Filibuster Is Racist

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Senate filibuster is, has always been, a racist tool. The coming fight over voting rights proves it.

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41 thoughts on “Filibuster Is Racist”

  2. historical (or should that read “hysterical”) tidbit from history channel:

    Among the most notable examples of when the Senate managed to invoke cloture was in 1967 when a group of Southern lawmakers tried filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Filibusters against the landmark act, which included bans on lynching and discrimination in public accommodations, went on for 57 days before the Senate mustered a supermajority of 67 votes to call for cloture.

  3. another look at filibusters for those who prefer learning history by cartoon rather than reading about cartoonish things

    above published by Vox 2019: The filibuster started as an accident. Today it lets the losers rule Congress.

  4. The other side can (and will)  do away with the filibuster any time they wish to if and when they regain power and they feel the need.  They don’t have “qualms”.

  5. Elizabeth Warren says we can get rid of the filibuster with a simple majority in the House and Senate.  No 2/3 needed.   It’s Kamala time!
     
    Theres a song.  
    Well, it’s Kamala time, again, we’re gonna do this…despite the things q-publicans say. Madame VP is gonna vote and Dems will win this.  And we won’t stop. It’s Repugz’ cryin’ time. 

  6. I’m so relieved. I woke up this morning and from everything I can tell Joe Biden is still president. 🙄

  7. Really? Cuz my dream was helping someone save a failing GNC store, cabinets with art canvas stretched over the door opening, and, being amazed at how easy it was to ride a really cool bike. 

    Pogo – Maybe because yesterday was the 4th and something was going to happen. Glad we’re all awake.

  10. sturge, how’d ole gus look?   

    considering some of our recent scandalous pols, one of his best quotes fits the bill

    See the source image

  12. future looks pretty bleak for this sinner in wapo story today:

    Federal agents arrested Federico G. Klein, 42, a former State Department aide, on multiple felony charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, according to a criminal complaint published by the New York Times. (Politico first reported the arrest.) The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Friday.
    Klein, who is also a former Trump campaign employee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Friday. It is unclear if he has hired a lawyer.
    Klein was still employed at the State Department as a staff assistant on Jan. 6 when he joined a mob in a tunnel leading into the U.S. Capitol, the FBI said. Then he allegedly “physically and verbally engaged with the officers holding the line” at the building’s entrance, according to the complaint. After ignoring officers’ orders to move back, he assaulted officers with a riot shield that had been stolen from police, the complaint said, and then used the shield to wedge open a door into the Capitol.
    […]
    Klein’s arrest is the most direct link yet between the Trump administration and the rioters, despite attempts by some conservatives to dissociate the insurrection from the former president. Many of the 300-plus people who have been charged in connection with the insurrection have described themselves as Trump supporters, while some have ties to extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.
    Klein had a top-secret security clearance that was renewed in 2019, the FBI said. A LinkedIn profile the FBI identified as Klein’s also lists a top-secret security clearance and shows that Klein has been politically active in the Republican Party since at least 2008, when he began volunteering for political campaigns. Before joining the State Department in 2017, Klein worked for the Trump campaign, which paid him a $15,000 salary.
    According to a financial disclosure form filed by Klein, he was appointed as a staff assistant in the State Department on Jan. 22, 2017, days after Trump was sworn in as president. He worked as a special assistant in the Office of Brazilian and Southern Cone Affairs, where he was paid $66,510, according to a ProPublica database of Trump appointees and the criminal complaint.
    After the insurrection, Klein continued working in the State Department until Jan. 19, when he resigned the day before Biden’s inauguration, per the complaint.
    The Trump appointee faces several felony charges for his alleged role in the riot, including knowingly engaging in any act of physical violence against any person or property in any restricted building or grounds.

  15. Last night Lawrence O’Donnell explained that the big holdout for ending the filibuster is Joe Manchin.  He told his fellow West Virginians that he would never vote to end it.  O’Donnell also said if Dems put too much pressure on Manchin he could always cross over the aisle and declare himself to now be a Republican (West Virginia went for Trump twice… right Pogo).  If that happens say hello to Moscow Mitch as majority leader once again.
     
    so as the Wicked Witch of the West once said….    these things must be done delicately…

  16. Happy to say that it’s been a couple of weeks since i’ve had the recurring nightmare where i don’t realize i haven’t been wearing a mask until the end of the day and therefore must have contracted COVID

  19. I want to know where Ron Johnson was yesterday between 3:00 p.m. and 2:00 this morning while the bill he insisted on being read was being read by the Senate clerk’s staff.

  20. Alexandra Petri picked up on the filibuster kerfuffle.  Thank you WaPo…

    Hi there, and welcome to Dave & Filibuster’s! Ready for fun? Ready to win? Too bad! We have rules against that here. Brace yourself for a cavalcade of delights and experiences that will leave you frustrated, annoyed and unable to do what you came here for!

    In Our Restaurant: Has your whole party decided on something they would like to order? Too bad! You are getting what Bob, who is not a member of your party (Wave at him! He’s sitting by himself under the big football screen!) wants you to have instead. Bob wants you to have the Loaded Philly Sliders! Mm! Sorry, it’s the rules!
     

    At Our Bar: Actually, I found out you can decide to ignore what Bob wants if Todd, who is technically a member of your party, will agree that this is the right thing to do. Start a new tradition, right now! But I have to warn you, I don’t think Todd will be down with it! He loves the traditions here at Dave & Filibuster’s! He’s digging into his Loaded Philly Sliders with a big smile.
     
    At Our Arcade:Ding-ding! Enjoy a variety of games that are rewarding in the sense that every experience at Dave & Filibuster’s is a reward. It’s just fun to spend time together.

    (Continues in typical Petri hilarious fashion)

    I love this woman’s sense of humor.

  21. you know how sometimes you have a thing the next day which threatens to be a task of such fearsome and astounding difficulty that you fitfully sleep all night and dream about the coming nightmare when you do sleep and then you get there to do it and it turns out to be a breeze?    I like it when that happens.

  23. from cnbc:

    Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of the House prosecutors during Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial, filed a lawsuit Friday against the former president, alleging he incited the deadly invasion of the U.S. Capitol.

    The civil lawsuit from Swalwell, D-Calif., also accuses Donald Trump Jr., Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., of being “wholly responsible for the injury and destruction” caused by the mob.

    […]

    Swalwell’s 65-page lawsuit accuses the defendants of conspiring to block President Joe Biden’s election victory, inciting the Jan. 6 riot, aiding and abetting common-law assault, committing bias-related crimes, intentionally inflicting emotional distress and negligence.

    The congressman demands a trial by jury in U.S. District Court in Washington.

  24. from page 58 of swalwell’s complaint:

    224. Plaintiff Eric Swalwell was inside the Capitol complex at all relevant times and was in the House chamber attempting to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election when the violent mob breached the Capitol. The Plaintiff heard the mob pound on the chamber doors and smash glass in an effort to get inside. He watched as Capitol Police officers drew their weapons, barricaded entrances, and ordered the Plaintiff and other members of Congress to seek shelter, put on gas masks, and take cover in case there was gunfire. The Plaintiff prepared himself for possible hand-to-hand combat as he took off his jacket and tie and searched for makeshift instruments of self-defense. He listened in shock as the House Chaplain—a veteran of war herself—began praying for the members from the Rostrum.

    225. As the Plaintiff watched this horror unfold, he texted with his wife in what he felt could be his last moments, telling her “I love you very much. And our babies.”

    226. As a result of this, the Plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress.

  25. from pages 63-64 swalwell lawsuit:

    PRAYER FOR RELIEF

    WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff respectfully requests this Court to enter a judgment in his favor and grant relief against the Defendants as follows:

    (1) Order the Defendants to pay actual money damages to the Plaintiff in an amount to be determined at trial;

    (2) Order the Defendants to pay punitive damages to the Plaintiff in an amount to be determined at trial; Case 1:21-cv-00586 Document 1 Filed 03/05/21 Page 63 of 65 64

    (3) Declare that the Defendants violated the law as set forth above;

    (4) Order the Defendants to provide written notice to the Plaintiff no less than 7 days before any rally or other public event in Washington, D.C., on a day when significant election or election certification activity is taking place, and when the rally is planned to have more than 50 people in attendance, to allow the Plaintiff to determine whether to seek relief from the Court to prevent further violence or disruption to the proper functioning of the federal government;

    (5) Award the Plaintiff reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs for his investigation and prosecution of this action; and

    (6) Grant any such additional relief as the Court deems just and proper. 

  26. We are having layoffs and furloughs because we have slightly too many employees to qualify for PPP.

  31. Sturg, l can’t spend my Friday nights waiting for you. Let’s just forget Picture This Saturdays. I appreciate your efforts in the past, but this isn’t working.

  36. so alaska’s GOPer sen. sullivan absence due to a family member funeral let’s him off the hook of having to vote “no” on the covid relief bill which was beefed up with some goodies helpful to alaska (goodies  which were put there to encourage murkowski support).

  37. Craig – I submitted a post.  I can’t get the link to the story I wanted to add to paste so I emailed you the link, if there’s a way for you to attach it.

  39. So our Governor Jim Billionaire Coal Batin and Casino Owner Justice lowered the eligibility age and Mrs P got her first ‘noculation shot today. Life is better. Up visiting LP this weekend. NUC is definitely not its prior bustling self. 

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