinton pointed out:

"When people are insecure, they'd rather have somebody who is strong and wrong than someone who's weak and right."
-- Bill Clinton

There have always been people in the party fighting for what they know is right, win or lose. And those people are the people that many of us take the greatest pride in. Unfortunately, too many "establishment" Dems (for lack of a better word) spend a lot of effort trying to "moderate" the "tone." They think they are doing it for the good of the party. They are acting out of what I believe is a wrong-headed notion that the electorate breaks down into a neat bell curve, with a majority falling in some "moderate" middle. I think the "spectrum" isn't a "spectrum" at all. I see it as something more like this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8773335

The bell curve view of the spectrum drives many prominent Dems to set aside what they really think needs to happen in favor of some middle of the road proposal. The problem is that's it's almost impossible to be truly passionate about beliefs you have watered down. The lack of passion comes through. Fighting with all the tools at their disposal, and fighting for the "whole loaf," (instead of a measly slice) is the way to inspire confidence in our own power to accomplish some pretty great things. Action is born of hope and confidence. Without it, we will continue to see political participation decline.

So, long story short, more Dems need to take on the mantle of "Strong and Right" by:

(1) Fighting tooth and nail against DT and his cronies, using ALL the tools at their disposal, and
(2) Going beyond being the "opposition party," putting forward some bold proposals, and mounting serious, coordinated, efforts to "sell" those proposals. This would put them in a much stronger position to tear down what DT and cronies are trying to do. When asked "but you don't have the votes," call on voters to put more Dems into the House and Senate in 2018 so we CAN DO IT RIGHT.

One example of (2) would be putting forward a Democratic "fix ACA" plan that includes the Public Option -- and doing it NOW while the "debate" is in the spotlight. . More on why doing this is so vital:

Why Dems need to put forward, and Make the Case for, our own ACA "fix" bill:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1728146


And why they need to connect it to the case for universal health care:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8773578

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. Very well said, my dear pat_k!

I think you're a passionate Dem and I applaud your efforts.

Thank you also for the additional items in your post with the links.

[Ligyron]

23. THIS

Exactly.

[jaysunb]

27. +1 n/t

[Ligyron]

25. " I also want the 45ers to see and feel the real consequences of their hate and their vote"

I'm torn too because the quicker the bad happens the more directly it can be pinned on Trump and the GOP. Give them too much time by delaying the horrors to come and somehow it won't seem as bad and/or it will be blamed on Democrats.

But then, of course, people suffer; some fatally - and that's bad.

[gademocrat7]

7. K&R

Thank you, Peggy!

[beachbum bob]

9. Delaying tactic... Doesn't stop anything. And

McConnell could easily change any Senate rule with a majority vote..

[smirkymonkey]

11. K&R and Bookmarked!

[Duppers]

13. K & R

[lindysalsagal]

14. They won't because they're all taking dirty $, and fRump will put them all.

They'll only turn themselves in if they're already outed and they have nothing to lose.

[TeamPooka]

15. If they don't do this we need some new Democrats that will.

[red dog 1]

18. K&R

But I wouldn't be surprised if McTurtle did change Senate rules to limit ANY "stalling" tactic the Senate Dems might adopt...including this one.

[Hekate]

19. Kick

[erronis]

21. The congress is rapidly becoming a "branch of the government" in name only

With a tyrant exercising executive powers and not giving a damn about public opinion congress may just become a rubber stamp for already executed actions. Sort of like our thinking conscious catching up to our base impulses.

[bucolic_frolic]

22. McConnell earned it

with his obstruction

but if Democrats are bold enough to use it they should use it respectfully
in good order

4 days each? My my how time flies

[IronLionZion]

24. America doesn't have time for consent!

Which is what they have long said about sexual consent. They'll just change the rules and eventually outlaw the Democratic party.

[grantcart]

26. As long as you agree that the Republicans can use the same rules to shut the Senate down

The reality is that if any side brought all operations to a hault in the way described they party in power will change the rules.

[sharedvalues]

28. We do not live in normal times. Stop destruction of America first, then worry abt governing in 4 yrs

We do not live in normal times. Stop destruction of America first, then worry abt governing in 4 yrs

[grantcart]

32. That's not the way it works. There is one set of rules for both sides.

The current rules in the Senate allow for a Senator to slow down legislation on a single piece of legislation. It was never intended to allow for a systematic stoppage of all legislation or, obviously, it would never have been allowed to be in the rules.

Rather than expanding the power of the minority in the Senate I would advocate getting rid of the filibuster so that you win the Senate you pass the legislation. The Senate already has a substantial bias to rural areas so increasing power to the minority gives them veto proof power and we will never get single payer.

A better path for us is to allow them to pass the legislation that they believe in and make them pay for it in the next election, the way that Parliamentary democracies operate.

In any case it is academic because if we try to bring a complete stoppage of all legislation then the Republicans would have a voice vote to change the rules.

[sharedvalues]

34. GOP has been destroying norms and most of America has looked the other way

Fight fire with fire. Democrats need to show they care about America, unify, and use whatever rules are at their disposal. The GOP has already shredded Democratic norms.

There's benefit from Democrats showing they are pissed and that these are not normal times. If they just follow the rules most voters will think everything is just peachy.

When one party is trying to destroy American democracy, the other party should act appropriately, taking strong action.

[sharedvalues]

29. Yes. FAX to your senators!

[ailsagirl]

30. OK, I know this is an idiotic question but...

WHY THE HELL AREN'T THEY DOING ANYTHING???

The longer they wait, the less likely we'll get back on track!!

I find this terrifying

[ehrnst]

36. He only announced it yesterday. What do you expect to be public in less than 24 hours? (nt)

[sharedvalues]

31. If you send this to your senator, copy me and I will get delivered to their office!

My brother is in DC and going to Capitol Hill every week to deliver letters to lawmakers.

Since Senators are mostly in DC during the week it can have a big impact to have letters come in both the normal route and direct hand-delivered.

If you want this article or any letter sent to your senator, send it to me via DU Mail. It's better if you also give your name and address so they know it's from a constituent.

[JudyM]

33. It doesn't matter if we call, contact em online or hand deliver, just needs to happen.Welcome to DU.

Paper production uses bleach and inks use metals and the production and recycling, when it happens, use oil/energy. Production plants have terrible environmental issues. Paper is very polluting. Email and phone are every bit as weighty, from everyone I've spoken with.

[Morris64]

35. Do we risk the exercise of the nuclear option by playing hardball in this way?

[ehrnst]

37. Elizabeth Warren worries me on this