The Accountability Problem
This is a really crucial point:
Pat Garofalo has more on the policy substance here, noting that about 200,000 jobs could plausibly be lost as a result of the minority’s obstructionism here. And do note that if conditions do worsen many, many, many more Americans will blame Barack Obama for the bad state of things than will blame the Senate minority. The filibuster might not be so pernicious were its impact generally understood by the public, but the intersection of a minority that’s empowered to obstruct and an electorate that holds the majority responsible for policy outcomes is toxic.
The filibuster is indefensible for a whole host of reasons, but this dynamic seems especially difficult to justify. Democratic theory can offer justifications for any number of potentially counter-majoritarian veto points, but it’s hard to imagine circumstances in which it’s a good idea to empower a minority while practically leaving accountability with the majority. The fact that even a lot of progressives retain a sentimental attachment to the filibuster is as baffling as any reality of American politics. It can’t even really be nostalgia — for what, the filibuster of the Civil Rights Act? Even the Capra movie really isn’t that good…
Democrats=feckless.
Republicans=shameless.
But what if Obama had looked at Ben Nelson through 3-D glasses? Clearly this is a failure of presidential leadership.
There is also the fact that you have a number of “centrist” (actually moderately conservative corporatists) Democrats aligning with the Republicans and a failure by the Democrats to lay this at the feet of the Republicans (at least partly because of those Democratic collaborators).
Thank you. Democrats are at least as much to blame as Republicans. Of course, even as Obama blames Senators like that for stalling his agenda, he campaigns for them against more cooperative primary challengers.
Democrats are at least as much to blame as Republicans.
I have absolutely no idea how you would arrive at that conclusion when 98% of Democratic Senators voted for the bill and 0% of Republicans voted for the bill.
I don’t have a problem with filibusters. I do have a problem with the fact the mere threat of a filibuster sends people racing for a change of pants.
Maybe I missed something but when is the last time someone read through the phone book on the Senate floor? There needs to be a calling of bluffs.
I don’t know the answer, but I agree. I wonder how filibuster friendly Dems would have felt come primary time and they’d have to face a candidate to their left. Mutatis mutandis for the Republicans.
They changed the rules, a threat is all you need now.
Welcome to California!
[...] Lemieux underscores the point: The filibuster is indefensible for a whole host of reasons, but this dynamic seems especially [...]
AS A LIFELONG REPUBLICAN—-AND ONE UNEMPLOYED FOR 8 MONTHS NOW, I REALLY NEED THE EXTENDERS BILL PASSED—-LIKE YESTERDAY.
IF MY REPUBLICAN BROTHERS FAIL TO ACT ON THIS LEGISLATION—FOR ME AND MY FAMILY—I AM GOING TO GO OUT OF MY WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT NEVER GET ERELECTED. YPOU CAN BET I’LL BE FIRST IN LINE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE VOTING AGINST THE REPUBLCAIN PARTY.
REPUBLCANS SHOULD BE KNOWN AS THE PARTY OF JACOB MARLEY AND EBENEEZER SCROOGE. MERRY CHRISTMAS. I AM SURE THEIR’S WILL BE SO.
GOD HELP THE REST OF US.
Great. As long as you’re basing your vote on a deep-rooted principle like, “What’s in it for me?”
Please name three Republicans who have based their votes on anything else in the past 30 years. They are overwhelmingly the party of “What’s in it for me?” and always oppose any and all policies which might benefit others (see welfare and unemployment benefits).
The last actual filibuster that I recall was Al D’Amato’s. Has it really been that long?
[...] Scott Lemieux at Lawyers, Guns and Money pivots off Yglesias: The filibuster is indefensible for a whole host of reasons, but this dynamic seems especially difficult to justify. Democratic theory can offer justifications for any number of potentially counter-majoritarian veto points, but it’s hard to imagine circumstances in which it’s a good idea to empower a minority while practically leaving accountability with the majority. The fact that even a lot of progressives retain a sentimental attachment to the filibuster is as baffling as any reality of American politics. It can’t even really be nostalgia — for what, the filibuster of the Civil Rights Act? Even the Capra movie really isn’t that good… [...]
[...] The Accountability Problem : Lawyers, Guns & Money [...]
[...] The Accountability Problem : Lawyers, Guns & Money [...]