I think this is the single-most significant vote any one of us will cast in my 32 years in the Senate, and I suspect the senator would agree with that. And we should make no mistake. This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power. It is a fundamental power grab by the majority party propelled by its extreme right and designed to change the reading of the Constitution, particularly as it relates to individual rights and property rights. It’s nothing more or nothing less. . . .
We’ve been through these periods before in American history, but never to the best of my knowledge has any party been so bold as to fundamentally attempt to change the structure of this body. . . . What shortsightedness and what a price history will exact on those who support this radical move.
This is the single-most significant vote, as I said earlier, that I will have cast in my 32 years in the Senate.
Why try it now, for the first time in history, to eliminate extended debate? Well, because they control every lever of the federal government. That’s the very reason why we have the rule. So when one party, when one interest controls all levers of government, one man or one woman can stand on the floor of the Senate and resist, if need be, the passions of the moment.
Put simply, the nuclear option would transform the Senate from the so-called “cooling saucer” our Founding Fathers talked about to cool the passions of the day to a pure majoritarian body, like a parliament.
We’ve heard a lot in recent weeks about the rights of the majority and of obstructionism. But the Senate is not meant to be a place of pure majoritarianism.
At its core, the filibuster’s not about stopping a nominee or a bill. It’s about compromise and moderation. That’s why the Founders put unlimited debate in. . . . It doesn’t mean I get my way. It means you may have to compromise. You may have to see my side of the argument. That’s what it’s about. Engendering compromise and moderation.
Ladies and gentlemen, the nuclear option extinguishes the power of independence and moderates in this Senate. That’s it. They’re done. Moderates are important only if you need to get 60 votes to satisfy cloture. They are much less important if you need only 50 votes.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...pt6-Pg7878.htm
Yep. He said that.
Discuss.
Bungling Biden the hypocrite
Reply With QuoteOriginally Posted by Legion
I think this is the single-most significant vote any one of us will cast in my 32 years in the Senate, and I suspect the senator would agree with that. And we should make no mistake. This nuclear option is ultimately an example of the arrogance of power. It is a fundamental power grab by the majority party propelled by its extreme right and designed to change the reading of the Constitution, particularly as it relates to individual rights and property rights. It’s nothing more or nothing less. . . .
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