If Mitch McConnell can fabricate precedents to justify his obstruction, Democrats can certainly do the same to move forward democracy protecting legislation.
The Republican Party has embraced the big lie about the 2020 elections being stolen, and refused to convict the twice impeached, disgraced, two-time popular vote losing former President. Meanwhile they also have continued a legislative insurrection at the state level, enabling them to put a thumb on the scales in state and local elections, while obstructing Democratic reforms at the federal level.
Time to fight fire with fire. Introducing….. the Insurrection Exception to the filibuster, a one term exception to the 60% supermajority to move legislation in the US Senate forward for a final vote. We all know how undemocratic the filibuster is, and now it is literally being abused to neuter the Democrats ability to pass legislation in response to the January 6th insurrection and the months of lies that led up to that battle.
But Democratic Sens Manchin and Sinema refuse to entertain rules changes to the filibuster out of fear for how it will hurt them in the future should they be in the minority.
So, let’s create a new precedent, a new rule. Any time one party backs an insurrection, the majority of Senators may bypass the filibuster to reinforce democracy and the institutions that support it. It can be a one time thing, for the remainder of this session only, or put it right in the rules permanently. Either way, the Insurrection exception means a majority can move democracy protecting legislation, even over the objections of a minority.
Yes, sure, the devil is in the details. But the framework is obvious. Conduct an insurrection, surrender your rights in the minority to keep talking the democracy to death. I dare you to say no to this, Joe Manchin.