Right now the word is that the Senate is voting on something healthcare related tomorrow.
Does anyone know what the bill will be?
Is it the BCRA with a half dozen Byrd droppings?
Is it the BCRA with half a dozen Byrd droppings and the Cruz amendment?
Is it the AHCA?
Is it the 2015 show-me reconcilitaion bill that got vetoed by President Obama?
Is it complete repeal and delay ORRA?
No one knows.
That is not normal.
That is not healthy.
That is not safe.
But it is the reality that we are facing.
So call your Senator and tell them what you think about the wisdom of voting without knowing a goddamn thing about the subject.
Mary G
Even in California?
rikyrah
CALL CALL CALL!!!
rikyrah
@Mary G:
Give them a positive reinforcement
Mary G
@rikyrah: Ok, I have been tweeting at Kamala and DiFi to introduce a bill tweaking Obamacare and I will mention that too.
Patricia Kayden
@rikyrah: Great idea for people like me who live in states with two Democratic Senators. Will do.
maurinsky
I’m asking friends and family who live in states with Republican senators to call about this – my Senators are already on board and fighting daily to stop the repeal vote.
Keith P.
@Mary G: Hell, how about Texas? My Senators are Ted Cruz (Amendment) and John Cornyn (vote whip for BCRA)
Ohio Mom
Just left a message on Portman’s voice mail in DC, will try again later to get an intern or two at one or more of his offices.
Pointed out that an elementary school class discussing their end-of-year party does more deliberating than the Senate is. These people make a mockery of democratic governance.
Another Scott
@Keith P.: Do what you can. Call, write, Tweet, go to their offices, etc. Don’t be silent.
Cheers,
Scott.
Tenar Arha
I’ve been calling through the Congressional switchboard because I figure that at this point the GOP Senators are capable of convincing themselves that calls to the (other Senators’) home offices are made up. However everyone probably has access to the figures that show a high volume of calls through the switchboard….
MomSense
Calling again today. My god these Republicans seemingly never tire of trying to kill us.
Ohio Mom
@Keith P.: I operate on the assumption that my calls do next to nothing, I make them for myself. I make them so I can tell myself I did what I could.
Maybe this comes from having a kid on the autism spectrum. You never know if what you are doing is going to make a difference or not but you drive them to the next speech therapy session or whatever just to prevent any later regrets. I don’t want to live with any should haves, could haves. It gives me some inner peace.
I also like to think that just maybe I can plant a seed of doubt in one of the interns. Education researchers know it usually takes multiple exposures to new material before a learner is able to fully comprehend it and integrate it with the rest of their knowledge base. I kinda doubt any of the interns are actively seeking other points of views so maybe it helps for me to deliver new information directly to them.
Ohio Mom
@MomSense: It was a busy weekend. I will write you later today.
MomSense
@Ohio Mom:
Same for me. Whenever you have time.
MomSense
Just went to my recent calls list and WTF I call my Senators more than family members.
Republicans can we just live please? You’ve disrupted millions of our lives and our kids are watching. When they hear Republican they think of you as the assholes that make their moms cry. Way to go.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
Hmm the Trump Spawn are to testify before congress this week, is this Trump’s flailing attempt at a distraction, creating a worse mess?
Sab
@Ohio Mom: How’s do manage to get interns to talk To? I only get the answering machine.
MomSense
@Sab:
If you call the local offices you can sometimes get a person.
A non mouse
Called Portman to point out it is stupid to vote on a bill when one knows nothing about what’s in it. Been tweeting at him too. Left Sherrod alone because he’s voting just fine.
Milo
What happens if they pass a bill that’s full of stuff the Parlimentarian says can’t be in there?
Adam L Silverman
@Milo:
1) They de facto destroy the Byrd Rule regarding reconciliation.
2) They de facto destroy the legislative filibuster/requirement for a 60 vote majority to move to proceed (cloture).
3) They destroy the credibility of the current Senate parliamentarian who is chosen by the Majority Leader (as in McConnell picked the current one).
4) They de facto destroy the Senate parliamentarian’s purpose, thereby reducing the position in the future to merely a ceremonial one.
5) They destroy the last few functioning norms and traditions that separate the Senate and how it functions from the House of Representatives.
6) Senator McConnell’s destruction of the Senate as a distinct legislative body is complete.
gvg
if I was a senator and a bill came up that I wasn’t allowed to see and analyze beforehand, and I knew it was deliberate, I would assume it was terrible and vote no. I really think a bunch of Senators should be out saying this loudly and clearly. that there aren’t, makes me distrust everyone of the republicans.
Milo
@Adam L Silverman: That’s all _icing_ for them, isn’t it?
I thought I read that the Byrd Rule is actually law, not just a rule of the Senate. Which is to say, if they violate it, the Dems can bring a suit. No?
Adam L Silverman
@Milo: The Byrd Rule is not law, just a rule of the Senate. As for icing? I don’t know.
Cheryl Rofer
The Byrd Rule is not law, but some of the concerns about reconciliation seem to be. I am wonking out on something else right now so can’t tell you which.
frosty
Made the call to Toomey (spit) for what it’s worth. Left the message that he has no business voting on something he hasn’t read.
Milo
I’m crap at google and worse at law, but: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/644
Can’t make heads or tails of that myself.
Percysowner
I called Sherrod Brown and thanked him for opposing. The office answered and they were very appreciative. Portman is back to busy signals and voicemail, so I left the VM. However the busy signal tells me that he is getting lots of feedback.
Ohio Mom
I got through to one of Portman offices but which one, I don’t remember. I just go up and down the list on the bottom of his home page: you click on the number and it dials automatically.
You just have to keep trying. I can’t remember the last time I got through to the DC office but between Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and the 800 number for constituent problems, the chances are somewhat good that some hapless intern will eventually pick up.
I tend to try for ten minutes or so. If I don’t have any luck I go do something else for a while before starting up again. Not everyone has the luxury of that kind of schedule, if I was working outside the home, I couldn’t do what I do.
I wrote an email too but those are fun for me.
J R in WV
David, when your list says:
Is it the 2015 show-me reconcilitaion bill that got vetoed by President Obama?
J R in WV
@J R in WV:
WOW, could I have messed up the quote block command any worse than that?
I’ll bet my pedantry license will disappear without a trace in mere moments~!
VFX Lurker
@Mary G:
I live in California, and I agree with rikyrah. I’ve been calling our Senators almost every week about this. I thank them for their ACA defense, give them my blessing to use Any Means Necessary to bring down the BCRA, and let them know I approve of improving the ACA.
sphys
A report from Texas, in spite of my lack of faith in my Senators: Cornyn’s mailbox in DC is full, and his Houston office was busy. (I haven’t tried his other offices yet.) Cruz’s staffer said that it’ll be the BCRA with several amendments, including the Cruz amendment.
Cervantes
If I lived in California I’d call Feinstein and ask her to resign.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
no great fan of DiFi– she was one of Bush’s most reliable Dem votes– but this genuinely surprises me, and there are a good half dozen who would not have surprised me at all. I wonder if her office is putting this out as cover for them?
f you live in a state with one or two Democratic Senators,
And just a reminder: If you’re calling other state’s Senators, you’re just harassing a nineteen year-old and probably unpaid intern
Alison Rose
Oy. Okay, as a Californian, I guess it’s my duty to call Feinstein’s office and be like WHAT THE EVERLOVING FUCK AND ALSO RETIRE ALREADY GOOD GOD.
No, I’ll be nicer than that. Grr.
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
It would surprise me if she was the one who ended up being the roadblock. But with her current mental state, anything is possible.
dmsilev
@Cervantes: The polite version to describe Feinstein is that she’s a long-serving Senator who is set in her ways and doesn’t see any real reason to change things. The less polite version includes variations on “strong evidence for cognitive decline” and “just resign already.”.
Percysowner
Living in Ohio sucks, politically, due to gerrymandering. HOWEVER Sherrod Brown is rock solid on progressive issues and strongly behind filibuster removal, so all I have to do is call and tell him “good job”. Tim Ryan has also said the right things about the filibuster in his run for Senate, so if he can pull this off, he should be on the side of good.
artem1s
I see no reason to call Portman about anything ever again. But I do like the idea of contacting the campaigns of the Democrats running for Senate seats and asking them what their position is on the filibuster. I honestly don’t know where Ryan sits on that issue. It’s not a deal breaker for me since I’m never voting for Vance or a third party, but I do think it’s important to let women in Ohio know what he is willing to do to protect their agency.
It could be a double edged sword for those in close races. Are the candidates willing to go on record if it will turn out the Dem AND GOP fundy base? Personally, I think it would help all their creds with the Dem base if they demonstrate they have no more fucks to give when it comes to hurting the wingnuts fee-fees.
Suzanne
I cannot stand Feinstein. Just the worst.
Why people try to hang onto these jobs when they obviously cannot do them anymore is the worst kind of narcissism.
Baud
@Suzanne: Yeah, I would value her if she were from a purple or red state, but California can do much better. She’s not quite the monkey wrench that Lieberman was, but it’s a similar problem.
cmorenc
@dmsilev:
Re: Feinstein
The Senate’s a hard drug to give up for most incumbents, especially multi-term incumbents who don’t (or at least no longer have) ambitions to use it as a springboard to other offices. What else / where else could they go to still be so important (at least in their own minds)? While I can’t read Feinstein’s mind, it would be irresponsible to not speculate that she at least subconsciously associates leaving the Senate with the approach of death.
Cacti
It’s time for some of the fossils to go to a museum.
California can do better than DiFi.
Mai Naem mobile
I’ve called Sinema’s office plenty of times. Since Biden got elected I believe I’ve gotten to speak to somebody twice. They don’t answer the phone. I’ve called all three of her offices.. One of the times I got through I swear it was a newbie intern because it was the beginning of the year and the person sounded young and inexperienced so he probably didn’t know not to answer the phone. DiFi needs to retire while Newsom can appoint a Dem.
susanna
@Percysowner: Why don’t I see Sherrod Brown’s name in executive office future lists, or current ones? Sounds like he, along with a popular wife, allow Dems to check off all the important presidential qualities.
Plus, it does put out a young, positive spin which might help with present and upcoming elections?
I’d like to hear opinions from Ohio people especially.
Baud
@susanna:
I believe he explored a run in 2020, but decided against it.
Jacel
I should mention in my letter to Feinstein that my late (at the age of 98) mother had helped run Feinstein’s first campaign for a San Francisco Supervisor seat long ago, and she would have been ashamed of Feinstein failing to act in support of these rights.
cmorenc
@Suzanne: The Senate’s a hard drug to give up, especially for multi-term incumbents.
Almost Retired
Calling Feinstein right now! She’s wavering in every sense of the word.
Kay
@artem1s:
Ryan’s in. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Rep. Tim Ryan, Ohio’s Democratic Senate nominee, has joined more than 100 other House Democrats in calling to end the filibuster rule to pass a federal law protecting abortion rights in the face of the possible future overturning of Roe v. Wad
danielx
@Suzanne:
As the saying goes, nobody refuses a call from a senator.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@susanna: IIRC he did a sort of shadow primary campaign– podcasts and party dinners in Iowa and New Hampshire– early in the 2020 cycle, and after not too much of that, announced he wasn’t running.
Scout211
@Suzanne: @Baud:
Before there was a Democratic super majority here in California, we had two Democratic Senators (Boxer and Feinstein). Republicans in the state hated Boxer but would praise Feinstein for her “moderate” votes actually would admit that they voted for her. So she was always a shoe-in for re-election.
I wish she would step down and let Newsom appoint a real Democrat as a replacement. My wild guess is that Newsom will run for Senate in 2024 for her seat, but who knows.
I wish the public knew more about her health and what is happening behind the scenes in her Senate office.
But I will contact her office.
Jacel
@susanna: I’d eagerly cast a presidential vote for Senator Brown — or for his wife, for that matter. But he’s the same age as me (solidly Boomer), which doesn’t count as young by the standards you’re seeking. Though he and Connie (and, I hope, myself) do read as younger in positive ways.
Betty Cracker
@Percysowner: I don’t really believe in the Poll Fairy (much), but I saw one this week that showed Ryan with a decent lead over Vance. Good!
acallidryas
@susanna:
Because he knows we need all the Dems in the Senate we can get.
Ohio Mom
@Percysowner: I call Sherrod Brown’s office a couple of times a year to say, Good job and thank you, and to tell the interns they are doing God’s work.
Much more pleasant than calling Portman ever was.
lowtechcyclist
Maryland: I called Sen. Cardin’s office a couple of weeks ago, and the person answering the phone confirmed that he was for passing legislation to reinstate Roe, and in favor of filibuster reform generally.
I’ve been unable to get through to speak with someone in Sen. Van Hollen’s office in several tries, but I’m sure he’s in pretty much the same place.
Spanky
So, other than Feinstein, who are the wavering Senators? Is there an actual whip count somewhere?
mistermix
@Spanky: TPM is trying to put together a count. The linked story has more info. I used one of my share links to share it so everyone can read it.
Spanky
@lowtechcyclist: My impression is that Cardin is more centrist than van Hollen, so methinks you are correct on the Maryland pair.
Cameron
Wavering senator? I don’t have a wavering senator – I got Nosferatu and Scooter. No way I’d waste my time with either of them.
WaterGirl
@artem1s: It’s not about whether it’s a deal-breaker for you, it’s about nudging/pushing them to the position you want them to take. It’s good when candidates know which way the wind is blowing on issues, and we can be certain that the other side is going to be letting them know where they stand.
Spanky
@Cameron:
Worst buddy flick ever.
Feathers
It’s nice having Senators Markey and Warren.
I really wish all the people complaining about the Vote messaging would just follow the “If it’s not about you, it’s not about you” rule.
lowtechcyclist
@Spanky: Back in the spring of 2021, TPM had a list of where all the Dem Senators stood on filibuster reform.
That’s a pretty good starting place for a whip count now, especially given that besides Manchinema, it’s hard to see any of them voting against reinstating Roe, and I’m surprised that Josh Marshall hasn’t pulled this back up.
ETA: Yeah, Van Hollen’s quoted there as being willing to scrap the filibuster entirely.
Suzanne
@cmorenc: DiFi is ten thousand years old and has plenty of money. At this point, it’s shameful and if every one of her colleagues is not telling her to quit, there’s something wrong.
Renie
@Scout211: I thought there were mumblings that Newsom was going to run for president in 2024?
Ohio Mom
@susanna: According to his wife’s Twitter, they thought briefly about Sherrod running for President the last go-round but decided against it. During that short interval, TIME magazine included him in their cover illustration of the crowded Democractic primary race: https://time.com/longform/2020-democratic-primary/
In the end, I think Sherrod is more useful in the Senate. It’s not like there are gobs of Ohio Democrats who could take his place. We’ll be lucky if we can elect Tm Ryan to the other seat, why give up the sure thing Sherrod appears to be?
Kay
“It’s easy! Ya just send it back to the states!}
Rachel Cohen:
Story here.
If you’re seeking modern, best practices medical care you may have to travel to a free state.
GoBlueInOak
The problem with calling Feinstein is even if she commits to a filibuster carve-out today, she’ll forget by tomorrow morning.
Unfortunately, no topline Democrat in the state is going to attempt to primary her. Last time someone did was in 2018 when the president of the state senate (Kevin de Leon) did and he lost by nearly 10 points.
GoBlueInOak
@Suzanne: They try but she can’t remember anything longer than 15 minutes so its mostly pointless.
Scout211
@Renie:
Oh yes, that’s definitely the more popular speculation and may indeed happen.
That’s why my guess is a “wild” guess and why I am not employed as a political pundit. LOL
Scout211
That is why I am curious about who is in control in her office. Pure speculation here, but it must be someone that leadership trusts or the health rumors would not have stopped.
Baud
@Scout211:
Probably a senior staffer with a lot of Hill experience.
Spanky
@Scout211:
Looking at this country’s pundit class, I rather think you’re not employed as a political pundit because you’re not gonna suck somebody’s dick to get the job.
Eolirin
She was a yes vote on a filibuster carve out for voting rights wasn’t she?
I don’t think she ultimately blocks this even if her office is making noncommital noises right now.
Baud
The best way to deal with Weinstein is to elect 53 Senators.
Baud
@Baud:
Weinstein = Feinstein
Betty Cracker
@Baud: Either one, really.
Betty Cracker
@Scout211: Rebecca Traister wrote a great piece about Feinstein last month in NY Mag.
pacem appellant
@Cervantes: My senile senior Senator is well past her expiration date. What a waste of a political legacy. She’ll forever be remembered for her addled contribution to the decline of democracy, instead of her more noble political achievements. I won’t be part of her rehabilitation tour, that’s for sure.
pacem appellant
@Renie: I love my governor, but if Biden doesn’t run in 2024 (which,I ask, why wouldn’t he?), as a native Californian, I’ll be throwing my support behind Harris.
Geminid
@Betty Cracker: I thought Vance was a weak general election candidate when trump endorsed him. Like Oz, Vance is one of trump’s gifts to the Democrats. Both of them could only eak out 33% primary wins because of trump’s endorsement.
Herschel Walker is a weak candidate too I think. Walker never even would have run for Senate without trump’s backing.
pacem appellant
@Scout211: There’s a campaign I can easily support: Newsom for Senator. Feinstein needs to retire ASAP. Her legacy is already in tatters. No need to degrade it further.
Martin
@Cervantes: So, so many times have I done that.
Geminid
@GoBlueInOak: If Feinstein runs for reelection in 2024 there will be “topline” Democrats challenging her. She won’t, though.
cain
What was frustrating I think is that it feels like we are moving goal posts. We tell all the Dem voters – “please vote so that we can get past the two senators”, now it seems we need three senators. That’s gotta be frustrating. The fact that it is two women in our own party who are barriers to womens rights is also feels ridiculous on the face of it.
Certainly feeds into the “both parties are broken” mood.
Martin
@Scout211: Not Newsom. Keep him as governor as long as possible. I’d go with Katie Porter or Ro Khanna. Both great, both young and capable of holding the seat long enough to be Maj Leader.
Baud
@cain: The problem is that we pitch Democracy as a thing voters purchase, instead of being honest with voters about what we’re going to push for and the fact that some fights are long-term. Progressives don’t abandon Bernie or AOC because they haven’t enacted Medicare for All or Green New Deal yet, because they still push for those things. The broader Dem party needs to do the same when it comes to marketing IMHO.
And who is the second woman in our party that is a barrier?
pacem appellant
@Martin: Khanna is my rep in CA-17. I would not endorse him for Senator. I suspect he’ll find little support outside of Silicon Valley in the Golden State.
Martin
@Geminid: That should have happened in 18. She won’t run again.
My sense with this is that the folks around her will bring her there. Her public face has all but disappeared. She’s not seeking attention like Manchin and Sinema. She wants the opposite. They’ll convince her that if she wants to keep a low profile through the end of her term she needs to just vote with the party.
Betty Cracker
@Geminid: Yes! I’m not counting any chickens, but Trump’s moronic kingmaking attempts may really help us out in November.
Betty Cracker
@Baud: The insurgent faction’s advantage is that no one really expects them to deliver until they get power. If Sanders were POTUS and AOC Speaker of the House, I expect they’d get roasted over GND and M4A.
superdestroyer
What would be the point of a filibuster carve out when Republicans could be in charge of everything in 2025. Image what the Republicans will do with no filibuster in 2025/2026.
Feathers
@cain: This is why I don’t like the 52 senators pitch. The pitch needs to be that we have to have enough not to let somebody decide to be a spoiler. Be honest about the fact that the media and the way people have been conditioned to think that moderation has an intrinsic moral weight that is somehow higher than actually doing the morally correct thing.
pacem appellant
@superdestroyer: When Republicans take the Senate next, the first thing they’ll do is nuke the filibuster as soon as it’s inconvenient. Just like every time prior.
I am not a fan of legislating for hypotheticals. Do the right thing now and give voters something to show for your efforts. Nobody responds well to a party that knee-caps itself.
Geminid
@cain: I always wondered why Democrats don’t say “elect at least two more Senators.” Maybe people think that saying “win two” somehow shades Manchin and Sinema, but that angle cuts no ice with me. I want us to hold ours and pick up six more.
That result may be unlikely but it’s possible. Open seats in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina are within reach, and Rubio, Johnson and Grassley are not shoo-ins.
Baud
@Betty Cracker:
I get that. But that’s the problem. Thinking of Dems as some sort of corporation with an all powerful CEO. The way people look at the party, it doesn’t matter that whether we have the barest majority like we do now or control every seat in Congress. We are still “in control.” So people get disillusioned.
James E Powell
@susanna:
A young, positive spin? Sherrod Brown is 69 years old.
@Martin:
I’d like to save Katie Porter for a supreme court seat, but sure, she’d be great in the senate. Ro Khanna and maybe Toni Atkins. We have good people. Feinstein is just in the way.
Cacti
I got called every name under the sun by my progressive betters on BJ, when I called out Biden for immediately taking SCOTUS expansion off the table when the Dobbs decision came down. Unilateral disarmament is not a winning strategy in the current decade.
Way too many senior citizen Dems trapped in the 20th century, searching for comity with a Republican party that has become a fascist insurgency.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Feathers: Also, all of these calculations assume Angus King is on board. I like King, but I assume he has reasons for staying indie, and he was rather slow to come around on a voting rights carve out
(and I believe he endorsed Collins in 20?)
James E Powell
@Feathers:
I prefer a pitch along the lines of defeating Republicans generally. Something like Newsom’s message to Florida. Take the three or four most unpopular things Republicans have – use Scott’s plans as a starter – and pound the message that they need to be defeated.
“They’re coming for your social security” is scarier to white people than “Defund the police.”
Cacti
This. No more Boomers or Silents for POTUS. The 3 1/2 decades they’ve had is enough.
robmassing
@Cervantes:
We could use a 25th Amendment for Senators (not that the current gerontocracy would ever use it).
kindness
I just left a message on DiFi’s SF office line. OMG she’s gone full Ronnie Alzenheimers on us.
Baud
@Cacti:
I’m ok with a younger POTUS. I believe under-45 is now a majority of voters. They can make it happen if they are unified enough.
Geminid
@James E Powell: Californians have a lot of talented people in their Congressional delegation. Some like Adam Schiff are little older. But Pete Aguilar is only 42.
Like Katie Porter, Aguilar flipped a red seat when he first won election to Congress.
Cacti
I would also add that it would be nice if our newest SCOTUS member does not follow the lead of her liberal colleagues and go out of her way to say what nice people the Republican radicals of SCOTUS are as they vote to reinstitute the 19th century.
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Fine. 54 Senators.
Eunicecycle
@cain: I really think we will need that many. Leahy is out right now, for example.
rikyrah
THEEE Entire Phuck, Senior Senator from California.
pacem appellant
@Cacti: This. I have to respond too many times to: “If we pass legislations to enshrine Roe v Wade, when the rethugs re-take the Senate, they’ll just undo it”
Yes! Exactly! Let them! Get them on record on where they stand. Make them vote to end Roe v Wade, not cower behind a fascist SCOTUS.
Like, that’s the point of a legislative democracy! You vote for the stuff you want!
randy khan
Done and done with Kaine and Warner, my Senators, plus a social media post telling friends to do the same for their Dem Senators (plus King, Collins, and Murkowski, even if the last two are unlikely).
randy khan
@pacem appellant:
Even more than that, you should assume they will do that even if the Dems don’t do anything. And I think this actually is an argument *for* action – make them own up to actively removing protections for women’s rights. They probably won’t flinch, but they might, and even if they don’t the symbolic significance of overturning legislation supported by the vast majority of Americans is enormous.
Omnes Omnibus
Call your non-wavering senators too. They will appreciate the support. And thank the staffers when you call. They get a lot of abuse over the phone, so a sincere thank you from a supporter could make their day.
Jinchi
Right, the filibuster allows Senators to pretend to support policies without ever having to face the consequences of actually voting for anything.
Susan Collins would just love to legalize abortion, but she never actually gets the chance, gosh darn it!
GoBlueInOak
@Renie: Its all just rumblings. Doubt he would challenge Biden unless something totally implodes on Biden. Part of it all related to Harris and her being just really bad at the politics. Some recent head to head polling of Biden, Harris and Newsom vs Trump as well as De Santis showed Newsom a stronger candidate than Harris, which feels about right, regardless of what the K-Hive thinks.
GoBlueInOak
@Cacti: You’re really not gonna like who is gonna replace Leahy then…
Ocotillo
There is no doubt in my mind the GOPers will eliminate the filibuster the year they get the Senate, House and White House again. I don’t think they would eliminate it when a Dem is in the White House so that they could show their moderate bona fides to the general electorate.
Like the MAGA Court though, once they know they have the votes, Katy bar the door.
Glidwrith
Called Feinstein, nothing but an answering machine there, but I left a
rant, uh, message, begging she do the right thing.sab
@susanna: I am happy with Brown where he is in the Senate. I think he has decided he is more useful where he is, and being President really disrupts your life and your spouses life for the rest of your lives. Secret Service and all that.
Plus an Ohio Democrat who is almost a guaranteed win for the Senate is as rare as a live unicorn.
cmorenc
@Suzanne:
Re: DiFi – though she’s not an alcoholic (so far as I know), nevertheless, she likely resists advice that it’s time to quit because of an analogous paradigm:
How many alcoholics listen readily to people telling them they have a problem that impairs their ability to acceptably function? Even people close to them? It’s probably even harder to convince someone that they are no longer mentally able to keep a position of importance, when their self-regard is dependent on keeping that position. It’s not about the fact that she has ample money to comfortably retire from the Senate.
TriassicSands
@Cervantes:
If I lived in CA, I’d call the Capitol or DC police every ten minutes to have them do a welfare check on her. Clearly, her staff is not doing a good job for either the senator or the country. If they were, they would have gotten her to step down long ago.
Old age gets us all. But some worse than others, and a relative few in full view of the country. Feinstein’s condition is no longer a cause for sadness. It’s an embarrassment and grossly irresponsible.
TriassicSands
Lots of people say this with absolute certainty, but that isn’t the way McConnell operates. He will only get rid of the filibuster if he decides he needs to. He won’t do it just because he can. He may very well decide it needs to go, but that will be to accomplish a specific objective, not just because he has the votes.
That happens to be the attitude of most Democratic senators too. We need to get rid of it to pass specific measures — little things, like defending democracy, returning full personhood to women, dealing with climate change, etc. Little things.
If Mitch decides that a nationwide ban on abortion is important enough, he’ll toss the filibuster in a heartbeat. He is very unlikely to do that just because he can.
VFX Lurker
“Sen. Dianne Feinstein, long a filibuster defender, said she’s support[ing] a carve-out to get rid of it to codify abortion rights”
https://twitter.com/aterkel/status/1545130707776839680
Ironically, Feinstein defeated her Democratic challenger in 2018 partly because voters trusted her over him on women’s rights.
A “widespread culture of sexual harassment” happened in the California state Capitol during his time as California Senate President. He also went on record stating that he would have risked a female witness’ privacy and safety in hopes of getting a desired political outcome, unlike Feinstein, who honored the woman’s wishes.
That, plus few remembered his name other than “not-Feinstein.” The only folks I knew who voted “for” him saw themselves as voting against Feinstein. He won big in Trump districts.
Geminid
@TriassicSands: I wonder if Romney, Colins, and Murkowski (assuming she wins reelection) would go along with eliminating the filibuster. They’ve bucked the party before, and they are incentivised against because right now they are vital members of a 60 vote supermajority. They can already get tax cuts and the like through reconciliation.
evodevo
@sab: Yes…this. You might not get lucky the next time if you move him up…a Repub in his place. I don’t know any Dem candidate who could win that seat as well as he does…
cain
@Baud: Sorry late response – the 2nd woman is Dianne Feinstein if she is in fact wavering.