Many … perhaps most … do not quite understand what is meant by ‘filibuster’. Our friend Jeff’s post will clarify what, exactly, the filibuster is, its origins, and how it has most often been used. Thanks, Jeff!
There’s been much debate in recent years about the efficacy of the filibuster. The Republican Party has used the arcane process to block specific meaningful legislation that would have been beneficial to millions of Americans. To be clear, Democrats have also used the filibuster; blocking judges or presidential appointees, for example.
But it’s time to take a look at what the filibuster is, what are its origins, and what important legislation it has stopped from becoming law. A couple of things stand out. For one, there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that mentions anything about the filibuster. It’s simply a Senate rule that’s been in place for nearly 200 years. Secondly, the process was born out of pure unadulterated racism — a mechanism that allowed the despicable practice of slavery to continue being used, mostly by wealthy white land owners in the South.
There have been some fairly bizarre things happening in U.S. politics since the election of Donald Trump in November 2016, wouldn’t you agree? Some really off-the-wall candidates have shown up on special election ballots but, for the most part, common sense has reigned at the polls. But this morning’s New York Times headline had even the jaded Filosofa scratching her head and saying, “Huh?” (I’m not all that sharp when I first wake up)
At McConnell’s Urging, Trump Asks West Virginians Not to Vote for Don Blankenship
Don Blankenship has touted himself as being “Trumpier than Trump”. He just spent a year in prison. He is a former coal baron. One of his campaign ads claims, “We don’t need to investigate our president. We need to arrest Hillary”. Doesn’t it seem that he would be Trump’s candidate of choice? And yet, Trump tweeted …
“To the great people of West Virginia we have, together, a really great chance to keep making a big difference. Problem is, Don Blankenship, currently running for Senate, can’t win the General Election in your State…No way! Remember Alabama. Vote Rep. Jenkins or A.G. Morrisey!” — 6:53 AM – May 7, 2018
What was I missing? And to make the situation even more bizarre, once I found what I was missing, I found myself rooting for Mr. Blankenship to win the Republican primary tomorrow!!! Now, I hear some of you saying, “Girl … have you gone and lost what few marbles you had left???” Well, let me explain …
There is much to hate about Blankenship, and as I wrote in my April 24th post he has been referred to as the “most hated man in West Virginia” and the “next Roy Moore”. And taken together, those two things explain why not only Trump, but the entire GOP do not want to see Blankenship win the primary. Because he likely cannot win the November election! And once you realize that, you see why I am rooting for him, for his win would likely serve to hand the senate seat to incumbent Joe Manchin, a democrat.
Now, let me make it even more interesting. Blankenship, supposedly the most hated man in the state, is actually doing quite well in the polls! I think this may be a case of what I referred to before as “push … and push back”. The West Virginia GOP has been running a series of ads like the one below, against Blankenship.Blankenship is still on probation after serving a year in prison for his role in a mine accident that killed 29 miners in 2010. As CEO of the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine, Blankenship ordered the company to delay or stop various safety improvements in 2008, a move that was ultimately proven to have contributed to the mine accident, and Blankenship was convicted of conspiring to violate mine safety standards. One wouldn’t think that the citizens of West Virginia, a state whose economy relies heavily on coal mining, would even consider this man to represent them in the U.S. Senate, right?
But, as Politico reported last week, Blankenship “is surging ahead”. Even Don Trump, Jr. got in on the act, tweeting …
“I hate to lose. So I’m gonna go out on a limb here and ask the people of West Virginia to make a wise decision and reject Blankenship! No more fumbles like Alabama. We need to win in November. #wv #wvpol” — 3:44 PM – May 3, 2018
Blankenship wasn’t too upset about it, though, and didn’t blame Trump …
“As some have said I am Trumpier than Trump, and this morning proves it. The President is a very busy man and he doesn’t know me, and he doesn’t know how flawed my two main opponents are in this primary. The establishment is misinforming him because they do not want me to be in the U.S. Senate and promote the President’s agenda. West Virginia voters should remember that my enemies are Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and my opponents would not even be running as Republicans had I not resurrected the Republican Party in West Virginia.”
Ahhhh … the “establishment” is feeding Trump lies, and this man is single-handedly responsible for the GOP’s existence in West Virginia, eh? I wonder if he’s friends with Alex Jones? An analysis by the New York Times claims that …
“The emergence of a former coal boss with a criminal record as a potential Senate nominee seems partly an expression of many West Virginia voters’ desire to poke a thumb in the eye of the Washington establishment, Republicans very much included.”
My mother used to have an expression that I think fits well here: Cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face.
My current favourite comedian, John Oliver, sums it all up nicely for us
Trump won West Virginia in 2016, presumably based on his promise to “end the war on coal”, and remains popular there today. And in truth, Blankenship is at least as “Trumpy” as Trump. Keep an eye on this one, folks. And remember that this is no longer the world of sanity we once thought it was.
Blankenship is still on probation after serving a year in prison for his role in a mine accident that killed 29 miners in 2010. As CEO of the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine, Blankenship ordered the company to delay or stop various safety improvements in 2008, a move that was ultimately proven to have contributed to the mine accident, and Blankenship was convicted of conspiring to violate mine safety standards. One wouldn’t think that the citizens of West Virginia, a state whose economy relies heavily on coal mining, would even consider this man to represent them in the U.S. Senate, right?
Filosofa's Word 