Really wonderful breakdown of the filibuster, both this and the piece you wrote in April. It is incredibly frustrating that the Senate has become a body of obstructionism.
And perhaps there's an argument to be made that abolishing the filibuster would be a stronger check on the executive branch, if the Senate and Presidency are held by opposite parties. It does seem that without a minority filibuster, any President appointing life-long Supreme Court justices is exercising outsized power. The ship has clearly sailed on that, however.
Perhaps a middle road is possible? Lower the cloture vote requirement from 60 to say 55? I think the filibuster has its place, but things need to be changed so it's not purely obstructionism.
Really wonderful breakdown of the filibuster, both this and the piece you wrote in April. It is incredibly frustrating that the Senate has become a body of obstructionism.
And perhaps there's an argument to be made that abolishing the filibuster would be a stronger check on the executive branch, if the Senate and Presidency are held by opposite parties. It does seem that without a minority filibuster, any President appointing life-long Supreme Court justices is exercising outsized power. The ship has clearly sailed on that, however.
Perhaps a middle road is possible? Lower the cloture vote requirement from 60 to say 55? I think the filibuster has its place, but things need to be changed so it's not purely obstructionism.