# Say Trump is defeated. How do we actually fix things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 21, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419 "2019-07-21T23:06:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/41 "2019-08-03T00:08:21Z")
The Founding Fathers were brilliant in implementing the system of checks and balances, but it never occurred to them that one half of one branch would completely abdicate their responsibility, and collude with the other to implement a corrupt agenda. We have to fix that. The amount of power held by the Senate is alarming…I think it can be rectified simply by bringing back the filibuster for all legislation and appointments. Make them come to a consensus that can be supported by 60%. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/42 "2019-08-03T00:22:50Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > The Founding Fathers were brilliant in implementing the system of checks and balances, but it never occurred to them that one half of one branch would completely abdicate their responsibility, and collude with the other to implement a corrupt agenda. We have to fix that. > > The amount of power held by the Senate is alarming…I think it can be rectified simply by bringing back the filibuster for all legislation and appointments. Make them come to a consensus that can be supported by 60%. Then, even if the Dems got 51 in the Senate, no SCOTUS seats would be filled. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/43 "2019-08-03T00:34:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Then, even if the Dems got 51 in the Senate, no SCOTUS seats would be filled. Somehow the system worked until just recently. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/44 "2019-08-03T01:08:53Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Somehow the system worked until just recently. Until Mitch, you mean, yes. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/45 "2019-08-03T01:57:48Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Until Mitch, you mean, yes. It was Harry Reid that first “went nuclear” and removed the judicial filibuster ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/46 "2019-08-03T02:10:00Z")
You’re both right: Reid and McConnell ruined the Senate. It may take a constitutional amendment to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/47 "2019-08-03T02:13:52Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > It was Harry Reid that first “went nuclear” and removed the judicial filibuster Yes because Mitch broke the system. Prior to Mitch a president could get qualified candidates through the senate even in spite of the existence of the filibuster. So as jsc1953 said, the system worked. Now, as DrDeth stated, if the filibuster was reinstated no Democratic judcial nominee would ever be confirmed. You can thank Mitch for that. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419/48 "2019-08-03T04:47:25Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Yes because Mitch broke the system. Prior to Mitch a president could get qualified candidates through the senate even in spite of the existence of the filibuster. So as jsc1953 said, the system worked. Now, as DrDeth stated, if the filibuster was reinstated no Democratic judcial nominee would ever be confirmed. You can thank Mitch for that. Reid invoked the nuclear option in November 2013. [WaPo reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2013/11/22/filibuster-reform-may-not-open-confirmation-floodgates/?utm_term=.abdf065bc91e): > [@](#): > > As this Congressional Research Service report documents, Reid filed cloture on 20 district court nominees in 2011 and 2012 — but Republicans relented on 19 of them and the motion was withdrawn, leading to a single easy confirmation vote. What exactly was broken about the system that confirmed something like 200 of Obama’s judicial nominees prior to Harry Reid’s going nuclear? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-trump-is-defeated-how-do-we-actually-fix-things/837419.md?page=2)