Is there something that we could threaten to do in reconciliation that could stop the filibustering?

[drm604]

I'm just thinking out loud here and it's probably a stupid idea, but is there anything that Democrats could threaten to do in reconciliation that could make the Republicans back off on the filibusters?

In other words, "promise not to filibuster health care (or some other important issue) or we'll cut off funding for xyz".

It has to be something we wouldn't mind cutting too much, but that the Republicans would freak over. It wouldn't even have to matter to all Republicans, just enough to stop a filibuster.

So, stupid idea? Interesting idea? What could be cut that would be huge to them but unimportant to us?

[treestar]

1. The only thing is cuts in military spending

the only spending rethugs like.

dodgy, since they can always start screaming that we are cutting back on our troops!

[drm604]

3. I thought of that

but it's a bad idea for the very reason you mentioned.

[704wipes]

2. Abstinence 'Education'

duh, i dunno

[drm604]

4. Another thought along the same lines.

We could also threaten to spend on something they hate, or tax something they like.

[joe1991]

5. whatever happened to 50 + 1 votes?

Damn I guess I should understand this better, but I recall Dick Cheney breaking several ties in the senate.

Why do we need to have 60 vote "filibuster-proof" majorities on everything now??

[drm604]

8. Because the Republicans have a large enough minority in the Senate

that they can filibuster anything they damn well please, just for the hell of it.

[joe1991]

11. I still don't get it

Bush never had a 60 vote senate majority, in fact, if i looked it up right, 1907 was the last time anyone had a 60 vote majority.

Why can't we just fight it out and pass bills with a 50 + 1 majority like the last 100 years?

[drm604]

13. The Democrats weren't obstructionist assholes like the Republicans are. n/t

[JVS]

6. Threaten to tax them out the ass if they don't cooperate on important things.

[drm604]

7. Yep.

Confiscatory taxes on the very wealthy. That would get their attention.

Are you listening, Democratic Senators?

[drm604]

9. How about this.

Confiscatory taxes on the insurance companies if Republicans filibuster health care reform.

[ManiacJoe]

10. There is always the obvious part

of removing the virtual filibuster and forcing it to be real where someone has to be actually talking at all times.

[drm604]

12. They're probably making enough from the insurance companies

that they'd be willing to do the talking.

Just threaten to use reconciliation to tax the hell out of their sugar daddies.

[JDPriestly]

17. That is an excellent idea.

[quiller4]

14. Why not force a real fillibuster? Bring back the cots. Make them keep talking

If they talk long enough they'll alienate the voters they want to win in November.

[Juche]

15. I don't think the GOP cares about anything

That is partly why health reform is such a disaster.

There are millions who go bankrupt and who can't get insurance because of pre-existing conditions. Progressives are upset by this, conservatives couldn't care less.

So if you create a bill that is corrupt, plutocratic and full of problems but that cuts bankruptcy, gets health care to people who need it and improves quality of life, progressives will support it even if it isn't what they want. The GOP will not.

It sucks. The GOP is more willing to play chicken with other people's lives than the democratic party.

So the democratic party need to invent/create a system or program to make the GOP dependent, then use that to threaten them.

Someone needs to write a law to create a statue of Reagan that is 500 feet tall and placed in the middle of a bird sanctuary. Then they need to make the funding for cleaning the bird shit off of it a bill that needs to be renewed every year.

[JDPriestly]

16. Bring in the nuclear option whatever that means.

The Republicans threatened that and forced our Conservadems including Lieberman to back down from filibusters during the Bush administration. I specifically recall a lot of discussion about the nuclear option when objectionable individuals were nominated to the Supreme Court.

[Iggo]

18. What filibustering?

Where?

[drm604]

20. The threat of filibustering is the problem. n/t

[Iggo]

21. Bullies threaten. Make 'em go through with it. (n/t)

[JDPriestly]

19. Indict the Republicans who authorized torture.

That will end the whole show.

[tekisui]

22. How about force a filibuster so is is clear to America who the

obstructionists are? We aren't getting anywhere anyway. Let's expose them and pull out the cots for the cameras.

Democrats are so inept at controlling the frame. I am beginning to think the only reason they gained the power they did have is because they aren't repukes, and the repukes fucked over America so blatantly that Dems were given their shot.