'Even David Brooks agrees' Democrats should 'absolutely kill the filibuster'

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Common Dreams
January 22, 2021

Even New York Times columnist David Brooks—widely reviled over many years for his "wrongheaded and naive" brand of right-wing commentary—agreed Friday with the many progressive voices arguing that Democrats will ultimately be justified in abolishing the legislative filibuster in the U.S. Senate if Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell continues his obstructionist ways.

In his latest column—titled the "The Case for Biden Optimism"—Brooks contends that if current efforts to forge a bipartisan power-sharing agreement fail, efforts to pass a comprehensive Covid-19 economic relief package put forth by President Joe Biden are stymied, and "Republicans go into full obstruction mode" then the Democrats, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, "should absolutely kill the filibuster."

While progressives have been making this argument intensely for weeks, if not months, many were caught off guard by Brooks' endorsement.

"Can't believe David Brooks and I finally agree on a thing," said Winnie Wong, former top aide to the 2020 Bernie Sanders campaign, in response to the column.

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Link to tweet

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https://www.rawstory.com/senate-filibuster/

David Brooks column:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/21/opinion/joe-biden-republicans.html

[msongs]

1. which senate dems will vote to keep the filibuster thus sabotaging the dems agenda? nt

[jcgoldie]

6. Manchin Feinstein and Sinema primarily (NT)

[jcgoldie]

2. Somebody email that link to Joe Manchin

...

[irisblue]

3. I am always surprised when David Brooks is not a 100 percent fool.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. They say broken clocks are right twice a day, but in Brooks' case, it's just this once. Nt

[Midnightwalk]

10. Maybe like 9:21 last night

Once a century

[old guy]

5. Now I'm worried if it's the right thing.

Brooks is never right about anything.

[former9thward]

8. David Brooks supported Obama, Clinton and Biden.

It has been a long time since he supported a Republican candidate in a major election.

[dpibel]

13. Links?

I think you're overstating the case re Brooks and Obama.

I'd expect no less from you.

[former9thward]

14. Here is one on Obama.

I don't work for you so I won't do all the rest. Google is your friend.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2008/10/joe_hagan_grills_david_brooks.html

[dpibel]

15. o u r sooo tuff

You're the one making the categorical claim: Brooks supported Obama, Clinton, Biden. I do believe that, in the courts of the internets, that puts the burden on you.

All I'm doing is saying, "Why should I take your word for it?"

And you have answered my question: "Because I can't support my claims."

At best, Brooks voted against McCain. The very thing you quote says that he was prohibited by NYT policy from endorsing.

I did the google, friend. And couldn't find this full-throated support you claim.

I mean, I understand why you quit on it. I did, in fact, use my friend google. And discovered that Brooks was so repulsed by Sarah Palin that he tepidly allowed he might have to vote for Obama.

Then, like you, I couldn't find a blessed word to support the proposition that Brooks voted for, or endorsed, Obama in 2012.

As for supporting Clinton and Biden, all you're saying is David Brooks is not quite enough of a lackey to support Trump. Low bar.

Keep digging, though. You're good at that.

[Duncan Grant]

7. What you allow, will continue. (Don't accommodate obstruction.) eom

[Thekaspervote]

9. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[JHB]

11. Tell it to YOUR people, Davey-boy

They're the biggest source of resistance, they're the ones who can hang it up.

Urge them to give up their habitual Politburo-grade lockstep and cross over.

[WHITT]

12. This Needs To Be A Two-Fer

Voting to kill the filibuster must go hand in hand with voting to make D.C. a state, as if the Repubs ever regain the Senate majority without a filibuster, it would be ruinous.

The mayor of D.C. can make the case to Manchin and others that the governor of the state could have quickly deployed their own National Guard to the capitol during the attempted coup, instead of pleading to others to allow an alternative deployment too late.

Then they can vote to make Puerto Rico a state. Manchin and whoever could abstain or vote against if they felt it necessary. Then they could vote to make the U.S. Virgin Islands a state. Eventually demographics will add even more Dem Senators. The Repubs would never regain a majority.