To expand a little on the procedure: whereas cloture puts a time cap on *consideration* of a measure, the Budget Act only limits *debate* on a budget resolution or reconciliation bill. Part of the reason why filling the tree works is that once postcloture time expires, no further amendments can be offered after the majority leader’s amendments are disposed of. By contrast, after the time for debate on a budget resolution or reconciliation bill has expired, amendments can still be offered, without debate.
It’s perhaps worth mentioning that on the one bill that the Senate has ‘properly‘ considered so far this Congress (S. 5), Thune did not fill the tree.
(I just can’t miss the opportunity to add that resolutions, motions and amendments are ‘agreed to’ or ‘adopted’; only bills and joint resolutions are ‘passed’.)
Sorry that you don’t see the danger of our times as a reality. Neither did the average German citizen before the Nazis took over. So the courts are still doing their job protecting the rule of law but the current administration is not complying in good faith— it appears to be hit or miss and we still don’t know if the Marshals will enforce the judicial orders. So you can be complacent — my guess you are a white straight male and maybe even old. So you have privilege and are not among those suffering from the violations of law or being targeted. Just maybe someone will be left to help you when it’s your turn but probably not
I do see and recognize the danger, but there are more effective ways to get a majority of Americans to stand up to Trump than typing in all caps and making Nazi comparisons, which tend to alienate people.
Ah don’t apologize. You are young and I’m old. I don’t have the patience to win back one voter at a time. I’m more afraid of complacency than anything else. In the face of the Friday night massacre of our top military leaders,especially the top JAG folks—the ones who evaluate a legal order— I see more similarities to the Nazis rather than fewer. I want to wake people up and open their eyes to the fact that none of this is normal. In some ways it’s bumbling nonsense but people believe the lies. Maybe I know too many people who think this is all perfectly fine. And any indication that this is normal supports their oblivion.
PS I see you are not old but you’re not paying attention to the gop without a backbone among them and the folks who now hold cabinet level positions. They are intent on the destruction of the federal government. Plz read project 2025 and tell me how much has already been accomplished —even in part
Bev, I apologize if I came off as too harsh earlier, but as a lifelong Democrat, it worries me when I see fellow Dems making the Nazi comparisons. One of the goals of my Substack is figuring out how to win people back and make 2026 a strong year for our party. It's important to always ask ourselves what will resonate most with voters.
Thank god for the Senate. Go Birds!!! Thanks for mentioning Philly, Gabe! Also, thank you for another lesson of what goes on behind the scenes. This makes a lot more sense with all the posturing and so forth.
To expand a little on the procedure: whereas cloture puts a time cap on *consideration* of a measure, the Budget Act only limits *debate* on a budget resolution or reconciliation bill. Part of the reason why filling the tree works is that once postcloture time expires, no further amendments can be offered after the majority leader’s amendments are disposed of. By contrast, after the time for debate on a budget resolution or reconciliation bill has expired, amendments can still be offered, without debate.
It’s perhaps worth mentioning that on the one bill that the Senate has ‘properly‘ considered so far this Congress (S. 5), Thune did not fill the tree.
(I just can’t miss the opportunity to add that resolutions, motions and amendments are ‘agreed to’ or ‘adopted’; only bills and joint resolutions are ‘passed’.)
1 month, 3 weeks, 2 days, 8 hours and 40 minutes equals the time it took the Nazis to dismantle Germany’s constitutional republic.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE DISCUSSING RECONCILIATION. IT’S TIME TO LOOK AT THE ACTIONS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION AND SOUND THE ALARM LOUD AND CLEAR.
Being hyperbolic is not a helpful strategy, yet it's mostly what I see these days. Let's try to do better, please.
Sorry that you don’t see the danger of our times as a reality. Neither did the average German citizen before the Nazis took over. So the courts are still doing their job protecting the rule of law but the current administration is not complying in good faith— it appears to be hit or miss and we still don’t know if the Marshals will enforce the judicial orders. So you can be complacent — my guess you are a white straight male and maybe even old. So you have privilege and are not among those suffering from the violations of law or being targeted. Just maybe someone will be left to help you when it’s your turn but probably not
I do see and recognize the danger, but there are more effective ways to get a majority of Americans to stand up to Trump than typing in all caps and making Nazi comparisons, which tend to alienate people.
Ah don’t apologize. You are young and I’m old. I don’t have the patience to win back one voter at a time. I’m more afraid of complacency than anything else. In the face of the Friday night massacre of our top military leaders,especially the top JAG folks—the ones who evaluate a legal order— I see more similarities to the Nazis rather than fewer. I want to wake people up and open their eyes to the fact that none of this is normal. In some ways it’s bumbling nonsense but people believe the lies. Maybe I know too many people who think this is all perfectly fine. And any indication that this is normal supports their oblivion.
PS I see you are not old but you’re not paying attention to the gop without a backbone among them and the folks who now hold cabinet level positions. They are intent on the destruction of the federal government. Plz read project 2025 and tell me how much has already been accomplished —even in part
Bev, I apologize if I came off as too harsh earlier, but as a lifelong Democrat, it worries me when I see fellow Dems making the Nazi comparisons. One of the goals of my Substack is figuring out how to win people back and make 2026 a strong year for our party. It's important to always ask ourselves what will resonate most with voters.
Thank god for the Senate. Go Birds!!! Thanks for mentioning Philly, Gabe! Also, thank you for another lesson of what goes on behind the scenes. This makes a lot more sense with all the posturing and so forth.