Why is the 109th Congress a bust?

[Jake]

Unbiased here. This term is not yet a "bust", mostly because it's only a third done. The only reason people would call it a bust, failure to reform social security, has been brought about by Democrats calling for a filibuster on every plan.

[Jake]

Frodo, do you know what a filibuster is. Democrats have pledged to use a filibuster on any social security bill that: raises the retirement age or introduces any privitisation. That leaves only raising the payroll tax limit as a viable alternative. 55 is not a governing majority when the other 45 don't back the bill.

[Jake]

Frodo, do you know what a filibuster is. Democrats have pledged to use a filibuster on any social security bill that: raises the retirement age or introduces any privitisation. That leaves only raising the payroll tax limit as a viable alternative. 55 is not a governing majority when the other 45 don't back the bill.

And Republicans have the power to override any filibuster Democrats might launch by using the 'nuclear option'.  That they haven't done.

Internal divisions are a far more serious threat to any effort Republicans might make to privatize Social Security than anything Democrats might do.   

The nuclear option doesn't concern bills only judicial nominations.

[Jake]

On judicial nominations. No one, not even the most partisan Republican supports removing the filibuster for bills.