Donald Trump has been adamant that he wants the GOP to end the filibuster in the Senate.
Trump is dismissing all concerns that ending the filibuster now would allow Democrats to wreak havoc if and when they manage to take control back of the Senate, giving them the power to pass any law they want with a simple majority.
The point is moot, however, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) just informed Trump that the GOP does not have the votes to change the rules.
Trump believes the filibuster rule that effectively has the Senate at a standstill over the government shutdown could cost the GOP in the midterm elections as well as the 2028 presidential contest.
The president stated, “The Democrats are far more likely to win the Midterms, and the next Presidential Election, if we don’t do the Termination of the Filibuster (The Nuclear Option!), because it will be impossible for Republicans to get Common Sense Policies done with these Crazed Democrat Lunatics being able to block everything by withholding their votes.”
He continued, “FOR THREE YEARS, NOTHING WILL BE PASSED, AND REPUBLICANS WILL BE BLAMED. Elections, including the Midterms, will be rightfully brutal. If we do terminate the Filibuster, we will get EVERYTHING approved, like no Congress in History.”
This is unlikely to happen, however, as there just is not enough support in the GOP to overturn the rule.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) does not have a vote in the Senate, but he is a key player in party leadership, and he does not support eliminating the filibuster, stating, “The safeguard in the Senate has always been the filibuster.”
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) is also against nuking the filibuster, as is former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Trump would also have to deal with the usual suspects who fight him on just about everything, namely, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Rand Paul (R-KY).
Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) has also stated he will not support removing the guardrail, stating, “The filibuster forces us to find common ground in the Senate. Power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t. I’m a firm no on eliminating it.”
Thune broke the news we all knew already regarding the filibuster on Monday, declaring that he does not have the votes to end it even if he wanted to.
Trump addressed that reluctance during his recent 60 Minutes interview, stating, “I know John doesn’t -- well, John and a few others -- but you know what, the Republicans have to get tougher.”
I am on the side of the resisters in this case, as I think it would be foolish to remove the filibuster and allow Democrats to go nuts when they take back the Senate. The rule is what forces people to negotiate, even though we usually don’t have a problem passing a continuing resolution (CR).
I just don’t support changing the rules when you don’t get your way. We just got done railing against the Biden administration for ramming through legislation via reconciliation, so it would be hypocritical of me to encourage Republicans to do the same. As Curtis stated, power changes, but principles should not.
