General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why does Schumer have to "share power" with McTurtle? [View all]unblock
(52,807 posts)If democrats had the authoritarian discipline republicans did, then we might be able to control the senate with impunity. But that involves every single democrat agreeing to vote the party line nearly every time no matter how problematic that vote may be in their state.
Republicans have thus act down pat, including Collins feigning "concern" but almost always voting party line in the end. That silly dance and maybe some pork she gets from leadership keeps people like her politically viable.
Manchin can't get away with that too often in West Virginia. We're really lucky to have a democratic senator there, it's a very red state. Plus, keeping democrats in line is, as they say, like trying to herd cats.
If we had the discipline, we could nuke the filibuster for the organizing resolution and and control the senate virtually ignoring republicans. But still, that would force all democratic senators and Harris to stay in washington nearly all the time because we have no margin for error.
So some kind of agreement allows us to operate as a practical majority without that kind of constant challenge.
Yes, it gives some power to mcturtle and yes, he will use it to obstruct. But if we can still get our agenda through, it's a small price to pay.