Thread: Kyrsten Sinema keeps saying that the U.S. Senate filibuster keeps federal policy from wide swings and that it encourages bipartisanship.
The literal opposite is true. For a prose version, see this essay I published in June. flux.community/matthew-sheffi…
The literal opposite is true. For a prose version, see this essay I published in June. flux.community/matthew-sheffi…
In the first place, it's critical to note that the vast majority of state legislatures, including Arizona's, have abolished or never even allowed a filibuster.
Has anyone in the DC press corps ever asked Sinema about this fact?
Has anyone in the DC press corps ever asked Sinema about this fact?
Secondly, it's important to note that Sinema has taken her argument from Mitch McConnell. According to him, the filibuster “keeps America in the political center.”
McConnell doesn't care at all about bipartisanship and centrism, however, so Sinema has been totally had.
McConnell doesn't care at all about bipartisanship and centrism, however, so Sinema has been totally had.
The filibuster, as currently constructed, allows numerous exceptions. All of them align 100% perfectly with McConnell's political strategy:
✔️ Judicial nominations
✔️ International trade agreements
✔️ Must-pass budget bills
✔️ Repeals of executive orders
✔️ Judicial nominations
✔️ International trade agreements
✔️ Must-pass budget bills
✔️ Repeals of executive orders
The real effect of the filibuster is that it gives far-right senators a veto power over spending & regulation bills that Americans overwhelmingly support.
McConnell knows that passing the right's agenda is political suicide. Even GOP voters don't want to slash gov't.
McConnell knows that passing the right's agenda is political suicide. Even GOP voters don't want to slash gov't.
But sometimes, as in the case of repealing the ACA, the GOP has no choice and uses filibuster evasion to have to vote.
Every time, however, the GOP's own Senators vote down enacting their fiscal agenda. The filibuster hasn't protected good policies, their popularity has.
Every time, however, the GOP's own Senators vote down enacting their fiscal agenda. The filibuster hasn't protected good policies, their popularity has.
Thus, the filibuster and its current exceptions serve only to stymie progressive legislation and far-right extremist legislation.
It shifts the Senate's politics to the center-right, which is where McConnell wants it. He can stymie any big Dem vote and crush lunatics like Cruz.
It shifts the Senate's politics to the center-right, which is where McConnell wants it. He can stymie any big Dem vote and crush lunatics like Cruz.
But the filibuster has destabilized U.S. politics because it enables far-right politicians to never face accountability for their policies.
They never get enacted legislatively or even discussed by the national press and so Americans have no idea how crazy they are.
They never get enacted legislatively or even discussed by the national press and so Americans have no idea how crazy they are.
McConnell and Republicans' abuse of the filibuster is why Senate productivity has declined drastically and why millions of Americans have become disengaged from politics.
"It doesn't matter who's elected," is their refrain. The filibuster is a huge reason that's not untrue. /end
"It doesn't matter who's elected," is their refrain. The filibuster is a huge reason that's not untrue. /end
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