More Democrats oppose the filibuster gambit
Some of the folks on the left have been seething at Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), viewing them as the blockers to Democrats being able to eliminate the filibuster and seize total power.
There’s no question that Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have been standing strong to protect the rules and defend the rights of the minority party.
But they’re not the only people, as some have pointed out, although they get most of the press. Democrats have a much deeper issue because some others are also not so happy with these efforts. But those Democrats are happy to remain more in the background and let Manchin be the bigger target taking the hits out there for the concept.
But exactly who’s aligned with him, even discreetly, on another consequential question—whether to end the legislative filibuster—is less clear. Only one other Democrat, Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), has been as strident about keeping the Senate’s 60-vote threshold as Manchin. A handful of others, such as Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), have sounded concerned notes or have avoided answering the question entirely.
Some Democrats look at that and argue that Manchin, who has defiantly insisted he will not gut the filibuster under any circumstances, is publicly voicing concerns that this group agrees with privately.
“There are other Democratic members who share his reservations about eliminating the filibuster,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who strongly differs with Manchin on the issue. “Perhaps they’re less outspoken, and perhaps less vehement.”
It sounds more and more like Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) might be among them as well, at least when it comes to the filibuster. As we previously wrote, Feinstein said she doesn’t “see us abolishing the 60-vote threshold” so she saw it as a “non-issue.”
But today, Feinstein caused another meltdown on Twitter because of the following comments she made, according to Forbes reporter Andrew Solender.
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The smart ones know they will eventually be in the minority again and maybe as soon as 2022. They know they are going to need it.
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