Kill the Filibuster or Block Everything

The silent filibuster was the bane of the liberal existence during the first two years of the Obama administration. 

Many expected that a Democratic landslide in 2008 would lead to federal action on a whole host of progressive priorities. While those two years did see an economic stimulus, health care reform, and financial regulation, all three required contentious partisan fights and huge expenditures of political capital. Legislation to address climate change, empower unions, and reform the immigration system was blocked altogether.

Reflections on the Bloodbath

The left is disturbingly familiar with failure. As the returns began to come in on Tuesday night and it became clear that Democrats would lose almost every major contested race, I knew immediately it would be one of those elections. The next month would be spent talking about why we lost, why we failed.

And there is no need to sugarcoat. It was a disaster. Democrats lost control of the Senate, lost more than a dozen House seats (at least), and lost every high-profile gubernatorial race and more. Come January, Republicans will govern Maryland, Massachusetts, and Illinois, which are traditionally among the bluest states in the country.

Electoral Reform and a Democratic House

Nate Cohn detailed on Sunday the structural disadvantages Democrats face in winning back the House of Representatives in November. Republicans are all but certain not just to retain the House but expand their majority in contrast to the competitive Senate.

That Democrats will likely struggle in 2014 is not atypical. Historically the president’s party struggles in midterm elections. But the current composition of the Democratic coalition is such that it is uniquely unsuited to success in the House. Cohn explains: