Tell these guys to do the right thing.
Senate Democrats will be spending the weekend pondering whether they're ready to end the filibuster on executive nominations when Republicans move to block President Obama's
nominees next Tuesday morning. And Republicans will block at least a few of them. So Democrats, particularly the balky ones, should spend some time with
this new Quinnipiac poll over the weekend.
There is gridlock because Republicans are determined to block any Obama initiative, 51 percent of voters say, while 35 percent say President Barack Obama lacks the skills to convince leaders of Congress to work together.
Asked another way, 53 percent say Obama is doing "too little" to compromise with congressional Republicans, but 68 percent of voters say congressional Republicans are doing "too little." Ten percent of voters blame Democrats for gridlock, while 23 percent blame Republicans and 64 percent blame both parties equally.
"Voters think the Democrats and Obama aren't playing nice, but they think the Republicans are worse," said Brown.
The American public is pretty clear on what the problem with D.C. is: Republicans "are determined to block any Obama initiative." It's apparent to anyone paying the slightest bit of attention. The far-right applauds that, revels in it, but the majority of the population is just fed up with it.
Massive public backlash against Democrats for dealing with Republican obstruction just isn't going to be an issue that Democrats need to worry about, however loudly Mitch McConnell might squeal. In fact, chances are pretty damned good the public would be enthusiastic about somebody finally doing something about it. And if it makes Senate Republicans even more obstinate (if that's possible), that will only reinforce the public opinion against them.
That's part the message these fence-sitting Democrats—Max Baucus (MT), Tom Carper (DE) and Jack Reed (RI)—need to hear. They can help their country, their president, and their party by finally doing something to make the Senate work again.
If you live in Delaware, Montana or Rhode Island, contact your senator and tell him to support meaningful filibuster reform so that we can have a functioning Senate that confirms all nominations in a timely manner.