The Democrats’ relationship with the filibuster has done a complete 180 in the wake of their 2024 election losses. Once hell-bent on dismantling the procedural rule they deemed a relic of obstruction, Senate Democrats now find themselves singing its praises. With the Republican majority firmly in place at 53-47 and President-elect Donald Trump preparing to take office, the same filibuster they once sought to eliminate has suddenly become their most cherished tool for resistance. It’s an ironic turn of events, but in Washington, hypocrisy is just another day at the office.
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut summed up the party’s newfound enthusiasm for the filibuster with a straight face, insisting that Democrats now have a “responsibility” to use every tool at their disposal to stop what he described as “autocratic” Republican policies. His rhetoric is a far cry from the Democrats’ earlier crusade to gut the filibuster during the Biden-Harris administration. Back then, leaders like Chuck Schumer pushed for its elimination to ram through legislation on voting rights, abortion, and climate change. That effort was thwarted, thanks in large part to Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who held firm in their defense of the filibuster as a vital safeguard.
Senator Dick Durbin, now the Senate Minority Whip, also weighed in, describing the filibuster as a key component of the Democrats’ strategy in this new chapter. He admitted that they had “lived with it” while in the majority and now plan to wield it as a check on Republican dominance. For a party that spent years decrying the filibuster as an obstacle to democracy, this sudden change of heart is as pragmatic as it is self-serving. But hey, when the rules don’t work in your favor, just wait until they do and call it principled opposition.
The filibuster, requiring 60 votes to break a legislative hold, has been at the center of partisan battles for years. Democrats, once eager to scrap it, now see it as their best hope to block Trump’s agenda and stall Republican-led legislation. This includes everything from tax reforms to healthcare policies that the GOP majority plans to push forward. Even Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, a long-time critic of the filibuster, seemed torn, acknowledging the uncomfortable position his party finds itself in as it clings to a tool it once vilified.
As Democrats gear up for a legislative fight, they’re already talking about potential revisions to filibuster rules while simultaneously embracing it as their lifeline. The hypocrisy is almost poetic. While they now argue that the filibuster is critical to preserving democracy, one can’t help but wonder if they’ll change their tune again the moment they regain power. For now, though, the Democrats’ about-face serves as a stark reminder that in politics, principles often take a backseat to expediency. And in this case, the filibuster is their golden ticket to staying relevant in a Republican-controlled Senate.
Please, please, please stop what you’re doing and read these quotes.
— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) November 25, 2024
Filing under: schadenfreude https://t.co/r87ajTpD4F
