Lots of readers have written in to urge that Democrats actually force the Republicans to filibuster, not merely cave at the threat. The prospect of a presidential veto is, in part, what makes that a pointless exercise for the Democrats. So for all the frustration about not being able to achieve a 60 vote majority, remember that 67 votes is the real bar to overcome.
And that was what he wrote in response to a reader who pointed out perfectly why this makes the Dems look bad. Kurtz seems to think along the lines of "if you're going to lose anyway, why bother?" He even takes it to the next hypothetical, arguing that even if you get the 60, you'll never get the 67.
Kurtz must be auditioning for a Democratic strategist job.
Fortunately, the TPM readers take him to school. Kurtz is wrong, and the readers are right. They pretty much say what I said yesterday minus the over-writing and the expletives...and make a few good points I missed.
4 comments:
I agree. this is sooo simple, yet the dems don't see this.
but it's the "over-writing and the expletives" that make us come here in the first place.....
You're right, they told him. I especially liked this quote - By meekly stepping aside after a failed cloture vote, Democrats basically allow the Republicans to make Democrats look like they are ineffective, and it's working.. Exactly. It's about the appearance. What people see now is that the Democrats can't get done what they were elected for. That's a long way from seeing that the Republicans are opposing the will of the public.
Exactly what needs to happen for the Dems to grow a pair? Ugh.
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