Campaign Action
Reality is sinking in with top leadership of Senate Democrats. Having Mitch McConnell thwart you every step of the way will do that, I guess. For the first time, the possibility of getting rid of the filibuster and allowing majority rule on legislation is a thing for Democrats.
One of the senators who has been hardest to convince is Sen. Dick Durbin, the number 2 guy in Democratic leadership. Over the years, he's been extremely resistant, but now? "I tell ya, I’m reflecting on it now. This is a different Senate. It is unproductive under the current state of affairs,” Durbin told The Hill. He added that a change will be "needed from what we're currently working with" although "I don't know what that is yet." That's real movement from him. It was just this February, when the issue started to circulate among the presidential candidate, that he was against it because "I don't want to serve in the House again."
Durbin's change of heart follows Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's statement this week that nuking the filibuster is not "off the table" if Democrats take the majority and the White House in 2020. The need for that is obvious to anyone who's been watching Republicans for the past decade.
It's also a recognition that the Senate isn't what it used to be. McConnell has destroyed the institution. The only thing that will save it is the kind of sledgehammer tactics that he's used. The alternative is having a Republican party that it once again interested in being a partner in governing the nation and it's pretty clear that that's not happening.
No Democratic president is going to be able to accomplish any of her goals even with a Democratic Senate if McConnell has the power—in the minority!—to stop it. It's good that Senate Democrats are recognizing that reality. Now we just have to get them a majority.
Let's encourage Schumer and keep up the pressure on McConnell by beefing up our nominee fund. Please give $1 to help Democrats end McConnell's career as majority leader!