Throughout America's history, minority parties have been forced to accept defeat in narrow numbers. Today's minority, however, has become so obstructionist as to hold the Senate at a stand-still unless they are given their way or until they win back power.
Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina is the most evoked figure of American history when discussing the filibuster, remembered for his 24 hour and 18 minute attempt to kill the Civil Rights Act of 1957. However, the word "attempt" seems the most crucial in this rememberance. Unlike today's congressional requirements, Thurmond actually had to talk for an entire 24 hours and 18 minutes in an attempt to bore congress out of voting for the bill, and yet the Senate still listened to his droning readings and rantings only to pass the bill 2 hours after his discussion ended.
This is not only a sentiment of what was then a resilient Democratic Party, unlike today's which seems to whimper at any GOP threats of obstruction after, of course, letting Republicans add amendments to whatever they will ultimately vote against. This is a sentiment to why obstructionism has never been so rampant as it is today.
The most sickening modern example of a minority party stranglehold is that of Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL). He has put a unilateral hold on confirming more than 70 nominees for homeland security posts. The senators protest not only comes at a time when the nation is fighting 2 wars and piecing together intelligence from a failed suicide bomber, but it comes out of selfish concerns. Says Politico:
Yes, you read that right. A Republican senator is angry because his state didn't get an earmark project, reportedly worth $40 billion. While his caucus complains that we're driving the federal deficit to dangerous heights, Shelby just wants to make sure his state can get the gravy. Not only does he want his state to get the contract, he wants it awarded to Northrop Grumman/EADs, who coincidentally donated $28,000 to his coffers over the last two election cycles.
And this is why Washington does not work. It is because the Republican powers-that-be refuse to surrender to the belief that elections should have consequences. While they crusaded at the turn of the century that we should be installing democratic governments around the world, the GOP has ignored our nation's democratic foundations.
In 1919, the nineteenth amendment (women's suffrage) passed the Senate with the signatures of only 56 senators. Had the minority party of the 66th congress been as politically sadistic as today's Republicans, women would have been denied the democratic rights they enjoy today. In the state of Tennessee, the 36th and therefore final necessary state to ratify the amendment, the ratification passed the general assembly by one vote. Even at the state level, decisions to obstruct American progress were put aside.
The first Gulf War was waged after H.R.J Resolution 77 only narrowly passed the Senate by a vote of 52-47. If the Democrats of 1991 (who actually had the majority) had rallied their 45 dissenting votes to filibuster the bill, the 41st president's greatest (and only) achievement would never have been.
This is not only a sentiment of what was then a resilient Democratic Party, unlike today's which seems to whimper at any GOP threats of obstruction after, of course, letting Republicans add amendments to whatever they will ultimately vote against. This is a sentiment to why obstructionism has never been so rampant as it is today.
The most sickening modern example of a minority party stranglehold is that of Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL). He has put a unilateral hold on confirming more than 70 nominees for homeland security posts. The senators protest not only comes at a time when the nation is fighting 2 wars and piecing together intelligence from a failed suicide bomber, but it comes out of selfish concerns. Says Politico:
"Shelby is frustrated over the Pentagon’s bidding process for air-to-air refueling tankers, which could lead to the creation of jobs in Mobile, Ala. And spokesman Jonathan Graffeo said in a statement the senator is also “deeply concerned” that the administration “will not release” funds already appropriated for a Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center to be built in Alabama."
Yes, you read that right. A Republican senator is angry because his state didn't get an earmark project, reportedly worth $40 billion. While his caucus complains that we're driving the federal deficit to dangerous heights, Shelby just wants to make sure his state can get the gravy. Not only does he want his state to get the contract, he wants it awarded to Northrop Grumman/EADs, who coincidentally donated $28,000 to his coffers over the last two election cycles.
And this is why Washington does not work. It is because the Republican powers-that-be refuse to surrender to the belief that elections should have consequences. While they crusaded at the turn of the century that we should be installing democratic governments around the world, the GOP has ignored our nation's democratic foundations.
In fact, the Republican minority in the 111th congress is on path to destroy the previous record of 112 filibusters (set by the GOP minority in the 110th congress) and has done so strictly in efforts to score political points. One can only imagine what our history would look like if every minority party had decided to follow this strategy.
In 1919, the nineteenth amendment (women's suffrage) passed the Senate with the signatures of only 56 senators. Had the minority party of the 66th congress been as politically sadistic as today's Republicans, women would have been denied the democratic rights they enjoy today. In the state of Tennessee, the 36th and therefore final necessary state to ratify the amendment, the ratification passed the general assembly by one vote. Even at the state level, decisions to obstruct American progress were put aside.
**As a side note, the list of states that quickly ratified the 19th amendment can still be viewed today as some of the most progressive states -- Illinois was the first to ratify, followed by Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts -- while the slowest are still today's most conservative -- South Carolina didn't ratify until 1969, followed by Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Mississippi, whose legislature didn't ratify the amendment until 1984).**
The first Gulf War was waged after H.R.J Resolution 77 only narrowly passed the Senate by a vote of 52-47. If the Democrats of 1991 (who actually had the majority) had rallied their 45 dissenting votes to filibuster the bill, the 41st president's greatest (and only) achievement would never have been.
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