Should the Dems Filibuster Gorsuch? - by Michael Tomasky

[DonViejo]

DESPERATE TIMES

Should the Dems Filibuster Gorsuch?

The filibuster is a dubious thing in general in that it gives a minority the power of a majority. If we had two responsible parties, I’d say do away with it. But we don’t.

MICHAEL TOMASKY

03.21.17 1:00 AM ET

The Democrats’ dilemma on what to do about Neil Gorsuch is pretty simple: to filibuster or not to filibuster?

To #teamspine progressives, it’s no dilemma at all. Filibuster all these people. Half of me agrees. But another half of me looks around the corner and sees some downsides. And this tension gets to the heart of what it means to try to be a member of a responsible political party in this polarized age.

The filibuster argument is as follows, but before I lay it out, here are the numbers and the procedural issues at hand. There are 52 Republican senators, and 48 Democrats. The filibuster rule requires that a super-majority of 60 senators vote affirmatively to bring a piece of legislation (or a Supreme Court nomination) to the floor, which means that eight Democrats would have to vote with the Republicans, who will presumably vote en bloc for Gorsuch. Those eight could agree to vote to cut off debate, but then vote against the nomination itself, which requires only a simple majority of 51 to pass.

So, it’s generally thought, it might well be that eight Democratic senators from red states—and there are 10 right now who face reelection in 2018—might vote to end debate but still vote no on the final vote, meaning that they could say they voted against Gorsuch in the end even though they voted to permit his nomination to get to the Senate floor.

more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/03/21/should-the-dems-filibuster-gorsuch.html

[muntrv]

1. Pull a McConnell.

[chelsea0011]

2. Hell yes. This pick needs to be stopped until an investigation of Russian

influence in the election is completed.

[Alpeduez21]

3. Not only yes, but HELL YES.

There is no downside to filibustering. Looking at what Republicans did and the fact they won points to an upside to being obstructionist.

If the dems allow Gorsuch to get the seat basically uncontested holstering the filibuster for a later date there is no guarantee the nuclear option won't be used at that later date. So don't fight know only to lose later is a stupid concept.

Fight now, fight later, and fight like hell. Republicans are evil and corrupt. They only care about rich people with no regard for regular folk. Being anti minority, anti poverty, anti union, anti female, anti small business, and anti American(b/c they put party before principle) are not the model our country needs moving forward.

[Chasstev365]

4. Do Nothing until Garland gets a hearing!

[pat_k]

6. At Least 41 Need to Declare Their Intent to vote NAY on Cloture.

I know what you mean, but doing nothing isn't an option. They need to do something. They need to demonstrate they are the Party of Principle, Strength, and Determination by having 41 of them hold a press conference to declare their intent to vote Nay on Cloture.

[pat_k]

5. YES!!!! Force them to *try* to make good on their "nuclear" threat.

First off, the Republicans may not be able to make good on their threat of "going nuclear." But even if they are, how are we any worse off?

But if Democrats fuck up again and pull off yet ANOTHER preemptive surrender, we will be a LOT worse off. If they don't mount a unified fight with everything they've got, they will firmly solidify their "WEAK" brand. If they want to WIN in 2018, they must stand together and stand strong. They must prove they are willing to fight for what they believe in as hard -- or harder -- than DT and his cronies in the Senate. They must become the party of Principle, Strength, Determination.

If they don't Go All Out, they will OWN IT when Gorsuch -- mister Religious Freedom equals "Fuck over everyone else's civil rights" --- puts the "majority" back on track to destroying whatever protections they haven't managed to destroy already. The only way they can escape complicity is to do EVERYTHING they can to stop him.

Joining together to make a unified stand is not only the RIGHT thing to do, it is the WINNING thing to do.

Get those faxes and calls going!

Start with a call to find out if your Democratic Senators have already Declared Their Intent to vote NAY on Cloture. If they haven't, ask them what is stopping them. Fax a letter challenging whatever their lame excuse is.

[JudyM]

7. Yes, they must learn to fight hard. They cave all.the.time.

Maxine Waters' letter all the way: no voting on Gorsuch while the legitimacy of the presidency is in question.

[UCmeNdc]

8. Yes they should

[Skittles]

9. YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

THE GOP STOLE THIS FUCKING SEAT