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Fair enough. Legolas Send a noteboard - 18/01/2010 10:00:16 PM
First, should the senate have rules that allow a large minority group to block major legislation? I think it should have some mechanism in place to do that.

I guess the main argument against that is the one that one of the NYT columnists, either Dowd or Collins I think, made in a column the other day: through the Senate and its considerable power, the small states already have a serious advantage. Any rule or system that requires even more votes in the Senate - i.e., even more support from smaller states - to pass, makes that advantage even greater.
The second argument is should it be so easy and there I agree with you. The minority party should not be allowed to play the role pure obstructionist and simply block every thing that comes down the pipe. I would have no problem if they made them actually get up there and talk not stop for days on end.

Yeah. The crux of the matter is that that one small rule change that the Senate passed, without the House or Supreme Court or president or anyone else having a say in it, results in a de facto requirement of 60 votes for almost any remotely controversial legislation.
I think the real solution though is both sides to learn to be less partisan. Republicans are getting away with it this cycle but if all they call point out is things they have stopped they will have a toughs time come 2012 and if all the dems can do is complain that the republicans stopped them it could be tough on incumbents all around. If unemployment is still over 8% come 2012 finger pointing and excuses won’t get you much.

I agree, it really doesn't seem to be going the right way. At the time of the Sotomayor confirmation, a few Republicans were taking steps in the right direction, but with all this health care fuss, partisanship seems to be running as high as ever. But as you say, if this is how it's gonna be from now on, both parties are just going to take turns in winning and then losing elections, with American voters growing more and more discontent with both parties. Republicans - like Brown now in Massachusetts - are getting votes not because people think they'd do better, but because people want the Democrats out of power. It's turning very ugly, and very much not what the US needs to take on the challenges of the 21st century (not that this is strictly an American problem, many countries seem to have some variation of it).
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Could the Dems really lose in Mass - Kennedy's seat? - 18/01/2010 03:19:29 PM 584 Views
to quote yogi berra: it ain't over till it's over - 18/01/2010 04:10:26 PM 168 Views
Oh, if Brown wins, I'm sure he will be out next election..... - 18/01/2010 04:28:05 PM 166 Views
it works both ways you know - 18/01/2010 04:37:40 PM 179 Views
I disagree... - 20/01/2010 04:11:15 AM 199 Views
Even if he loses and it is close I think it will scare a lot of democrats - 18/01/2010 04:15:03 PM 177 Views
You may be right on that last bit, unfortunately... *NM* - 18/01/2010 04:18:37 PM 79 Views
Agreed - blunder of epic proportions! *NM* - 18/01/2010 04:30:18 PM 78 Views
If we don't get a handle on healthcare it will destroy the economy. - 18/01/2010 06:01:18 PM 167 Views
It makes people question their priorities - 18/01/2010 08:17:16 PM 238 Views
Maybe they should. - 18/01/2010 09:47:11 PM 195 Views
You act like America is a collective - 18/01/2010 10:16:39 PM 253 Views
Is it? What are the Republicans offering for the non-insured? - 18/01/2010 10:20:42 PM 156 Views
Tort reform - 18/01/2010 10:33:01 PM 153 Views
purchase insurance across state lines - 18/01/2010 10:44:54 PM 156 Views
the dems don't see insurance companies as the enemy either - 18/01/2010 11:09:24 PM 153 Views
Exactly. - 19/01/2010 02:09:49 AM 259 Views
that simply proves they are inept - 19/01/2010 01:45:33 PM 153 Views
Of course they did nothing for the 6 years they controlled Congress. - 19/01/2010 12:39:44 AM 161 Views
That isn't true, my mother-in-law can now afford to buy her medicine - 19/01/2010 01:57:28 PM 234 Views
Curious about the last part. - 20/01/2010 12:05:40 AM 245 Views
There are some basic flaws in your argument - 20/01/2010 03:18:58 PM 153 Views
America, like all groups of people, IS a collective, however diverse. - 19/01/2010 02:02:24 AM 287 Views
but it doesn't think like a collective - 20/01/2010 03:25:29 PM 146 Views
Yes, I realize human beings are selfish; that's something to overcome, not embrace. - 20/01/2010 06:21:33 PM 140 Views
Human nature can not be overcome it can only be redirected - 20/01/2010 07:03:46 PM 153 Views
That's a bigger debate than politics. - 20/01/2010 10:42:02 PM 262 Views
I know who I'm voting for! - 18/01/2010 04:26:29 PM 199 Views
I'm starting to think..... - 18/01/2010 04:33:23 PM 180 Views
Certainly, he wouldn't stand a chance without protest votes. *NM* - 18/01/2010 04:45:37 PM 84 Views
That whole "filibuster-proof" concept was a lot more valid... - 18/01/2010 04:44:51 PM 194 Views
I have seen this argument elsewhere and I am not sure it makes sense - 18/01/2010 05:28:57 PM 234 Views
It does not make sense if it's used in a partisan way, that's true. - 18/01/2010 05:43:10 PM 262 Views
I think the fillibuster is with in the spirit and the law on the constitution - 18/01/2010 06:03:55 PM 236 Views
Fair enough. - 18/01/2010 10:00:16 PM 163 Views
Any argument made by Dowd is suspect from the start - 18/01/2010 10:39:28 PM 193 Views
They should keep making them actually filibuster, yes. - 18/01/2010 10:09:01 PM 328 Views
Fight the good fight, my man...er...dog! - 18/01/2010 05:48:08 PM 160 Views

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