tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post4249291669188027151..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: The Bottom Line on Counting FilibustersJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-49858638940555509622011-12-08T16:38:47.275-06:002011-12-08T16:38:47.275-06:00Hey - thanks for the link!
I can't say I disa...Hey - thanks for the link!<br /><br />I can't say I disagree much at all with your post; I'm certainly on onboard with the idea that obstruction has increased. But I do think there is more incentive than ever for the majority leader to go public via cloture votes, which may overstate the steepness of the increase.<br /><br />mgMatt Glassmanhttp://www.mattglassman.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-29717361606045884202011-12-08T16:22:02.913-06:002011-12-08T16:22:02.913-06:00While we're talking 60-vote requirements, it&#...While we're talking 60-vote requirements, it's important to remember that, so far is legislation is concerned, the GOP doesn't need to block votes to keep legislation from becoming law. <br /><br />If the GOP doesn't like Obama's Jobs Bill they can just kill it, change it, or ignore it in the House. <br /><br />The reason they block it in the Senate anyhow is to reinforce the *principle* of the perpetual super-majority requirement. <br /><br />It's obstruction for the sake of obstruction.swainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696058464538049417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-3296114709112312492011-12-08T15:53:54.508-06:002011-12-08T15:53:54.508-06:00Ok, I'm a filibuster freak, but Glassman's...Ok, I'm a filibuster freak, but Glassman's article definitely got my head spinning. You're right to focus on the 60 vote bottom line (perpetual super-majority requirement!).<br /><br />The other problem with counting cloture is that not all votes are created equal. The significance of the obstruction can't be measured just by counting. <br /><br />And it's important to consider all the legislation that isn't introduced, isn't considered, isn't debated, and all the nominations that are never made... which could win the support of a majority of elected US Senators... but just sit there because their authors and supporters know they can't get to 60 votes.swainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08696058464538049417noreply@blogger.com