My husband and I will begin boycotting Georgia-based businesses today including Home Depot, Delta Airlines and my husband's beloved Atlanta Braves Baseball. We will be letting them know. I will also make what donation I can to Fair Fight. I am tired, we are all, but I/we must find the strength to stand up for our democratic republic. Oh, and my senators and congress people will be hearing from me voicing my support when they stand up for equity and voting rights. Mr. Manchin and Ms. Sinema, too.
I think it’s roll the dice time. Eliminating the filibuster completely is unlikely because it will kill any chance of the John Lewis Voter Rights Act (I like writing that). Like it or not Sinema and Manchin are in the driver’s seat. Moving back to a talking filibuster or something similarly onerous would give the two of them cover for their cowardice. They can twist themselves into pretzels to justify their current positions but I have to believe they know their choice is to be on the right side of history or to jump into the abyss of ignominy. And then there’s Susan Collins. Maybe she’ll be sufficiently “bothered” to do the right thing. If there’s anyone that can navigate this, it’s Biden.
Having said that, I agree there should be court challenges but we shouldn’t count on that. And we shouldn’t count on the Voting Rights bill passing. Anticipating the hardships created by Jim Crow 2.0, coming up with ways to support people faced with long lines, voter challenges, I.D. challenges, etc needs to start now. I’m stunned by the no giving of water to voters in line thing. I hope Georgia republicans realize this little piece of inhumanity targets them as well. You can’t give someone in line a bottle of water? OK, then how about a parasol, a sun hat, a chair? Can you have a water distribution site a block away from the poll? Can volunteers be place holders in line? Can we burn a cross on the Georgia statehouse lawn to put republican legislators in touch with their roots? Fair Fight and other groups are working on these things (ok, maybe not the cross burning). Susan you’re right. Time to write a check, at least.
Could you explain why eliminating the filibuster completely is unlikely because it will kill any chance of the John Lewis Voter Rights Act? I would think by not reforming or eliminating the filibuster, the John Lewis Voter Rights Act and For the People Act would never get to vote.
Senate rules can be changed by a simple majority, the so-called nuclear option. You don't get to 51 without Manchin and Sinema. Although I haven't heard "nuclear option" stated explicitly, I think that's the strategy. Manchin is against outright elimination so they have to come up with some kind of reform that pleases him, like talk until you drop and change the number of votes to get to cloture (ending debate). It's not perfect or guaranteed but I don't see Manchin moving without being able to say he got something for his vote. He knows whatever happens that after he's going to be either irrelevant or the devil, maybe both. He may be small minded but he's got the leverage. He also know that everything else, guns, immigration, energy policy, pales to saving democracy. West Virginia is a coal loving, gun loving state. This is his shot.
I'd love to be wrong. There is a very slim chance that some republicans could come over based on the historical magnitude of the issue. If that happens, it's "Joe, who?"
It's sickening and undemocratic what the GA governor did! And apparently many other Republican states are doing similar things. We so badly need the For The People Act to pass to protect the voting rights of the people. It won't get thru the Senate without at least some major fillibuster reform. Do you think it should be reformed or eliminated?
I think this legislation needs to be challenged in court. The Republicans in Georgia and nationwide have a very bad case of "sour grapes syndrome". They had no problem implementing the measures THEY WANTED because of the pandemic, but now that they are past the election they let "Jim Crow" back in the door.
My husband and I will begin boycotting Georgia-based businesses today including Home Depot, Delta Airlines and my husband's beloved Atlanta Braves Baseball. We will be letting them know. I will also make what donation I can to Fair Fight. I am tired, we are all, but I/we must find the strength to stand up for our democratic republic. Oh, and my senators and congress people will be hearing from me voicing my support when they stand up for equity and voting rights. Mr. Manchin and Ms. Sinema, too.
What YOU said. And Fair Fight is a wonderful organization and worthy of any support we can give. Rock on, Melina.
I think it’s roll the dice time. Eliminating the filibuster completely is unlikely because it will kill any chance of the John Lewis Voter Rights Act (I like writing that). Like it or not Sinema and Manchin are in the driver’s seat. Moving back to a talking filibuster or something similarly onerous would give the two of them cover for their cowardice. They can twist themselves into pretzels to justify their current positions but I have to believe they know their choice is to be on the right side of history or to jump into the abyss of ignominy. And then there’s Susan Collins. Maybe she’ll be sufficiently “bothered” to do the right thing. If there’s anyone that can navigate this, it’s Biden.
Having said that, I agree there should be court challenges but we shouldn’t count on that. And we shouldn’t count on the Voting Rights bill passing. Anticipating the hardships created by Jim Crow 2.0, coming up with ways to support people faced with long lines, voter challenges, I.D. challenges, etc needs to start now. I’m stunned by the no giving of water to voters in line thing. I hope Georgia republicans realize this little piece of inhumanity targets them as well. You can’t give someone in line a bottle of water? OK, then how about a parasol, a sun hat, a chair? Can you have a water distribution site a block away from the poll? Can volunteers be place holders in line? Can we burn a cross on the Georgia statehouse lawn to put republican legislators in touch with their roots? Fair Fight and other groups are working on these things (ok, maybe not the cross burning). Susan you’re right. Time to write a check, at least.
This is all helpful. You’ve done your homework.
Could you explain why eliminating the filibuster completely is unlikely because it will kill any chance of the John Lewis Voter Rights Act? I would think by not reforming or eliminating the filibuster, the John Lewis Voter Rights Act and For the People Act would never get to vote.
Senate rules can be changed by a simple majority, the so-called nuclear option. You don't get to 51 without Manchin and Sinema. Although I haven't heard "nuclear option" stated explicitly, I think that's the strategy. Manchin is against outright elimination so they have to come up with some kind of reform that pleases him, like talk until you drop and change the number of votes to get to cloture (ending debate). It's not perfect or guaranteed but I don't see Manchin moving without being able to say he got something for his vote. He knows whatever happens that after he's going to be either irrelevant or the devil, maybe both. He may be small minded but he's got the leverage. He also know that everything else, guns, immigration, energy policy, pales to saving democracy. West Virginia is a coal loving, gun loving state. This is his shot.
I'd love to be wrong. There is a very slim chance that some republicans could come over based on the historical magnitude of the issue. If that happens, it's "Joe, who?"
It's sickening and undemocratic what the GA governor did! And apparently many other Republican states are doing similar things. We so badly need the For The People Act to pass to protect the voting rights of the people. It won't get thru the Senate without at least some major fillibuster reform. Do you think it should be reformed or eliminated?
I have remained a filibuster agnostic until recently. I believe it can’t be reformed effectively and needs to be eliminated. What do you think?
I haven't thought through it well enough to have an opinion one way or another.
I think this legislation needs to be challenged in court. The Republicans in Georgia and nationwide have a very bad case of "sour grapes syndrome". They had no problem implementing the measures THEY WANTED because of the pandemic, but now that they are past the election they let "Jim Crow" back in the door.
I assume it will be challenged? Stacey Abrams isn’t playing.