Comments on: Democrats flip the script on shutdowns

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:04:19 +0000

Democrats are the definition of good.
If they do it, it is good. It doesn’t matter what they have said before when others do the same thing. Others are not Democrats and are therefore most likely bad.

By: Wendy K Laubach

Wendy K Laubach — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:36:24 +0000

As I understand it, the filibuster will stay with us, but the Senate can eliminate the 60-vote cloture requirement with a majority vote. It’s cloture that really kills bills. If they get past the cloture requirement, there can still be an old-fashioned filibuster (as Jeffries indulged in some weeks back), but realistically it comes to an end and the vote happens. So far cloture has been eliminated only for nominations, first S. Ct. justices, then all nominations.

By: neo

neo — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 19:07:04 +0000

Niketas:

The bill needs 60 votes to pass. You may think the Republicans should make it a simple majority vote, or something of that sort, but at the moment (and ordinarily with such bills) 60 votes are needed. So my guess is – on that earlier vote you’re talking about – there was still a lot of wheeling and dealing going on, and the abstentions had to do with the fact that they knew there was zero chance of the 60 threshold being reached. They needed many more Democrats for that.

The CR under discussion is the same as Biden’s, by the way. So some of those abstentions might have been people who wanted more austerity rather than less.

Yesterday there were 55 votes for the bill. It didn’t pass.

By: Mitchell Strand

Mitchell Strand — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:31:51 +0000

@Niketas

Here’s what I should have said to start with…

At this point, I don’t even care. The Republicans have finally stood up on their hind legs instead of caving to the Democrats. Donald Trump has led them into a trap and now he gets to hurt them for free for a while. I hope he fires thousands of bureaucrats and closes whichever agencies he can.

We tried civility and bipartisanship, and all we got were knives in our backs. Time to do something different. The Democrats are such aficionados of raw, naked power; maybe having it used on them will change their mind.

By: sdferr

sdferr — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 17:01:48 +0000

So much the worse for you my friend.

By: Niketas Choniates

Niketas Choniates — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:53:48 +0000

@sdferr:I don’t hear those either way issuing from the political actors themselves. Do you?

Why would we expect politicians to explain directly–or even honestly–what their goals, methods, and intentions are? We have to deduce them from their actions.

Be aware from my point of view that “theater” originated in sacred acts undertaken on the slopes of the Acropolis.

Not really sure what “sacred” has to do with Congressional pork-barreling and double-dealing.

By: sdferr

sdferr — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:46:40 +0000

Context counts, still. This isn’t a question of sheparding through Presidential nominees is it? It’s a bit more consequential (and I may presume in charity pleads for a modicum of bipartisan concurrence, either on traditional or practical grounds as they choose). I’m willing to hear their arguments either for or against a rule change in this circumstance, but I don’t hear those either way issuing from the political actors themselves. Do you?

I’m also aware you like to charge It’s merely “theater”. Fine. Be aware from my point of view that “theater” originated in sacred acts undertaken on the slopes of the Acropolis.

By: physicsguy

physicsguy — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:42:54 +0000

I have to admit I really like the trolling Trump is doing on the Democrats: the video with Jeffries and Schumer, the pic of the 2028 hat in the Oval Office, The Ds hate being made fun of, and we need more of that. Best weapon against their constant “Nazi!” “Hitler!”, and “facist!” is to just make fun of them and laugh at them. Really gets under their skin.

By: Niketas Choniates

Niketas Choniates — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:10:31 +0000

@Mitchell Strand:The Republicans submitted what is called a “clean CR.” So, yes, the Republicans could end the shutdown, but it’s not their fault we are where we are. I don't understand what "fault" has to do with anything. On September 25th they could have passed the clean CR the House submitted but 8 Republicans in the Senate abstained, so it was defeated 48-44. If they had voted for it instead of abstaining, that clean CR would be the budget now. And there's an end on it. The GOP Senate leadership did not actually want the clean CR or they never would allow those abstentions, they would have whipped a majority vote. It's not like those 8 Republicans were home with the flu.

By: Niketas Choniates

Niketas Choniates — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 16:06:50 +0000

@sdferr:Precedent? History of same? They just did it on September 12. Neo posted on it. They set aside the filibuster whenever they want to.