Can the Senate Dems move the FILIBUSTER number down legally?

[nico818]

What does it take for the Dems in senate to move the Filibuster number down from 60 to lets say 55? And is it legal?

[Joe Chi Minh]

1. Executive Order. Patriot Act.

[smiley_glad_hands]

2. The filibuster is just a convention in the rules agreed upon by majority vote (or more?)

It cannot be used against budget measures, so dems can raise taxes all they want on the wealthy.

The thing is, it has a long history in the Senate and actually used to be bigger than 60.

[nico818]

4. What about universal health care?

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Probably best left alone.

What goes around comes around.

[mrJJ]

5. Go nuclear... if all else fails

If the Republicans don't work on a bi partisan basis to get the US economy out of the ditch then the one and only option is the nuclear option. I hope it doesnt come to that.

[LynneSin]

6. When the republicans filibuster we need Obama & dems to take it to the streets

if good legislation is being held up by idiots then we need to get word out that these idiots need to GO!

[tekisui]

7. It will be easier to get 3 or so repukes to join each move to stop

filibuster.

They will not be doing chimpy's bidding anymore. Trade-offs can be made to win a few moderates in each case, IMO.

[AlCzervik]

8. bad idea, democrats do that now and if the republicans ever become the majority again

we will pay. This also why the line item veto is a terrible idea.

[TexasObserver]

9. Yes. It's been changed before, multiple times.

I believe the number to invoke cloture was twice reduced in the 1900s.

The senate could make it 55, and that would be that.

[bigwillq]

10. Leave it at 60 (nt)

[PretzelWarrior]

11. THIS IS A VERY STUPID SUGGESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you guys sure have short memories.

[SurfingAtWork]

12. Republicans tried to do this, remember the nuclear option?

At the time, to them it seemed like a wonderful idea, however they are probably happy as hell right now that it ended up not happening, because otherwise the dems would be in a great position. Similarly, while this sounds like a great idea for us right now, we won't always be in power, so better to keep it where it is IMO.